Rapha Women's Souplesse Aero Jersey

The Rapha Souplesse Aero Jersey is the top worn by the Canyon SRAM pros, redesigned with a new fit and new colour options. The close-cut fit doesn't leave much to the imagination, so no flapping to slow you down, but I didn't find it the most comfortable under the arms, which was a bit disappointing given the price.

Whatever else it does, it certainly looks the part. If you don't fancy the Canyon SRAM team colours, the options are dark blue or high-vis pink. Both are plain yet stylish with small detailing including Rapha logos on the sleeve, rear and front of the jersey. The textured material on the sleeves also adds a subtle new element to the design.

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Rapha claims that this is its most aerodynamic jersey for women, combining a smooth fabric to enhance airflow over the body with textured sleeves to break up the airflow and reduce drag. At road.cc we don't have the resources to test Rapha's claims, but it certainly feels fast. It is a slim race fit with the collar, sleeves and hem sitting flush against the skin and no excess fabric left to cause unnecessary drag.

Made from stretchy polyester and elastane, the body of the jersey leaves little to the imagination and is one of the closest fitting race jerseys I have ever worn. I am usually an 8-10 and wore a small, which Rapha equates to a women's 10. I certainly wouldn't have wanted to go any smaller but I found it to be a good fit and generally true to the size guide measurements. I would recommend focusing on the measurement chart as opposed to the 'size conversion' chart if these conflict when choosing a size.

I really wanted to love this jersey the moment I saw it but came away slightly disappointed. The main reason was that I found the seams attaching the sleeves to the body of the jersey quite uncomfortable. This improved when in a riding position as opposed to standing up, but still caused some soreness and chafing around the front of my armpits. A bit of Vaseline did the trick, though, and hasn't stopped me riding in it.

The body of the jersey is thin and lightweight, wicking away sweat effectively and keeping me cool on hot rides. The textured sleeves are almost mesh-like and a mesh panel along the rear base of the jersey further helped to keep me cool. The low, close-cut collar is not only apparently aerodynamic, but also very comfortable, especially on a hot day.

The jersey has three rear pockets with a mesh lining to increase ventilation, as well as a zip-up valuables pocket.

With an RRP of £130, the Souplesse Aero Jersey doesn't come cheap. While it is stylish and high performing, I was disappointed with the discomfort from the seams around my arms, and for that reason I wouldn't be willing to pay this price.

> How to get more aero without spending a fortune 

Having tested the Rapha Souplesse Lightweight Jersey at the same time, I found that, which is made from largely the same fabric, more comfortable while still being lovely and light in the heat and a slim race cut. That, plus the slightly smaller price tag, means that unless Rapha can prove that the Aero jersey is significantly faster, I would choose the Lightweight over the Aero.

Verdict

Stylish, aero and cool, but needs to be closer to perfect for the price