Assos Trail Women's T3 Jersey is a short sleeve jersey aimed at the trail riding, all-mountain community. This jersey is made with breathability and durability in mind and looks great but doesn't offer the greatest value for money.
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Assos Trail Women's T3 Jersey - Technical Details
Assos' Trail garments are a series aimed at those of us riding singletrack and laps in the mountains. Assos says the products are designed for “unrestricted freedom of movement and comfort on the trail.”
The Assos Trail Women's T3 Jersey is the collection's short sleeve jersey that Assos claims has a roomier chest and arm area. They also say it is suitable for a longer body length.
Featuring Assos' Majestic fabric, the side panels, collar, shoulders and sleeve hems add moisture absorption and body mapping stretch, whereas the body of the jersey is made with a circular knit called Triangle (it looks like triangles on the inside!) that stretches laterally but maintains vertical stability. Overall, the jersey is designed to provide natural stretch, breathability, high abrasion resistance, ultra-soft feel and UPF 35 sun protection.
Assos Trail Women's Jersey T3 - On Test
The T3 Jersey is best suited to summertime temperatures - it is very lightweight and in the last few weeks I’ve finally managed to get some good rides in it.
The lightweight materials and subtle colour scheme on this jersey make it very easy to wear, and pair with other kit. This jersey is available in two colours, Diamond Grey (on test) and Schwarzwald Green. The colour actually has a purple tint to it in the right lighting, and I quite liked how it changed from a rather dull grey. And the style of this jersey is a big positive; it is very classy and subtle, although some might say that Assos has used the same style for quite a while making it outdated.
In terms of materials, I was left desiring more with the feel of the top. The sides of the jersey, all the way from the hem to the armpit, and again from the shoulder to the neck, are made with stretchy Majestic textile, which Assos claims adds moisture management and stretch. I agree with this; the jersey never felt sweaty or wet, and it felt comfortable to wear around the shoulders. Assos has switched to set-in sleeves instead of raglan sleeves (meaning a one-piece design all the way from the collar) for this jersey.
Assos emphasises that the jersey has a roomier chest and arm design to "accommodate for pads and allow movement in the saddle." This is something I did not find to be true. Neither my chest nor my arms are particularly big, but when wearing just a moderately padded sports bra, the chest was comfortably snug, and the sleeves didn’t leave much room for any padding (I am curious what pads you would wear on your chest anyway unless riding downhill?).
The feel of the jersey left me a little disappointed. The sides felt very soft and stretchy, but the body of the top felt rough against bare skin - something Rachael found to be the case with the long-sleeve version of this jersey, as well (although that one has a slightly different, more robust, construction).
Overall the fit is comfortably loose, without being baggy. Assos say the Trail Women's Jersey T3 accommodates body length, but compared to other MTB jerseys I've tried, this one is definitely on the shorter side, especially at the front. The hem is longer at the back, which is great, but if you happen to wear pads as Assos suggests, I think this top will creep up on your waist.
The jersey is, as Assos garments usually are, beautifully made with neat stitching and clean details, but I was disappointed with this jersey’s capabilities to wash off any sweat smells. It still had a distinct odour left after a wash following the label instructions. I know that this is a slightly personal thing, but I have plenty of jerseys which don’t have the same issue.
Assos Trail Women's Jersey T3 - Final Thoughts
Assos Trail Women's Jersey T3 retails for £80. I think the cost is hard to justify on this jersey. Compared to the Pearl Izumi Women's Launch Jersey (£75), which has some eco-credentials and a key pocket, or Leatt DBX 2.0 women's short sleeve jersey (£35). Overall, I feel this jersey looks great but it doesn't really deliver anything that would make me want to spend so much money on it.
I would not recommend this jersey unless you are very loyal to the brand. This top pairs very well with Assos' other Trail kit, but other than that, I think there are better, and more affordable options in the market.
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