Specialized's Eureka Element jersey has soft shell panels along the front of the torso, shoulders and forearms for wind protection, backed by a heavier-duty waffle-block fleece.
Therminal stretch side panels provide a snug fit, while contrasting zippered cuffs retain the tight fit around the wrists that otherwise would have been lost with the non-stretch soft shell material. In keeping with its intended cold-and-dark usage, Specialized graces the Eureka Element with reflective material and the whole package looks decidedly sharp.
The soft shell panels extend the comfort range of Specialized's standard Eureka jersey another few degrees, especially around the top of the shoulders and neck. However, we had a hard time understanding why Specialized would cover the tops and bottoms of the forearms yet leave the upper arms unprotected – in our experience, the upper arms are generally more exposed.
In addition, the zippered cuffs are a good way to get around the wrist fit issue but they have an annoying tendency to creep open if you’re not careful to zip them all the way shut, plus they make the Eureka Element a tad slower to put on and take off. It would make more sense to line the entire front of the sleeves with windproof soft shell panels and fit the back with more conventional materials. That way, the upper arms would gain some much-needed protection and the cuffs would retain enough stretch to eliminate the zippers.