Summer has been somewhat unpredictable here in the North of England this year. When the rain finally subsides, temperatures often soar, leaving me too hot even in the best short-sleeve jerseys. So when the dhb Aeron Ultra Women’s Short Sleeve Jersey arrived, promising excellent breathability and sun protection, it was about to become my hot summer days saviour.
dhb recap
Formerly the house brand of multi-sport retailer Wiggle, dhb has been off the radar for most cyclists for a couple of years since the parent company went into administration. Now back from the ashes, dhb is sticking to its roots of providing accessible cycling clothing for the masses, and while ‘affordable’ is in the bank account of the beholder, the prices aren’t as eye-watering as some of the more couture brands out there.
There are seven ranges in the dhb lineup, with Aeron sitting one below the top, and is described by the brand as being ‘engineered with technical fabric to keep you at optimal body temperature in all conditions’.
(Image credit: Hannah Bussey)
Construction
Designed for endurance and multi-day cycling trips, the Aeron Ultra Women’s Short Sleeve Jersey emphasizes practicality while aiming to keep riders at their optimal body temperature in all conditions.
Made from ‘Revolutionary,’ a patented fabric from Italian fabric house Carvico, the jersey has lightweight and breathable characteristics. The fabric itself is incredibly thin—about 155 g/m²—compared to traditional sports Lycra, which typically measures around 225 g/m².
This makes all three jersey sizes lightweight, as evidenced by my size 10 review, which weighs 126g. To put that in perspective, the similarly sized Madison Flux short sleeve jersey weighed 164g.
40grams is hardly going to impact your power-to-weight ratios, but will have an impact on fabric breathability. While thin, breathable fabric isn’t anything new, the difference, according to dhb, is that the Aeron Ultra Women’s jersey also offers an impressive UFP50+ rating and maintains its shape without overstretching.
It remains malleable thanks to the four-way ‘bielastic’ stretch fabric, designed to provide a performance fit, with features such as bonded arm grippers creating smooth transitions from jersey to skin and potentially improving aerodynamics.
At the back, there are three well-sized rear pockets, with one secured by a zipper, and a centrally placed reflective detail, while on each side, two ‘drop-in’ pockets offer additional storage for long rides.
(Image credit: Hannah Bussey)
The ride
While material data sheets might provide the theory, the proof is in the wearing, or in the case of the Aeron Ultra Women’s Short Sleeve Jersey, the pulling on.
It was immediately apparent just how lightweight the jersey is. Incredibly soft in the hand, the jersey even feels cool to the touch.
The fit is undoubtedly performance-focused. I’m a UK size 10, and this was right on the edge of comfortable on my arms, especially as they are longer than average, finishing just above my elbows. While this does add to the impression of aerodynamics it does feel a little at odds with the cargo carrying capacity of the Aeron Ultra.
Fully loaded pockets would erase any airflow enhancement perks instantly. If you do decide to take advantage of this hauling space, you’ll no doubt be as impressed as I was at how well the pockets stash items and hold them securely without either pulling the back of the jersey down or spinning to one side or the other.
The side pockets made for easy access and quickly became a handy location for ride snacks, although I personally prefer to store my phone at the rear as it feels more balanced. Wearing this in 25+ degrees/77°F+, I was instantly aware of its lightweight breathability, especially when tackling some challenging off-road pikes, which require a lot of sweat to summit.
I didn’t once feel cold or wet, presumably a combination of the breathability and surface wicking doing their roles admirably. The other really noticeable aspect was the sunblocking aspect. I hadn’t even thought about how vital it was until I was taking images of the jersey and noticed how see-through it actually was.
If I had needed suncream for protection on my back, I would have been burnt to a crisp; it was that sheer. I was also incredibly thankful I hadn’t chosen to wear the Aeron Ultra on the ill-fated trip of the Velocio Women’s One bibshorts when I forgot my bra top and had to go without.
(Image credit: Hannah Bussey)
Value and conclusion
The dhb Aeron Ultra Women’s Short Sleeve Jersey is a remarkable piece of kit that the brand could promote more loudly. It’s easy to assume that because dhb doesn’t charge exorbitant prices, it doesn’t use innovative fabrics or technology. However, with a recommended retail price tag of £150, it is likely one of the most expensive items in the dhb range.
Still, looking across the cycle clothing market, it’s a close alternative to the new Rapha Ghost range, making the dhb Aeron Ultra seem like a bargain at £115/$155 cheaper. And that’s before we even discuss the current 50 percent discount many in the dhb range seem to offer at the moment.
I’ve loved the functional features like extra pockets and sun protection, but why the brand chose the baby blue colourway for a ‘multi-day and epic endurance’ jersey is slightly lost on me. Surely there are many more practical colour options out there, but I guess it shows up well in low light levels.
My biggest gripe, though, is with the sizes on offer. With me just fitting into a UK size 10 (small), and only sizes 12 (medium) and 14 (large) available, it feels quite exclusive to smaller riders, which, as we know, is far from a true representation of our diverse and growing riding communities.
