Bike Perfect Verdict
Highly breathable and fast wicking with great aesthetics and a well-designed no-nonsense construction that excels in warmer weather.
Pros
- +
Very lightweight
- +
Super comfy
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Great styling and cut
- +
Breathes and wicks well
- +
Good for more than just warm weather
Cons
- -
Some may not like the longer sleeves
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Building on Rapha’s Gravel adventure range, the Explore Zip Neck Technical T-shirt (catchy name!) is a super lightweight, breathable, fast-wicking riding jersey for gravel and adventure riding. It’s a casual and cool looking design, which is no surprise since it has the Rapha tag.
Design and specifications
This jersey is designed with warm weather riding in mind. Made from lightweight 100 percent recycled polyester, the jersey is constructed with a fine perforated mesh material at the front which extended to the sides and under the arms. A softer lightweight material covers the back all of which gets a permanent zinc antibacterial treatment to help ward off nasty niffs.
It’s a loose and casual cut with raglan sleeves to aid mobility and increase comfort and a three-quarter zip to dump heat. Flatlock stitching is used throughout for a seamless and chafe-free fit and the stitching is covered at the back of the neck to increase comfort. The rear collar is quite high and the arms longer than normal, both to help protect you from the sun. There’s also a useful hanging loop to help with drying and reflective print Rapha logos front and rear to help with visibility in low light.
Performance
The Rapha’s Explore T-shirt and I have become fast friends, especially now that we’re actually getting some warmer weather. It’s a really easy jersey to like. It looks cool and well, acts cool. The fabric breathes really well, and wicks sweat quickly. When it did get really warm, or I was blowing up after a hard climb, the long 3/4 zip dumped heat well. The longer sleeves and rear neck added some much needed sun protection too.
It’s pretty slinky and super comfortable to wear. Hitting tech trails on my gravel bike the loose fit and raglan cut sleeves all aided movement, especially when out of the saddle. I will admit to not being a massive fan of the long sleeves – but they do add that little more protection from the sun. A quick roll-up, however, enhanced the look and extended the tan line. Depending how sweaty you get, it can handle couple of rides without needing a wash, but I’ll see how far I can push it until the missus notices!
Verdict
A really well cut comfortable and highly breathable riding jersey for gravel and adventure riding that could lighten your load on your next bike packing trip. Try it on the XC bike or on your next big hike too. Just don’t call it a T-shirt!
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Excellent loose fit, raglan cut aid movement but long sleeves may not be for all | ★★★★ |
| Comfort | Really comfy, especially in warm weather | ★★★★★ |
| Performance | Breathes and wicks really well, light but feels rugged | ★★★★★ |
| Value for money | Quite expensive for a shoer sleeve, but worth it | ★★★★ |
Tech specs: Rapha Explore Zip Neck Technical T-shirt
- Price: $85 / £70 / €81
- Colors: Dark Navy/Off-White, Olive Green/Deep Olive Green
- Materials: 100% Polyester
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XLXL, XXL
