Sportful Primavera jersey review

Having been in the range for a couple of years, the 2017 Sportful Primavera jersey gets a new colourful print for 2017 while retaining its technical attributes.

>>> Buy the Sportful Primavera jersey direct from Wiggle for £55.00

Construction

The women's-specific Sportful Primavera jersey is constructed using three fabrics: 100 per cent polyester on the main front and rear panels, and two different polyester/elastane mix fabrics for the rest.

This combination of fabrics has enabled Sportful to use the less stretchy denser fabric at the core of the jersey, meaning that as well as protecting modesty, the jersey doesn't suffer from overstretch if the three rear pockets are loaded up.

Video: How to dress for hot conditions

Using the lighter weight and stretchier fabric panels at the sides and upper jersey sections allows the Sportful Primavera jersey to contour the body while, according to Sportful, being incredibly breathable.

>>> 12 Best Summer Cycling Jerseys for 2017

The shouty upper colour way is partnered with a matching two-tone YKK Vislon zip and waist band inner, which also has mini-Sportful silicone logos to secure the jersey in place at the hips, and two small reflective tabs at the rear.

The ride

First thing first, this Sportful Primavera jersey is definitely a grower. I was initially unsure about the colour way design, but as soon as I had it over my shoulders I actually rather liked it. It's impressively lightweight at 90g and the positioning and volume of the design made it easy to team with black shorts and struck a good balance between personality and adding a bit of fluoro colour, making me feel more noticeable to other road users.

The fit of the body is very flattering: it's slim fit as opposed to 'race', but it just contours the body nicely without sticking to every nook and cranny. The arms are spot on, bicep hugging, with zero wind flap but without overcompression.

When out riding I was really impressed with the comfort and breathability of the jersey. It's on a par with much more expensive options on the market. I could happily spend even the warmest of rides in it all day, although a slightly warmer base layer could easily extend the jersey's season.

The three rear pockets were all a decent size and allowed me to stow tools, spares, nutrition and my phone no problem. The reflective detailing at the pocket edge is minimal and more of a token gesture than a safety measure, but it's a nice touch.

Value

With the women’s-specific cycling jersey market awash with choice, it’s often budget that dictates our options. Fit and performance options are steadily getting better for the sub-£60 price bracket, but sadly it often means opting out of technical attributes, so it's really impressive that the Sportful has delivered a lightweight and breathable jersey for that price range.

There are other women's-specific jerseys on the market that might have more of an initial visual appeal, but to gain the breathability aspect and three decent sized pockets is actually quite rare. Add to this the comfortable and flattering fit, the Sportful Primavera jersey certainly punches above its weight, meaning you really can't go wrong for £55.