Altura Dry Mesh Vest Base Layer

The Altura Dry Mesh Vest is a really comfortable and incredibly breathable base layer at a great price. While brand snobs may sniff at the Altura marque, this is unwarranted. This vest is only missing an inspirational motif on the chest to give me difficulty picking between this and more upmarket tops.

First of all, the fit of this sleeveless base layer is amazing. It hugs your entire torso without bunching up in any areas and the arm openings are the perfect size, not rubbing under the armpit but also being snug so that the technical fabric does its job in wicking sweat away everywhere. I welcomed the close fit around the waist as this stopped it from riding up over the course of a ride, improving comfort over other base layers I've tried.

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The only criticism I have is of the relatively high neck-line, though this was only an issue when wearing a skin suit with quite a wide opening at the neck. It doesn't impact on comfort but it looks a bit silly having the base layer sticking out at the top. For 99% of riders during 99% of their rides, this wouldn't be a problem at all.

The open mesh fabric does a really good job of transporting sweat away from the skin and allowing air to circulate underneath your jersey, keeping you cool in hot or humid weather. It also keeps the jersey fabric from sticking to your skin when it gets sweaty which is a horrible feeling. In the summer heat, wearing this base layer kept me cooler and more comfortable than no base layer at all. The actual material is very soft next to the skin.

The top didn't shrink at all in the wash and doesn't seem to retain the sweaty pong that some synthetic fabrics fall victim to. It came out of the washer as good as new even after getting very dirty riding on some wet, mucky lanes.

Read more: The best cycling base layers — undershirts for all seasons

At £35 this is quite an expensive top. It performs comparably to offerings from Rapha, Castelli and other brands so this is reasonable: Rapha's pro team base layer, for example, costs £45. Other brands like Endura have mesh base layers available for £5 less than Altura's so these may well be worth a look. It is also available in a short-sleeved version if you prefer.

All things considered, this is a brilliant item of clothing and a great addition to any cyclist's wardrobe. While I do believe in paying for quality, I don't think a premium for a logo is justifiable on underwear and think this garment is competitive with high end brands' offerings.

Verdict

Top quality base layer with a stretch that should accommodate a variety of body shapes