Alé Vetta Jersey

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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