bccycleguy

There's a big difference between cycling jerseys these days. I've got 4: 3 short-sleeved jerseys and 1 long-sleeved one and they all have quite different design features. I'm not concerned about fit here (if it doesn't fit you why did you buy it?).

My favorite is the Giordana with a zipper pocket on the back. That's really handy for keys, ID, sometimes the cell phone. The regular rear pockets are deeper too so you never have to worry about stuff falling out. The silicone grippers on the waist and arms do their job and are a nice touch. The Giordana doesn't let the wind in at the neck so it doesn't tend to flap when you're going fast.

The Castelli was a lot cheaper and maybe you get what you pay for. It does wick very well, but the material is so thin I question how much sun UV it blocks. The 3 rear pockets are shallow so you couldn't carry e.g. a pump or anything large. It also lets a lot of wind in, even when zipped up so the shoulders tend to billow out and flap a bit.

My Pearl Izumi is an old favorite but has few outstanding features. It seems to have gotten bigger or stretched a bit over the last couple of years so it doesn't wick as well anymore.

My Cannondale windfront long-sleeve jersey is great. It has a full zip which is really nice for a tight fitting top, stretchy but not too much. Wicks well but blocks the wind well too. This one is new this year and I can think of a lot of rides in past years that I wished I had something like this Cannondale to wear.

So what are some features that you really like in a jersey?

urbanknight

I can tell you a feature I can't stand: zippers that come all the way up, including the collar. I almost never ride with the collar around my neck like I'm wearing a tux, and when I have the zipper an inch down the sides fold over in weird positions.

Aside from that I like the half length zippers. The full ones tend to make the jersey flap around a lot, and the short zippers never get me enough air on a hot day.

I also like the ones with an extra long back so I don't get plumber's butt, since I don't use bibs.

grinderbob

simple and classic Team Z Vetements Jersey. long zipper in front, 3 pockets in the back.
Graphics and color are awesome. I have 2 short sleeves 2 long sleeves, called me obessessssssss

voltman

Raglan sleeves are great.

khuon

Your location identifies you as hailing from California. Some of us who live in a bit chillier climates tend to like the zippers that come all the way up. In the course of a single day (in the summer even) my temperature variation over the course of my ride can be as much 40 degrees F going from around the low 50s in the morning to the mid-80s and sometimes low 90s.

urbanknight

^ Yeah I figure people that live in colder climates are more happy with the long zipper. Here in the San Fernando Valley, I would ride topless if I wasn't afraid of two things: (1) crashing and tearing my skin up more than with a jersey, and (2) blinding people from seeing my ugly hairy chest.

khuon

And let's not forget about that direct exposure to sun which has all sorts of unpleasant aftereffects.

urbanknight

SPF45 baby! But I will say, growing up in it with a decent base tan helps to avoid sunburn. I'm sure that doesn't help much with cancer, though. I loved Seattle when I visited there, both Winter and Summer. But the wife recommends we stay near our parents (free babysitting, less travel to visit, etc.), then we can retire to where ever we want.

ViperZ

I like the zipper pockets on my Assos Unos Jerseys.

I love the Fabric of my Campagnolo Raytech jersey, as it seems to wick and transport the moisture the best. Additionally I like the cut and all the small features such as the gripper parts and the nice subtle reflective trim.

I like full zip units, and I like the pockets to have a slight elastic at top to help keep things in place.

I too have a Pearl Izumi podium that I love, alas it was scrubbed in an accident. I may remove the sleeves and make a Wife Beater out of it for hot weather rides

mscycler

I have a couple of Canari jerseys that I like much better than my PI. The fit seems to be better than my other jerseys.

mscycler

bruce19

I have a Nike "Tete de Course" shirt in wool that I like a real lot. Very retro.


bruce19

Chucklehead

i'll throw descente in there. most comfortable jerseys i've ever worn.

velorapide

Nalini.

7rider

Fabricwise, my favorite is the Giordana double layer. Feels great against the skins and breathes very well.

8bit

I like anybody who makes a womens' XS jersey, preferably with long sleeves. The first XS I got totally spoiled me- it didn't balloon and flap, and my race numbers actually stayed where they should be. Unfortunately, it's hard to get XS in stores and a shocking number of the girly jerseys are the ugly-please-give-me-skin-cancer sleeveless type.

EventServices

Voler is great stuff. They do our team uni. LOVE their skinsuit.

Rich Hincapie also makes some decent stuff.

It's all personal preference, though. Some bodies need different fits.

I want a short-sleeve jersey with SUPER DEEP pockets for use in the spring-fall when I need to stow my outer layers.

fruitless

hands down my favorite too, I want all my tops to be Nalini now