off-road.cc

Ion’s years of producing high-end technical wear for the watersports world mean they’re certainly not newbies to designing aesthetically pleasing clothing, something pretty clear when looking at this Scrub Amp jersey from the 2018 range.

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The long sleeve Scrub Amp jersey rocked up just in time for the rapidly decreasing temperatures and conditions which also means, unfortunately, it was likely to get covered in crud. I say unfortunately because all of Ion’s kit looks and feels great and covering them in muck often feels slightly sacrilege. That said, based on how long their products often last, they’ve clearly designed them for rigorous use.

There is plenty of room for armour if you want to wear it

The Scrub Amp jersey is no exception to this rule - it's pleasing to the eye and feels like a quality item. Ion has included a few neat features into the Scrub, it’s made from something Ion call Drirelease, a material they claim feels like cotton (it does) but dries four times quicker - it dries quickly but I haven’t lab tested their claim, a cool one if true. The jersey also features a neat little ‘ticket port’ for various small items and a soft ‘lens cloth’ under the lower hem for, well, wiping your lenses of course!

The jersey is made from two very different materials

Our test sample came in the ‘blaze’ colourway (red and grey) which is one of three options, all of which are cool and collected in look, something Ion always delivers - they tend not to put out ‘shouty’ or ‘lairy’ designs and personally, I like that.

Glasses wipe.....

.... and a handy pocket

The Scrub has a pleasingly fitted but not tight torso section and looser fitting arms to allow for movement on the bike, it also offers more room should you wish to use armour or elbow pads underneath. The material has a good amount of stretch and feels super-soft against the skin. Its not the thinnest of jerseys, definitely one for those autumnal days or for layering up in the winter. It breathes well and does indeed dry quickly, a likely candidate for a big day in the mountains where climbs are a sweat fest but the peaks are chilly - the sleeves can be easily pulled up and down thanks to the soft elastic cuff. Ion Tee LS Scrub Amp Jersey-5.jpg, by Rachael Gurney

It's bright, but not lairy

The Scrub Amp long sleeve jersey is not cheap, at £69.95, it’s up there with other high-end brands on price. However, their motivation is clearly to provide top performing durable kit, which as we know, comes at a cost. Due to the aforementioned covering of muck this jersey was inevitably going to get, I’ve washed it several times and it still looks and feels like new - and as my Grandmother used to say, ‘a product that can be washed and washed and still look and feel like new, is surely testament to its quality’. In this case, I’d have to firmly agree.    

• www.ion-products.com

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