10 best men's cycling jerseys for autumn and winter
It’s easy to see the onset of the colder months as a time to hang up your wheels, but if you’ve got the right clothing there’s no need – or excuse. With some clever layering you’ll be able to ride in comfort through until spring.
Look for features such as water resistance, high collars and lightweight thermal insulation to keep you warm and dry for longer. More racy cuts are great for speed demons whereas the more relaxed fit will allow you to add a thermal vest and tackle more varied conditions. Here’s our pick of the best.
Escape Pro Winter LS: £151.32, Maap
Aussie firm Maap is determined to brighten up our winter with this stunning azure outfit. The cut is slim without being restrictive and the lightly fleeced Italian polyamide fabric feels wonderfully soft and warm.
There’s more than enough stretch in the material to add a baselayer if you need too, and the super-tight cuffs help to keep draughts out. Anti-sag material in the pockets means you can pack them full of those winter essentials such as gloves and snacks without worrying you might pull the jersey out of shape.
With its sleek profile, this one is a great choice for racers looking to make winter training as comfortable as possible.
Sportful BodyFit Pro Thermal: £90, Wiggle
Feedback from Sportful’s sponsored WorldTour riders went into the design of this one. It’s a belter – one of those tops that treads the fine line between jersey and jacket. With a fleecy lining, it’s warm enough to be worn on its own on faster rides in autumn and spring, while being perfect for under a waterproof in the depths of winter.
The three rear pockets are spacious enough for all your bits and bobs and we particularly liked the bright stripes down the back and sleeves, to keep you visible when it grows gloomy.
Endura Pro SL: From £56.60, Evans Cycles
Designed with feedback from the top flight Movistar race team, the Pro SL is slim fitting but offers enough space for a baselayer underneath for that bit of extra warmth. We liked the feel of the wool/polyester blend fabric and found it soon wicked away sweat on climbs – important if you don’t want to get chilly on longer descents.
There are the usual three pockets and a zipped one for any valuables. There’s also a reflective strip on the central one – handy if you’re riding in fading light. You can easily pair it with a gilet or a jacket later in the season. This is one for anyone looking for a no-nonsense, high quality top at a great price.
Continental Thermal: From £180, Velobici
It’s the details that set this gorgeous top apart from rivals. From the over-sized metal pullers on the zips, to the thumb loops that stop the sleeves riding up, it's been really well thought out. There’s even a bright red, waterproofed liner to the zipped valuables pockets that’s as stylish as it is practical.
Even the three main pockets at the back are cut at the perfect angle to access while in the saddle. With its flattering fit and gold reflective piping you’d assume it was designed in some sunny, southern European clime; its actually stitched together in Leicestershire using fabric made in Nottingham.
It might be a few quid more than other tops in our selection, but the meryl and lycra material is thick and luxurious enough to make this a jersey you’ll be enjoying in the winter weather for years to come.
Morvelo Camo Thermoactive: £95, Wiggle
Brighton-based Morvelo always come up with something a bit out of the ordinary and this time they’ve gone for a British Army camo vibe – something we’ve never seen in road cycling kit.
To make sure you don’t disappear into the roadside hedges, they have included some orange badges and diagonal stripes across the four back pockets (one with a zip). The fabric has a fleecy lining for added warmth and the cut is generous enough to accommodate a base layer.
Club Thermal: £99.99, Chapeau!
Stripes never go out of fashion, whatever the weather. This one’s got three of them – in fuschia, black and ivory. It’s made from thicker fabric than many of the others so it should see you right through the winter, maybe teamed with a jacket on the coldest days.
The carbon grey material has got a nice fleecy lining so it’s soft on the skin, and there’s a water resistant coating to keep the drizzle out. It’s been cut a little longer at the back to keep your bum warm too. There’s the standard three-pocket set up, plus a zippered and waterproofed section for your phone and cash.
Madison RoadRace Light: £75.99, Cyclestore
They’ll certainly see you coming in this fluo-yellow number, and with its racy cut it’s a lot more stylish than the usual high-viz offerings. There are nice tight cuffs – one black and one yellow – that keep the autumn breezes out. It’s got four pockets, including a zippered one for valuables, with the outside ones angled for easy access.
The nylon and polyester-mix fabric is thin, so it’s better suited to autumn and spring rides but can be teamed with a gilet on cooler mornings. Also available in black and a rich burgundy.
Trofeo Baracchi: £79.99, Prendas
Cycling history aficionados will appreciate this one – a nod to the much-missed Trofeo Baracchi two man time trial, held at the end of the racing season until the early 1990s.
The combination of blue and white stripes, red detailing and dark blue sleeves sounds a terrible idea on paper but actually works really well. It looks even better from the back where there’s an Italian flag and time trial logo on the dark blue pockets panel. Made by Santini for Poole-based Prendas Ciclismo, it’s lightly fleeced inside with a raised collar to keep out the chill.
Pro Team Long Aero: £150, Rapha
Rapha headed into the wind tunnel to create what they claim is their fastest jersey ever. It uses a dimpled fabric at the back of the arms and shoulders to disrupt airflow and reduce drag.
The cut is on the sporty side to help you slip through the air, and while the jersey is a bit thin for day-long rides in the coldest weather – it’s great for fast training rides where you need a bit more protection than that offered by short sleeves. There are three pockets, the outer ones angled for easy access, plus a waterproof section for valuables.
Alphonsine Grey & Blue: £169, Cafe du Cycliste
With its unique fluffy, merino fleece fabric, the chic Alphonsine certainly grabbed our attention. It’s a lovely, warm jersey that will keep you toasty on even the chilliest mornings yet remains nicely breathable. Its styling won’t suit everyone – the grey, blue and red combo will be a bit too unorthodox for some – but anyone who wants to turn heads on the road will love it.
The shoulder patches are made from a wind-resistant material for extra protection, and there’s an eye-catching red chest pocket. Practical details include three rear cargo pockets plus a valuables section, and there’s a two-way full length zip on the body so you can fine tune it to suit your riding position.
POC AVIP LS Ceramic: From £124.25, Exxpozed
Ceramic material has been printed on to the shoulders, sleeves and hips of this jersey to help minimise road rash should you take a tumble. You won’t want to risk damaging this though – it’s too good looking. POC’s AVIP – Attention Visibility Interaction Protection – concept uses a combination of orange, white and black to grab the attention of drivers.
It’s another racy top which will appeal to faster cyclists, but works well layered up with a jacket or gilet. We particularly liked the longer sleeves which meant there was no cold spot at the wrist when worn with gloves.
The Verdict: Best men's cycling jerseys for autumn and winter
With kit as good as this on the market, there’s no longer any excuse for citing cold weather as a reason for not getting out on your bike.
Particular favourites were our Best Buy from Maap in a sumptuous shade of blue, the quirky Cafe du Cycliste offering and the great value Endura. If money is no object – or you’re hoping for something special from Father Christmas – check out the Velobici.
