The Endura MT500 Animo L/S Tee jersey is one of the brand's recently released garments to get a new psychedelic makeover. While its out-there design may split opinion, the jersey itself is a down-to-earth top that'll please any downhill or trail rider with its great cut, features and fabric. However, people with bigger forearms may find the fit a little tight.
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Endura MT500 Animo jersey – Technical Details
The MT500 Animo L/S Tee jersey is made of a fast-wicking, lightweight fabric along with some serious cuffs and a collar cut in an interesting but effective way.
That collar is similar to your usual raglan style, but it includes a slim panel that runs up from one armpit, forms a collar around the back of the neck, then runs back down to the other armpit. The result is a jersey that sits on your shoulders incredibly comfortably, without interfering with manoeuvrability.
Endura MT500 Animo Jersey – On Test
We've got the MT500 Animo Tee in a medium-size, and the fit is almost perfect. It's cut to deliver a slim, flap-free fit, and that is exactly how it feels. The length is spot-on, too, the torso just covering my shorts' waistband, while the sleeves reach perfectly to my wrists.
My only concern is that for some, the sleeves will be too slim. This is a balancing act, however. The tightness leaves no excess fabric flapping around, so it's less likely to snag on stray trailside foliage, but if your arms are any bigger than mine (and mine aren't exactly muscular), you may find some discomfort.
The fit of the arms is a niggle that I've found easy to forget, though, as, for me, it means more snag-resistance, and that can only be a good thing.
I've ridden in the MT500 Animo Jersey since the beginning of Spring, and as things have started to warm up, I've found it a little too toasty. This means the Animo will be ideal for the cooler weather that we'll see come to the end of autumn and on through to winter.
The fabric is breathable but not as much as something like the Royal Racing Heritage Jersey (ignoring the fact it's short-sleeved). The Animo's warmth could also be due to the jersey's slimmer fit, but either way, in cooler weather, this jersey is ideal.
I reckon that the MT500 Animo's design could be described as a bit 'Marmite'. While I like it, I'm not usually someone who goes for something so flashy, but I'm sure there's an audience for it, and there's certainly not much else available that looks quite like this.
Endura MT500 Animo jersey – Conclusion
It's not too badly priced either. At £40, you're getting quite a lot for your money. Though there are cooler jerseys out there such as Leatt's MTB 4.0 UltraWeld jersey, but you'll need to spend an extra £20. There's also the 100% R-Core X jersey which asks for an extra £30 but with both of those, you'll definitely need a base layer when riding in cooler weather.
So, suppose you're one for interesting designs that are made to be seen, or just high-quality but wallet-friendly jerseys. In that case, you can't go wrong with the Endura MT500 Animo L/S jersey. Though its sleeves may be a little too slim, its fit is near-on perfect otherwise, and it's one of the most comfortable jerseys out there, thanks to a unique collar design. You'll just have to save it for cooler weather.
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