dhb Aeron Lab Raceline Short Sleeve Jersey

The Aeron Lab Raceline Short Sleeve Jersey is part of the new performance range from dhb and it's a no-nonsense piece of race kit with top-end fabrics, a slim fit and impressive performance, especially in the summer temperatures.

• Pros: Super-comfortable fabrics, great quality, impressive breathability
• Cons: No zip garage (no biggie)

dhb is renowned for its quality kit and sensible pricing, and even though this Lab Raceline jersey will set you back £110 it's still impressive value for money when you consider what you are getting.

There's a mixture of fabrics involved to get the desired fit and performance, most notably the mesh panels at the sides, the top of the arms and shoulders. It's said to disrupt airflow and increase aerodynamics.

The rest of the main body uses a soft, less stretchy fabric to keep everything in shape and it's very breathable too. Wearing a black jersey in a 30°C heatwave isn't normally a very appealing proposition, but the dhb certainly keeps you cool as the breeze passes over you. (It comes in red and blue too.)

The materials are all quite thin, and while I didn't have any issues with durability a bit of care will be needed.

The way it is all put together is quality as well. All the stitching is nice and tidy, with no stray threads or anything, plus the seams are flat and unobtrusive so you can get away without wearing a baselayer should you want. The materials are really comfortable against the skin too.

The cut is based on a race cyclist's physique so it's tailored to suit and that mesh fabric has a very high level of elasticity which is why the Lab has a second skin fit, as dhb calls it.

At the hem the front is arched up towards the centre so that when you are in a crouched position on the bike it's the right length not to bunch and the rear is much longer to keep you covered. It's kept in place by a thin gripper which literally just runs the width of the rear panel.

The stretch of the fabric stops anything moving really anyway, so the laser cut arms have just a small gripper too.

The neck doesn't have a chin guard at the top of the zip which is something that I normally like to see, but dhb has dropped the neckline to avoid irritation in a racing position so I won't complain.

At the rear you get three pockets – well, four if you include the pocket inside a pocket that is designed for valuables. It sits inside the centre pocket and is about the right size for a debit card or some cash. It doesn't have a zip, just an 'envelope' cover, but the main pockets are that taut anyway nothing is escaping.

When empty, the pockets are designed to lie flat for aerodynamics as they are almost folded at the bottom before they are stitched. When you load them up they fill out rather than sag, so you can carry quite a bit of kit with you.

I've mentioned that the fit is very close so it's worth taking a look at the sizing. The Lab Raceline is an aerodynamic race jersey so shouldn't have any material flapping around at all. On wiggle's website it says that it has a closer fit than the standard Aeron collection for the same given size. I'll second that, and if you try some of this kit do sit on your bike before you make your mind up. It really doesn't feel that comfortable when you are stood around in it, but when you're sat on the saddle it feels a lot less restrictive.

If you have a slim shape then go for your normal dhb size to get the most benefit, and if you are of a larger frame or you just want the fit to be the same as the standard Aeron then go up a size. On the whole, I found the size chart to be pretty spot on.

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

I touched on price at the beginning and I really do think the Lab Raceline offers very good value for what it is. It's near-faultless in performance and the build quality is excellent. It's good to see a choice of colours rather than just black, too.

It is pricier than the Castelli Aero Race 5.1 Jersey that I reviewed a while back, but it comes in cheaper than the Le Col Pro at £120.

Verdict

A brilliant next step for dhb, the Lab Raceline is a pure performance jersey at a decent price