Cyclist
Best long sleeve cycling jerseys 2024 reviewed for cold weather riding
The best long sleeve cycling jerseys will see you through that tricky period when it’s too cool for a summer cycling jersey, even when worn with arm warmers.
When it’s proper cold weather, a winter jacket, probably worn with bib tights and winter gloves are needed to keep you comfortably warm. But before then, you probably need more insulation and usually some windproofing. Water resistance and reflective details are also nice to have.
It’s the season when the long sleeve cycling jerseys come into their own, providing comfort as it gets colder. While some will protect you more than others, thinner options could also do double-duty as mid-layers for winter riding.
We’ve rounded up, ridden and reviewed the best long-sleeved cycling jerseys.
Reviews of the best long-sleeved jerseys
- Alé Quick R-EV1 long sleeve jersey – Read our full review
- Assos Mille GT Spring Fall LS jersey C2 long sleeve jersey – Read our full review
- Castelli Aero Race long sleeve jersey – Read our full review
- Endura FS260-Pro Roubaix long sleeve jersey – Read our full review
- Le Col Hors Categorie long sleeve jersey – Read our full review
- Rapha Brevet Windstopper long sleeve jersey – Read our full review
- Santini Pure long sleeve jersey – Read our full review
- Sportful Bodyfit Pro Thermal long sleeve jersey – Read our full review
- Van Rysel EDR long sleeve jersey – Read our full review
- Velocio Alpha long sleeve jersey – Read our full review
Why trust Cyclist’s advice?
While summer riding is always nice, when the temperature drops, daylight hours reduce and the roads get damp, here at Cyclist we don’t stop riding. Bringing you the best road bikes and best gravel bikes and all the bike tech news means riding all year round. Likewise, we’ll be out riding through the winter and as the temperatures start to rise again in the spring.
That means we’re well positioned to help you choose the best cycling clothing throughout the year. We understand what makes a great long sleeved jersey for cooler weather riding.
Best long sleeved cycling jerseys 2024
Alé Quick R-EV1 long sleeve jersey
RRP £161.99 | View offer
- Lightweight windproof, water-resistant body fabric performs well
- Mesh sleeves are cold unless worn under a wind protection layer
The Alé Quick long sleeve jersey has a body fabric with a thin grid flocked inner face and wind- and water-resistant outer side. The sleeves are made of a mesh fabric. Fit-wise it’s tiger than many long sleeved jerseys, although there’s a reasonable amount of stretch.
The design performs like a gilet and Alé claims protection at temperatures from around 12°C to 18°C. That’s a little high for UK spring and autumn riding, so the Quick is best used under an outer shell for comfortable shoulder season riding.
- Read our full Alé Quick R-EV1 long sleeve jersey review
Assos Mille GT Spring Fall LS C2 long sleeve jersey
RRP £160 | View offer
- Good wind protection in a low weight jersey
- Limited reflectives for low light visibility
The Assos Mille has a close fit, dense face fabric and high collar to help keep cold winds out and enough flocking to provide insulation. The design is straightforward, with the same fabric used throughout, but does include a sunglasses holder loop on the sleeve and a scattering of Assos logos.
Thanks to its deep flocking, the Assos Mille jersey was comfortable over quite a wide temperature range, from around 15°C down to below 10°C. It didn’t get sweaty and it’s not too bulky to use as a mid-layer on colder rides either.
Castelli Aero Race long sleeve jersey
RRP £199 | View offer
- A close fitting, low bulk jersey with water repellency
- A little cool and a similar price to Castelli’s Gabba-style jackets
Castelli makes the Aero Race long sleeve from the same fabric as its Nano Flex arm warmers, so there’s some wind and rain protection. There’s a layer of thin insulation in the front of the body. The fit is close, but there’s plenty of stretch, while six colours are available.
The 188g weight of a size M jersey and low bulk, along with aero claims make this a performance jersey. It’s comparable in price to Castelli’s Gabba derivatives though, which offer better weather protection and more warmth.
- Read our full Castelli Aero Race long sleeve jersey review
- Buy now from Tredz (£199)
Endura FS260-Pro Roubaix long sleeve jersey
RRP £119.99 | View offer
- Comfortable fit with long tail to fend off wheelspray
- Not as warm as its 392g weight might suggest
Feeling more like a jacket than a jersey, the Endura FS260-Pro Roubaix is thick and weighs 392g in size M, putting it towards the top end of long sleeved jerseys tested. This does limit its usefulness as a mid-layer under a shell jacket on colder rides.
The close fit and grid flocked front facing panels help to trap air. Despite this, there was some wind penetration, which reduced ride comfort at temperatures below 10°C, although on warmer rides at around 15°C the jersey performed well. .
- Read our full Endura FS260-Pro Roubaix long sleeve jersey review
Le Col Hors Categorie long sleeve jersey
RRP £180 | View offer
- Gridded fleece inner face provides good warmth to weight
- Expensive for a long sleeved jersey
The Le Col Hors Categorie long sleeve is made of the same fabric front and back, with the density to keep airflow down and deep internal grid flocking to provide insulation that’s deeper than standard Roubaix fabric.
The jersey provides a good level of warmth to below 10°C, with a long sleeved base layer underneath. It’s not as versatile as some pieces, although it could be used as a mid-layer and its price is on a par with many warmer jackets.
- Read our full Le Col Hors Categorie long sleeve jersey review
Rapha Brevet Windstopper long sleeve jersey
RRP £250 | View offer
- Windproof and water resistant, plentiful reflectives
- Fabric offers limited stretch, high priced
While many long sleeves offer a little more warmth than a summer jersey, the Rapha Brevet Windstopper is much more technical. It’s made of Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper fabric, which is wind- and water-resistant, with a mesh insulation layer under the front panels. There is also a huge array of reflectives to the front, rear and sleeves.
It’s a comfortable choice for cooler riders, although too bulky to use as a mid-layer. There’s also little stretch to the Gore-Tex fabric, so it’s important to make sure you’ve chosen the right size; I found the shoulders a little restrictive.
- Read our full Rapha Brevet Windstopper long sleeve jersey review
- Buy now from Rapha (£250)
Santini Pure long sleeve jersey
RRP £105 | View offer
- Stylish looks and layerable
- Sleeves are chilly at temperatures below 15°C
The Santini Pure has a close fit with a stylish marled finish to the body and thinner merino-blend sleeves. It’s a classic long sleeve jersey design that would work well as a winter mid-layer under a jacket.
On its own, the thin sleeves run a little chilly, so it’s not a jersey that felt comfortable at temperatures below around 15°C, limiting its standalone use in shoulder seasons.
- Read our full Santini Pure long sleeve jersey review
Sportful Bodyfit Pro Thermal long sleeve jersey
RRP £110 | View offer
- Close fit with good reflectives
- Thin fabric and a little short in the body
A logo-free version of Sportful’s pro-level jersey, the Bodyfit Pro Thermal has a close, performance fit, with quite narrow pockets that sit towards the upper back and can be difficult to access. There is a decent level of reflectives, including on the rear of the lower sleeves.
Portugal’s fabric is a little thin and not very insulating for temperatures below around 15°C. The short body also leaves your rear prone to wheelspray, although there’s a bit of excess fabric to the arms’ length..
- Read our full Sportful Bodyfit Pro Thermal long sleeve jersey review
Van Rysel EDR long sleeve jersey
RRP £39.99 | View offer
- Great value, plenty of pockets
- A little wind penetration
Decathlon has packed a lot of details into its Van Rysel long sleeve, which offers exceptional value. The jersey has grid fleece front facing panels and a Roubaix-style rear, with a lightweight polyester layer over the front of the body.. There are eight pockets in all: five open and three zipped.
There’s a decent amount of space to layer up underneath and plenty of reflectives. Despite the 408g weight in size M, it runs a little cool due to wind penetration, particularly on the arms.
- Read our full Van Rysel EDR long sleeved jersey review
Velocio Alpha long sleeve jersey
RRP £150 | View offer
- Deep Polartec Alpha Direct insulation to front face
- Quarter zip only, designed to use under a shell
Velocio has produced an unconventional long sleeved jersey that’s designed to be used under a shell and based on Alpine mountaineering mid-layers. The front facing panels are made of Polartec Alpha Direct, which is lightweight, but high loft to trap air. At the rear, there’s a much thinner merino blend fabric.
Even worn alone, there’s a good degree of insulation down to temperatures of around 10°C, while the thin back fabric still supports pocket contents without sagging. There’s just a quarter zip, so options are limited to increase ventilation if you heat up.
- Read our full Velocio Alpha long sleeve jersey review
The best long sleeved jerseys: what to look for
What’s the difference between a long sleeved jersey and a jacket?
Often not a lot. In general, long sleeved jerseys will be lighter weight and often less technical than winter cycling jackets. But some jerseys such as the Rapha Brevet Windstopper are heavier in weight than, say, the Castelli Gabba, which that brand calls a jacket.
If you’re looking for a more technical garment, don’t get hung up on the jersey/jacket labelling. If, on the other hand, you want a lighter weight piece, you’re probably looking at a long sleeved jersey.
Fabric features
Long sleeved jerseys usually provide some extra insulation to add comfort in the cooler temperatures for which they’re designed.
That may take the form of a ‘Roubaix’ style brushed inner face, which helps to retain heat, while still allowing the jersey to wick away sweat and remain dry. There are other options though and merino-blend fabrics are also an option that’s often seen, again for the same reasons, plus merino’s anti-odour capability.
The fit is usually quite close, aided by plenty of stretch from lycra/spandex content. Again this helps to trap warm air next to the body and wick away sweat. It’s usual to wear a long sleeved jersey with a base layer for insulation.
Windproofing
Once the temperature drops towards 10C, windchill can make a significant difference to comfort when riding. A jersey that lets a lot of wind penetrate to your core will feel much colder than one which provides some windproofing.
Some long sleeved jerseys are made or part-made of windproof fabrics, while others have densely woven face fabrics to reduce windchill.
Still others allow the wind through. This avoids them getting so damp from sweat on climbs, so that they’re not as cold on descents. This may limit the lowest temperature at which they’re comfortable though.
You can always add extra windproofing with a shell jacket or a gilet worn over your long sleeved jersey.
Water resistance
Cooler conditions are often accompanied by damp roads, at least in the UK, and there may be the chance of a shower.
If you want to wear a long sleeve jersey as an outer layer in these conditions, look for some water repellence. You’re unlikely to get full waterproofing though. For that you need a shell and many long sleeved jerseys are designed to be worn under one.
Reflectives
Spring and autumn riding often mean less light, riding at twilight or with the sun low in the sky. In these conditions, extra reflectives can increase your road presence.
Many long sleeved jerseys incorporate reflective elements, although the extent of these varies. If you’re planning to ride when the light levels are low, look for reflectives.
Pockets
Many long sleeve jerseys have the standard three rear pockets, but others augment these with additional pockets, either zipped at the rear, on the chest or elsewhere.
Extra pockets are handy if you are planning to go long or want to carry an additional layer, although a bar bag can provide as much capacity and more, without weighing you down or jiggling around when riding out of the saddle.
Layerability
Long sleeved cycling jerseys tend to have a fairly narrow temperature range over which they’re comfortable. Many have limited windproofing and they can have fairly limited insulation too. That means that typical temperature ranges over which they are effective are often in the range between 15°C and 10°C.
If you want to ride comfortably, you’ll usually need to pair a long sleeved jersey with a long sleeved base layer for added insulation.
The narrow comfortable temperature range may lead to limited use before you need something warmer or cooler.
So often, thinner long sleeved cycling jerseys can have a second life as mid-layers under another garment. That may be a gilet, although that may not keep your arms adequately warm. Alternatively, a shell jacket will add windproofing and usually some extra rain resistance.
When the temperature heads down towards zero or below, a long sleeved jersey and base layer can be worn under a winter jacket for the warmth you need to tackle long, cold rides.
It’s the lighter weight long sleeved jerseys that lend themselves to layering though, with heavier, more feature-rich long sleeved jerseys better worn as top layers only.
The post Best long sleeve cycling jerseys 2024 reviewed for cold weather riding appeared first on Cyclist.