The Madison Flux Men’s Long Sleeve Trail Jersey is designed for increased durability out on the trail with high levels of moisture management. But has the brand nailed both fit and performance?
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Madison Flux Men’s Long Sleeve Trail Jersey - Technical details
Made from 90 per cent recycled polyester and 10 per cent elastane, the jersey is constructed in two different fabric weights. The body and cuff sections use a lightweight four-way stretch perforated mesh material for fast wicking, whilst the arms use a more robust, heavier-weight two-way stretch material for fending off snagging.
Madison describes the fit as articulated, with pre-curved arms with enough room for elbow pads and a slightly dropped rear for added protection from trail spray.
The black jersey looks very understated, with only a few small reflective print logos for nighttime visibility. It’s also available in red and green, with a lightning strike-style graphic pattern at the upper chest. It's available in sizes S to XXL.
Madison Flux Men’s Long Sleeve Trail Jersey- Performance
Annoyingly, I fit between a size small and medium on Madison’s sizing chart. Owing to this, I sized up and went for a medium. Overall, the fit in the body is good, with no excess bulking and a good hem length at the front. The material is also soft on the skin.
The arms, though, are a different matter. They’re overly long and the material balloons excessively from the elbow down. This is probably okay if you wear elbow pads or body armour but I don’t, so the voluminous cut created a rather annoying flappy area. This piled up, covering the mesh section of the cuffs and stopping the breathable panel from working effectively.
The jersey wicked moisture well enough through the body, but the thicker material of the arms trapped sweat, leaving me moist and overly warm. While testing conditions have been carried out in milder autumn/winter months, I’d imagine the warmer months could be a little uncomfortable. That said, I can’t dispute the rugged material of the arms, batting off bramble strikes and generally still looking pretty fresh so far.
This jersey could benefit from a few design tweaks to perform better. The addition of some underarm venting panels and a leaner cut through the arms could make it a great jersey, but, for me, fit and performance were a little underwhelming.
Madison Flux Men’s Long Sleeve Trail Jersey - Verdict
Although well-priced for a jersey with some added protection, it’s hard to recommend, and your money could be better spent on something such as the Fox Racing Ranger Jersey series or Leatt’s Jersey MTB AllMtn 5.0 – both of which come in at a similar price point.
This jersey could work for you if you ride with full body armour or elbow pads, but a well-cut jersey with enough stretch should accommodate extra protection anyway – so it’s hard to overlook the baggy cut in the arms. Breathability could be better through the arms, so it would benefit from some venting panels, and I’d like to see a closer-fitting cut for comfort and looks.