Quality can have a huge influence on your comfort and performance, and that's no different with the best cycling jerseys.
Advances in technical fabrics in recent years mean the difference in on-bike performance between the best cycling jerseys and clothes not designed specifically for cycling can be substantial, particularly if you’re concerned about going fast or riding comfortably in hot weather.
If you're heading out for a long time, packing an extra layer to put on if the weather changes is always sensible. Our selections of the best waterproof jackets for cyclists and the best cycling gilets will help you choose suitable layers for your riding.
This list is made up of men's cycling jerseys, but we also have a list of the best women's cycling jerseys for summer.
Best cycling jerseys in 2024
Castelli Espresso Jersey
- Pros: Low weight; well ventilated
- Cons: Cost
- Price: £125 / $129.99 as tested
The Castelli Espresso Jersey is expensive but hard to fault.
Ribbed and raw-cut sleeves are comfortable and their close fit is potentially aerodynamic.
Silicone dots keep the lean waist hem in place. That said, the sizing is more relaxed than Castelli jerseys of old.
Perforated materials make the Espresso Jersey breathable and lightweight (105g in size medium).
The three rear pockets are stretchy but not saggy and there’s a zipped compartment too.
Giro Chrono Elite Short Sleeve Jersey
- Pros: Comfort; ventilation; fit
- Cons: Price
- Price: £120 / $140 / €140 / AU$160 as tested
The Giro Chrono Elite Short Sleeve Jersey saves you weight but not money compared to the brand's highly rated Chrono Expert Short Sleeve Jersey.
Giro's premium jersey costs £40 more. But quality materials, superb ventilation and a comfy, torso-hugging fit help the Chrono Elite embody its name.
Clever tech includes UPF 50+ protection in the main part of the jersey but not the mesh panels on the back and arms.
Our Phantom Blue sample looked smart, but colour choice is limited.
Endura Pro SL Race Jersey
- Pros: Good value; breathable
- Cons: No zipped pocket
- Price: £99.99 / $139.99 / €112.99 as tested
The Endura Pro SL Race is a highly breathable, slim-fit cycling jersey that competes with rivals costing twice its modest price.
The lack of a zipper garage and zipped rear pocket take the gloss off an otherwise smart design.
Our mustard-coloured sample wasn't to our tester's taste, but the Pro Race SL Jersey comes in three other colours.
Lusso Paragon Jersey
- Pros: Stylish and comfy fabric
- Cons: Lacking ventilation
- Price: £105 / $116 / €105 / AU$174 as tested
The Lusso Paragon Jersey impresses with great performance and looks at a reasonable price.
Raw-cut sleeves are stylish and stop the Paragon from rustling in the wind. The wraparound waist gripper keeps the jersey in place even when you lean forwards on the bike.
Lusso's handmade, Italian fabric is comfortable on all but the warmest days, when the absence of mesh impairs ventilation.
Scott Unlimited Aero
- Pros: Snug fit; very light
- Cons: No zip pocket
- Price: £174.99 / €189.95 as tested
The Scott Unlimited Aero is a top-quality, very light and expensive cycling jersey.
The lengthy and laser-cut sleeves feel snug, but not too tight thanks to the stretchy fabric. There are only four sizes, though.
In size medium, the Unlimited Aero weighs only 94g.
At the back, it has three pockets but none have a zip.
Van Rysel Racer 2
- Pros: Excellent value; lots of pockets; good ventilation
- Cons: No zipper garage; unisex
- Price: £49.99 / $69.99 / €60 as tested
The Van Rysel Racer 2 jersey combines classy features with a close but unrestrictive fit at a competitive price.
The laser-cut sleeves with silicone dots sit snugly on the arms, with their ribbed fabric and elbow length offering potential aero gains.
Mesh side panels help cool you down on warm days. For a size medium, a weight of 140g is fairly light.
The four rear pockets, one zipped, are stretchy but not saggy, and the two trash pockets are a smart idea.
But the elasticated waistband is basic, a zipper garage is lacking and female cyclists question the 'unisex' fit.
Also consider...
The following jerseys scored fewer than four out of five stars in our reviews but are still worth considering.
MAAP Adapt Jersey
- Pros: Comfortable; airy
- Cons: Expensive
- Price: £145 / $180 / €155 / AU$215 as tested
The MAAP Adapt Jersey is comfortable and high quality but not cheap.
The fit is more relaxed than racier jerseys, probably to the detriment of aerodynamics.
Despite weighing 147g in size medium, the Adapt Jersey is good in the heat. Mesh panels under the smooth Italian fabric provide lots of ventilation.
We weren’t keen on the styling – a large ‘A’ spreads across the chest – and only two colours are available.
The Adapt doesn’t have a zipper garage, but it has three deep rear pockets and a zipped side pocket.
Rapha Pro Team Training Jersey
- Pros: Good spec; comfortable; well ventilated
- Cons: Uneven fit
- Price: £110 / $145 / €130 / AU$180 as tested
The Rapha Pro Team Training Jersey is reliable, reasonably light and understated.
Its smooth Italian fabrics are comfortable and large mesh areas on the arms and chest are well ventilated.
Despite being a ‘training’ jersey, the Pro Team is quite tight on the arms and torso.
The Pro Team weighs a respectable 122g in size medium.
Features include a zipped back pocket, three large rear pockets and a full-length zip cover.
Gore Spinshift Jersey
- Pros: Lightweight; eco-friendly
- Cons: Basic design
- Price: £99.99 / $120 / €99.95 as tested
The Gore Spinshift Jersey is lightweight at 121g in size medium and made from good-quality recycled materials.
But the features and style underwhelm for the price.
Full-length elasticated bands secure the hem and arms instead of the silicone dots and laser-cut sleeves seen on better jerseys.
The Spinshift could also do with a larger zip head and guard to reduce the risk of the zip rubbing your neck.
It has three rear pockets and a zipped compartment with reflective details.
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Buyer's guide to cycling jerseys
Why should I wear a cycling jersey?
Whether or not you'll be happier in a dedicated cycling jersey really depends on what kind of riding you're looking to do.
Do you want to ride fast or efficiently, without wasting watts? If so, a properly fitted cycling jersey is going to serve you best.
If you're more interested in taking it easy and staying casual, or you're looking to stop off in shops and towns mid-ride, then there's nothing wrong with wearing your normal clothes, or a mix of cycling-specific clothes and non-cycling-specific clothes.
Just be mindful that if it rains or you get sweaty, everyday clothes aren't designed to be as breathable or quick-drying as cycling-specific kit.
Fit, fabrics and aerodynamics
Tight, close-fitting kit is more aerodynamically efficient than loose, baggy clothing. Indeed, our wind tunnel testing found an aero jersey is one of the best aero upgrades.
It's also easy enough to test yourself – just go out in a baggy top, the increased air resistance is obvious.
What's less well known is that both the type of fabric and the placement of seams can also have an effect on the aerodynamic efficiency of cycling jerseys.
These jerseys are often more complex and expensive to design and manufacture than standard jerseys though, so you'll likely need to cough up some extra cash to get your hands on them.
They arguably represent a good-value performance upgrade though, because aero jerseys can have a relatively large effect on how aerodynamic you are but cost much less than aero road bikes or aero wheels.
On the other hand, if you're not fussed about optimising your aerodynamic efficiency, a light, looser jersey might be more comfortable and offer a little more breathability in hot weather.
Just be wary when sizing up that if a jersey is too big for you, the rear pockets might sag a bit when full of stuff.
Other than the fact that it doesn't look amazing, it's not a huge problem. But it will likely make the pockets a bit harder to reach while riding.
How much money do I need to spend on a cycling jersey?
It depends on your goals. Lower-priced jerseys tend to be perfectly functional but are most often targeted at non-racers, so if you're looking for a very tight fit you may need to size down.
Higher-priced jerseys have usually been subject to more in-depth research and development, possibly using wind tunnel or real-world testing to refine the fit and aerodynamics. You may also get more advanced fabrics with features such as protection from UV rays.
Styling also tends to improve as the price increases because premium brands invest more in design. This is subjective, so we'll leave it up to you to make the call.
