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In this article:
We have tested these products:
- Castelli Flanders Warm >> e.g. available here
- Craft Active Extreme X CN LS >> e.g. available here
- Falke long-sleeved shirt Warm >> e.g. available here
- Gore Base Layer Thermo Long Sleeve >> e.g. available here
- GribGrab Expert 2 Thermal Seamless >> e.g. available here
- Icebreaker Zone Knit 200 >> e.g. available here
- Löffler Transtex Hybrid
- Odlo Natural 100% Merino Warm
- Sportful Merino Layer Tee
- UYN Ambityon Underwear Shirt >> e.g. available here
- Van Rysel Winter Race
(Click to go to the individual rating)
Cycling clothing test report: long-sleeved functional shirts
Long-sleeved functional shirts are not necessarily the bike product that appeals to the emotions: grey, dark blue or black, usually made of plastic, and they often smell sourly of sweat after just one hour. Over the years, many models come and go through the personal inventory. But then there is the one that stays: a vest that is at least ten years old, worn through countless Washing cycles discoloured, worn out at the collar - but simply a favourite.
What makes it so is revealed by a thorough feel: your favourite vest buffers a wide temperature range, doesn't crease even under tight jerseys and doesn't pinch anywhere. It hardly stinks. The sleeves are long and tight enough and the collar is the right height. That's actually all there is to it. But what sounds so simple is obviously quite individual in practice, as there is a wide range on offer.
Material mix: the difference is in the detail
We requested long-sleeved functional shirts from the relevant manufacturers, which in their opinion are particularly suitable for cycling training in cold weather. At first glance, the results seem pretty homogeneous, but as soon as you look at the material label, things get interesting. The shirts in the test consist of a total of seven different materials, up to five of them in a single shirt! Why is that? The mix used may have a lot to do with the area of use. And that is a very complex matter.
The body as a power plant is optimised to a core temperature of around 37 degrees. If the temperature is too high or too low, performance drops considerably. At the same time, the human body generates very variable amounts of waste heat. Sitting at a desk, the heat output is around 100 watts, but even at an average pedalling power of 200 watts on a bike, this amounts to around 600 watts of waste heat. We compensate for excessively low temperatures with clothing and excessively high temperatures with wind, radiation and evaporation. The sweat we produce should evaporate as close to the body as possible. Functional shirts must support this cooling, but at the same time dry so quickly that they do not cool further during rest periods. Fibre materials are therefore at the top of the textile toolbox. Laboratory tests have shown that elastane, for example, which supports the fit, dries poorly. Or that polypropylene absorbs practically no water, whereas polyester and polyamide do so to a certain extent. The behaviour of wool and cotton has also been well studied, as has the feel of all these fabrics. No fibre performs everything desired. Textile experts are therefore forced to optimise their products for certain external conditions and for certain training intensities through the choice of material.
Special role of wool: structure of the fabric and susceptibility to odour
The structure of the knitted fabric is also very important. Many functional shirts in the test have a different structure on the inside than on the outside: coarse meshes or loops are designed to draw perspiration to the surface of the shirt by capillary action, where it evaporates - close to the skin, but not directly on the skin - to cool or is passed on to the next layer of clothing.
Merino wool plays a special role in this toolbox. This particularly fine sheep's wool stores a relatively large amount of moisture in its fibres before it is soaking wet and therefore hardly insulates at all. A merino shirt with 50 per cent moisture will therefore be more comfortable to wear than a cotton shirt with the same water content. But wool polarises: Some people find it itchy, and we would only recommend thick wool shirts for intensive training to a limited extent due to their drying behaviour. Their undeniable advantage, however, is their low odour development. The stink is caused by the decomposition of sweat by bacterial strains - which do not colonise wool, but are happy to do so on synthetic fibres. It is almost impossible to predict on which synthetic fibre they will do this. In addition, odour susceptibility often only develops after many washes. Two shirts (GripGrab and UYN) had an antibacterial finish - a controversial extra from a dermatological point of view, as it is said to disrupt the natural skin flora.
The wearing comfort
In addition to the fibre blend, the fit also contributes significantly to wearing comfort. Shirts that fit like they have been painted on generally promote thermoregulation thanks to their close contact with the skin, and they can also be worn under race-style short-sleeved jerseys in the transitional season with their arm-cuff look. However, these highly elasticated, low-seam shirts are somewhat awkward to put on, especially when the skin is damp. Not everyone likes the tight fit, but three of the four best shirts in the test are functional.
And this is ultimately the problem with our test with a whopping 50 samples: despite the greatest care, there can hardly be a single test winner. The boundary conditions are too varied, the requirements for personal comfort too individual. Nevertheless, we are sure that our recommendations will help to avoid bad purchases. Because as similar as the shirts may look: Almost every one has different strengths. And we have filtered them out.
Bike clothing: 11 vests in practical and laboratory tests
Castelli Flanders Warm
Castelli is normally a brand that shines with high functionality. In view of these expectations, the Flanders Warm comes off rather modestly. Although the pure polyester material dries quickly, the felted inside is very slow to absorb sweat. It remains on the skin and quickly becomes cold and wet. We therefore see the area of use in the less sweat-inducing speed range. As is typical for Castelli, the fit is orientated towards slim athletes, but the vest is not very flexible and not very "figure-tolerant" due to the only transversely elastic material. In terms of feel, several test subjects criticised the inelastic, scratchy seams. However, the shirt was obviously tailor-made for one tester: She made it her favourite >> at Alltricks or Rosebikes available.
Technical data and notes Castelli Flanders Warm
- Price: 75 Euro
- Made in Moldova
- Sizes¹: XS-XXL / XS-XL
- Material: 100 % polyester (PES)
BIKE judgement²: satisfactory
Craft Active Extreme X CN LS
Football veteran Franz Beckenbauer coined the unforgotten phrase "We call it a classic" about the Germany-England duel. The Craft shirt, which has remained almost unchanged for years, is just such a classic. The current version contains a lot of recycled polyester and a little mesh knit, but overall it retains its tried and tested function. During training, the lightweight shirt absorbs noticeable moisture, making it slightly cooler. The manufacturer's recommendation is for use during more intensive exercise and in cool, but not freezing temperatures, which also corresponds to the experience of our test subjects. The pure polyester shirt without elastane doesn't fit quite as tightly as others, but it dries quickly. Away from exertion, the wearing comfort can't quite compete with the skin flatterers in the test >> available from Rose.
Technical data and notes Craft Active Extreme X CN LS
- Price: 60 Euro
- Made in Lithuania
- Sizes¹: S-XXL / XS-XXL
- Material: 100 % polyester (PES) partly recycled
BIKE judgement²: good
Falke long-sleeved shirt Warm
If you only look at the fibre blend and the drying times of the Falke shirt, you will totally underestimate it: It "wets" longer than other synthetic fibre models. The fact that it is still a favourite of the test team is due to its good sweat wicking properties and its very tight fit - it is even difficult to put on when the skin is damp. It misses out on the full fit score due to the slightly too wide neck area and a front length that rolls up slightly in tights. The manufacturer advertises it for mild to cold conditions and high training intensity. This largely corresponds to our findings. When it comes to temperature, we correct the recommendation slightly in the direction of warmth. Very sporty overall, but not a favourite for many hours of basic training >> at Available on Amazon.
Technical data and notes Falke long-sleeved shirt Warm
- Price: 55 Euro
- Made in Turkey
- Sizes¹: S-XXL / XS-XL
- Material: 69 % polyamide (PA), 26 % PES, 5 % elastane
BIKE judgement²: good
Gore Base Layer Thermo Long Sleeve / BIKE-Tip Allround
Gore uses quick-drying material more consistently than any of its competitors. The fact that the polypropylene, which has a rough structure on the inside, accelerates sweat transport even further
The fact that the rough-textured polypropylene on the inside accelerates the transport of perspiration even further enhances the very dry feeling on the skin. The material scores particularly well under rainwear, which would otherwise cause moisture to build up. We would qualify the manufacturer's recommendation for high-intensity training in comparison to more cooling models, but the Gore shirt also works as a first layer on longer laps. Points of criticism were the somewhat "plastic-like" feel and cut details such as the somewhat low T-shirt collar. It also takes a while to adjust the sleeves when putting them on so that they no longer cause annoying creases. >> at Amazon or Bobshop available.
Technical data and notes Gore Base Layer Thermo Long Sleeve
- Price: 65 Euro
- Made in Turkey
- Sizes¹: S-XXL / 34-42
- Material: 92 % polypropylene (PP), 8 % elastane
BIKE judgement²: very good
GribGrab Expert 2 Thermal Seamless
The good news first: no other shirt has received as much praise for its fit as this one. It fits well without cutting in anywhere and has the right proportions for athletes' bodies, including upward tolerance. Unwashed, it smells a little chemically, which could be due to the controversial antibacterial finish. After several washes, this odour largely dissipated. The assessments of the body climate gathered in practice are also somewhat less euphoric: despite the inner and outer knit structures and the high proportion of quick-drying polypropylene, the relatively thick GripGrab shirt soaks up moisture close to the skin and can feel clammy. It received little praise for more intensive continuous use >> available from Bike-Components.
Technical data and notes GribGrab Expert 2 Thermal Seamless
- Price: 63 Euro
- Made in China
- Sizes¹: XS-XXL, 3 sizes, unisex
- Material: 56 % PP, 40 % PA, 4 % elastane, antibacterial treatment
BIKE judgement²: good
Icebreaker Zone Knit 200
The expensive merino shirt combines the advantages and disadvantages of wool: the Icebreaker model dries hardly any faster than a cotton T-shirt, feels damp but significantly warmer. Because merino wool cannot be knitted as cleverly as some synthetic fibres, this moist warmth can be felt close to the skin. We would therefore not recommend it for heavy sweating and high intensities. The feel of merino wool is polarising. One otherwise insensitive tester found the mesh knit on the back to be scratchy. Others praised the feel of the dry shirt - wool as a functional fibre remains a matter of feel. The cut of the (very large) Icebreaker shirt is sporty, but not cycling-specific and is more casual than close to the skin, especially on the stomach and hips >> available at Bergzeit.
Technical data and notes Icebreaker Zone Knit 200
- Price: 126 Euro
- Made in China
- Sizes¹: S-XXL / XS-XL
- Material: 100 % merino wool
BIKE judgement²: satisfactory
Löffler Transtex Hybrid
The Austrian company Löffler is a pioneer in functional underwear and processes various types of fibres in its own knitting mill. In the Transtex Hybrid, the proportion of wood-derived Lyocell fibre and cotton is particularly striking. The fibres are processed on two surfaces, and the inside and outside of the shirt are clearly different. According to the testers, this structure wicks moisture away from the skin well, even if the shirt feels clammy on the outside. The cut is slim and close-fitting, but not compressive. The sleeve length is just long enough for a sporty cycling position - but is not bike-specific. The manufacturer recommends it for medium to high activity levels. A specification that we even extend into the lower heart rate range. Very versatile.
Technical data and notes Löffler Transtex Hybrid
- Price: 80 Euro
- Made in Austria
- Sizes¹: 46-60 / 32-46
- Material: 36 % PP, 29 % Lyocell, 17 % PA, 15 % cotton, 3 % elastane
BIKE judgement²: good
Odlo Natural 100% Merino Warm
Odlo's pure merino shirt is the clear winner in the skin flatterer category - at least in moderate use. "Almost silky surface" and "cotton feel" are written in the test sheets. Even the merino competitors Icebreaker and Sportful do not achieve such skin-sympathising values. In the drying measurement, the shirt is in the midfield, at a similar level to Falke, GripGrab or Löffler. Nevertheless, it develops the typical warm and humid greenhouse climate during training. The manufacturer has quite rightly developed it for moderate
efforts. The cut is also more civilian, like a long-sleeved T-shirt with slim sleeves. In the shoulder area and on the stomach it can wrinkle under tight
wrinkles under tight jerseys. A shirt for cool basic units >> at Intersport available.
Technical data and notes Odlo Natural 100% Merino Warm
- Price: 85 Euro
- Made in Romania
- Sizes¹: S-XXL / XS-XL
- Material: 100 % merino wool
BIKE judgement²: good
Sportful Merino Layer Tee
Three-quarters wool, plus some polyamide to increase robustness and elastane for a closer fit: Sportful has created good conditions for success with the mix of its merino shirt. The fact that it still only just
good is due to weaknesses in each individual area. Several, but not all, testers found the shirt scratchy - even merino wool has different fibre qualities. The majority praised the fit of the no-frills and sufficiently elasticated shirt, but a better rating was not possible due to the short length, which only works reliably with bib shorts (those who only wear these should have no problems). Although the shirt dries very quickly overall, the majority of testers criticised the insufficient sweat wicking.
Technical data and notes Sportful Merino Layer Tee
- Price: 110 Euro
- Made in Croatia
- Sizes¹: S-XXXL / XXS-XXL
- Material: 75 % wool, 18 % polyamide (PA), 7 % elastane
BIKE judgement²: good
UYN Ambityon Underwear Shirt / BIKE Tip: Cold
The Italian high-tech knitters behind UYN show off their technical capabilities: various surface structures, changing colours and thicknesses... You don't notice much of these subtleties on the go, but the bottom line is that the shirt in this comparison is the recommendation for consistent cycling in the cold. The two-ply knitted fabric transfers moisture to the outer layers, which is why it still feels good on the skin despite its poor drying behaviour. The rather tight, body-hugging fit supports this function. Two points of criticism concern the cut of the shirt, which was made for winter sports: The long front made from the relatively thick material rolls up bulging in tights. And with such a warm shirt, a slightly higher collar would be appropriate >> available here.
Technical data and notes UYN Ambityon Underwear Shirt
- Price: 79 Euro
- Made in Italy
- Sizes¹: S/M-XXL / XS-L/XL (3 sizes each)
- Material: 86 % PA, 12 % PP, 2 % elastane, antibacterial
BIKE judgement²: very good
Van Rysel Winter Race / BIKE Tip Price-performance
Overtaken on the right: For less than half the average price in the test field, discounter Decathlon offers a competitive cycling vest with its own brand Van Rysel. Those who were able to try it out during more intensive training and in mild weather were very impressed, even without looking at the price tag. Once you have smoothed out the slim and very elasticated pellet, the bike-specific cut with distinctly long sleeves and body-hugging shoulders as well as a pleasantly high collar is impressive. In terms of body climate, however, the Van Rysel is made more for transitional seasons than for winter. It distributes perspiration well, but leaves a slightly cooling rather than significantly warming effect - which is in line with the manufacturer's information on the area of use.
Technical data and grades Van Rysel Winter Race
- Price: 28 Euro
- Made in Romania
- Sizes¹: S-XXL
- Material: 97 % PA, 3 % elastane
BIKE judgement²: good
¹ Men's version / Women's version,
² The BIKE judgement is independent of price. BIKE judgements: super, very good, good, satisfactory, with weaknesses, unsatisfactory.
Interview with Sasa Stefanovic, Löffler GmbH:
"The structure of the knitted fabric makes a huge difference."
BIKE: As a buyer, is it possible to recognise how a shirt will behave just by looking at the material information on the label?
Sasa Stefanovic: This is only possible with wool. In case of doubt, a pure wool shirt will always behave similarly because the fibre properties are largely fixed. With synthetic fibres, for example, the thickness and cross-section of the yarn can be adjusted. And this changes the properties of the shirt.
How important is the structure of the knitted fabric, for example a smooth knit like a T-shirt, compared to a roughened inside?
The structure of the knitted fabric makes a huge difference: stitch width, any loops, the twisting of a yarn - all of this has a massive influence on the wearing properties. As a customer, however, you can hardly judge this in advance.
Löffler offers many different fibre blends for functional underwear, and there are even more on the market. What determines the blend?
This is designed for the respective area of application, i.e. a certain temperature and intensity. Internally, it also has to be suitable for production, i.e. sewing, cutting and so on. Apart from that, it is the result of a long development process and many wear tests. We do this both internally and with athletes we support.
Do they at least agree in the end?
When it comes to comfort, everyone is different. And just as brand A jeans always suit one person and brand B jeans suit another, professionals also prefer very different materials for functional underwear. Even if the cut and feel are the same, the choice depends heavily on personal preferences.
How we tested the MTB clothing
We put a total of more than 50 samples of functional long-sleeved shirts through our practical and laboratory tests. In a true evaluation marathon, the impressions of this mountain bike clothing were moulded into results.
The requirement
For the test of long-sleeved cycling vests for cyclists, the manufacturers were largely free to choose the samples. Neither the base material nor the area of use were specified.
The practical test
Because laboratory tests can only test partial aspects of function, BIKE ordered four to six copies of each sample. In total, more than 50 samples were given to experienced cyclists, who assessed the fit, feel and body climate of the shirts on questionnaires at the end of each training session. A second stage of the practical test was carried out on the ergometer at constant performance and outside temperature.
The laboratory test
Moisture absorption and the drying process give an indication of the area of use. We soaked the shirts for half an hour, allowed them to drain and spun them briefly in the washing machine to eliminate waterlogging. During the drying process, the shirts were weighed at regular intervals and the moisture content recorded. The majority of the shirts are knitted on two sides. The inside and outside differ in structure and, in some cases, material. The aim is to achieve a low, defined level of moisture in direct contact with the skin by wicking sweat away into the next layer of fabric. This property was tested and compared in a spray test with water.
The results
Laboratory tests and practical assessments complement and support each other. However, despite the large number of samples and test subjects, the results contain strong subjective elements. In addition, even technically well-designed shirts qualify for very different areas of use - illustrated in the recommendations for "temperature" and "intensity". Not all products are made for exactly the same purpose. An evaluation in decimal grades was therefore dispensed with.
Statement by Jörg Spaniol, BIKE test author:
There cannot be one test winner for all vests. The requirements are too different. However, most manufacturers know exactly what their functional shirts can do: Their recommendations for use are mostly close to our results.
