Shutt Velo Radide – or Shutt VR, or just Shutt – have made a big impression on the cycling market since the company’s launch in 2009. In line with our goal to test the best of British clothing this month, here’s a selection of their summer clothing we’ve received to test.
Let’s get the numbers out of the way first; the Classic Jersey retails at £89, while the Shutt VR Race Team Shorts are a tenner more at £99 and the CoolMax Socks will set you back £9.99.
The Classic Jersey is a staple of the Shutt collection but has been redesigned for 2012, with a new fit. A word of warning however, having tried our sample on for size, it is on the large side – in fact, I’ve had to move down from a medium to a small for the first time.
That aside, it’s a summer jersey made from MerinoPerform, which comprises a 60 per cent polyester and 40 per cent Merino wool mix, promising, as a result, to offer the best of the man-made and natural qualities of both fabrics – or “vapour and liquid moisture management, advances cooling process, temperature regulation, odour resistance and breathability”, according to the label.
It’s undeniably a classy jersey, available in white as pictured, or in black, with Shutt’s signature colour banner on the left arm and across the top of the three jersey pockets. There’s also a zipped, waterproof fourth pocket for valuables, plus reflective trip on the full-length zip and on the hem, which has a wide silicone gripper across its length.
Meanwhile, the Shutt VR Race Team Shorts have been developed in association with the company’s pro race team, Twenty3c Orbea, whose riders offered feedback through a three-year testing process.
They’re constructed from Miti PowerLycra, which looks to offer a compression fit, while TMF provide the Pro 3D anti-bacterial seamless chamois. The shorts have flatlocked seams throughout, and a mesh back and straps. Shutt’s colour banner features on the outside of each leg, while ‘team Shutt’ is emblazoned across the back of the shorts.
Finally, the CoolMax Socks are also from Shutt’s pro range. I’d describe them as mid-length, and they’re also available in black. As the name suggests, they’re made from a CoolMax fabric, with the idea that the material is highly breathable to transfer moisture away from your feet to keep them fresh when racing and training. Does it work? We’ll let you know once we’ve had a chance to test them alongside the Classic Jersey and Team Shorts.
