Oneten Giro Short Sleeve Jersey

This is a very good jersey for hot days in the saddle – and we must get a few of those before too long, surely.

The Giro is made from three different fabrics. The bulk of the jersey is simple microfibre polyester – lightweight and very stretchy stuff. Then you have the panels that run along the sides and the sides of the back; these are 3D structured mesh. They're also very stretchy and they let loads of air through.

The panel that runs down the centre of the back is slightly different again. It's an even more open mesh – you can just about see through this one – and it offers excellent ventilation.

This panel provides stretch across its width so you can get a close fit without it feeling tight. It barely stretches at all lengthwise, though, so the back of the jersey doesn't sag downward when you fill the rear pockets.

The cut is very close, race-style, but get the right size and you won't feel strangulated in there. Like I said, there's a whole lot of stretch throughout. The seams aren't flatlock stitched but the fabrics are so lightweight that they're not particularly bulky and there are no flappy labels inside to irritate you – the one at the back of the neck is printed on the fabric.

The Giro wicks sweat well, the different fabrics working hard to keep you feeling comfortable. If you do start to overheat, the front zip is full length so you can open it right up for maximum ventilation and that professional Alpe d'Huez look. Open it halfway and the zip-pull stays where you want it – it's not one of those that gradually creeps open of its own accord.

As usual, you get three pockets around the back that are elasticated at the top to stop anything going astray. There's an extra zipped pocket that's big enough to take your mobile phone, keys or whatever else you'd like to keep extra safe.

Like any other short-sleeve jersey, you could wear this as a mid-layer in cooler weather but it's certainly at its best when you want to stay cool on a hot ride. On the occasions when it has been 20°C plus this year, this jersey has done a great job; the hotter it is, the better it is because all that venting around the sides and back makes its presence felt.

As you can see, we had the white version which is the one I'd go for if I lived in Spain or Italy, or anywhere else that it doesn't rain every 10 minutes, because it looks super-cool. Here in the UK where road spray is a daily occurrence, the red or the black version would be more practical.

Verdict

Very good jersey especially suited to keeping you comfortable on hot rides