Reviews

Northwave Blade long sleeve jersey – review

Smart looking jersey with an aggressive fit

Northwave’s Blade long sleeve jersey is a good value upper garment best suited to mild autumn and spring days.

The Blade’s fabric feels reassuringly premium for the £54.99 retail price. Those after a typically aggressive racing cut will likely find the fit is spot on – with fabric feeling clingy and conforming to the body in a close but not uncomfortable manner.

However, the sizing is also very ‘Italian’ with the medium size tested fitting me closely on the torso despite being a slim build. If you are familiar with any of Northwave’s Italian rivals you’ll know what to expect and it may be wise to size up in this garment.

The Northwave Blade long sleeve jersey is well-suited to autumn or spring riding, but the lack of windproofing rules it our for cold days unless paired with a gilet

Specification
Price: £54.99
Weight:
Sizes: S-XXXL
Size tested: M
Colours: Black/red, black/green, camo/yellow
Website: Northwave
UK distributor: i-ride

In a nod to the Blade’s multi-season capabilities there are elasticated cuffs to prevent cold air flowing up the sleeves and there’s enough space underneath to comfortably fit a long sleeve base layer.

Northwave recommend the Blade long sleeve jersey as being suitable for temperatures ranging from 10-20 degrees celsius, and clearly these recommendations are something of a grey area as everyone is different.

Even so, for the Blade I feel the guidelines are a little optimistic. On my first ride out in this jersey I wore it over the top of a decent base layer in nine blustery degrees… and I was freezing until donning a gilet.

Previous models of the Blade have featured a slightly more weatherproof fabric over the chest, whereas this model uses the same lighter more flexible material throughout.

This results in a better fit which is more breathable in mild conditions, however this also makes it more susceptible to cold draughts when it’s chilly out.

Storage is catered for with your standard three pockets plus an additional overlaid zipped pocket for keys and card etc. While snug, the pockets do a good job of compressing rain jackets to avoid that ‘pineapple in the rear pocket’ look. There’s a reflective band over the top, too.

The jersey has three rear pockets plus a fourth zipped pocket, ensuring there’s plenty of room to store ride essentials

Finally, a marginal gain has been made over previous iterations of the Blade long sleeve jersey in the collar, which now features a zip garage.

Conclusion

Northwave’s Blade long sleeve jersey punches above its weight, delivering an excellent fit and smart look. It’s not the warmest for cold days, but once partnered with a gilet makes a very versatile addition to anyone’s cycling armoury.