Review: Santini Colore Women’s Long Sleeve Jersey
The Santini Colore is a luxurious long sleeve jersey that's typical of Santini standards. I was lucky enough to purchase one of the remaining few from York Cycleworks after a slight panic at realising my cycling wardrobe doesn't extend beyond the extremes of 20 degree or -20 degree temperatures.
A relaxed, classic fit makes it perfect for those early season rides where you may have over-indulged on the lockdown banana bread. I chose the size Medium as I prefer my winter/thermal kit to be a bit baggier so I can fit base layers/extra banana bread underneath, although if I were bothered about being somewhat ‘aero’ I’d have gone for the Small and probably still had room to stash some brownies. Santini’s size guide is quite thorough and walks you through the different measurements for each fit as well as size.
After almost a month of riding with the jersey, I’ve enjoyed every ride with it on. I’ve taken it on mindless endurance rides, and through high-tempo sprint sessions, and only managed to get chain oil on it once. It’s extremely comfortable, and it looks good too. The fleece style lining is perfect for the current temperatures (between roughly 5-12º) without being overly warm when the mercury rises above shorts weather temperatures. A further bonus is that the fleece material doesn’t seem to bobble easily after a few washes and unlike other jerseys, it’s still as soft as the day I got it.
The colour I chose was Aqua, a lovely light blue/turquoise that stands out even in dull weather, but there are other colours available. There is one small strip of reflective detailing on the right-hand pocket at the back. While this may not be enough for complete darkness, it's ideal for those rides where you take a bit longer than you were meant to and end up chasing the sunset home.
The Colore also sits well on the body. There's no rising up thanks to the silicone grippers around the base of the jersey, and the pockets are easily accessible and large enough to fit brownies or a giant phone. Additionally, the wrists aren’t so ridiculously tight that you can’t pull them over your watch face to read that work message that could have waited until you got home.
A further benefit that’s not advertised by Santini is the jersey’s water resistance. If you live in Yorkshire you’ll know the Met office forecasts have as much hope of being accurate as you picking out six winners in a row at Cheltenham. Clouds move, rain falls. It’s Yorkshire. I’m not saying it’ll keep you warm and dry in a downpour but a light spattering of rain won’t make it through and you’ll stay nice and toasty.
For those of us who want a classic fit, well-made winter jersey, it's ideal. Santini has a history of creating well fitted and long-lasting women's apparel, hence why it's such a popular brand in the Women's WorldTour. The jersey is part of their Colore Winter range, which consists of jerseys, jackets, tights, and accessories for both men and women and is reasonably priced, although I admittedly got it on sale.
Overall, it’s been a great addition to my autumn/winter/spring and let’s face it, sometimes summer wardrobe and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it as a medium weight jersey.
