Santini Beta Windstopper Short Sleeve Jersey

The Santini Beta Windstopper Short Sleeve Jersey is designed to be as versatile as possible in temperatures from 10-20°C. The idea is to do away with layers, a one-jersey-does-all kind of thing – tricky you might think, but Santini has pulled it off.

The Beta is constructed in the most part from Windstopper Laminated 178 fabric, a shiny, smooth-feeling material that not only stops an icy northerly wind but keeps light rain at bay too.

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It's been a mild old autumn and winter so far, and jerseys like the Beta really come into their own in these conditions. Wet days around the mid-teens are too warm for a traditional waterproof, so the Beta has been out getting a lot of action in the last few weeks.

Weatherproofing

An hour in reasonably heavy rain saw the Beta cope admirably. The rain wasn't heavy but it was consistent, the type where you slowly get soaked without really realising it until you stop. You can see the water beading on the membrane surface as you ride, and when I finally arrived at my destination and removed it the only place water had seeped in was around the arms where a different material is used. Impressive indeed considering the temperature (16°C), and I was moving at a fair old lick, meaning breathability is up to scratch too.

To remove body heat there are mesh panels under the arms, while the centre of the back and shoulders are made of a more standard Lycra material, as are the pockets and lower back.

When things get chillier the performance from the Windstopper is marked. You can feel the windchill on other parts of your body while your torso is still warm even with just a baselayer underneath.

For days when the temperature really starts to drop, Santini makes a set of matching arm warmers from the same Windstopper material to complete the setup.

Fit

As far as the fit goes, it's a bit of an odd one: the upper half feels quite racy, close across the chest (and we're talking about an unmuscular cycling chest here, mind – that's not me in the piccies!), but much more relaxed across the midriff. It didn't quite fit me as well as I'd have liked, though it wasn't uncomfortable. Try before you buy, as fit is a very personal thing, especially when you're perched on a bike.

Though short, the sleeves are surprisingly fitted as well, ideal I suppose for keeping up those arm warmers.

Storage space

You get the usual three pockets at the rear, each with a drainage/ventilation hole. That's a nice touch because, if you are pushing hard in humid conditions, things like phones in your back pocket can soon steam up from your body heat.

The pockets themselves are roomy, but I'd like to see a little more tension to make them a little more secure, as they aren't the deepest.

> Check out our guide for more clothing to keep you warm as winter approaches

While it's not cheap at £109.99, the Beta isn't overly expensive. Other jerseys that offer this kind of all-weather performance – the Castelli Gabba, for example – are usually a good 30 to 40 quid more.

Overall, the Beta Windstopper really works in the conditions it's intended for. Often, I would just wear this jersey without grabbing a gilet or windproof like I would normally have done. I wasn't a massive fan of the fit, and would like some deeper pockets, but on the whole the Beta is a clever and very useful design.

Verdict

A clever jersey in the way it deals with the weather conditions, but could do with a little refining on the fit