Designed for fast-wicking, quick-drying and all-out comfort on the hottest days, the Rapha Trail Lightweight T-Shirt further cements Rapha as a top mountain bike apparel brand. Although priced at something premium, it’s simply styled and incredibly effective, firmly making it one of the best mountain bike jerseys. It could perhaps do with a broader shoulder fit.
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Rapha Men’s Trail Lightweight T-Shirt - Technical details
Rapha’s Trail Lightweight T-Shirt utilises two fabrics that benefit from moisture-wicking and antibacterial technologies to keep cool and comfortable when the heat beats down. Up front is a honeycomb knit fabric that’s said to boost airflow through the structure of the fabric. The back uses a thinner fabric.
Both fabrics are made with recycled materials, including 68 per cent recycled polyester. As expected with a Rapha product, the brand includes repair patches in the packet. The T-shirt also provides UV protection, a great move for a top of this type.
The Trail Lightweight T-Shirt is available in six sizes from XS up to XXL and is only available in the grey/light grey colour pictured. Of course, there’s the armband, the hallmark of any Rapha jersey.
Rapha Men’s Trail Lightweight T-Shirt - Performance
With several heat waves battering the UK, the Rapha Men’s Trail Lightweight T-Shirt has quickly become a go-to option for me. It fits well and the chest and waist measurements are accurate – it’s also plenty long enough. Its length gives a welcome hint of protection against any mud or dirt that can be flung off the rear wheel.
There is a small niggle with the fit, however – the jersey’s shoulders could be a bit wider. It’s certainly not game-ending but the narrow shoulder measurement leads to minor discomfort, and regular readjustment as the sleeves tend to ride up a little. Of course, the shoulders don’t sit quite as they should. I’ve been riding in a large top which has become my regular size and an inch or so added to the shoulder width would be amazing.
That said, the Trail Lightweight T-Shirt is an excellent performer in all other aspects with the main one being its breathability. The honeycomb knit of the front panel, unique to this top, welcomes air flow impressively, whereas the back panel is made of an even lighter fabric that effectively expels warmth and moisture.
I’ve used this top as the temperatures near-30 degrees Celsius and its comfort remains. On particularly humid and super sweaty days, however, the top can get drenched in sweat after strenuous climbs. The Trail Lightweight T-Shirt, however, makes light work of dumping the wet stuff during a descent, where airflow is at its greatest.
As for durability, I’ve been rather impressed. I’ve not crashed in this jersey (yet) but it’s been through several washes, and it’s still looking as good as new. However, if I were to damage the fabric, the included repair kit should keep it in tip-top condition.
Rapha Men’s Trail Lightweight T-Shirt - Verdict
With an RRP of £65, this is certainly a premium product that matches up with the likes of Mons Royale and 7Mesh. 7Mesh’s Roam Shirt SS comes in at £60 and is built with a fabric that provides UPF 50+ protection. It gets a similar feature list, too, with a 100 per cent recycled fabric and a textured backer designed to keep the fabric away from the skin.
Mons Royale’s Tarn Merino Shift T-Shirt ups the game a little more, coming in at £75. As its name suggests, it’s built using Merino wool which is relied upon to wick moisture and regulate heat. The brand also says the fabric can absorb 30 per cent of its weight before feeling wet. In our tests, we found it to be comfortable with an excellent fit and its moisture-wicking is incredibly effective. However, the Rapha Trail Lightweight top feels lighter to wear and welcomes much more airflow.
Endura's Singletrack S/S Jersey will set you back £50 and it's another that employs techy fabrics in the name of comfort in warm weather. It uses recycled fabrics, comes with a zipped pocket and is built to quench odour while ridding moisture.
The Rapha Men’s Trail Lightweight T-Shirt is an excellent jersey for summer riding. It’s super breathable, very comfortable and it deals with moisture effectively. Although certainly premium, its price isn’t sky-high, and it’s well worth the investment if you’re after a top for all-out comfort in sweltering conditions.