Alpinestars' ALPS 8.0 Short Sleeve jersey puts airflow and cooling at the forefront of its design with a range of breathable mesh panels in strategic places. The jersey's fit is pretty spot-on, though its cooling panels sacrifice comfort, and like the ALPS 8.0 shorts, the price is a tad high.
- Buyer’s guide to summer mountain bike jerseys
- Polaris Bikewear Vista SS jersey review
- 10 pieces of essential mountain bike clothing for beginners
The ALPS 8.0 Short Sleeve jersey is constructed from an advanced mixed poly-textile that promises durability, colour fastness (the ability for a fabric to cling onto its colour), and encourages moisture wicking. It also gets quick-drying treatment to keep things moisture-free while you’re on the bike while offering antibacterial protection to keep those sweaty odours at bay.
Then, there’s a four-way stretch fabric and an ergonomic collar design, which is supposed to offer improved comfort than jerseys without.
As usual, I opted for a medium-size, and just like the ALPS 8.0 Shorts, the fit is spot on. There's plenty of length at the rear to keep spray from finding its way up your back, and the sleeves aren't so baggy that they're prone to snags.
However, comfort is where the Alps 8.0 Short Sleeve Jersey falls short. It feels a bit over-engineered around the collar and the back panel. The former is made so the collar reaches up to your neck, and more often than not, it folds over and tucks into itself.
This is where the saying 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' really comes into mind, as a regular crew neck would have worked just fine. Instead, the usual pre-descent stops will include a quick untucking of the collar before dropping in.
The back is built with a breathable panel through the middle, which is great if you’re looking for a bit more airflow underneath a backpack. The two seams that run along either side of the breathable panel are super noticeable, though. It’s just not a very comfortable way around cooling.
While you’re in the thick of it, both of these issues aren’t world ending as they can be forgotten, but for the asking price, it’s not the comfiest jersey out there.
This comes as a bit of a disappointment as it’s priced at an eye-watering £65. Yes, it comes with all of that handy tech and the over-engineered bits but this jersey doesn’t beat the simplicity of the Nukeproof Blackline Jersey that’s priced at £45.
It's built more like a normal t-shirt but with a big, mesh back panel for cooling and a normal collar. It's missing a secret pocket, but that definitely doesn't hold it back.
Another example of a more budget-friendly but excellent top is the Endura MT500 Amino L/S Jersey. Similar to the Alps 8.0, it gets a fancy collar, but it's far more comfortable. Ignoring the sleeves, it fits well, it's perfectly comfortable, and it looks rather flashy too.
With many jerseys on the market with a lower price and better comfort, the Alps 8.0 Short Sleeve Jersey is a tough garment to justify. Although, if you value cooling and fit over comfort niggles, you'll get on with this jersey.