The best short sleeve jerseys can dramatically improve your comfort and confidence on the bike. A short sleeve cycling jersey is an essential if you're taking your riding indoors too and can serve double duty if you don't want to buy specific indoor cycling clothing.
There is a plethora of choices of short sleeve jerseys out there - with something to suit most preferences and bank balances while maintaining the best quality.
You want a cycling jersey to sit fairly close to the skin, with as little flapping material as possible. This will be more important to racers, who will be after an aerodynamic advantage.
Many of the best short sleeve jerseys featured in this guide will have male and female versions, but head over to our guide on the best women's cycling jerseys for specific fit options.
A fabric that offers a great deal of stretch will be ideal and you'd expect it to be quick wicking and fast drying. More premium jerseys will feature laser-cut sleeves or silicone grippers at the cuffs and waist. If it's full arms you're after, then our page on the best long sleeved cycling jerseys (opens in new tab)is the one for you.
If you're actually after something much warmer, you might find your perfect piece in our guide to the best winter cycling jackets (opens in new tab).
Traditionally, cycling jerseys have three rear pockets for storing basic necessities: spare tubes, tyre levers and a mini-pump. Pay a little more and you often get one zipped pocket that may be water-resistant to protect a smartphone.
Here's a look at some of the best jerseys we've tested, and there's a little more insight into what to look for further down.
Looking for cheaper cycling clothing? Check out our round-up of the best affordable options
Our pick of the best summer cycling jerseys
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The Le Col Hors Categorie summer jersey is Le Col's most expensive summer option, designed for all day riding comfort. Its fabric has a silky feel and is a bit more substantial in feel than many summer numbers and the cut is close without being too tight. It's quick wicking and breathable, if slightly less so than the Castelli Climber's jersey.
The silicone arm grippers keep the sleeves from riding up, but they extend all the way up the inside of the sleeve to the shoulder, which we found detracted a bit from the otherwise excellent comfort on offer,
A bit more of a relaxed fit than some Assos jerseys makes the Mille GT a good bet for training rides and longer outings. It's made of a range of technical fabrics and comes with a UPF50+ rating, so sunburn shouldn't be an issue, while the raw cut sleeves are made of the same fabric as Assos's racier jerseys.
Like the Le Col Hors Categorie jersey, the fabric is a bit thicker than some summer jerseys, which means the Mille GT doesn't breathe quite as well, but it does up durability and usefulness in cooler conditions.
A smooth front panel and textured rear with dimpled arms and shoulders up the Rapha Pro Team Aero jersey's wind-cheating credentials. It's a close fit too, without being constrictive or riding up.
The sleeves are longer than some and on really hot days, the Pro Team Aero isn't quite light enough for maximum comfort. The pockets are slightly small for all-day jaunts too, but overall performance is excellent.
dhb has a huge range of jerseys, with the Aeron Ultra offering loads of tech. That includes coldblack treatment, designed to reflect infrared rays for cooler summer running. Mesh panels at the sides and down the centre of the back up airflow and the sleeves are a bit longer for added coverage.
Five pockets let you load up and we really liked the fit. The only drawback is the relatively low level of reflectives included.
If you like bold designs, you'll love Primal's jersey with its bright bars of 1980s retro colour across the chest. The price is reasonable too.
A mix of lightweight polyester with mesh panels keeps you comfortable and there's room to size down if you like a racier fit. With seven men's and ten women's sizes to choose from, there's no shortage of options.
The Invani reversible jersey works well to give you two colour options for the price of a single-sided jersey, without the inside colour being evident. It’s very well made with quality fabrics and detailing, with a fast, stylish look that makes you feel racy.
The Italian fabric with a mix of high elastane content with polyester, along with mesh side panels, makes for a close fit that works even when the temperature hits 35C. It's a great option for all-day rides and multi-day tours too.
Created specifically for racing in the high mountains in the heat of summer, Castelli says the Climbers 3.1 jersey is light, ideal for dealing with moisture transfer and has good aerodynamic properties too.
Santini has combined a tight-knit aero material, to keep the Mito Spillo jersey as low profile and slippery as possible, with a mesh-based material in the side panels for breathability. This makes it an excellent fitting jersey that allows the body to move freely while not restricting breathing.
The bold colour scheme on this jersey may divide opinion, but its highly visible nature no doubt has a safety bonus.
The Gore C7 Race jersey provides a close fit, but with its lightweight and high stretch fabrics, conforms around your every curve for a comfortable fit.
It comes with plenty of reflective elements which add on-road visibility, even with its stealth black fabric.
At a featherlight 103 grams and made from a super soft and silky feeling fabric, Pearl Izumi's interval jersey barely feels like it's there.
It features coldblack technology which makes this jersey feel cool to use and performs well in hot conditions.
What to look for in a cycling jersey
Looking for other kit to pair with your jersey, check out our guides to the best cycling shorts, best gilets, best arm warmers and best leg warmers and knee warmers.
Pockets
We always advise you to take a mobile phone out on your rides for emergencies, but you don’t want to be constantly worried that it may fly out of your rear pocket if you hit a bump or move around on the bike. Shallow pockets or ones that are too loose are no good for one of the best bike pumps, while a zipped compartment and deeper pockets add peace of mind for valuables.
Fit
The fit of a jersey is important in terms of comfort and appearance. If it’s cutting into your waist with an overly tight silicone gripper, you may look like you have a spare tyre even if you don’t! Alternatively, one that leaves too much room will bunch, wrinkle, and flap in the wind. A good cut can flatter and make you feel like you own the road.
Material
We’ve seen one or two of the Tour de France riders with nasty sunburn due to mesh jerseys and a lack of sunscreen. Have a think about the conditions in which you’ll be riding and consider the thickness of the material you may need to stay cool — especially if you live at altitude.
A wicking material is key to ensuring you don’t end up soaked in sweat for the whole ride.
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