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It's no wonder that the idea of all-weather jerseys was born a few years ago during the spring classics: The classics month of April is synonymous with wild weather changes, with everything from summer temperatures to sleet showers possible. The tough one-day races are now also available for female professional cyclists - and weather jerseys for all female cyclists who are not deterred by changeable weather. And their numbers are growing.
An all-weather jersey is basically a kind of hybrid between a jacket and a jersey: it should be as comfortable to wear as a normal long-sleeved jersey and provide as much protection from wind and rain as a jacket for as long as possible. In addition, the material should be flexible enough to mould to the body without creases in the racing position - and it should be permeable enough to allow perspiration to escape quickly into the fresh air. Sounds like a complex task for the clothing manufacturers.
They try to solve this by either placing very flexible windproof membranes between the outer shell and the lining of the front sections - although these jackets are usually less effective at keeping the rain out. Or the manufacturers impregnate very tightly woven material from the outside so that water droplets roll off and the fabric cannot become saturated. Although these tops are water-repellent and, above all, more vapour-permeable than the membrane models, they offer less protection against draughts. It is clear that the solution to the complex task is only ever partially successful - the all-weather jerseys each have different strengths and no two models can do everything equally well.
There are also all-weather jerseys with short sleeves and matching accessories: Trousers, arm warmers and leg warmers, as in this example from Alé, which we also tested in this comparison. A combination that makes you particularly flexible in changeable weather. All items are water-repellent, while the jersey and trousers also keep out the wind. They are suitable for temperatures between 5 and 15 degrees. However, the tight cuffs of the arm and leg warmers can cut in a little.
We tested the all-rounders according to even more criteria: They should not flap, wrinkle or ride up at the back in a racing position, have sufficiently large, stable back pockets, a fluffy collar and a smooth-running zip that is easy to use on the bike.
Nine all-weather jerseys tested
You can find the complete test with all the information on weight, features and detailed grading in the download below for €1.99 or in TOUR 04/2021.
Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has its price. That's why we guarantee independence and objectivity. The TOUR tests are based on standardised and reproducible test procedures, which we always disclose. TOUR articles can be bought - TOUR test victories cannot!
