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Vulpine Long Sleeve Merino Polo

8
£85.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Good looking, smart casual top with nice detail and features
Weight: 
285g
Contact: 
www.vulpine.cc

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.

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This Vulpine Long Sleeve Merino Polo is the long sleeved sibling of the Vulpine Polo shirt reviewed here. What we have is a smart casual collared jersey made from 100% merino, the natural, sustainable fabric that grows on some special deluxe sheep that probably live on bling farms featured on MTV, maybe, possibly.

Merino has qualities that are perfect for cycling, it is comfortable and soft and wicks sweat away from the body very well, it regulates heat and as an added bonus it does a really good job of not getting stinky. Oh, and it doesn't really need an iron either, sounds like a perfect fabric for blokes too. Pretty amazing stuff but so to is the price for such luxurious natural fibres crafted into a a small run of natty cycle tops; it all adds up.

The top gives a little bit more room than the equivalent sized t-shirt but it has a slim cut and complements one's body shape very well. It has a slightly longer back to it to hide your bum cleft when hunched over your handlebars and also keeps the chill off. The long sleeves are long enough to still meet your wrists when your arms are stretched out avoiding the cuffs riding up your arm while you are pedalling annoyance.

Nice details like the Vulpine branded buttons and the contrast Vulpine green stitching on this battleship grey top are a proof of investment. The pockets are pretty special too, one on the chest and one on the back above your hip both with hidden magnetic magic buttons and an embroidered Vulpine logo on them being the only branding on this top, keeping the aesthetic clean and subtle.

The back pocket flap has a reflective strip across it which is a nice touch and does a good job of catching car headlights. I wouldn't go stuffing anything heavier than a wallet in the back pocket or it will pull on the shape of the polo and the front pocket is pretty much just for show unless you want to look like you have one odd shaped boob.

Although this top does a great job of keeping your body climate-controlled don't expect to take it out on a training ride, build up a sweat and for it not to show. What the merino does is get rid of those unsightly sweat patches rapidly and disguise any 'odour cyclisme'. This pong relief quality makes it an excellent top to cycle to the pub in or on your daily commute as an under layer or top layer as it looks genuinely smart .

Yes you do pay a premium for what the equivalent high street chain might bang out a long sleeved polo top for but they don't support your sport and you won't feel as special either and at £85 you will find that you get a lot of use out of this top and maybe the saving in your laundry bill might pay off?

Verdict

A good looking, smart casual top with nice detail and features.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Vulpine Long Sleeve Merino Polo

Size tested: Medium, Grey

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

100% New Zealand Merino Wool

magnetic fastening pockets

reflective strip on rear pocket

longer tail

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Really nicely put together. No loose threads or cheap buttons.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

It does what merino is worshipped for.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

You will wear this until it rots which will be a long time from now.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

with no venting, this top can get warm when worn underneath another garment. It is a midweight material.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10

Merino, the wool that keeps on giving. Soft and comfortable. The flat lock stitching further reduces any scratchyness. Only someone like the singing detective might find this top itchy.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

It is from a small, British, cycling apparel manufacturer not a generic re-labelled high street so it is going to be more expensive but worth it.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

If it didn't show sweat then you wouldn't need to wear a performance cycling top on a sportive. It does however so it is worn on pretty much every other type of ride.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

it is super comfy and works well at moderating your body heat and it looks dead smart.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It still shows if you are sweaty.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Indeed, maybe 2 in a sale.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?

A smart casual top that can be a sports casual top that performs well as a sports top looking well casual.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 179  Weight: 79

I usually ride: Bike that I am testing at the time  My best bike is: Condor Pista fixed. Kinesis Convert 2 geared work horse, Look KG241 skinny whippet

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed, bare back

 

Add new comment

5 comments

Avatar
TR McGowran | 11 years ago
0 likes

I think Mat(modelling)still had a broken elbow when this picture was taken so it probably was quite troublesome for him to straighten the collar. And his mum wasn't present.

Avatar
Mr. Rossi | 11 years ago
0 likes

Is it too much trouble to straighten the collar?!

Avatar
themartincox | 11 years ago
0 likes

any chance of doing a little video with a single ladies breast drawn onto the back pocket?

maybe put a chunk of lead in the pocket so we can then see how it makes the booby sag?

cheers  19

Avatar
Yennings replied to themartincox | 11 years ago
0 likes
themartincox wrote:

any chance of doing a little video with a single ladies breast drawn onto the back pocket?

maybe put a chunk of lead in the pocket so we can then see how it makes the booby sag?

cheers  19

Genius.

Avatar
TR McGowran replied to themartincox | 11 years ago
0 likes

I do have a video of the effects of smuggling a peanut in the breast pocket.

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