Solo Equipe long sleeve jersey £80

With its distinctive styling, the Equipe jersey from New Zealand based Solo mixes natural and man-made fibres for a classy winter warmer. Solo is one of a few brands that aims to combine styling cues from a bygone era with the very latest technology in materials.

This long sleeve jersey is made from Mapp Matrix fabric which, much like Sportwool, combines both naturally sourced Merino wool and man-made materials. The Merino wool inner surface sits inside a thin shell of polyester, which improves the durability and wind and water resistant properties of the fabric, letting the Merino do its job of insulating the body.

This is definitely a jersey for cold days, as the material is sufficiently thicker than other similarly intended jerseys tested. The upshot of this is that, with a baselayer underneath, the Equipe jersey can be used as an outer layer when it’s dry, keeping you warm when the temperature is hovering in the low teens. Throw in a bit of rain and a thin waterproof shell on top will be enough to keep you dry.

Calling this jersey stylish depends on your personal definition of style, but it certainly looks smart and casual, and is a departure from the more function driven designs available. Finishing niceties extend to the striped cuffs, which are stretchy enough to pull over a pair of gloves, yet keep the wind from rushing up your arms, with the same treatment to the collar. A full-length zip with reflective piping and two large rear buttoned pockets complete the features.

Being a mail-order only company and based in New Zealand, you obviously can’t try before you buy. So, sizing wise, the medium fits a 40″ chest comfortably, and is roughly equivalent to a Rapha large.