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Wearwell Cycle Company Revival Jersey - Second Edition

8
£98.00

VERDICT:

8
10
A high-quality jersey with a classy looking vintage design and the performance to match
Weight: 
135g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Wearwell Cycle Company Revival Jersey offers impressive performance and classy looks that go a long way to justifying its price. The material is well chosen, offering very effective breathability and a decent amount of stretch to give a close fit.

  • Pros: Good looking, impressive breathability, stretchy fabric gives a close fit
  • Cons: Unconventional sleeve ends won't appeal to all

The first thing you notice about the Revival jersey is the style: the nods to famous vintage jerseys, particularly Eddy Merckx's Molteni jersey and Tom Simpson's Peugeot jersey. The big Wearwell brand written across the chest with the band running around the back and front of the jersey is a striking design.

> Buy this online here

In terms of fit, Wearwell refers to it as a 'slim cut design optimised for performance'. There's an impressive amount of stretch in the fabric, which allows the jersey to sit close to the body regardless of body shape, with the elongated arms suggesting slight aero gains.

Wearwell Cycle Company Revival Jersey - riding.jpg

The material used in the jersey is an 80% polyester, 20% Lycra blend, which works well not only for stretch but also offers impressive wicking and breathability. I found that throughout the review period it wicked moisture away from the body impressively well, even when I was giving it some welly up long climbs in the high 20s. A full length zip helps when the temperatures begin to soar.

Wearwell Cycle Company Revival Jersey - logo.jpg

One slightly unconventional feature is on the ends of the sleeves, where Wearwell has used a perforated material without a solid hem – the perforated material continues so there isn't a straight line, more a line with several notches in it.

Wearwell Cycle Company Revival Jersey - cuff.jpg

At the back are three good sized pockets which have been re-engineered from the previous version of this jersey to reduce sag when laden. I found that they were large enough for everything I needed on a regular ride of a few hours. In addition to these pockets there's one zippable waterproof pocket for your valuables; I couldn't fit my iPhone 8 in, but smaller phones and other valuables might be able to fit fine. This pocket also includes a hole through to the back for headphones or a race radio.

Wearwell Cycle Company Revival Jersey - pockets.jpg

A reflective logo on the back left pocket helps with being seen at night.

Other features include silicone gripper across the bottom of the jersey, which keeps everything in place effectively – I didn't notice the jersey riding up at all, whether I had full pockets or not – and there is a flap behind the zip and a zip garage to tuck it away and prevent irritation. Flatlock stitching is used throughout, which further reduces the chance of chafing.

Wearwell Cycle Company Revival Jersey - collar.jpg

At nearly £100 it's quite a steep price tag, but the quality of material and workmanship go some way to justifying it. It's comparable to the Pearl Izumi Elite Pursuit Graphic Jersey that Stu took a look at last month, which comes in £1 more expensive and offers more or less the same level of quality. Similarly, the Alé PRR 2.0 Piuma Short Sleeve Jersey is a whole £2 more expensive, although perhaps offers slightly more in terms of breathability and suitability for higher temperatures.

> Buyer's Guide: 17 of the best summer cycling jerseys

Overall, I was impressed with this jersey. It looks great and performs well on the bike. The only slight niggle is the notched sleeve lines, but unless you're particularly precious about your cycling tan it's a very minor thing.

Verdict

A high-quality jersey with a classy looking vintage design and the performance to match

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Wearwell Cycle Company Revival Jersey - Second Edition

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

It is a performance jersey designed for riding in middling to high temperatures.

Wearwell says, "The Revival Jersey - Second Edition is an evolution of our existing model which launched last year. The classic look of the original design still remains, but several amendments have been made to improve the latest version. The length of Second Edition jersey has been reduced to improve the fit and comfort afforded to the rider. Meanwhile the rear pockets have been raised up the back and reinforced using the latest fabric bonding technology to ensure they remain secure and sag is minimised when filled. A discrete headphone hole can be found within the waterproof valuables pocket. The jersey is also 10% lighter than the previous incarnation."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Wearwell:

Slim cut design optimised for performance

Re-engineered rear pockets for reduced sag

Waterproof valuables pocket built into rear of jersey

Headphone cable routing through waterproof pocket

Flatlock Rubber zip with fabric zip-guard

Silicon grippers at base of jersey

Soft, laser cut, rubber sleeve grippers

Iconic Wearwell branding throughout jersey

Four distinct colourways

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Well-made jersey with enough stretch to allow for a good fit combined with good quality flatlock stitching throughout.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

The elongated arms and close fitting shape help aerodynamics, while the material choice means breathability and wicking keep you cool throughout.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Early days, but the good quality stitching and material choice suggest it's likely to last well.

Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10

Really good fit thanks to the stretch in the fabric allowing the jersey to sit close to the body.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

The medium size fitted as I would expect a British brand's medium to fit.

Rate the product for weight:
 
6/10

Decent for a summer jersey.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

The breathability, fit and effective silicone gripper make it an impressively comfortable piece of kit.

Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

You can find cheaper jerseys, but with the quality of workmanship, material choice and striking design it's about the price I would expect and be happy to pay.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Easy: in the washing machine at 30 and hung out to dry without any issues.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It performed well, offering an impressive fit, no riding up, and breathability. When you're riding in the heat these are essentially the three most important elements and it does well in each department.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The design is great. As a fan of vintage jerseys, for me this really hits the nail on the head.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The notches in the ends of the sleeves won't be to everyone's taste.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

The jersey is comparable to the Pearl Izumi Elite Pursuit Graphic Jersey that Stu took a look at last month, which comes in £1 more expensive, but offers more or less the same level of quality. Similarly, the Alé PRR 2.0 Piuma Short Sleeve Jersey is a whole £2 more expensive, although perhaps offers slightly more in terms of breathability and suitability for higher temperatures.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes – if ruler straight tan lines aren't a necessity.

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a really nice jersey that offers breathability, a close fit, good storage, and eye-catching looks.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 29  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cinelli Gazzetta  My best bike is: Cannondale Supersix Evo

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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