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review
£89.99
VERDICT:
A good jersey for racing and riding in hot weather, if a little short at the front
Weight:
135g
Contact:
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.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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If you want a close-fitting jersey that is comfortable and aerodynamic, the Santini Sleek 2.0 is well worth a look.
Italian cycle clothing has long had a reputation for coming up on the small side, and that's very much the case here. I tested a medium size jersey and it compares to a small from brands like Sportful or Rapha.
> Find your nearest dealer here
That's intentional though. Santini has designed this jersey to provide a second-skin fit (and boy does it do that) for the best possible aerodynamics for racing. It isn't, it has to be said, the most flattering if you're packing a few curves. But if you are a slim racing cyclist, you'll be just fine. Santini offers no aerodynamic data, but it certainly feels fast. Though that could just be the restricted blood flow...
Santini uses two fabrics in the construction of the jersey. Lightweight Aritco is used for the front panels. It is highly breathable and copes really well in hot conditions and dries quickly after a sweaty climb. Around the back is LyraKa, which promotes enhanced breathability where you need it most.
For added peace of mind when riding in the sun, the fabric has a UV treatment to protect your skin. You get a full-length zip for maximum ventilation when climbing, and a comfortable collar when the zip is done right up.
Round the back are three pockets of standard size, and an additional zipped pocket – a nice feature on an otherwise lightweight racing jersey, and ideal for safely storing the house/car keys or other valuables.
The jersey is very nicely made; it's clearly produced to a high standard and durability has been very good during the time I've been testing it. I like the general feel of the jersey too, with the high-quality fabrics making it a joy to wear.
Details such as the wide elastic anti-slip cuffs and waist hem ensure the jersey remains in place and doesn't shift about when you're riding, and you can load up the rear pockets and there's no excessive sagging.
There's some reflective taping across the top of the pockets, a nice touch for riding home from the evening race or group ride, ensuring this race jersey has enough practicality away from the race circuit.
> Check out our guide to the best summer cycling jerseys
While the fit is mostly pretty good, especially around the shoulders and torso, it's a touch short at the front; another centimetre would have been appreciated.
Santini offers the jersey in an impressive eight sizes, from XS to 4XL, and a choice of colours.
Verdict
A good jersey for racing and riding in hot weather, if a little short at the front
road.cc test report
Make and model: Santini Sleek 2.0 jersey
Size tested: Medium
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Santini says: "Santini's Sleek 2.0 Aero jersey draws inspiration from the aero jerseys the make for World Tour teams. Close fitting and slippery through the air, every little watt saved may be the difference between first and second."
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Close aero fit
Artico fabric - high stretch, breathable and lightweight
Anti slip aero arm cuffs
Deep anti slip waist hem
3 rear pockets
1 zipped valuables pocket
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
6/10
Okay, but could be longer.
Rate the product for sizing:
5/10
It comes up very small; this medium is closer to a small from many other brands.
Rate the product for weight:
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
7/10
Get the right size and it's a comfortable jersey.
Rate the product for value:
6/10
Not cheap, but it is a good jersey.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
No probs.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
For racing and high-speed training, where aerodynamics matter, it's a very good jersey.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Close fit and comfortable fabric; works well in hot and humid conditions.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
A bit short in the torso.
Did you enjoy using the product? Maybe
Would you consider buying the product? Maybe
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Maybe
Use this box to explain your score
It's a high-quality jersey made from good fabrics and constructed to a high standard, but it's just let down a bit by the sizing, and even though it did fit me okay, it's a bit short in the torso.
About the tester
Age: 31
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, mountain biking
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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6 comments
There's a local club that uses these... and having used them for the last 3 months I can say the fit is perfect and the details are great: gripper grip, zippers zip and the piping is really useful, much better than their sportive series for practicality.
The only downside is the material is very thin, perfectly fine for everyday wear and I can't see it ever tearing but... if you need to pin a race number on regularly (as it's designed for racing, many will) then you'll find it leaves nasty holes from the off.
If it's too short and too tight, perhaps the tester should have tried a size L?
Oh come on... if you really want to be that aero, just buy a skinsuit with back pockets. No one wants to see your bibshort belly.
Some of us have different length upper/lower bodies. I wear XL shorts and can wear a medium jersey. I have a BMI of 22.5. Unless you can find a manufacturer that does all possible combinations of S,M,L in lower/upper >>>>>
Should a racing style jersey be designed for loafing around or for actual cycling? From the look of the first photo above in the riding position, the front length looks just right, with none of the bunching that most other tops cause e.g. the Assos SS.milleJersey_evo7.
Similar in shape and cut to Rapha's Trade Jersey (2015)...very high at the front too...