Review: Morvélo Skids and Fresh MTB Long Sleeved Jerseys

By Rachel Sokal

Up to now Morvélo kit has sat just out of my fashion and price reach. I’ve never been convinced I can pull off the hipster style it deserves and the high end kit pricing means that I’ve been put off giving it a punt. Their MTB specific jerseys have done something to alter this balance. The design is a little less achingly cool both in cut and graphics and as a result something that better lends itself to the typical mountain biker (including me). At £45 it’s priced in the mid-range of similar jerseys.     

In the women’s long-sleeved cut there are two graphics available – Skids and Forest –and four in the men’s version. I had both the women’s designs to try – my personal favourite is the red and white Skids design although I’ve worn the Forest more as the thought of wearing (partially) white kit on filthy muddy trails leaves me with dull-grey nightmares.        

The jerseys are straight forward design but with a high attention to detail within the quality. Two different man-made fabrics are used: a high-wicking, anti-bacterial mesh on the under arm panels and back, and one with tougher properties on the sleeves and front which is made to stand up to scuffs, scrapes and those pesky brambles . The Dri-Clim® polyester certainly seemed to do the job, the jerseys remained dry and stink-free despite my best perspiring efforts and several days use without a wash (you can thank me later). I did snag the ScuffTech™ polyester on the arms on some brambles though. Not badly but enough to be annoying just the same.   

The panel construction means there are no underarm seams to cause pressure points under a pack and the seams are also flatlocked so there are no lumps to chafe anywhere else. These features all worked so well that I didn’t notice them in the slightest. Understated and effective, exactly what you want when it comes to clothing.

Apart from the high-end construction qualities of the material and seams the only other feature of these jerseys is a small glasses wipe. Given that each time I’ve wanted to clean my glasses my jersey has been just as filthy then I haven’t given it a try but it’s there if you want it.

The jerseys are a loose but fitted cut which suits my personal preferences. It wasn’t excessively baggy nor did I feel that every lump and bump of my form was on show. In this excessively warm winter so far I’ve either worn this as an outer layer on top of a slim fitting baselayer or as a midlayer with a jacket on top; the cut has meant it’s worked well in either role. As this was my first foray into Morevlo I was unsure of sizing but as others have reported, I found it came up a bit small. I normally go for a women’s small but the medium fitted me well.

Overall: A loose-fitted jersey which does a very good job with minimal fuss.

DEALS ON MORVELO SKIDS

Review Info