Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Road Holland The Edam Midweight Long Sleeve Jersey

8
£93.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Good quality wool-mix jersey with comfortable fit and lots of pocket space
Weight: 
300g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

There are a few manufacturers out there using Sportwool and similar fabrics to make comfy jerseys and the Road Holland Edam is a good one. It's comfortable and performs well on the bike, and it's pretty hardy too.

Sportwool uses a fine weave of merino wool next to your skin and a thicker polyester layer on the outside. The wool is really good at moisture management, wicking sweat effectively, plus it's naturally antibacterial. The polyester layer is tough and holds its shape better than a pure merino fabric would, which is good news if you like to fill your jersey pockets.

The Edam is available in six colours, with contrasting trim. It has a full length zipper, and shaped cuffs and a dropped rear contribute to a comfortable fit on the bike. At the back the available pocket space is split into two pockets rather than three. If you don't carry much gear with you then your stuff might rattle around in the big pockets, but the flipside is that it's much easier to stow a jacket or something bulky. There's a zippered pocket for your phone too, and reflective piping across the tops of the pockets for after-dark visibility.

Sometimes I like the two pockets better than three, and sometimes I wish there was a central pocket i could fill up without leaving me feeling lop-sided. So I guess I'm ambivalent on whether it's a good thing or not. The faster your ride, and the less you're carrying, the less effective it is compared to the standard layout. The fabric is stretchy but not to the same level as pure merino, so you can load up the pockets without the jersey hanging too low.

I've worn the Edam for a variety of riding and it's a versatile top that's comfy next to the skin and wicks well. Left to breathe as an outer layer, or underneath a good quality breathable shell, it's very effective at keeping you dry even when you're working hard. Cover it with something more barrier-like, a rain cape for instance, and the relatively heavy fabric can get a bit swamped at times. It's not quite as quick to dry as a fully synthetic jersey at times but it's pretty good.

The merino layer certainly cuts down on the smells post-ride, and it's easy to wash on a normal cycle. The tough outer weave it still looking its best after repeated passes through the machine. It's a quality garment, comfortable and stylish. It's certainly not a cheap jersey at not much under £100 but it's not the most expensive Sportwool-type jersey out there, and it's nicely made and lasting well.

A quick word on sizing: I'm wearing the medium which is a good fit on me (1.90m, 93kg). I'm not a medium though, I'm a large. So if you want a close fit, it's probably a good idea to size down.

Verdict

Good quality wool-mix jersey with comfortable fit and lots of pocket space

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Road Holland The Edam Midweight Long Sleeve Jersey

Size tested: Medium, Silver Grey

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

You might know the name Edam from cheese, but this jersey is anything but cheesy. It's made from our signature 61% Poly / 39% Merino Wool blend that is perfect in cool but not arctic cold conditions. An inner layer of Merino wicks moisture away from the skin while an outer layer of polyester helps that same moisture to quickly evaporate.

A full zip means you can easily put the Edam on over a base layer and vent it if you get too hot. Additionally, the Edam features a new back pocket design with two large cargo pockets than can accommodate a shell and lots of other gear you might need. The exterior zippered pocket is large enough to fully encase a smart phone. Running along the top edge of the pockets is a reflective strip to help keep you visible at night.

The Edam features a very slight roomier cut than the Arnhem, our previous mid-weight long sleeve jersey. The extra room will easily accommodate a base layer but will not result in flapping fabric if worn alone. If you own a current Arnhem, we suggest to order the same size that fits you now and enjoy the extra slack.

The Edam comes in Royal Orange (with Navy Accents), Midnight Blue (with Orange Accents), Devil Red, Silver Grey, Grass Green and Road Black and is available in sizes XS to XXXL.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well, a good Sportwool jersey at a fair price.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Comfy, well made, washes well.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Not entirely sold on two pockets; fit is generous.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 42  Height: 190cm  Weight: 100kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Kinesis Tripster ATR

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

 

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

Add new comment

7 comments

Avatar
PRINCIPIA PHIL | 9 years ago
0 likes

If you want "proper wool jerseys" then Wabi Woollens is the ultimate, they're the epitome of understated style - there isn't one badge or logo on it and the owner of the company is so passionate about his products he also provides extensive notes on how to wash them.

Avatar
Paul J | 9 years ago
0 likes

I love wool, and this jersey looks nice, but SportWool is almost pointless. I had a jacket with a merino/polyester mix, and the polyester in the mix ends up stinking just as badly. You might as well just buy a fully synthetic garment, that you can at least put though a hotter wash.

If you're a cycling garment maker and you want to do wool garments, please go for 100% wool. For jerseys, you may still use some synthetics for reinforcing the pockets and around the pockets if you wish, but otherwise stick with 100% wool.

The only reliable source of proper wool jerseys these days seems to be Vulpine (and lovely they are too). (?)

Avatar
Leviathan | 9 years ago
0 likes

Rapha looks for Rapha prices.

Avatar
badback | 9 years ago
0 likes

Don't want to get into a debate / argument about the cost of goods that nearly always comes up every week, but if you have ever worked out the cost of making jerseys out of a material like Sportwool, merino or similar, you'll find it's not cheap to buy.

Then you've got product development and manufacturing costs which are more expensive for smaller production runs.

Manufacturers and dealers are in the business to make money. Clothing like this do not sell in large volumes so generally the pile em high sell em cheap strategy used by various retailers does not work.

I'll admit I'm a Road Holland dealer, but the same applies Vulpine, Shutt VR, Velobici and many other clothing manufacturers.

If you want a cheaper jersey fair enough, but please bear in mind the reasons why an item may cost more.

Avatar
Freddy56 | 9 years ago
0 likes

I think everyone has lost the he of themselves. If it is cheaper than Rapha it must be good value! Well 100 quid for a cycling jumper is still 50 too much. Regardless of the spiel, we are morons if a wee badge makes us feel better , faster. Super functional kit is available out there for under half this, same performance .

Avatar
DLemke | 9 years ago
0 likes

I have a few a couple of their jerseys. Quality stuff

Avatar
gbzpto | 9 years ago
0 likes

Nice

Latest Comments