Reviews

Ashmei Carbon Jersey – review

Subtle styling combined with an innovative use of materials make Ashmei's Carbon Jersey definitely worth considering

Ashmei’s Carbon jersey combines good looks with comfort and strong performance in a quality package. It would, however, benefit from a third pocket at the rear, rather than the additional zipped pocket.

The most important – and immediately noticeable – feature to discuss is the material. Ashmei have made their name partly through their innovative use of fabrics, and this jersey is a prime example. They’ve used merino wool infused with a considerable amount of carbon to help improve the wicking qualities, and it’s also noticeably thinner than most merino jerseys I’ve used.

The jersey is made from 62 merino wool, 34 per cent carbon and four per cent spandex

Using carbon in a piece of clothing isn’t exclusive to Ashmei, but when it is used it’s typically less than 10 per cent of the mix. Ashmei have bumped that up to a hefty 34 per cent and this improves the wicking of the jersey, helping to make up for the fact that merino naturally holds on to moisture. Merino wool is also anti-bacterial and this helps to reduce odour. In use, the wicking qualities were definitely noticeable (Ashmei say it wicks ten times faster than 100 per cent merino, though we can’t put a number on it), and the jersey removed moisture effectively. Plus, I never once noticed an issue with smell, testing the jersey for two days running without washing, so the anti-bacterial properties work well.

On the front there’s a full length zip, and although I was initially worried about whether the thin material of the jersey would be easily caught, it didn’t happen once. Fit is certainly performance-focused (although it does come up slightly large), but doesn’t cross the boundary into aero, which probably wouldn’t be too effective with a soft material like this anyway. As well as 62 merino wool and 34 per cent carbon, the jersey includes four per cent spandex and this adds some stretch to the material. There’s also a quality silicone gripper at the hem which stops the jersey riding up.

There are two open pockets on the back, complemented by two more zipped pockets. It’s different, but we’d still have preferred the three open pockets open for their versatility

The design is simple and stylish, which a horizontal strip across the chest and another vertical one running down the centre of the back. Without mentioning a certain other British brand, there is a definite similarity in design with you-know-who. One nice safety-focused feature is the reflective band that runs around the bottom seam. Speaking of which, all stitching is flat lock but also bonded, meaning that even after several hours of riding it was still comfortable with no hint of rubbing.

The only real point with which I’d take issue is the rear pockets. There are two open pockets rather than three, and to make up for this there are two additional zipped pockets. The trouble is that three open pockets would make for easier access. While the two zipped pockets here might be good at keeping things safe, it makes quick access to anything in them considerably more difficult. It’s not a huge problem, but I’d much have preferred three open pockets and one zipped.

The hem is finished with a reflective material, while the tail is dropped to stop the jersey riding up when on the bike

Performance-wise, the jersey does an excellent job of temperature management. Having said that, the impressive ventilation comes with a lack of wind proofing, so, outside of summer, it’s really only good at keeping you warm under a windproof upper layer. For that reason, I probably wouldn’t go out in just this jersey in lower than around 14 degrees.

Conclusion

Pairing an innovative fabric together with a good fit and excellent temperature management, this is a really good jersey. The price is fair for something this well made and I reckon you’re getting a good deal. The pockets are the only thing I’d change, but it’s not a huge thing.