The XC is Troy Lee Designs’ classic racer-style jersey and there’s little that can beat a proper performance cut when you’re heading out for a hard, fast blast.
Three drop pockets at the rear are supplemented by a small but useful zipped pouch on the right-hand side, providing a safe home for car keys and loose change, and saving you from attempting to descend with one hand behind your back trying to retrieve contents before they’re ejected onto the trail.
Breathability is top notch despite the basic polyester fabric: it’s light enough to be proper summer wear – although obviously black’s not ideal for the midday sun – and airy fine mesh panels keep the breeze flowing under your arms.
They also extend across the chest but we found the extra overlocked seam didn’t play nicely with pack straps.
The large stripes of reflective material are a good touch but the pricetag is on the steep side for the fabric technicality.