Review: Morvelo Thermal Jersey

By Greg May

Now is the Spring of our discontent. Why? Well because it’s usually neither warm, nor cold. Dry, nor wet. It’s that annoying something in between. For me, this is the time of the year where I can’t quite get away with a short sleeve and arm warmer combo, so I focus on the better – warmer – long sleeve jerseys in my wardrobe.

On those days when you are always in between weather types it is really hard to get a single upperbody layer that works well across a range of temperatures and fluid types (rain, sweat, beer) that won’t turn into a very heavy cold teabag draped over your body. What I am always searching for is a light, close fitting, but warm top that looks simple and takes the abuse of Springs gritty trail abuse.

The Breaker Thermoactive Jersey fits this bill perfectly. A nice snug fit which is fine for road, ‘cross and XC rides, but not so tight that I feel like an idiot in the pub or with my Endurobro™ mates. The material does what it is supposed to do; be warm, while breathing well. Perfect for those climbs that heat you up, then leave you sweaty and cold. This is the point when you need a garment to help regulate your heat heat. While you’re riding along the tops it works on getting the fluid out that eventually cools you down before the fun bits, the fast descents.

I found the fit was a bit odd for me. Lovely long arms, something I normally struggle to find with long sleeve jerseys and normal clothes, but with quite a short hem line to the front and back. Oddly, this conspired to make the wonderfully deep pockets bloody awkward to get into while on the bike without dislocating my shoulder and attempting not to crash at the same time. If like me you’re not a carrier of bags, the pockets are fine for just putting things in you don’t want in a hurry, but not the easiest for eating from on the move on bumpy trails. The hidden key pocket is great, but I had this niggling want to have it at least lined with a water resistant material so the alarm fob, or car fob, would have a chance of living a bit longer without needing to carry another waterproof case.

Day-to-day wear, of the three months I’ve been hammering it under many other winter layers, it’s been a go to piece. I’ve wore it day after day for a week commuting 45km each way to work and it’s great. Dries out in a synch, and only by the end of the week was I getting those comments from my wife. Usually combined with a screwed up face and wrinkling of the nose. It’s quite odd that a synthetic material top works to keep smells away so long and something I quite appreciate.

The material that Morvelo have used in this jersey is excellent – the design was something I really liked, however this is up to you really and your taste. The fit is nearly perfect, but again, that’s going to be quite a personal thing as we’re all shaped slightly differently.

Overall: I’ll be quite happy to keep reaching for this until we get our inevitably brief summer where I get to show off my gangly arms and stumpy back.

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