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dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey

8
£75.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Great jersey for keeping you warm on its own or as part of a layering system
Weight: 
258g

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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Considering how thin and lightweight it is, the dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey does a very impressive job of keeping you warm and its lack of bulk means it's great for layering when autumn gives way to winter. It's also great quality and decent value too.

  • Pros: Warm but breathable fabric; well made
  • Cons: It's hard to pinpoint any real flaws

With the temperature nudging 8°C outside I really wasn't sure how I was going to stay warm with just the dhb jersey and a long sleeve lightweight baselayer on. The fabric is really lightweight and although dhb claims a working temperature range of 6°C to 16°C, I wasn't convinced.

However, the first couple of miles were chilly, as it should be when you first start out, but once I'd got the blood pumping, the temperature of the dhb was absolutely spot on.

dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey - riding.jpg

The main body of the Equinox is a brushed polyester and that finish seems to trap just enough body heat to keep you warm while also being impressively breathable. I was toasty, but even when working hard I didn't build up a sweat unless I was really attacking the hills or sprinting. Those few times I worked hard enough to build up a bit of sweat it was soon transferred away without the jersey left feeling wet or cold against the baselayer.

dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey - chest.jpg

Being so thin and breathable means the Equinox isn't going to be restricted to just autumn or spring use as it'll easily fit under a jacket as part of a layering system when temperatures start to dip below freezing.

> How to dress for cycling in autumn

The sleeves use a slightly different fabric with a closer knit to add a bit of wind resistance, and on the inside next to the skin the fabric has a 'peach-like' texture to it for warmth – dhb's words, not mine.

dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey - back.jpg

The sleeves are a good length, too, being long enough to tuck in under the cuffs of gloves, and the rest of the jersey follows suit.

dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey - cuff.jpg

The Equinox range uses dhb's performance fit which means it's designed to sit close to the body without being restrictive. It's really well cut, shaped in a way that it works when you are on the bike so there isn't any bunching up of material when you are crouched over in the saddle.

The tail is nicely dropped to keep your lower back covered and the front arches up towards the central full-length zip, which stops any rucking of the material there.

dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey - hem.jpg

The zip itself runs smoothly and the large plastic tab is easy to operate with chunky gloves on. At the top there is a handy zip garage to stop irritation of the neck.

Around the back you'll find four pockets, three in a traditional style with the right hand one having an extra zipped valuables pocket on the outside, with a water-resistant liner between the two.

dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey - pockets.jpg

The depth of all the pockets is good – they'll swallow pretty much everything you'll need on a ride easily, and without any sag.

A neat touch is the reflective strip along the top of the pockets, plus there is another section at the bottom of the middle pocket for a little bit of extra visibility. The rear dhb logo is also reflective and you get a couple of strips on each arm.

dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey - sleeve.jpg

The overall quality is top notch. The stitching is pretty much faultless throughout; the whole jersey is neat and tidy and excellently finished.

With a list price of £75 you really can't knock it for value either. The Sportful Moire Thermal Jersey, for instance, will set you back around £90.

There is some tough opposition out there, though, especially from brands like Decathlon's Triban. Some of its jerseys we've tested lately such as the RC 500 Long Sleeve Jersey at £35 or the RC 100 at just £19.99 are really good.

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

The dhb's performance is very good too, though, and it's a quality piece of kit so I still stand by its score higher than average on value for money.

Overall, with the right amount of layering, the Aeron Equinox Thermal jersey will easily work across three seasons and will be an excellent addition to your cycling wardrobe.

Verdict

Great jersey for keeping you warm on its own or as part of a layering system

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road.cc test report

Make and model: dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal Jersey

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

dhb says, "Is this the most versatile jersey out there? This lightweight yet protective long sleeve jersey from dhb is designed to keep you comfortable in autumn, spring and early winter conditions. The perfect layer at the centre of your cycling kit."

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

dhb lists:

Premium Fabric Technology

Based on extensive testing, dhb have combined two premium Italian fabrics. The main body is a lightweight polyester. Slightly brushed to trap some warmth, this is extremely breathable too allowing moisture and excess heat to escape. Temperature can vary a lot throughout an autumn or spring ride. This fabric works hard to keep you focused on the ride, not replotting the quickest route home.

The arms are made from a tight-knit fabric, picked for its wind resistant properties without the need for a membrane that traps moisture build-up. This fabric also has a peach-like texture on the inside, for great next to skin comfort and a touch of added warmth.

 

Performance Fit

The Equinox Jersey has a performance fit, designed to sit close to the body but without being too restrictive. The body is built from a performance stretch fabric to ensure this comfortable and supportive fit, and to prevent any flapping to slow you down.

Finishing Touches

Like all dhb jerseys, it's the finishing touches that really make this jersey tick all the boxes. A full-length zip allows an extra venting option on the move. Carefully considered reflectives on the rear and arms of the jersey are there to catch a headlight when riding on shorter days in low light conditions. 4 pockets including a zip make this a real all day jersey.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
9/10

dhb's sizing always seems pretty realistic, and I had no issues whatsoever.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

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

No problems with washing at all. It didn't shrink and came up clean after each wash.

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

Great at keeping the cold out in autumn temperatures.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Surprisingly warm considering how thin the fabrics are.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I couldn't really find anything to majorly dislike.

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

The dhb sits somewhere in the middle of the price range. You have brands like Sportful or Morvelo charging more, but others like Lusso or Triban being a little cheaper.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A quality garment throughout and one that works very well in a whole range of temperatures. It's a decent price too, although there is some tough competition out there.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

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

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

As part of the tech team here at F-At Digital, senior product reviewer Stu spends the majority of his time writing in-depth reviews for road.cc, off-road.cc and ebiketips using the knowledge gained from testing over 1,500 pieces of kit (plus 100's of bikes) since starting out as a freelancer back in 2009. After first throwing his leg over a race bike back in 2000, Stu's ridden more than 170,000 miles on road, time-trial, track, and gravel bikes, and while he's put his racing days behind him, he still likes to smash the pedals rather than take things easy. With a background in design and engineering, he has an obsession with how things are developed and manufactured, has a borderline fetish for handbuilt metal frames and finds a rim braked road bike very aesthetically pleasing!

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