Also available in green, blue, and grey, the POC Fondo Light jersey is a good jersey for riding in hot conditions, that doesn’t come with the sort of tight aerodynamic fit that might put people off other lightweight climber’s jerseys.
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The POC Fondo Light jersey is made from three different fabrics, the most important of the three is the lightweight and highly breathable polyester which is used on both the front and rear of the jersey. This fabric, and the lighter mesh that is used underneath your arms, let through much more air through than the fabrics on most cycling jerseys, so this is definitely a jersey to be saved for the height of summer or trips abroad, and you’re certainly not going to want to wear it when it is anything less than 20ºC or so.
The other fabric used in the POC Fondo Light jersey is the much more traditional lycra that is used for the collar and the cuffs around your biceps. This feels lovely and soft against the skin so you don’t get any irritation, and also stop chilly air getting in completely unhindered on descents.
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Probably my favourite thing about the POC Fondo Light jersey is the fit, which should be bang on the money for most riders. Most breathable jerseys of this ilk are aimed at featherweight climbers with nothing on them but skin and bone, meaning a very slim fit.
However, the POC Fondo Light jersey sits only a little bit on the snug side of normal, so it won’t slow you down with wind flap, but shouldn’t leave you feeling too bad about those few pounds you didn’t quite manage to shed in time for summer either.
>>> Buyer's guide to summer cycling clothing
Like most cycling jerseys, the POC Fondo Light jersey has three rear pockets. You certainly can’t argue with the volume of the pockets, the openings are rather small. This means that while you might be able to get plenty of stuff in there at the start of a long ride, you’re going to be hard-pressed to get anything out, which can be really frustrating at the end of a long day in the saddle.
One other slight problem I found is that you needed to give the zip a fair tug to pull it up or down, another thing which you could probably do without if you’re tired and hot, even if the ventilation of the POC Fondo Light jersey means you shouldn’t feel the need to fully unzip too often.
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Finally, there’s no avoiding the fact that £99 is a lot of money to spend on a cycling jersey, however well ventilated. For this sort of outlay you want a jersey that hits the money in every regard, and unfortunately the POC Fondo Light jersey doesn’t quite manage that.
