Santini Vega 2.0 Aquazero Long Sleeve Thermofleece Jersey

Santini's Vega 2.0 jersey is a warm and stretchy thermofleece jersey for autumn/spring rides and wearing under a windproof in the heart of winter, and it has the bonus of offering protection from road spray and drizzle.

• Pros: Water repellent, wicks sweat, warm
• Cons: No windproofing

The Vega is mainly made from a super-soft nylon/elastane fabric that wicks sweat away from you well. I always use a baselayer but you could comfortably wear this next to your skin if you prefer (although the seams aren't flat-stitched). The front panels are made of the same fabric as those at the rear; there are no windproof sections here.

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It's a slim cut (Santini categorises its jerseys as classic, slim and sleek, getting progressively skinnier), although the huge amount of all-direction stretch in the fabric means that the vast majority of people are going to get a close, comfortable fit without any tightness.

The rear is cut long so you get good coverage back there, and it's finished with a jacquard elastic waistband that has a silicone print inside to stop it shifting north as you ride. The collar is tall and close fitting, and the spotted cuffs sit close around your wrists to avoid any draughts there.

The full-length front zip has a puller that's chunky enough to find even when you're wearing your biggest winter gloves, and it locks in place wherever you set it. The flap behind that zip is mightily wide (7cm, if you're interested) for no apparent reason. Maybe it's a style thing. Whatever, it's made from a fabric that's a little denser than the rest of the jersey so you don't notice any cold air getting in there.

The main fabric is water repellent thanks to its AcquaZero treatment, meaning that rather than soaking in and spreading, road spray and drizzle bead up and roll off. Don't confuse water repellent and waterproof – the Vega 2.0 isn't waterproof.

Santini says, 'The AcquaZero treatment keeps you dry through drizzle, showers or up to one hour of heavy rain.' I'd agree with the first two. If water hits the fabric hard or it accumulates in folds, it'll get through. You don't get as much protection from the rain as you do with something like the Santini Reef that we reviewed back at the start of the year. If it starts to come down properly you're going to need a jacket.

On the other hand, if you head out for a ride and the roads are wet and there's damp in the air – which, let's face it, isn't unusual in the UK – you'll stay dry. You get the idea. The water repellency has stood up to repeated washes over the past few weeks.

Santini gives the Vega 2.0 a temperature range of 5-15°C and I'd say that's about right although some people are going to be too warm in this jersey at the upper end of that band. The fact that it's a snug fit and not bulky means you'll easily be able to put a windproof gilet or jacket over the top when temperatures get really low in the winter.

> Buyer's Guide: 10 of the best winter jerseys

You get yer regulation three pockets in the lower back, approved by generations of cyclists, but not one of those new-fangled zipped ones for your valuables. The top of the pockets has a reflective binding that really shines back at other road users when it's caught in headlights.

As you can see, this version has a vivid yellow trim but if that's not to your taste you can get red or orange instead.

Overall, this is a very good, no-nonsense jersey that you'll get plenty of use from between autumn and the end of spring. For typical UK conditions, the added water repellency is a real strength.

Verdict

Warm and stretchy long-sleeve jersey that's also water repellent