Polaris Outlaw Jersey

Polaris' Outlaw jersey is primarily a MTB top but can be pressed into commuting and casual use too, meaning it's pretty versatile. However, the slightly unusual cut and its tendency to pick up whiffs mark it down as day-to-day wear.

The Outlaw is nicely constructed from Airbase fabric, which is a fairly loose Polyester weave. It's nicely put together, with flatlocked seams and some detail stitching. The sleeves are a 3/4 cut, coming to just below the elbow. The chest logo is reflective, which is subtle but a nice touch, and the rear is very slightly dropped for riding, but not so much that it doesn't look casual down the shops.

Polaris describe the fit as 'loose', but considering you can normally house a family of four quite comfortably in an extra-large Polaris top, I was surprised at the snugness of the fit round the arms compared to the trunk. It's certainly not tight but it's tighter than I expected, especially since it's designed to accommodate a bit of body armour should your MTBing take you to the black runs.

The Outlaw is comfortable enough to wear, although the loose weave cloth isn't the softest I've tried. You get a lot of air through the top so it's a good one for warm, sunny days – until you start to sweat, that is, as the 100% Polyester fabric doesn't take long to go feral. It washes nicely though, and it hasn't snagged or bobbled easily.

Verdict

The Outlaw is a decent all-purpose top but it does have shortcomings: It's a bit too tight in the arms to be perfect for its stated purpose (MTBing) and it gets smelly a bit too quickly to use on the daily commute. The casual look and airy feel should make it a good choice for a warm Summer pub run though, should we ever get a Summer...