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The Morvelo Kuler women's mountain bike jersey provides cool styling and a flattering fit making it a wardrobe essential all year round. Morvelo's foray into mountain bike kit is looking bang on the money.

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There are plenty of technical polyester cycle tops on the market that are similar to Morvelo’s Kuler Mtb LS Jersey, with not a whole lot to set them apart in terms of performance and comfort, so your choice comes down to fit, features, cost and, of course, appearance. Morvelo has the same range of jerseys for men and women, at the same price, and they’re pretty much identical apart from the cut and sizing, so this review applies to the men’s jerseys too, except for fit of course.

• You can buy the Kuler jersey here from Morvelo

The Kuler has a relaxed yet flattering cut that works well on the bike. The body is a good length, with a decent drop hem that keeps your bum covered even when you’re stretched out. The V neck is just the right size, high but not too snug, and the cuffs are nicely shaped to be longer on the top. You could squeeze elbow pads underneath the sleeves but they’re not really designed to accommodate them. I have quite long arms so could do with them being an inch or two longer.

The Kuler has a relaxed yet flattering cut that works well on the bike

The jersey is made from stretchy polyester with an antibacterial treatment, although I can’t say I noticed any difference (us girls don’t smell as bad as the boys!) and it gets chucked straight in the wash anyway, unlike merino layers which you can wear a few times before they honk too much. The fabric also has factor 50 UV protection, which might be useful if you ride abroad a lot. A good feature is the mesh panels at the sides that extend under the arms for added ventilation, while the lack of armpit seams increases comfort. But, this thinner material did snag easily so keep it away from Velcro.

Mesh panels at the sides extend under the arms for added ventilation

The V neck is just the right size, high but not too snug

The multiple panels are flatlock-stitched to prevent any seams chafing, likewise the Raglan-style sleeves mean there are no seams at the shoulder to rub under pack straps. There’s a glasses wipe sewn inside the lower left hem, which comes in handy.

Cuffs are nicely shaped to be longer on the top

Like all similar jerseys, the Kuler wicks sweat quickly, is fast-drying and breathable thanks to the open weave of the fabric, making it comfortable to ride in all day long. The material feels very soft against the skin and it is lightweight (although not as thin as the Madison Flux Enduro). Tops like the Kuler are a wardrobe essential as you can wear it throughout the year – on its own on a summer evening, with a baselayer underneath in autumn and then a jacket on top when it’s colder.

There is a glasses wipe at the hem

Morvelo is known for its zany patterned fabrics in its road clothing, and there are few more distinctive styles than the Kuler in the MTB jersey range, plus plenty of colour options. At £50, it’s okay value as there are lots of others at this price point, although of course you can find cheaper (for example, Endura do one for £30) – and more expensive too.

Lastly, it's worth noting this jersey, plus some others are half price on the Morvelo site now - get over there to get one!

• www.morvelo.com

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