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The Dakine Xena women’s bike jersey is a baggy fit cycling top that is great for trail and enduro riding due to longer than average sleeves offering good protection but it is a little hotter than other short sleeved options.

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The Xena jersey is 100% polyester and Dakine says it’s great for mountain biking and sporty girls. Seeing as this is an American company that’s not a badly translated sentence either, but, hey, I’m a ‘sporty girl’ so let's go with it! I think Dakine are trying to say this is a top for all activities, not just restricting it to the category of mountain bike jersey.

• Buy the Dakine Xena jersey here from Leisure Lakes

Dakine says the polyester material has ‘quick-dry’ properties but it wasn’t the quickest drying jersey I have ever worn. It also isn’t as lightweight as the company propose, of all the summer jersey’s I’ve been testing lately including the Troy Lee Skyline, the Morvelo Friday and the Ion Button Traze Tee, the Xena is the hottest of them all. Due to the hot summer we’ve had this year, it has been the most noticeable and the jersey has stayed put in my drawer unless I’m riding in the evening. Even if you sweat a little more though, the Polygiene anti odour tech works its magic although the grey colour of my test jersey isn’t the best at disguising a sweaty back.

The material does offer the Bluesign approved label, meaning just like the Troy Lee Skyline, Dakine participates in a scheme that makes sure the entire textile supply chain reduces its impact on people and the environment. The system makes sure the fabric doesn’t include any harmful substances whilst also ensuring that the manufacturers of this material stick to using safe processes for its workers.

I wore a size Small jersey and as a dress size 8 it does come up true to size. It is as the company say a baggier or looser fit and I could fit some slim body armour or a back protector under it too. Although baggy the cut is nicely shaped with a relatively high neckline, a long hem at the rear and pretty long sleeves meaning no gap between elbow pads and hem. There is a glasses wipe in the inner seam and if grey isn’t snazzy enough for you then the Xena also comes in a hazy blue and a leafy pink.

For 80% of the UK summer weather, this jersey will hit the spot, the fit, cut and soft material making up for the fact it proves itself a little warm. At £28 it's a steal but when it is really hot though, you’ll find you will wear an alternative, leaving the Dakine Xena for cooler evening temperatures.

• www.dakine-shop.com

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