Sonny Evans
Owning one of the best long-sleeved cycling jerseys will be a game-changer for any bike rider. Proving to be a highly versatile piece of cycling apparel, a long-sleeve jersey can work well across most seasons. They can be an Ideal lightweight layer for early spring and summer mornings to take the edge off, or as an outer layer when paired with other thermal layers, primarily through Fall and Winter, making it a great value purchase.
There’s a vast range of long-sleeved cycling jerseys to choose from, with some featuring a fleece inner material that adds warmth, while others benefit from panels of fabric that guard against wind and rain. Some even work similarly to a softshell jacket, offering enhanced protection more commonly associated with the best packable jackets or best winter cycling jackets.
The quick list
It's been around a while, but the Castelli Perfetto ROS Long Sleeve Jacket still lives up to its "perfect" name, offering impressive protection and comfort in wet, windy conditions. It combines the feel of a long-sleeve jersey with water resistance akin to a rain jacket.
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Bridging the gap between long-sleeved jerseys and jackets, the Q36.5 Dottore Hybrid Que LS jersey is the best of both worlds, making a compelling case for not needing to own both.
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Like the two considerably more expensive options ahead of the Madison DTE Isoler, it is ideally suited for days when a jacket is not needed, bridging the gap between a thin long-sleeved jersey and a full winter jacket, all at a considerably lower price point.
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The Rapha Brevet Long Sleeve Jersey is a versatile and durable option ideal for long rides, touring, and bikepacking. Its breathable yet warm merino wool will also keep odours to a minimum, and is ideal for easy layering with base layers or jackets.
The Le Col Pro Aqua Zero Long Sleeve Jersey is crafted from a soft, thermal fleece-lined Lycra, offering excellent windproofing and water resistance in mist, drizzle, and cool conditions. As it dries quickly and handles autumn and mild winter rides well with just a base layer.
Castelli’s Espresso Thermal Jersey is a no-frills example of doing the basics exceptionally well. A great option for spring and autumn rides on its own, or acting as a foundation layer when teamed with other pieces, as conditions dictate. The fabric is warm and breathable, with the cut offering comfort without restriction on the bike.
Best long sleeved cycling jerseys all ridden and rated
Best overall long-sleeved jersey
Perfetto RoS Long-Sleeve Jersey
Cut with performance in mind, the Perfetto RoS Long-Sleeve jersey is the perfect companion for racking up the competitive miles.
With a temperature range ideal for spring and fall, the latest version of the Perfetto jersey has been engineered to provide water and wind resistance, with a GORE Infinium 205 warm fabric at the front for warmth and protection, and a GORE Infinium 203 back for restriction-free movement.
During testing, we were impressed with just how breathable the jersey was, with zipped venting at the chest aiding moisture management.
The racing focused jersey does only have two rear pockets for essentials only, and as Castelli has a jersey for every season, weather, riding zone, and discipline it does make the Perfetto RoS Long-Sleeve very focused, there's even a Castelli Perfetto Light which is a short sleeved version, considered the lighter weight iconic Gabba jersey, for an even more niche version.
The Perfect long-sleeved cycling jersey for the exacting rider, less so for a do-all option, but if you are looking for the best long-sleeved cycling jersey for performance, you can't do better.
Read our full Castelli Perfetto ROS Long Sleeve Jacket review
Best performance long sleeve jersey
As the name suggests, the Q36.5 Dottore Hybrid Que is a 'hybrid' in which it attempts to bridge the gap between a standard long sleeve jersey and a jacket. It does this in several ways, with the main one being its deployment of three different fabrics. UF Hybrid is the brand's key weatherproof material and can be found across the chest and arms, offering windproofing along with water repellency. At the rear, Q36.5 uses its clever Pinstripe material for ventilation. This includes an interesting technology that utilises silver thread, which has a higher heat transfer rate, to aid in temperature regulation. To keep the more exposed areas warm, like the stomach and forearms, they are lined with a fleece material.
This translates into a jersey that feels slightly more sturdy than a standard long-sleeve jersey; however, Q36.5's body-mapped fitting ensures it still conforms to your body nicely.
During my testing in Spain, temperatures fluctuated significantly, which was ideal for testing the Dottore at a range of temperatures. Some days, I saw a 4 to 18 degree swing, especially once up in the hills, where with just a mesh base layer, the Hybrid Que performed very well. Once it dropped below 8 degrees, I found myself reaching for one of the best cycling vests, or a heavier base layer. The surprising thing was that even up to 15 degrees, it was still relatively comfortable, whereas a normal LS jersey would start to get too warm.
The weatherproofing of the Dottore is another area that really impressed me. Often, on the continent in the winter, you warm up by climbing, then spend a significant amount of time with low effort, high speed, and a big wind chill while descending. Here, the Dottore balanced thermoregulation and insulation brilliantly with the windproofing performance of the high-density material, doing wonders.
Where the Q36.5 Hybrid falls down, as you would imagine with something featuring silver thread, is the price. That said, given its performance and operating window, it could mean you don't need both an LS jersey and a Jacket, which could easily cost twice as much as the Dottore.
Read our full Q36.5 Dottore Hybrid Que Long Sleeve Review
Best budget long-sleeve jersey
As we all know, getting your layering right can be an absolute nightmare, espcially if it is slightly milder or starts cooler and warms throughout your ride. Generally, that means you end up owning 5-6 different layers that you can mix and match to get the right combination. The Madison DTE Isoler long sleeve might just be another one of those layers in that system; however, it has a very clear window of use, and I think it's the one thats most difficult to dress for. So, let's get into it.
Employing a brushed Isoler thermal Roubaix fabric across the shoulders, chest, stomach and front of the arms for warmth, with a much lighter, Lycra-esque fabric to improve fit and breathability across the back and arms. The DTE then features a DWR (durable water repellent) treatment for those who get caught out in a shower.
It is hard to review the DTE without comparing its performance to its cost. For a jersey with such a low RRP, the fabrics performed extremely well; however, I did find the Lycra back to feel a little clammy as temperatures rose. Really, the DTE performs as well as, if not better than, jerseys twice its price, such as the Castelli Espresso, which offers a touch more warmth but not significantly better overall performance.
Except for the slightly odd rear hem and limited colour choice, the DTE Men’s Isoler Thermal Long Sleeve is one of my favourite budget options. It is perfect for those days when you don't really need to adjust your layering much. You can wear either a short- or long-sleeve base layer, and then put a jacket or gilet over the top if needed. For me, the Isoler is ideal for that 5-10 degrees range.
Read our full Madison DTE Isoler Long Sleeve review
Best for long and cold days in the saddle
Rapha Brevet long sleeve cycling jersey
On test, we’ve highly rated the male and female versions of this specific long distance jersey.
Inspired by the long distance Paris-Brest-Paris endurance event, the font of the jersey has a zipped chest pocket for carry a brevet card that gets stamped at the race checkpoints.
Designed specifically for riding in low light, the jersey has two high-visibility stripes around the chest, along with a reflective armband. It's also made with a polyester/ merino mix, making it not only great at the double act of warmth and breathability, but if you do find yourself without the ability to wash between rides, then it's odourless!
We found it the perfect long sleeve jersey for functionality, with pockets, zips and pull chords all over the place - the Swiss Army Knife of the cycling clothing world if you will. But all this extra functionality does add up, making it not the lightest jersey we've tested. We'd suggest that if you aren't needing all the cargo space, you might want to opt for the slightly cheaper Rapha Pro Team Training Long Sleeve jersey, for example.
Unlike other options like the Rapha Pro Team Aero Jersey the fit is much looser, arguably too loose on the Rapha Brevet women’s long sleeve cycling jersey , but it does mean that it can easily be dressed up or down depending on weather conditions.
Read our full Rapha Brevet long sleeve jersey review
Best for rain protection
The Le Col Pro Aqua Zero Long Sleeve jersey is made with Aqua Zero fabric with hydrophobic rain protection added to it to help water repellence. On test it put up a really good fight against the wet stuff, and although the water did eventually breach the repellence of the fabric, it maintained the original warmth - which was really impressive.
The fleeced back inner of the jersey was sumptuously comfortable, and with the cosiness of high collar, will happily keep you warm on its own, anywhere between six and twelve degrees. Topped with a gilet you'll be able to wear it in much lower temperatures too.
On test we found that the water repellent coating does swiftly wash out, but it's an easy fix with an off the shelf DWR treatment, we even have a how to re-waterproof your cycling jacket page to help you.
It's not the cheapest offering, but if you find yourself spending a fair proportion of your rides are undertaken in the rain, it's the best long sleeved cycling jersey you can get.
Read our full Le Col Pro Aqua Zero long sleeve jersey review
Most versatile long sleeve jersey
The Castelli Espresso Thermal Jersey is a perfect example of why the Italian brand is considered the gold standard of cycling clothing. The cut is superb, highlighting that using excellent quality materials makes simple designs high-performing. Easy to layer up or down, depending on the conditions, this long-sleeved cycling jersey became a go-to piece of kit for much of the year in the northern hemisphere. Sure, there are cheaper options, but few will offer the same technical and aesthetic qualities as the Espresso
Read our full Castelli Espresso Thermal Jersey review
How we test the best long sleeve jerseys
At Cycling Weekly, we have a dedicated team of testers whose role is to evaluate various cycling products and provide objective reviews. They base their assessments on their extensive daily experience using these products across diverse conditions.
With their extensive experience, they are well-equipped to compare products, recognise their strengths and weaknesses, and offer a sincere, objective evaluation of their performance.
When testing the best long-sleeved jerseys, we evaluate several key factors, including their warmth-to-weight ratio, breathability, and storage space. Above all, comfort is essential, so we also assess features like sleeve and hem grippers, zippers, and other details that might affect comfort during rides.
Since comfort and performance in clothing are highly subjective, we leave it to our testers to decide how they evaluate each jersey. This involves using the jersey in a variety of temperatures, conducting durability tests by washing the jersey several times, and assessing whether the garment aligns with the manufacturer's intended use and performance metrics.
For more information on how we test, visit our full 'How We Test' products and scoring guide.
How to choose the best long-sleeved cycling jersey
What is the best material for a long sleeve cycling jersey?
Are you wanting to make a cool or cold weather purchase?
If you are just wanting to take the nip out of the cool morning air, or add a layer during a warm up, then all you'll need in a thin fabric similar to that of a short sleeved cycling jersey.
At Cycling Weekly we find these a kit bag staple, ideal for warming up ahead of a race or event. Added over a short sleeve jersey with arm warmers or a thermal base layer will extend its temperature range.
For mid temperatures, the best long sleeved cycling jersey for you will probably have a soft brushed inner and high breathability properties.
If you're looking for something to take you below the 12 degree mark then you'll want a jersey with thermal credentials.
Look for fleece, soft brushed inners and close weave outers. High collars will keep the cold wind from whistling down your back. By layering up or down, the level of protection you'll get from the best long sleeved cycling jerseys in this category can be huge, from just above zero to low teens.
The best long sleeved cycling jerseys of this kind often come with additional weather protection features, such as a durable water repellent (DWR) coating or wind cheating capabilities.
All styles mentioned above - thermal or lighter weight long sleeved cycling jerseys - can easily have their temperature range extended via layering, such as adding a base layer, gilet or a packable waterproof jacket.
In really cold weather, you can even pair a long sleeved jersey with a winter cycling jacket, meaning that there’s a lot of use to be had from just one piece of kit.
Fleece linings will help trap air, natures best insulator.
Should a long sleeve cycling jersey be breathable?
All of the best long sleeved cycling jerseys that we recommend will have good breathability and sweat wicking capabilities.
It's important however to ensure that you've chosen the right level of protection for your ride and matched it with the right base layer. Some brands will even provide their own base layer recommendations to ensure you get the maximum benefit from the model.
If you decide to layer up, just bear in mind that this might impact on both breathability and sweat wicking functions. It's a bit of a trial and error to see what works well together, but if you are popping a waterproof cycling jacket over the top or a long sleeved jersey, you might want to avoid any that have water or wind proofing already as this can hinder breathability, overwhelming even the best moisture management systems.
How should a long sleeve cycling jersey fit?
The ideal fit for you will depend on the riding you do and personal preference.
If you're looking to just simply keep warm, you may want to consider a looser style of fit in order to layer up underneath. High collars will also be on your tick list.
If staying aerodynamic is more important, then consider tighter aero fits, lower neck lines and low profile pockets to ensure they don't billow in the wind when in the racing tuck.
Cuffs are the only other consideration fit wise as you are likely to want to pair your jersey with gloves at some point. It's horses for courses in terms of gloves over or under sleeves, but whatever you choose, slightly too long is better than slightly too short.
Some brands will have a few versions of similar models to choose from, so pay attention to fit guides.
The fit of the best long sleeved cycling jersey will depend on when you want to wear it.
What are the important features of a long sleeve cycling jersey?
As already mentioned, the warmer long sleeved cycling jerseys will come with more functionality.
Wind and water protection will be the most common additional feature. Be aware though that for even the best long sleeved cycling jerseys any water-repellency will be in the form of a DWR coating which will need reapplication over time. It's simple to do, but does require you to keep on top of it after every wash.
Other features to look out for across long sleeved cycling jerseys will be reflective details for low light levels, and roomy rear pockets for stowing rain jackets and gilets as well as spares and ride snacks.
