RAPHA TRAIL TECHNICAL T-SHIRT

£55

SPECIFICATION Weight: 111g • Sizes: XS-XXL • Colours: Purple, light grey, dark grey, navy, green • Women’s version: Yes • Contact: rapha.cc

Rapha’s new mtb range has been growing steadily since it launched a year ago and we’ve been impressed with most of the pieces that we’ve tried so far. The Trail Technical T-shirt is the cheapest of five jerseys in the mtb range. It’s also available in a women’s cut and six colours from mild to wild. All get the signature band on the left arm and a small logo on the chest. The lightweight fabric blends 68% recycled polyester with 32% virgin polyester and is woven in a honeycomb pattern that is designed to lift the cloth above the skin for better wicking. There are no features such as a pocket or glasses wipe, but this does keep the weight down and the price more competitive. There’s also a four-way stretch that helps with mobility when getting dynamic on the bike. The fit is best described as regular – neither tight nor baggy – with a shape that’s tailored to the riding position. When standing upright there’s a tightness across the upper chest and neck that disappears as you drop into your riding position. On the bike it’s certainly a comfortable jersey, where its standout features are its low weight and good wicking properties. Even on hot, sweaty rides we didn’t get clammy or sticky. However, despite boasting an antimicrobial finish, it did get a bit smelly.

Included with every garment are offcuts of fabric that you can use to make repairs. These rectangles are adhesive-backed and can fix rips and tears. Rapha also offers a free repair service for many of its garments that can help prolong their life and lighten their carbon footprint. It’s a useful and worthy service that genuinely adds value.

A simple, stylish, highperformance jersey with commendable postpurchase back-up, from a high-end brand that brings something slightly different to the table.