Boardman Women's Short Sleeve Jersey

The Boardman Women's Short Sleeve Cycling Jersey is a lovely everyday top at a great price. Boardman hasn't messed around giving its jersey a complicated name, nor has it messed around adding unnecessary features to a simple and functional piece of kit.

The jersey comes in various bright and tasteful colour schemes, and handily the turquoise and pink version I tested was my favourite.

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When I first put the jersey on, it felt slightly restrictive around the shoulders, but once I was on a bike with my arms stretched out to the bar, this was no longer an issue. I wore a size 8 and, other than that slight tightness, found the fit to be good and true to size.

The casual, relaxed fit is flattering, and while it's not skin tight, it doesn't leave excess material where it's not wanted (note it is not me in the photos). I also found that the sleeve cuffs sat nicely around my arms without being tight, and the bottom hem with its rubber gripper stayed in place relatively well while riding.

Other jerseys in this price range often come with a half or three-quarter-length zip, so I was immediately pleased to find that this had a full length zip giving more flexibility to undo it on hot rides and making those roadside wee stops in bib shorts just a little bit easier.

The 'Qwick-dri' fabric of the jersey is very breathable and wicked away moisture well just as Boardman claims. The jersey isn't designed for the hottest or most humid conditions, but on mild and warmer (British) summer days I was perfectly content without overheating. I found it soft and comfortable with no itchy seams or chafing, and experienced no problems when washing it on a cool cycle.

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I find jerseys without a zip pocket really annoying, so was pleased to find that the Boardman has a zip-up valuables pocket at the rear. It was disappointingly small, though: my keys and debit card fitted in fine, but it wasn't big enough for my slim cycling wallet or phone.

According to the product details from Boardman, the jersey features a further three rear pockets, as the majority of jerseys do, but in fact it only has two. This may sound a little crazy, but I am used to packing my spares into three pockets and I know exactly what lives where when I head out for a ride, so I found the two pockets, although well sized, a little frustrating.

With an RRP of £30, I think this jersey is very good value for money. Brands such as dhb and BTwin have some similarly priced offerings, but Boardman has certainly set the bar high. The jersey's flattering fit, full-length zip and bright colour scheme mean I'd happily overlook the limited pocket space.

Verdict

A great, comfortable jersey for everyday riding without draining the bank