Reviews

Sportful BodyFit Pro Thermal Jersey – review

An ideal jersey for chilly riding from autumn through to spring, with only a couple of small niggles

The Sportful BodyFit Pro Thermal Jersey is ideal for bridging the gap between the seasons, whether that be autumn to winter, or winter to spring, and can also be used as a mid-layer layer for when winter really bites.

A jersey like this should be a staple in any rider’s wardrobe. Some riders may prefer to combine a short sleeve jersey and arm warmers when the weather begins to turn, but a long sleeve thermal jersey adds another string to the cyclist’s bow.

Sportful’s BodyFit range has been developed for the Tinkoff pro team and while Oleg Tinkov’s outfit is disbanding at the end of 2016, we expect Sportful to pick up a new WorldTour team for the 2017 campaign – we don’t know who that will be just that.

However, the important thing to know is that this jersey has been designed according to the exacting standards of professional riders – that’s most noticeable in the excellent, race-inspired cut – and Sportful say the jersey is a favourite during early-season training and the Spring Classics.

The long sleeve jersey should be a staple of any rider’s wardrobe

Specification
Price: £85.00
Sizes: XS-XXXL
Size tested: M
Colours: blue; red; black; grey
Website: Sportful

The jersey is made from two fabrics: a ‘TDTxp’ fabric across the main body and stretchier ‘ThermoDrytex Plus’ fabric on shoulders and sleeves. Essentially, they’re both relatively thin, fleece-lined fabrics, which aim to provide insulation, while also ensuring breathability remains high. It succeeds in that regard. The fabric isn’t windproof, but that does mean it’s very good at keeping you dry underneath.

The trick with a jersey like this is in how it retains body warmth in chilly conditions. While you will feel a chill through the jersey when you start a ride, owing to the fact it’s not windproof, as you warm up the fabric will do a job good at keeping your body temperature at a consistent level. That, of course, is dependant on it not being freezing cold out – there’s not enough bulk to keep you warm in really low temperatures, when the lack of windproofing will also be missed. We’d recommend the BodyFit Pro Thermal Jersey for use in a temperature range of approximately eight to sixteen degrees, depending on how warm you run.

The jersey really comes into its own as far as breathability is concerned. Because there’s not a windproof barrier to trap moisture in, any sweat is quickly moved away from the skin and the jersey remains dry thanks to the airflow allowed to pass through the fabric. That helps to keep your body temperature constant as there’s no sweat to chill on a descent or at the cafe stop. It’s really noticeable how breathable a long sleeve jersey like this is compared to something with a windproof front, especially on a ride with harder efforts.

Of course, you could always start a ride with a lightweight gilet on the top, ready to remove once you warm up – that way, you always have the gilet ready as an emergency layer, too. The jersey is also light enough (a claimed 270g) and thin enough to use as a mid-layer underneath a heavier shell in really cold conditions.

The cut is excellent, sitting close to the body throughout, and the sleeves are a good length, again providing a close fit on the wrists or over gloves. The jersey could be a touch longer at the back – there’s not much differentiation between the front and the slightly dropped tail – but generally it’s fine and the silicone gripper on the waistband does an excellent job at holding everything in place. All things considered, the close cut and soft fabrics ensure this is a comfortable jersey to wear.

The three rear pockets are well sized but a zipped pocket would be useful

Sportful have opted for the traditional layout of three rear pockets. They’re all well-sized, in an easy-to-access position and provide enough storage for winter training essentials, but we’d really expect a fourth, zipped pocket on a jersey at this price.

Otherwise, this is a relatively simple piece. There’s a full-length zip at the front which gives you the option to increase ventilation through the jersey, plus it’s reflective, too. There’s also a reflective Sportful logo on the central pocket – but a little more across the jersey wouldn’t go a miss.

The final thing to mention is that the jersey is available in four colours: blue, red, black and grey. There are also six sizes to choose from, starting at XS and running through to XXXL.

The sleeve are a good length and provide a close fit over the wrists or gloves

Conclusion

The Sportful BodyFit Pro Thermal Jersey is a relatively simple take on the humble long sleeve jersey but it does everything well, with a good choice of fabrics and a close, comfortable cut. We’d appreciate an additional pocket but otherwise this is a jersey which will get plenty of use from autumn through to spring.