Specialized SL Pro Jersey review

If you wear the red and black version of Specialized SL Pro Jersey, you would look like a BMC rider. The trompe-l'œil effect would also be stronger if you combine this jersey with the SL Pro bib shorts, as their design is very similar to the one the Swiss team is currently using. Which is cool, particularly because you don't have to buy the lame team kit to get the same result.

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Specialized claims that its top-end jersey features a Cold Fabric technology that reduces the temperature of the jersey's dark surfaces. What I can say after a medium distance ride in the heat (100 km at 26º C), is that I never felt overheated and I just had to open the zipper at the end of the day. This jersey proved to be very breathable, and I never found myself overheating and dripping with sweat even with hard efforts.

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The material of the Specialized SL Pro jersey stretches very well on the body and the general aero effect assures great performance as well as comfort. The only downside of this otherwise very well designed jersey, is that it flapped a little bit around the top of the shoulder

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The Specialized SL Pro jersey has a few other features of note. The central, zippered pocket in the back has been made sweatproof for mobile phones and electronic devices, and it features a little hole for headphones as well. At the same time, four little circular piece of textile are placed inside the jersey - and at the corner of the pockets - reinforcing the seams.

The sleeves are designed without cuffs for an aerodynamic purpose, but I personally preferred the cuff versions on other  aero jerseys that I've tried.

Finally the fabric of the back, sides, and sleeves is almost see-through for greater breathability, while the front fabric is tighter to help with the aerodynamics of the jersey. The front zipper will help you keep coolwhen temperatures will get hot, but in the UK you'll rarely need it. I still believe that £100 for such a jersey is a bit expensive, no matter what the technology behind it.

For more details visit the Specialized website.