Altura Nightvision 2 Thermo Long Sleeve Jersey

The Altura Night Vision 2 Thermal long sleeve jersey is a great option if you want a warm top that looks great during the day and even better by night thanks to an array of stylish reflective panels. A well-thought-out design to suit the everyday rider.

For winter commuting I was always a fan of the Night Vision (NV) range, owning the bib tights and jackets because they were just so damn visible in amongst the heavy rush hour traffic. This NV2 Thermo jersey has a much more discreet way of making you seen; it's a little less shouty but still with very impressive results.

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The NV2 Thermal has two reflective strips running either side of the centre of your back, but rather than being the usual silver Scotchlite type, they are actually black until light is directed at them. It doesn't quite bounce the light back as effectively as a more traditional reflective (you can see the difference as Altura has used silver reflectives for the label on the rear pockets) but you still show up well from a decent distance away.

The sleeves receive the same treatment, with a strip down each one from shoulder to cuff, and it's positioned for visibility from the front with your hands on the hoods. It'd be nice to see another one 180 degrees from this, though, to aid rear visibility especially when signalling.

You'll find a couple of other little details here and there too, to catch the light, and the whole setup offers good coverage to show following drivers there is a human being up front.

The use of the black reflectives means you don't look like some DayGlo high-vis warrior during the day, which I like, but if I was going to be using this jersey for riding at all times of the day, I would definitely go for either the yellow or red option over this black one.

From a performance point of view the NV2 has a lot going for it. The cut is what Altura calls semi-fitted, and using its Ergofit 3D body mapping system the jersey is designed to be perfect for riders in the saddle. It's close enough to the body to remove excess flappy material without being restricted to those riders with a body fat percentage in the single figures. A jersey for the average sized man, shall we say, although the arms are noticeably slim fitting so if you are muscular you might need to size up to be comfortable.

Sleeve length is good when stretched out, so you'll definitely have plenty of material still tucked inside the cuffs of your gloves.

The tail is dropped a long way to stop it riding up and exposing your back when hunched over in the saddle, and the front arches up to stop the material bunching up. The hem is held in place by silicone gripper.

The fleecy material that Altura calls Thermo is soft against the skin and seems to do a good job of trapping body heat. With a winter baselayer beneath it I could easily see it being useful to just below freezing. Going for a lighter, mesh-style summer option means you won't get overwhelmed in sweat up to the low teens Centigrade.

For storage you get six pockets, three of which are your traditional affair, big enough to carry your usual ride tools and spares. They are taut too, so you don't get any sag from heavy items. Either side of these there are two smaller ones which, thanks to their position, are ideal for things you might need to grab when in the saddle, gels, bars or your phone for instance. They're also particularly handy if you're carrying a backpack, as you can still access them.

The final pocket is a zippered valuables one on the back which is ideal for cash, debit card or keys. None of the pockets have a water resistant lining, so bear that in mind if you are carrying electronics.

At £59.99 I'd say the Altura offers good value for money – the fit is well thought out, the material works nicely and the overall quality is very good. It's standing up well to daily wear and tear, so durability shouldn't be an issue either. You can get cheaper – Btwin's 700 Warm is half the price, for instance, with plenty of features too, but I would say that the Altura has a more precise cut and the material used feels nicer than the 700.

You can also go much pricier; the Rivelo Felcott jersey shares a lot of similar details with the NV2 – well, other than the reflectives on offer, which is after all the Altura's USP, but the Rivelo is £100.

> Buyer's Guide: The best winter cycling jerseys

In conclusion, I'd say if you want a warm race style jersey to get you through the chilly months then the Altura NV2 is a worthy contender, and if you want to be seen at night then it's one of the better options.

Verdict

Medium-weight jersey for chilly rides, especially in failing light, having the added benefit of discreet reflectives