Leatt Women’s MTB Gravity 4.0 Jersey review – streamlined and ultra-thin with stretch in all the right the places

Leatt has three levels across its range of women’s jerseys: the AllMtn 2.0 and 3.0, and the Gravity 4.0 with long sleeves, available in the 3.0 and 4.0. 

The 4.0 is the most fitted and technical of all the styles and more specifically designed for downhill racing and enduro. The ultra-light race cut is a great fit for the female body and some really handy hidden features make it worthy of a place in our best mountain bike jerseys buyer's guide.

Design and Specifications

This long sleeve jersey has a multitude of technical features and is designed specifically for the female rider. It has a rounded V-neck which is just the right depth ensures that it’s designed for use with or without a neck brace and is made from ultra-light, stretch mesh fabric with MoistureCool wicking and air channels. Also on the nape of the neck is a reflective detail highlighting that it is ‘Brace Ready’.

Its tailor-made race-fit stretch material makes it perfect for wearing with or without body armor, it also has reinforced 'Brush Guards' on the elbows – an ultra-thin flex film that is feather-light and increases scratch and abrasion resistance properties. The fabric also has a stain-resistant coating to help it stay looking good despite all the mud and dirt sprayed up during riding. It has welded seams at the cuff and hem to provide maximum comfort and fit, and inside the jersey, crossing the side seams, there are two pockets. 

Performance

I was instantly struck by just how light this jersey feels; it’s like it’s barely there. This made me want to try it on as soon as I could and I wasn’t disappointed at all. It fits in all the right places yet still feels stretchy enough to wear with my Women’s Fox Baseframe Pro armor. I also appreciated the welded cuffs and hem; it makes the whole garment feel so sleek and comfortable for wearing both tucked in or left out. The fact that the back bottom hem is cut longer than the front is a welcome feature too as it ensures it doesn’t ride up if you do prefer to wear your jerseys out like I do. 

I wore it on a fairly cold day in a temperature of around 7°C with just my armor underneath and after the first full two-minute run, I was warm and felt that the jersey did a great job of keeping the heat in, yet the MoistureCool fabric wicked away my surface body perspiration out as the day progressed. In the colder conditions, I did need to wear a thicker layer during more prolonged stops for breaks and lunch though.

The second time I wore it, the temperature was higher at about 12°C and I was warm from the off and, the same as before, it performed well in keeping me cool. 

The only things that I initially thought I'd find useful but actually didn't were the pockets inside in the jersey. My trousers have all the pockets I need, but if I had a pair that didn’t, then the Leatt jersey may have been useful for a phone, key or a small multi-tool. However, as the pockets are open at the top I didn’t have much trust in anything I stuck in them staying in place, especially if I were to have an off. Given the price, I would also like to have seen a lens wipe on the Gravity 4.0 jersey.

Verdict

While the Gravity 4.0 jersey has a slightly higher than average price, it's definitely worth the extra outlay. The racey cut means there's no excess material flapping around and it looks great too. The well thought out choice of fabric does an excellent job of temperature control making it ideal for all-day sessions. I didn’t feel overly sweaty or get too cold while riding and so it strikes that balance incredibly well – just what you need from a technical jersey. More useful pockets would be handy though and it's definitely lacking an optics wipe.

Tech specs: Leatt Women’s MTB Gravity 4.0 Jersey

• Price: $79.99 / £79.99 / €63.99
• Materials: 89% Polyester 11% Elastane (Spandex)
• Sizes: XS-XL, EU 34-42, UK 6-14, US 2-10 (Small/UK 8 tested)
• Colors: Black/Camo/Area 51