Women’s MTB Jersey Roundup – 2023

Kara Williard reviews the Endura Women’s SingleTrack Tank Top for BLISTER.
Kara Williard in the Endura Women’s SingleTrack Tank Top (Crested Butte, CO)

Intro

We’ve been testing a bunch of women-specific jerseys this summer, spanning the full spectrum from ultralight tank tops to protective long-sleeve jerseys. We included nine in this year’s Roundup, but you can check out our Women ‘s MTB Jersey Roundup from last year, which has nine additional options, many of which are still current.

Flylow Aster Shirt

MSRP: $80 (currently on sale for $40)
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: Medium

Kara Williard: The Flylow Aster Shirt is a highly breathable, lightweight, collared jersey that I have spent quite a bit of time in this summer. Among the jerseys here, it uses some of the lightest materials and tends to be the option I gravitate to on a hot day. It’s a great example of a bike jersey that doesn’t look explicitly like a bike jersey, and it’s proven versatile for other activities, such as relaxing days on the river or hiking.

Unlike the Flylow Phoenix Shirt, which I wrote about last summer, the Aster shirt only buttons about ⅓ of the way, and the Aster feels like a step above the Phoenix in terms of breathability. While it doesn’t have a handy chest picket like the Phoenix Shirt, the Aster Shirt does have two large hand pockets. 

Kara Williard reviews the Flylow Aster Shirt for BLISTER.
Flylow Aster Shirt
The Aster Shirt also offers 50+ UPF coverage and provides a nice, long fit which makes it really great for biking, as I never feel is riding up in the back or flapping in the wind from being too short. In this regard, it is quite a bit longer in the torso and back than the Phoenix Shirt. Both are great, versatile options, but so far, I have favored the fit, style, and features of the Aster Shirt to that of the Phoenix Shirt.

Flylow Honey Jersey

MSRP: $80 (currently on sale for $40)
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: Medium

Kara: The Flylow Honey Jersey is a durable, protective, long-sleeve jersey. Despite that, I have also found it to be pretty comfortable and breathable even for summer riding conditions. It’s not as breathable as the Endura SingleTrack L/S Jersey, but it still offers some reasonable temperature regulation on hot and sunny days. I have especially appreciated the fabric, which is pretty smooth and silky feeling, but also quite durable and snag-resistant.

As temperatures begin to cool, I know that the Honey Jersey will be one of my first picks for a warmer long-sleeve option, but having tested it in some considerable fluctuating temperatures, it has proven to be great at wicking and still light enough to cool down. It is quite minimalist in regard to features, but that is what keeps it the versatile, simple, and well-rounded jersey that it is. 

Kara Williard reviews the Flylow Honey Jersey for BLISTER.
Flylow Honey Jersey

The Honey Jersey is quite true to size, in relation to other Flylow products, and I have been comfortable with the Medium, though for a bit more length, I could have also opted for the Large. If you find yourself at the bike park a lot, prioritize protection, or want a good jersey for multiple temperatures and seasons, the Flylow Honey Jersey could be a good option.

Kara Williard reviews the Flylow Honey Jersey for BLISTER.
Kara Williard in the Flylow Honey Jersey (Hartman Rocks, Gunnison, CO)

Shredly Biker Tank: Golden Hour Tie Dye

MSRP: $48
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: Medium

Kara: This is by no means a bike-specific shirt. In fact, it can be used for just about anything. The Shredly Biker Tank is a lightweight tank top, that is ultra-soft and comfortable. It’s built from Shredly’s new ecoFAB fabric, a recycled mixture of polyester, tencel, and lycra. It’s also offered in a variety of great colors.

I have found myself wearing the Biker Tank for just about any occasion, from casual outfits for a night out, a workout at the gym, or a comfortable post-ride option after a river dip. I haven’t actually worn it on the bike a ton as I have been trying to be better about sun protection, and potential-fall protection this summer. That said, its widely varying uses make it a great option on and off the bike.  

It definitely fits a bit roomier than I was expecting. The Medium is plenty long and also pretty specious around the arms, which makes it one of the most comfortable options for really hot days, but also means I have to ensure I really think about sunscreen around the shoulders and back. This is by no means a fitted, nor highly technical jersey. The Biker Tank is a great addition to your jersey collection if you just want something simple, cute, super soft, and comfortable, but at that, it’s also going to be a lot more than just a mountain bike jersey.

Endura Women’s SingleTrack Tank Top

MSRP: $59.99
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: Large

Kara: Compared with the jersey above, the Endura SingleTrack Tank Top feels much more bike-specific, and also offers a bit more coverage. The SingleTrack Tank Top is built with a more technical material, contributing to excellent wicking and temperature regulation. While it’s still pretty minimalistic, it has one small zippered pocket which works well for quick-access snacking or storage for a lip balm, though can’t fit much beyond that.

Kara Williard reviews the Endura Women’s SingleTrack Tank Top for BLISTER.
Endura Women’s SingleTrack Tank Top

Built from highly perforated fabric, the SingleTrack Tank Top is undoubtedly one of the best options here for warmer days. I found it to do a great job of keeping me cool while also staying pretty dry even on the more humid of rides. While it is a tank top, its cut provides good coverage on the shoulders.

If you are seeking out that same level of breathability, but want a bit more coverage and sun protection, Endura also offers this jersey in a short-sleeve and long-sleeve version, with more details on the long-sleeve version below.

Endura Women’s SingleTrack L/S Jersey

MSRP: $79.99
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: Large

Kara: Competing in a bike race early this summer, I opted to wear the Endura SingleTrack L/S Jersey because I wanted something that would keep the chill off during the early morning start, but then would also keep the sun off of me as temperatures dramatically rose in the heat of the day. All in all, the SingleTrack L/S Jersey was a reasonable choice. The material, as mentioned above, is highly perforated, breathable, and provides great wicking.

Kara Williard reviews Endura Women’s SingleTrack L/S Jersey for BLISTER.
Endura Women’s SingleTrack L/S Jersey

I found that the material felt a little thick when it was really hot, and a lighter, more airy material would have potentially felt a bit more comfortable. But, I was impressed by the range of comfort this jersey provided. On the flip side, this long-sleeve option will also be great as we drift into colder temperatures this fall.

Similar to the Tank Top version, the L/S Jersey has one small, zippered pocket, but is otherwise quite simplistic. In regard to size, an Endura women’s Large has worked well for me. It’s roomy enough to be comfortable, but also not too tailored or close-fitting to feel clingy. The material is a comparable weight to that of the Flylow Honey Jersey, though not nearly as lightweight and breathable as the Velocio Delta Long Sleeve Jersey, listed below.

The SingleTrack Tank, L/S, and I would reckon to guess also the S/S version are all great options for a pretty versatile, technical, but also simple jersey. 

Strafe W’s Skyline Tech Tee

MSRP: $79 (currently on sale for $39.50)
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: Large

Kara: I wrote about Strafe’s Skyline Tech Tee in Stuff We Like: June 2023, as it became one of my favorite lightweight and breathable jerseys during the hottest months here in the Gunnison Valley, when I had found myself poorly managing the heat. Strafe W’s Skyline Tech Tee is extremely airy and breathable and does a great job of wicking moisture. Strafe utilizes a cooling technology, “brrr° Triple Chill,” and on more than one occasion I found the Skyline Tech Tee helped regulate my body temperature, both on humid and dry days.

Kara Williard reviews the Strafe W’s Skyline Tech Tee for BLISTER.
Strafe W’s Skyline Tech Tee
Kara Williard reviews the Strafe W’s Skyline Tech Tee for BLISTER.
Kara Williard in Strafe's Skyline Tech Tee (Crested Butte, CO)

The Skyline Tech Tee is lightweight, thin, and composed of a soft and stretchy mesh fabric. Its breathability is comparable to that of the Flylow Aster Sirt, but among all the jerseys here, the Skyline tech Tee certainly has a leg up in terms of just how lightweight and breathable it really is. This works well for hot days where keeping cool is a priority, but my only potential concern is its long-term durability. So far, the Tee has been snag-resistant and seems to be holding up after several washings, but because it’s so thin and soft I’m a little worried about how it will hold up over the coming months. The Endura SingleTrack Tank and L/S are both just a bit more durable, albeit a slightly thicker, less airy fabric than the Skyline Tech Tee, and this is certainly what makes the Tech Tee Stand out.

It’s worth mentioning that this is another example of a very versatile shirt for summer adventures and would recommend it to anyone looking for a supremely breathable short sleeve shirt in which to wear hiking, running, biking, and more. 

Cognitive MTB Women’s Tech Tank Top

MSRP: $47.95
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: Medium

Kara: Cognative MTB’s Women’s Tech Tnsk Top is another great tank / jersey for the warm months of summer. This one in particular I have spent a lot of time the last two summers in, and it has the most “jersey-like” material of all the jerseys here, with a pretty silky and smooth finish. The material is a lightweight and breathable mesh and feels quite cooling against the skin.

Kara Williard reviews the Cognitive MTB Women’s Tech Tank Top for BLISTER.
Cognitive MTB Women’s Tech Tank Top
Built with a racerback design, the Tech Tank Top is also quite cute and stylish, making it another good option for on and off the bike. I spent a very dry, hot, and dusty day on one of the bigger rides on the summer in this tank top and it provided sustained comfort, great wicking, and I was surprised to find it didn’t smell too bad at the end of the day. In a women’s Medium, I found the length sufficient and the fit to be roomy but not baggy. The design is simple, but it works, and it also comes in at a good price.
Kara Williard reviews the Cognitive MTB Women’s Tech Tank Top for BLISTER.
Kara Williard in the Cognitive MTB Women’s Tech Tank Top (Mt. Crested Butte, CO)

Velocio Women’s Delta Trail Long Sleeve

MSRP: $99
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: Large

Kara: Velocio emerged into the mountain bike clothing market this summer, with the release of their “Off-Road” apparel. I have spent lots of time on gravel and roads pedaling in Velocio clothing and have continuously been impressed with the intentional details, quality, performance, and comfort of their gear. Needless to say, I was curious to try their MTB apparel, and have pedaled quite a few miles in the gear over the last few weeks.

Kara Williard reviews the Velocio Women’s Delta Trail Long Sleeve for BLISTER.
Velocio Women’s Delta Trail Long Sleeve

First up is their Women’s Delta Trail Long Sleeve. I didn’t really believe fall was in the air until I was pedaling in the alpine a couple of weekends ago. It was cold. I opted to spend the two days of this bikepacking mission in the Delta Trail LS, and it proved a good choice.

Built with Polartec Delta cooling fabric made of recycled polyester and Tencel yarn, the Delta Trail Jersey is a relatively thin, mesh-like material that has a slightly softer feel to it than other jersey-like fabrics, such as that in the Endura SingleTrack jerseys. The fabric is ultra-thin, airy, and extremely breathable. This makes it the most comfortable long-sleeve jersey among the bunch to wear on hot days, but it also provides just enough protection to stave off cold winds. These drastic temperatures are exactly what I experienced while wearing the Delta LS Jersey, and it proved well-rounded. Among the long-sleeved jerseys here, this one is definitely the most lightweight and works wonders in regard to sun protection. 

Kara Williard reviews the Velocio Women’s Delta Trail Long Sleeve for BLISTER.
Kara Williard in the Velocio Women’s Delta Trail Long Sleeve

This jersey is soft and thin enough to have me concerned about snagging it, which I have already done a couple of times. And while it does snag slightly (1-2 threads at a time), it seems a bit more durable than I would have expected. I am sure I will be spending a lot more time in the coming months and will report back with any durability concerns. That said, Velocio is impressive in terms of how they stand behind their gear, offering a repair department for their products, in addition to a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, so while their prices tend to be a little steeper, their quality and service standards are a step above.

Velocio Indigo Dye Ultralight Trail Jersey

MSRP: $79
Reviewer: 5’9”, 167 lbs / 175 cm, 75.7 kg
Size Tested: Large

Kara: Velocio’s Ultralight Trail Jersey stands out due to how light and breathable the material is, even more so than their already very lightweight Delta Jersey. Made from opaque mesh milled in Italy from 88% recycled polyester, this has quickly become a summer favorite in the past several weeks. This a very comfortable, soft, and supple jersey. In terms of moisture-wicking, it is also in line with many of the great options listed here, but I do find this to be at the top of the list when it comes to wicking and breathability.

Staying true to Velocio’s road and gravel apparel, I have found it is best to size up in most of their apparel, especially if I want the length from the shirts and jerseys. Unlike many of the other jerseys I opted for a Large in here, this is one of the few that seems I require a Large in order to get a roomy and comfortable fit. 

Kara Williard reviews the Velocio Indigo Dye Ultralight Trail Jersey for BLISTER.
Velocio Indigo Dye Ultralight Trail Jersey

The material is a little less airy and thin compared with Strafe’s Skyline Tech Tee, but it also feels a step above in terms of durability. This jersey is also rather simplistic but provides a much more tailored and athletic fit than the Large in the Strafe Skyline. So far, I have been impressed with Velocio’s foray into MTB-specific apparel, with both the Ultralight Trail Jersey and Delta Long Sleeve Jersey becoming quick favorites. As for this particular version, I can’t help but love the Indigo tie-dye aesthetic which is unique and offers a little flare to the overall kit. 

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