The Mons Royale women's Redwood Enduro VT jersey provides ample coverage for a performance-inspiring ride at a reasonable price point. Offering a soft and breathable short-sleeve jersey in cooling merino fabric, there's little to fault.
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The Redwood Enduro VT jersey is designed around a standard fit that isn't too boxy or close-fitting. Instead, the fit is super casual, as you would expect from a regular t-shirt, making it ideal for the post-ride pub visit.
This jersey is constructed from 140 Merino Air-Con with 83% Merino Wool, 13% Nylon and 4% Elastane. This blend results in a soft, breathable and somewhat stretchy material ideal for riding in. There are merino mesh panels to aid airflow, along with a sunglasses wipe on the underside of the hem. There's also a small stash pocket at the rear of the jersey for securely storing small essentials.
Sizes range from x.small to x.large, which accommodates bust sizes from 32.5" to 41". On test, I have a small size suited for a 34.5" bust size, or thereabouts.
Women's Redwood Enduro VT jersey on test
Indeed the 140-weighted merino wool fabric is supremely soft and cosy against the skin. Despite the excellent breathing properties, the material offers a warmth that's unfound in traditional polyester-based riding jerseys.
The first thing to note is that this short-sleeve jersey is about an inch away from being considered a three-quarter sleeve. The sleeves are longer than you would expect, sitting just above the elbow. If anything, the additional length provides further sun protection and coverage, so it's not a hindrance in any way.
The jersey is extremely comfortable to ride in, thanks to the breathable properties of the merino wool. Even on humid days, I didn't find this weight too much or stifling in any way either. Similar to the Redwood Wind jersey, I didn't use the rear pocket very much, if at all. Because the pocket isn't lined, it doesn't hold its structure when weighty items are inside, which results in two things: item bobbing around on descents and constant rub of the said item against your back.
I really like this jersey because the fit, shape, and fabric make it quite versatile to mix 'n' match with other items. It also lends well to being considered almost casual for the same reasons, meaning it won't look out of place at the pub or post-ride social.
The durability of the merino wool fabric has held up very well against overgrowth also. Despite brushes with foliage, I've not snagged or torn the fabric. Even after being worn and washed many times (as per the care instructions), the colours and shape have held up well.
Value and verdict
The Mons Royale women's Redwood Enduro VT jersey originally retails for €80, around £68. This is reasonably priced compared to similar tech-orientated merino jerseys such as FINDRA's Maise Merino-Lite shirt at £65. However, this doesn't feature mesh panels or stash pockets. The merino trail jersey from dhb originally retailed for £70, again, without any specific features. So for mesh panelling, stash pocket and dropped hem, at £68, the Redwood Enduro VT is pretty good value for money.
As a personal preference, I'm not a massive fan of the prominent branding across the bust area, and I think the pocket on the back is a little useless. However, this jersey is soft, comfortable and brilliantly breathable to ride in. I like how the jersey fits, and the colourway is feminine without being too girly, which is an achievement when using pink.
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