Storck Long Sleeve Jersey - Pro

The new Storck Long Sleeve Jersey Pro is a really high-quality top with a luxurious feel – although the price will deter many.

Clearly, £149 is a lot of money for a cycling jersey. We know that – we've not lost all sense of proportion just yet. But this is a very good jersey.

The Pro is mostly polyamide (nylon) with polypropylene, elastane and carbon in there. That doesn't tell the whole story, though, because Storck use several different types of fabric here.

The main one – called Notorious – is very stretchy, a lot like a roubaix fabric but with a ribbed inner surface. Then you get some less well-insulated but even stretchier panels on the sides and the underside of the arms, made from a fabric called Dual Evo, and super-stretchy panels right underneath the arms. These are made using what Storck call Seamless Textile Technology (STT). They're multi-density and multi-textured but without any elastic elements in there to attract moisture.

Overall, it's a medium weight jersey providing a medium level of warmth. There are no windproof panels or anything like that, so you'll need something more substantial over the top for really cold days. I wore it a lot over Christmas and New Year with a windproof gilet over the top, for example, and it did a great job.

The front zip is a really good one from YKK with a chunky Storck-branded puller that's easy to grasp even in thick winter gloves. A fabric fold at the bottom stops the zip rubbing on your tights and another at the top stops it scratching your neck – these two things should be required by law.

You get three pockets in the lower back with an extra zipped one for your wallet, phone or whatever. A reinforced hole allows you to thread an earphones lead through and run it internally, and there's a laser cut reflective to help get you seen.

There's a small amount of reflective print on the arms too – it says 'Handcrafted perfection' on each of them – and a small Storck logo on the front. Several washes in and they're all still firmly attached. I couldn't swear to it but they look as if they're there for the long haul.

Overall, the styling is subtle and inoffensive. I guess you could call it 'safe' or 'unadventurous', depending on your perspective, but it seems to be popular with most people.

The waistband from the sides around to the back is highly elasticated, like you get around the bottom of lots of shorts legs these days, and a small amount of silicone printing on the inside helps it stay in place.

The cut is slim but because the fabrics are so stretchy the Pro will fit a whole range of different sizes. I'm pretty skinny and it fitted me fine with tons of room for growth if I ever turn into a bloater.

The one problem I find with really stretchy jerseys is that the back can sink down around your butt when you fill the rear pockets. That happened a little bit here when I loaded them up with a waterproof and all the other usual gubbins, but it wasn't too much of an issue.

Is it worth £149? Well, you can pick up a long sleeve jersey for far less cash than this, obviously. You could have two or even three for the same money if you really want so, if value is your sole objective, you should probably look elsewhere.

This is a really good jersey though, with a great feel to it. I really like the fit and the cool looks too. If you want a touch of luxury in your life and deserve a treat, you won't be disappointed.

Verdict

High-quality winter jersey offering an excellent level of comfort, although clearly not cheap.