The Vermarc PR.R Mare is an excellent short-sleeve jersey for mid-summer riding: it’s light, well ventilated and has an very good, slim-fitting cut, which will suit riders who like their clothing to have a ‘pro’ fit.
The Mare jersey arrived at RoadCyclingUK with the corresponding Mare bib shorts from the same collection and we’ve been equally impressed with those – watch out for a full review – but, for now, we’ll focus on the jersey.
It’s made from two fabrics, with the front panel made from a material dubbed ‘Think’ by Vermarc and perforated with thousands of tiny holes (hold the jersey up to the light and you’ll clearly see each and every one of them), and the rear panel made from ‘PR-Carbon’, but which has a slightly heavier texture but is still perforated.
Those perforations are the key to the Mare’s success and it’s very good at keeping you cool and dry in warm summer conditions (which, thankfully, we’ve had no shortage of recently) by allowing air to pass through the fabric, working its way on to the base layer and subsequently on to your skin. While black is rarely regarded as the most sensible choice when riding under the summer sun, we’ve had no qualms reaching for the Mare in temperatures nudging into the uppers 20s. You would have to work particularly hard to overheat to the point of discomfort or feel any significant moisture build-up.
Both fabrics are said to offer UV protection, though that’s difficult for us to gauge, while the ‘PR-Carbon’ is claimed to contain carbon fibres which Vermarc say help absorb static energy and reduce muscle fatigue. Our muscles still felt tired when climbing or riding hard and we wouldn’t necessarily expect a jersey to change that. The only negative we have to mention about the fabric is that we experienced some piling on a small area on the side of the jersey after a handful of washes, but the area affected hasn’t grown since so we’ll put it down as a one-off. We’ll report back if that changes.
Featured are limited to a full-length zip, which can be adjusted to regulate the amount of air directly entering the jersey – or if you want the jersey flailing ala Vincenzo Nibali on a hot climb – and there are also three rear pockets (and an additional zipped pocket), which, on the whole are well-sized, though the amount of available space in the right-hand pocket is reduced by a stitched-in headphone loop which allows the rider to run headphone from, say, an iPod in the pocket and inside the jersey). We’d do without that and increase the volume of the pocket, but then we don’t ride with headphones. Otherwise, there are two reflective tabs on the outside of the pockets.
The pockets are held in place by an elasticated silicone gripper at the rear and a deep, elasticated band on either side and the front, and that combination does an excellent job at keeping everything secure, while ensuring a really smooth transition between the jersey and shorts. The slim-fitting sleeves are also finished with a similar elasticated band (which doesn’t have any kind of silicone gripper to pull on the skin) and that, once again, keeps them the fabric close to your arms in what is a very comfortable design.
Finally, the Mare is the Belgian brand’s flagship collection and takes its cues from the clothing worn by Mark Cavendish’s Omega Pharma-QuickStep team, and so the cut is subsequently aimed at those of a slimmer build. If that’s you then you’re in luck, as the fit is very, very good. Close but never tight, with no excess material on the front of the body and sleeves. Top marks for the fit.
Conclusion
The Vermarc is a top-end jersey at £110.99 but it fairs very well against its competitors, with a fine combination of impressive performance, thanks to a lightweight, perforated fabric which is ideal for summer riding, and a slim ‘performance’ cut, which will suit slim riders. If that’s not you then try before you buy or consider ordering up a size.
Price: £110.99
Sizes: S-XXXL
Colours: black/red
Website: Vermarc
UK distributor: Chicken Cycle Kit
