When you test a lot of jerseys you get used to looking out for the problem bits that just don’t feel right, but every now and again you pull one over your head that’s just so. The correct weight, the perfect drop onto the shoulder and a fabric that feels comfortable next to the skin.
O’Neal’s Pin It is well-named because, for us, it’s that jersey. Its style makes it the ideal workhorse for the majority of UK summer riding. The panel construction creates a good shape and, helped along by the use of contrast blocks, makes what should be a straightforward tech T-shirt just so much better.
The outside of the fabric has a robust handle that’s held up well against early season brambles, but the inner surface is smooth and sleek next to the skin and wicks effectively.
Despite the many seams there hasn’t been any skimping, and they are flatlocked throughout – it doesn’t just add to the feeling of quality, it makes for a more comfortable shirt overall. Added features of zipped hip pocket, mesh inserts and taped back neck underline the attention to detail.
It’s the way the Pin It combines uncomplicated style and uncompromising specification that makes it a worthy points winner, but it was also a jersey that we simply enjoyed wearing – and that’s the best recommendation of all.
This article was originally published in Mountain Biking UK magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
