Santini is brand with a proud Italian heritage – each and every product is designed and manufactured in the country – so, with the Giro d’Italia inspiring our content through May, we’ve called in a selection of their spring/summer clothing to test.
The Santini Italia (£57.49) is a short sleeve jersey which, as the name suggests, takes its lead from Santini’s history as an Italian brand. It’s a simple jersey, designed for summer riding, with a 40cm ‘invisible’ zip at the front. The light and stretchy fabric made from a 60 per cent polyester and 40 per cent polyamide mix.
A flash of green and red on our white sample (red, royal blue and black versions are also available) gives the jersey a distinctly Italian flavour, while the design of the rear refers to the year (1965) in which Santini was establish. The Italia has Santini’s relaxed E3 cut.
The key feature in Santini’s Haru short sleeve jersey (£84.99) and bib shorts (£89.99) is the fabric from which they’re made. Both items are made from an 80 per cent polyester and 20 per cent elastane mix with an Acquazero treatment which gives them additional water resistance, without sacrificing breathability and stretch. It’s a fabric we’ve tested before in winter but the summer version is lighter, designed for changeable spring/summer conditions.
The jersey has mesh effect rear and side inserts, a full zip and three rear pockets, and uses Santini’s E2 cut, which is designed for riding in the tuck position, but with a more relaxed fit than the race-specific E1 fit. The shorts have long and wide mesh braces, with a Gel Intech chamois.
Finally, the Santini Niji (£9.99) is a simple cotton cap, again with an Italian edge. A badge on either side of the cap reads ‘Fatto Con Passione In Italia Dal 1965’, which translates to ‘Made with love in Italy since 1965’, with a flash of red and green further highlighting the brand’s proud heritage.
