Vermarc Strada Long Sleeved Jersey

A mid-weight long-sleeved jersey is one of those wardrobe staples, and the Vermarc Strada is up there with the best of them. Perfect for those spring, autumn and late summer evening rides, the Strada offers warmth, breathability and above all comfort, all at a cracking price – which just got even better.

Vermarc's clothing has always impressed us here at road.cc, mostly down to that performance/price ratio that is hard to beat, and things don't change here. The Strada's RRP is £54.99, which is a decent outlay for a long-sleeve jersey, but once you take into account the quality and comfort it would actually be a bit of a steal. But because the jersey's been around for a little while now, it's actually on offer at £27.49.

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The lightweight but fleece-backed material is plenty breathable within the manufacturer's claimed temperature range of 8-16°C, making it perfect for early and late season riding (and some mid-season days too, unfortunately). Below that it can be used as a comfortable layering system for the winter; being so thin it easily fits beneath a winter jacket.

The fabric itself contains carbon fibres which Vermarc says shields the body from absorbing static energy and UV rays. It's a tough one to test, but one thing that isn't is the fact that this also gives the material antibacterial properties. That means the jersey doesn't get whiffy; I happily wore it for 10 hours of commuting before washing it and it was still smelling fresh.

The cut is classed as comfort, which basically means it's a close cut without being full-on skintight. The tail is ever-so-slightly dropped and the arms are the perfect length when in the saddle, with elasticated cuffs keeping them in place.

You get a full zip which aids ventilation should you get a bit warm, and round the back there are three deep pockets. It's quite a traditional jersey in that sense – no audio or media pockets.

It's available in black and this rather striking blue, which really stands out.

Overall, the Strada is a brilliant bit of kit. It's comfortable, very well made and performs exactly as you'd expect it to. It's versatile – thin enough for warm spring/autumn and cooler summer days, but still impressively warm when the temperature drops, and will probably cope with a mild winter when paired with a long-sleeve baselayer.

The real winner, though, is value for money, especially at its current discount. There are plenty of other brands out there with garments of this quality and cut that are charging over double this price. The Strada is a bargain.

Verdict

Warm and comfortable jersey at a cracking price