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Rapha Brevet short sleeve jersey – review

Stylish, well designed jersey with extra pockets and reflectivity for long-distance rides

The Rapha Brevet short sleeve jersey was first developed back in 2011 when a trio of riders from the London-based brand rode Paris-Brest-Paris – a gruelling 1,200km randonnée across northern France. The result is a jersey which offers insulation and breathability in equal measure, along with additional pockets and extra reflective detail.

The Brevet jersey is made from a blend of 61 per cent polyester and 39 per cent merino wool, and that mix of synthetic and manmade fibres ensures the jersey feels soft and warm against the skin, while remaining relatively lightweight and still performing well in warmer temperatures.

It’s not necessarily a jersey you’d reach for on the hottest days, when, in our experience, lighter polyester fabrics are better at keeping you cool, but the Brevet fabric breathes well and does a good job at wicking sweat away. There’s also a full length zip to help cool things down when it does get warm.

The Rapha Brevet short sleeve jersey is designed for long-distance rides
  • Specification

  • Price: £130
  • Sizes: XS-XXL
  • Size tested: M
  • Website: Rapha

However, Rapha have used a polyester/merino blend extensively across their jersey collection over the years, so what makes the Brevet different? Primarily, it’s the number of pockets, and the sheer amount it allows you to carry on a ride.

There’s a small chest pocket with a zipper and mesh interior, which is good for a credit card or cash, ensuring they’re quick and easy to access at the cafe stop. At the back there’s the usual three pockets, which are all well-positioned, deep and double stitched for strength, but in addition there’s also another large pocket, again with a mesh interior. It’s a good size pocket and has a ring pull to help grab the zip on the move, but I’d like it to be just a little wider to make it a touch easier to open.

That means you can serious load this jersey up and I comfortably carried my usual ride essentials of an inner tube, multi-tool, mini-pump and food, before adding energy gels, a windproof top, money, more food, a map and arm warmers. The jersey just seems to swallow it all, and while that certainly adds weight, the jersey stays put. As a result, the Brevet a great jersey for seriously long or multi-day rides.

On those kinds of rides there’s a good chance you’re going to be out early in the morning or late in the evening and the Brevet jersey has high-visibility stripes on the front, rear and left arm. There’s also another reflective tab on the rear, at the bottom of the jersey, so there’s certainly more than the token reflective detailing on a lot of jerseys.

A brevet pocket at the front is ideal for storing cash or a credit card for the cafe stop

Other details include a headphone loop and draw cords on the waist to trim the top in. On the inside of the back pocket there’s a panel which pays tribute to the Paris-Brest-Paris rider – typical Rapha – and on the neck there’s a handy hook to hang the jersey up to dry if washing it for the next day.

The fit, meanwhile, is a touch more relaxed than other Rapha jerseys I’ve ridden in, as befits a jersey like this, where comfort and storage are more of a priority than an all-out race fit. The neck is a little tight though and makes doing the zipper all the way up to the top uncomfortable. The arms don’t have grippers and instead rely on the elastic of the material to hold shape, which they do with little trouble.

The jerseys provides plenty of space to carry everything you’d need for a long ride

One final thing to note is that while our jersey is turquoise blue, Rapha have updated the colours for the new season, with navy/high-vis pink and marine blue/navy options available. There’s also a long sleeve version of the jersey in purple, high-vis pink and grey options.

Conclusion

The ethos behind this jersey is of long, adventure-filled rides and it’s a really good option if you want a comfortable, smart jersey which has plenty of additional storage and reflective detail – two essentials if you’re planning on spending all day (and then some) out on the bike.

Pros

  • All the pockets
  • Soft, insulating and breathable fabric
  • Extra reflectivity

Cons

  • A little tight around the neck
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