Review: Kalas Cycling UK women's jersey

I have really enjoyed seeing Cycling UK’s new brand launch this year, so I was excited to see how this would look on our new kit and have an opportunity to test it out. The jersey is produced by Kalas, a family-owned company, with its headquarters in the Czech Republic. I tried out the women’s fit, but it is also available in a standard fit and junior sizes.

First things first, the new brand looks great on these jerseys. The bright orange is balanced out by the muted grey and it’s a lovely use of the cog design, a key feature of the new brand. It feels stylish and modern to wear and I can see friends asking about it and wanting to know more about Cycling UK – never a bad thing!

It’s a short sleeve jersey, but with slightly longer sleeves than some, which I enjoy, but is very much a personal preference. The sleeves are silicone lined to prevent too much movement, as is the waistband. I would have liked to see a little more length in the back, and although better than some, I did find the jersey rode up quite easily. 

It has a full-length zip, which is always useful for those warm days when you need a bit of extra air. The zip itself is good quality, with guards to prevent rubbing against the skin. The pockets are fairly standard, a good depth for all the key items and a keyring clip in one of the pockets is always a useful addition.

The material is SPINN, which in terms we would understand is a kind of knitted polyester, with a layer of microfiber against the skin to remove sweat to the outer later. I really liked the mesh-like material, both for comfort (it's very soft) and it felt more breathable than some of the other jerseys I have, and was very quick to dry out, so the SPINN certainly seems to be doing what it’s meant to be!

It comes in six sizes. I nearly always fall between two sizes and went for the Size two. This was a tight fit, so if you are looking for a race fit, I’d go with your standard size, but if you like a more relaxed fit, or you fall between sizes, I’d recommend sizing up. I also found the neck a little restricting when zipped up fully, but this could be down to needing a larger size more generally.

The jersey retails for £99. This is more than I would usually spend on a jersey, but in reality, it’s in line with other good quality brands. Kalas also offer Cycling UK members a 15% discount on their cycling apparel and accessories, bringing this to £84.15.

Verdict

I really like the fresh, modern style of this jersey and it’s comfortable and practical to wear. There are a few elements I would adjust, but some of these might be down to the need to size up if you’re not used to a race fit. The cost compares to other similar brands and the Cycling UK discount helps make this even more appealing. 

These become available from 6th June, so get your pre-orders in now to showcase Cycling UK on your summer rides!