Mons Royale Redwood ¾ Raglan T
Size Tested: M
Stated Features:
- 3/4 raglan sleeve
- Full merino mesh back
- Integrated microfibre sunglass wipe
- Drop tail
- 140 g/m2, Single Jersey Merino Wool
- 83% Merino 13% Nylon 4% Elastane
MSRP: $100
Reviewer: 5’9” 155 lbs
Test Duration: ~20 rides
Test Locations: Montana, Nevada, & British Columbia
Intro
It took a while for me to come around, but I’ve become a wool convert. What took me so long? While it’s easy to acknowledge the upsides of wool (it stays warm when wet, it doesn’t hold odor, and it’s more environmentally friendly than synthetics, among others), a lot of wool jerseys I’ve tried have been a bit too warm, maybe just a little scratchy, and they’ve tended to have a slimmer cut.
Fabric & Performance
I spent a bunch of time in the Sweet Protection Badlands wool jersey this year, and it came pretty close to solving those problems — it’s comfy and has a casual fit, but it’s a bit warm for legitimately hot weather. But the Mons Royale Redwood is the first wool jersey I’ve used that really and truly changed my opinion on wool jerseys for hot rides.
It’s cut like a trail-oriented ¾ sleeve jersey — loose, but not baggy, and slightly longer in the tail. It’s super comfortable and not scratchy in any way shape or form. And most importantly, it breathes really, really well. When I was down at Interbike this year riding bikes at Bootleg Canyon in 90° F heat without any shade, I wore the Redwood. It’s very close to the top of the list for the most breathable jersey I own, and it’s the first jersey I’ll reach for when it’s legitimately hot out. And given that the Redwood is mostly wool, that’s saying something.
And, of course, it still has all of the upsides of a merino wool jersey. On some rides where I’ve gotten wet, the jersey’s still comfortable. And I did a little test to see how long I could go without washing it before it picked up a stink — it made it through about 7 sweaty rides, and I suspect it would’ve gone longer, but it got stuck in a bag with some nasty chamois. And even after that ordeal, a quick wash and it’s back to being funk-free.
Fit
The fit on the Redwood is maybe slightly on the larger side of average. I’m about 5’9” (175 cm) and not particularly bulky — I tend to wear a medium in pretty much everything. The Medium Redwood fit me well, and there’s enough room that someone with a thicker build than I would likely be fine.
Bottom Line
So if you’ve been a bit hesitant about wool in the past because it’s warmer than synthetics fabrics, give the Redwood a look — it’s different. And if you’re already on the wool bandwagon, the Redwood’s a great option for warm weather.