Reviews

Hackney GT Trackster short sleeve jersey – review

Visually stunning, comfortable jersey from British brand, with decent price tag to boot

Hackney GT have made a name for themselves when it comes to visually striking kit and the Trackster jersey, with its bold, bright red colourway, blue trim collar and polka dot details, is no different. But looks aren’t everything, and the jersey performs well for its £75 price tag, too.

The British brand deliver on their ‘funky alternative cycle attire’ slogan without compromising on performance, with the fact the kit is made in the UK another added bonus.

The head-turning look is the most noticeable thing about the jersey, but the Trackster comes with a very god, ‘real world’ fit, too. Real world? The medium I tested was a good general riding fit: not race tight, but not cafe casual either – an excellent balance for most riders and sized quite accurately.

The Hackney GT Trackster short sleeve jersey offers more than a striking style

Specification
Price: £70
Sizes: XS-XXL
Size tested: M
Website: Hackney GT

The cut of the jersey is squarer than other brands, still tapered in at the waist, but with a little more room to fill if need be. It makes the jersey look slightly retro, which is no bad thing, as the on bike performance is totally on par with most other brands at this price, if not better.

On the bike, the fit was comfortable and offered plenty of flex and stretch when riding, with easy access to the pockets.

On the inside, the jersey features a ‘golf ball’ weave – essentially a finish akin to the dimpled exterior of a golf ball, which helps with breathability and wicking away sweat. It’s functional and effective.

Elsewhere, the full-length zipper is reassuringly strong and easy to use – and there’s also a beard guard at the top of the closure, which, while not necessarily the first thing you may look for, was handy for me!

Out back, the three generous sized pockets are exceptionally easy to access and the depth helps keep things stowed away and safe. There is a fourth pocket with zipper, which does fit an iPhone 6 as claimed, as well as other items you may need.

There is an abstract pattern lining the jersey, which looks great and under the pockets is a small reflective dash that keeps visibility up in low light conditions, though it’s fairly minimalist.

The jersey has generously-sized, easy-to-access pockets – and it’s made in England, too

The sleeves, meanwhile, offer a close fit with a folded hem – it sits well enough, but isn’t like a raw-edge lycra or broad elastic edge which seem more common these days. Texture and detailing is added to the arms by a drop-shadowed HGT logo.

Other little touches include the washing instructions being printed onto the interior of the neck – it’s a small touch, but much more preferable to the huge labels which often appear in other jerseys and sometimes need removing to avoid irritation.

Conclusion

The Hackney GT Trackster jersey is visually stunning, but offers substance to back up the style. A comfortable fit, generous pocket size and solid performance – all made in England.