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Santini 365 Classe SS Jersey

8
£70.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Reasonably priced jersey for this much technical ability in summery conditions
Weight: 
110g

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.

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Santini's 365 Classe jersey certainly looks classy, while the technical melange fabric is the star of the show, performing superbly on hot rides. It's a pretty good price, too.

  • Pros: Cool, light, premium looks
  • Cons: Long sleeves, no zipped pocket

The back end of the UK's 2018 summer may not have produced quite the same sunshine and heat as we've become used to, but no matter – I took the 365 Classe jersey away with me on a break to the French Alps, and found it to be light, breathable and really nicely tailored.

> Find your nearest dealer here

In temperatures reaching the high 20s, the 'melange' main fabric performs very well indeed – feeling cool to the touch for longer than your standard fabrics, while wicking away moisture and drying quickly on the go.

You can't really sniff at the 110g weight, and it's tailored in a classic race-fit style so it fits snugly to the skin. I had a medium on test, and although on the limit in terms of fit, it was comfortable all day long.

santini_365_classe_ss_jersey_-_riding.jpg

It cuts quite long on the body, especially with the dropped tail, and the fabric is very stretchy in all directions, which really helps it to almost mould to the body. That said, aside from a little tightness under the arms (in terms of chest size I'd probably be better off with a large), it doesn't feel restrictive when you're hammering up a climb, for example.

santini_365_classe_ss_jersey_-_chest.jpg

The waist is held by an elasticated band underpinned by two thin lines of silicone, which hold fast, and there are three pockets with thin elasticated tops to help keep contents inside. The fabric's stretch means that you can store a fair bit of stuff in them, even if the capacity isn't the biggest at first glance and the elastic tops make life a touch difficult when reaching inside on the move. There's no zipped security pocket.

santini_365_classe_ss_jersey_-_pockets.jpg

The collar sits quite low on the wider part of my neck, yet with the sheer flexibility of the fabric in this area (with the same used on the arms and down the flanks), you can still comfortably zip it all the way up to the nape. Possibly because it's a little lower than normal around the front, Santini hasn't included a full zip garage, but has at least included a backing strip in this area to stop the zip pressing down on the skin.

santini_365_classe_ss_jersey_-_collar.jpg

From the outside, it looks like a very simple jersey, but the heathered look of the blue melange fabric adds an air of premium-ness about it. You can also have it in two tones of grey and a green if the blue isn't for you.

The one downside for me is the length of the sleeves – they're euro-long, giving a little more coverage than I personally like, both in terms of comfort and cultivating acceptable T-shirt tan lines. Still, there are plenty of people out there who prefer such a cut or aren't fussed, so it's only worth bearing in mind if you like shorter short sleeves.

santini_365_classe_ss_jersey_-_sleeve.jpg

Despite this, they're undeniably very comfortable: laser cut, and with no gripper tape so they sit without pulling or chafing on the skin – perfect when you're covered in sun cream and sweating a lot.

The 365 Classe jersey costs £70, which for a prestigious brand isn't bad at all, and I'd say it fully justifies it with its technical ability and comfort – certainly standing up to the likes of more expensive options from, for example, Alé and Le Col. I'm also satisfied that the quality of the stitching is sound too, if arguably slightly rough-looking thanks, I think, to Santini's choice of white thread on what is otherwise a blue jersey.

> Buyer's Guide: 20 of the best summer cycling jerseys

All in all, it's a surprisingly competitively priced jersey from the prestigious Italian brand, and you're getting plenty of warm-weather performance for your money along the way.

Verdict

Reasonably priced jersey for this much technical ability in summery conditions

road.cc test report

Make and model: Santini 365 Classe SS Jersey

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Santini says: "The Classe jersey is engineered with lightweight melange fabric to ensure supreme breathability and comfort. Perfect fit thanks to the body and fabric on the neck and sleeves, it adheres to the contours of your body without constraining. Silicone gripper at the bottom ensures the base remains rmly wrapped around your waist."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Features:

- Race fit

- Bottom elastic band with internal silicon gripper

- Comfort and performance blend

- Maximum freedom of movement

- Breathable

- Lightweight

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

It's solidly made, and well up to the rigours of regular summer use.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

The melange fabric especially is excellent at breathing and drying fast on the move.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

The fabrics are thin, but seem resilient to abrasive surfaces.

Rate the product for fit:
 
10/10

One of the highlights of the Classe jersey – the fabrics and cut really work together to produce a comfortable-yet-tight fit.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Sizes normally by my reckoning.

Rate the product for weight:
 
9/10

110g right on the money for a summer jersey – you definitely don't notice any bulk.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

Aside from the slightly aggravating (for me) sleeve length, it's very comfortable. Especially, the fabric is very soft against the skin.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

£70 is a very reasonable price tag for a jersey with this much ability in warmer weather.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Very easily.

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

Brilliantly.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Breathability, light weight, premium looks.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Long 'Euro' sleeves, no zipped pocket.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It compares very well indeed. In the review I've highlighted two jerseys from Alé and Le Col aimed towards the summer market at £100 and £125, but there are plenty more in that price range that don't outstrip the 365 Classe.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? In general, not with this length sleeves.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a high-quality, light, premium-feeling summer jersey that ticks all the performance boxes for a reasonable price.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 28  Height: 188cm  Weight: 80kg

I usually ride: Canyon Ultimate CF SL 9.0 SL (2016)  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding

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