Nalini AHS Mortirolo Jersey

The Nalini AHS Mortirolo Jersey is a unique high performance jersey that's very comfortable, although it has a price tag to match.

Pros: Good looking, excellent breathability, stretch in the fabric
Cons: Expensive, invisible pocket can be fiddly to find when riding

Over the years I have reviewed hundreds of jerseys, so it takes something special to really catch my eye as it take it out of the packaging. The Nalini AHS Mortirolo managed it, though.

The first thing you notice is the bold design which fades from bright red at the neck to dark blue at the waist and purple on the sleeves, with a subtle moonscape-style print underneath. On the arms and the front panel the material also has a seemingly random spider-web design standing proud of the surface. It sounds strange, but it is honestly one of the most beautiful jerseys I've seen.

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The web design isn't just for aesthetics. According to Nalini the woven 3D fabric which causes these patterns is meant to ensure body support, wind protection, and aerodynamic performance. Whilst you're wearing the jersey you notice that there is an increased level of wind protection over a normal jersey, but in terms of body support and aerodynamics, I would need a lab to test that claim.

However, whilst on the bike it sits really nicely; it's a jersey that feels slightly awkward off the bike, but seems to all come together once you're in the saddle. It is very much a performance orientated top, with a close fit and elbow-length arms. Luckily the material used has a decent amount of stretch, so it will fit a number of different body shapes. At the bottom hem of the jersey there's a silicone strip which meant that I didn't have any issues with the jersey riding up, even when I was using it with empty pockets.

Ventilation on the jersey is good, with a mesh material on the back allowing heat to quickly dissipate. This is also helped by the wicking in the material which quickly moves moisture away from the body, doing so much better than most jerseys I've used in the past. This ventilation is also helped by the full length zip that runs down the front of the jersey, which means that when it gets really hot you can unzip to let more air in.

Nalini has also included some additional design features, like the 3 large pockets on the back and an additional 'invisible' pocket for valuables, which sites around 3 inches above the others. This works pretty well, but generally took me a couple of times to find with my hand. The main pockets offer enough space for all the riding essentials I needed for a summer ride. Each pocket also has a high-vis strip along the top; that, combined with the logos on the lower left back, left arm, and left chest, means that there are some useful safety elements for low-light environments.

So. We come to the RRP, which is £155. This is very steep for a jersey; to put it in perspective the most expensive Rapha jersey is £145 and the Castelli range tops out at £115. There is little doubt that this is a jersey packed with features and looks beautiful, but most people will baulk at the price.

Overall, I really enjoyed wearing this jersey - it sits perfectly when you're on the bike, looks fantastic, and keeps you nice and cool. However, the impressive elements come at an impressive price.

Verdict

A very good jersey, but you will need deep pockets to justify the price