Craft Active Bike Jersey (men's)

Review

Craft’s Active Bike Jersey is a bargain; it’s great looking, comfortable and durable enough for year-round training and racing. And if it’s good enough for the pro’s... 

... But what really appeals to me about Craft cycling apparel is that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get great kit that’s still technical in its construction, comfortable in its fit, and most importantly, is durable enough to soak up all those sweat induced training rides followed by the destructive power of the washing machine week-in, week-out.

With this year’s strong presence of Team ORICA-greenEDGE in the Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana the name of Craft is certain to gain a much larger and loyal following throughout the UK sportive scene. When a headline grabbing road team like OGE see fit to kit out their riders with a certain clothing company it has to work both ways; it’s not simply a case of Craft buying their way into the market to raise their profile. The kit simply HAS to perform well under all conditions: heat, rain, cold, wind, blood and sweat, everything takes its toll on the poor old road jersey.

So how does this affect us mere mortal cyclists?

Feedback is the key here; putting fabrics and technical clothing through the toughest testing ground of all makes perfect sense. Professional cyclists are known to be perfectionists, if it isn’t right they just won’t use it; they’ll buy something else and rebrand it to fit the look of the team.

So, if a pro team are happy with their kit then the Craft research and development boys can happily produce a garment that will also work well for everyone else. 

So what have we got?

As the song goes: it Aint what you do, it’s the way that you do it – that’s what gets results.

The vast majority of modern technical cycling wear is constructed from manmade fabrics such as Polyester, throw in a little Lycra to pull it all together for shape retention and there you have it – or not. If it was easy we’d all be making our own kit.

What Craft have done with their Active Bike Jersey is to piece together as comfortable a jersey as possible without neglecting the one thing that some manufactures tend to forget, and that is: comfort has to seamlessly blend together with durability and functionality, and not charge an absolute fortune for the privilege. And Craft do it in a rather nice way.

Firstly, the Active Bike Jersey doesn’t feel as flimsy as a handkerchief, it’s substantial without any weight penalty and has more technical features built into it than many trendy overpriced tops that flood the magazine covers. There are a good number of panels, big and small, that are sewn together to create a jersey that sits comfortably around your body. More panels mean more stitching, but the flat seamed stitching on the Active Bike Jersey works a treat at being completely unnoticeable when wearing it.

Just look at the detail here: there is a full length zip for starters, so you can fully vent-off as you climb to the top of your favourite col (by venting-off, of course, I mean unzipping your jersey to let the hot body air out , rather than shouting abuse at some unsuspecting passer-by)

The underarm areas of the Active Bike Jersey are vented using a softer mesh fabric which not only increases air circulation but also reduces chances of any chaffing here. The mesh fabric isn’t just some piddly afterthought either; the inserts are quite sizable, good to see no half-measures employed by Craft.

Another neat little touch is the inclusion of a zippered pocket; handy for securing small items such as car keys and teacake money. This sits neatly on the front of the middle of the three rear pockets, which are nicely sized to take tools, gels and other wot-nots, without slopping around – keeping it nice and secure.

As a rider whose build resembles Andy Scheck, without the internal engine, I found the Craft Active Bike Jersey very much to my liking: its slim fitting without being restrictive in any way – room to breathe you might say without any superfluous fabric flapping in the wind. Some of my Italian designed tops feel more like Victorian corsets.

 The silicon piping around the hem stops short of going full circle, but that’s fine, it simply adds to the comfort level as well as holding the shape together perfectly well.

There’s no such silicone around the sleeves, that’s fine too, it’s simply not require here and provides that feeling of freedom at which the Active Bike Jersey excels.

When fully zipped up I really appreciated the slightly higher and close fitting collar, it did a cracking job of keeping the wind out and the zip glided effortlessly up or down with just one hand operation; although a larger zip toggle might come in handy when using winter gloves.

Overall, the Craft Active Bike Jersey is a steal at this kind of money. It doesn’t look out of place mixing it up in the local club peloton that’s awash with misplaced team Sky jerseys. Understated and performance orientated; what more could you want in a cycle top that proven at the highest levels?