Wool by the bucketful, or should it be the thimbleful? Ornot’s Super Thermal Merino Jersey reviewed

When I first started racing bicycles, cycling clothing was still in the dark ages. My club jacket was made of thick, foam-like material with a brushed surface that trapped moisture like a waterproof shell and yet was somehow also useless in rain or wind. Nevertheless, I loved it and wore it even when it was warm out. At that time, the clothing options were scratchy wool, pilly polypropylene and little else.

Things are different today. We live in a golden age of cycling clothing, with items available for every possible climatic condition. Fashion-forward designs abound, quality is uniformly good and eco-friendly waterproof garments are finally coming down the pipeline.

Ornot’s garments fit comfortably into the current aesthetic, with understated looks, muted but fun tones, and environmentally friendly materials. The Super Thermal Merino jersey stands out as a unique garment—it’s very warm and comfortable, but it has no weatherproofing. Despite being made with wool, it’s no anachronism—this is a modern piece that is both cosy and breathable.

Design and construction

The Ornot Super Thermal Merino Jersey is cut and sewn in California using an OekoTex Merino wool blend (70/30 polyester to wool). It has two zippered pockets, one on the chest and one tucked into the back pocket, for a wallet or keys. In the back, it has two large rear pockets instead of the more common 3-up configuration. The zippers are from YKK and have a two-way primary zip. Ornot offers this jersey in two colour options: Burgundy or Azul (blue).

The exterior is smooth, with a tight knit, while the inside has a soft, fleecy feel. The collar is on the short side for a winter garment. Branding is minimal, with only a small patch icon on the front left side. The lower hem includes a grippy strip to keep it in place.

Ornot recommends this jersey for temperatures between 40-55 degrees Fahrenheit (roughly 4-12 degrees Celsius) on its own or under a shell as a layering piece in truly frigid weather.

The jersey is also available in a women’s specific cut, though the design forgoes the front chest pocket.

Specs:

• Name: Men's Super Thermal Merino Jersey
• Size range: XS-XXL
• Weight: 295 grams (size XS)
• Price: $187 US (roughly £ 150)
• Colours: Burgundy, Azul

On the road

The first thing you’ll notice about the Super Thermal Jersey is the weight. This is a thick jersey, and it feels a lot like a hoodie or casual fleece. Fortunately, the timing of this test coincided with an uncharacteristically cold and dry spell here in the Pacific Northwest, so I was able to put the Super Thermal jersey through its paces for several weeks of cold-weather riding.

Paired with a wind vest and light baselayer, I wore the Super Thermal jersey in temperatures ranging from around 30-45 degrees F, which tracks with Ornot’s recommendations. The wind layer was helpful for long descents but otherwise unnecessary, as the jersey is warm enough on its own. For more moderate temperatures, or on days where the temperature rises quickly, the jersey is simply too warm.

The Super Thermal jersey’s best attribute is its breathability. Without an outer shell or coating, there is nothing to trap moisture on the body, which is critical in cold temperatures where sweat accumulation can be killer.

I liked the addition of a front zip pocket on the chest—it’s a handy place to store a snack or camera and made me dream of a special L’Eroica version with larger chest pockets, like racing jerseys of the post-WWII era. Ornot, how about a special run of these, just for fun?

The conventionally agreed-upon standard across the industry seems to be three rear pockets, but the Super Thermal jersey only uses two. This increases carrying capacity and makes access easier, especially with gloves on. It’s a smart design for a jersey made for riding in the cold. It does take some getting used to, though.

Wool is a fantastic material for a great many reasons, but it only makes up a small percentage of the jersey’s composition: the Super Thermal Merino jersey is primarily synthetic. This is fairly typical across the industry—a 100% wool jersey would be heavier and take forever to dry, but 30% seems like a low mix—Rapha’s Brevet Long Sleeve Jersey contains 40% merino, for instance.

The only real quibble I had with the jersey, which I have experienced with other Ornot pieces as well, is that it is cut very long. At 182 cm/150 lbs, I typically have no problems with clothing being long. In fact, it’s always the opposite—I’m relatively narrow for my height, so usually things are too short, especially in the sleeves. Though Ornot’s size chart recommends a S for someone my size, I opted for an XS, and still found it too long for my liking. As a result, it bunches up at the waist and sits low in the back. It may be simply that I am accustomed to race-fit gear, but based on my experiences, I recommend sizing down with Ornot jerseys and tops, and even then, it may be too long for some.

Value and conclusion

I was impressed by Ornot’s handy temperature scale on its website, which breaks down which pieces to use depending on the conditions outside. This is a feature that more clothing makers could employ to better educate riders about layering and choosing the right garments for their climate.

Ornot’s products tend to sit on the more expensive end of the spectrum, but the quality of the materials and construction are evident. A retail price of $187 USD is a lot of a jersey, but this particular piece could easily be classified as a jacket. For that price, Ornot offers a one year warranty on manufacturing defects, and is also able to assist with repairs and crash replacement, should the need arise. Also, part of the reason that Ornot pieces are more expensive is that they are manufactured in California. Whether or not (see what I did there?) its country of manufacture is worthwhile is up to you.

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