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Alé Vetta Jersey

8
£65.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Lightweight performance jersey that's not just reserved for the hottest of days
Weight: 
115g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Alé's Vetta jersey is exactly what you need while the country around you is slowly burning to a crisp. Large mesh sections make this lightweight offering unbelievably cool even when you are absolutely smashing it along on a summer's day.

  • Pros: Great breathability, close fit, lots of colour options
  • Cons: Pockets could be a little firmer

If you like to stand out when you're out for a ride, Alé rarely lets you down with its borderline garish colourways. This blue/fluoro yellow is probably the brightest but there is also a red/yellow and apple green/blue option alongside a more subdued black/red. It's good to see some companies injecting some colour into their clothing, I say.

ale_vetta_mens_ss_jersey_-_shoulders.jpg

It isn't all about looking good, though, you need the performance to match, and the Vetta delivers here from the high teens through to the top of the 20s centigrade.

The rear, side and arm panels all use a large knit mesh, very similar to that used on its baselayers, like the Intimo I tested recently.

ale_vetta_mens_ss_jersey_-_riding.jpg

Pair it up with said baselayer and you can really feel the breeze take the sweat away from the surface when you are riding along. Unless the speed drops for a climb or you stop altogether, you never feel wet or hot.

If you do need to climb it is best to drop the zip to let the breeze blow right through to regulate your temperature; the front panels have a much tighter knit mesh so it's not as easy for air to pass through. This makes the jersey more usable in cooler temperatures as your vital organs aren't taking the brunt of a chilly wind – ideal if you are heading out early in the morning but you know the temperature is going to ramp up as the ride goes on.

ale_vetta_mens_ss_jersey_-_chest.jpg

That also means it isn't restricted to just those really hot summer days like some jerseys can be, something worth taking into consideration with the usual British climate.

The thin material means the Vetta is also a lightweight jersey, which also helps keep you cooler.

You get a dropped tail at the rear for coverage, which stays put when you are in the drops thanks to silicone gripper around the hem.

ale_vetta_mens_ss_jersey_-_gripper.jpg

On the whole the Vetta is quite a simplistic jersey. There are just the three standard pockets on the rear, with no zipped option for valuables or any gel pocket on the side. The pockets are made from the same material as the front of the jersey and the only compromise in using such a lightweight fabric is that they do tend to sag a bit if you put something heavy in them like a multi-tool, but they are deep enough to stop anything bouncing out.

ale_vetta_mens_ss_jersey_-_pockets.jpg

There is no zip garage around the front either, which is something I generally like to see, but the neck on the Alé is quite low so it's not really an issue.

ale_vetta_mens_ss_jersey_-_collar.jpg

Often when things get lighter and more minimalist the price goes up, but the Vetta is a very competitive option at £65. Le Col's Pro Air Jersey, for instance, has a few more technical details but costs almost double the price at £120. Sportful's offering, the Bodyfit Pro Light, costs £80.

> Buyer's Guide: 20 of the best summer cycling jerseys

Looking at the quality and performance of the Alé Vetta, for the money I'd say it's a relative bargain.

Verdict

Lightweight performance jersey that's not just reserved for the hottest of days

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Ale Vetta Jersey

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Alé says, "The Vetta Jersey is the ultimate in lightweight and breathable comfort in the saddle.

"Featuring a mesh-like fabric that's perfectly breathable for warmer summer rides, the Vetta Jersey is among the most lightweight of Ale's cycling apparel. Further ventilation is provided by the back panel and sleeves, three back pockets are ideal for keeping your essentials within easy reach and Reflex material on the back adds a strong degree of reflectivity to your visibility too."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Alé:

Collar: 100% Polyester

Main: 96% Polyester, 4% Elastane(Spandex)

Sizes: XS to 3XL

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

For an Italian company, its sizing is quite realistic, UK like.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

No issues with putting the Vetta through the washing machine. It came up clean and even though it is really thin I have no worries about its durability with constant washing.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

An impressive jersey for keeping you cool on hot rides.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

How breathable it is.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Could do with stronger pockets.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A well-finished and vibrant jersey that offers excellent wicking properties at a competitive price.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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