For the money the Pente Exclusive Spin Shed Jersey is very good indeed. The fabrics are soft, it offers a good fit and plenty of breathability, and I like the colours. The washing instructions say cold hand wash only, which is a bit of a faff to be honest when most other kit you can bung in the machine, but there's little else not to like for the price.
- Pros: Comfortable fabrics, not an overly racing cut, a good price
- Cons: Handwash only
Pente is a relatively new brand to the cycle clothing market, but this exclusive-to-Spin Shed jersey delivers high hopes.
> Buy this online here
The jersey uses one of the Italian brand Miti Spa's fabrics, a company that supplies quite a few of the big names in the cycle clothing market.
The materials are good, too. Very soft and comfortable to the touch and in the latest 30 degree heat, surprisingly breathable. They aren't the lightest, especially compared with some of the mesh-style summer jerseys we've tested, but even after really hard short, sharp rides the fabric doesn't really get overwhelmed.
The cut is a decent balance between that of a race jersey and something a little more relaxed. It fits pretty close but if you aren't quite at your race weight it still flatters.
You get a slightly dropped tail to keep your rear end covered and it's held in place by a silicone gripper.
Above that you get three pockets in the traditional layout and they are a decent size: they'll take a modern large phone easily and you can load them up with a tube, multi-tool and the rest of the kit you'd need for a ride.
Round the front you get a full length zip like most jerseys these days, and you also get the nice touch of a buffer behind the zip. It'll stop a chilly breeze from coming through and also keep the zip away from your skin if you ride without a baselayer.
On the whole it's quite an impressive jersey, especially when you take the £40 price tag into account.
> Buyer's Guide: 20 of the best summer cycling jerseys
Most of the jerseys we've tested lately come in at much more than that – some two or three times the price, or more. Those closer to the Pente include the Chapeau! Club jersey, which is still £29 more expensive, and – the closest we've had that scored well – the dhb Blok at £45, although on the whole the Pente seems to have the edge throughout.
Verdict
A simple jersey that exploits great fabrics for a very decent price
Make and model: Pente Exclusive Spin Shed Cycling Jersey
Tell us what the product is for
Pente says, "Made with Italian Mitispa™ fabrics offering temperature regulation and breathability, for excellent performance and comfort. The jersey is 100% polyester, antibacterial, and very soft to the skin."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
From Pente:
Italian Materials
Professional Fit
Rubber Strip at Rear
SBS Zip and Guard
100% Polyester
Antibacterial
Breathable
UPF 50+ sun protection factor
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
A few stray threads here and there but they are excusable for the price.
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
8/10
The sizing chart is quite simplistic but I'd say the size is quite realistic to UK brands, the likes of dhb or Lusso, for instance.
Rate the product for weight:
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
8/10
Rate the product for value:
8/10
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
The label says cold hand wash only which is a bit of a faff compared to bunging it in the washing machine with the rest of your kit.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
I was impressed when it comes to the cut, breathability and comfort.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Really comfortable fabrics.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
It's a little rough around the edges with a few stray threads here and there – but it is a £40 jersey.
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
There is nothing ground breaking here, but Pente has delivered a decent jersey at a very sensible price.
Age: 40 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: This month's test bike My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Over 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
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