Rapha Pro Team Shadow Long-Sleeved Jersey review: full weather protection shines in foul conditions

The Rapha Pro Team Shadow Jersey is the latest in Rapha’s Shadow range, first introduced in 2016. This takes over from the brand’s Windstopper Jersey, aimed at being a foul weather, race fit garment, which does look to make it a little more specialised that many of the best long sleeve cycling jerseys.

Construction

With the ban on PFAS technology, Rapha sought to find a new membrane material that was just as weatherproof as Gore Windstopper, but maintained the breathability and longevity and was PFAS-free.

To do this, Rapha tested many different materials, both in the lab but also in real-world testing. The resulting membrane is a single layer design with what the brand calls Micro-Pores ,which are able to better stretch without creating rips or larger perforations that could allow water ingress. Lab testing results gave a waterproof rating of 10000mm water column, and an NVTR breathability score of 20000.

To back this up, Rapha took the material to the climate chamber at Leeds Beckett University. Placing athletes in the chamber at varying temperatures and humidities to test breathability, the conclusion was that perceived breathability of the new Shadow jersey matched the previous Windstopper.

To enhance the waterproofing further, front facing critical seams have been internally taped so as to prevent the ingress of water in the event that the outer material becomes saturated. Externally a DWR coating is used to bead water off, but this has been designed in a way that it is more resistant to washing and persistent use.

In terms of practical elements, the fit of the jersey is still very much Pro Team, being closer fitting to avoid flapping material while being stretchy but not overly skintight. A more elasticated wrist allows for easier fitment, while the three rear pockets have been dropped slightly to make access to them easier.

Finally, reflective detailing has been added, with four colour options available for men, two for women, and sizes from XS to XXL.

The ride

This jersey has been designed for riding in foul weather, as has always been the reason for the Shadow range of kits existence. To that end, this jersey is a very impressive performer. The material used is not as supple or pliable as the old Castelli Gabba, which it was a response to, but far exceeds it when it comes to total weather proofing. With the Gabba, and the Perfetto models, I found I had to use base layers to quite a degree to provide enough warmth when the weather turned foul. The wind and waterproofing was more resistant as opposed to fully proofed.

Enter the Shadow jersey. Rapha has used a new 3-layer material that does a truly exceptional job when it comes to wind proofing and waterproofing. In fact riding in around 10˚C or so, the jersey has almost been too warm, due to the absolute lack of wind chill, even when wearing just a mesh baselayer.

Then we have the waterproofing, which proved effective. Water beads off the jacket easily in heavier showers, with no ingress on the front. There are seams that are not taped, but they are located in areas not front facing to the elements. The rest of the seams are taped so as to aid weather proofing further.

This relative lack of permeability does have a downside though. Rapha designed this jersey to have a level of breathability, but on a few test days where the weather has been positively nice and sunny, albeit only 10-14˚C, the jersey has gotten a bit warm. I will caveat this with the fact that I run like a furnace, so often temperature use guidelines are 3-5˚C higher than is comfortable for me. But what has happened to me on these rides is that I’ve essentially had sweat pool at the cuffs after a while, as it does not permeate the membrane. Add to that the effective windproofing, and I’ve had rides where it’s less than 10˚C and I’ve been riding with the jersey fully unzipped. It’s a factor worth considering for riders who run hot.

Rapha's testing showed that baselayer selection was key to temperature regulation. Using a long sleeved mesh layer was what Rapha recommended, but I still had the pooling of sweat. Rpha also sais its test riders had sweat pooling during testing, but the perception of heat was not so present. Admittedly I only noticed when I stopped to grab something from my pocket and saw the wet sleeve and gloves; I wouldn’t say I was overheating until the temperatures reached the mid-10s in sunny dry weather, which is a bit beyond the range that Rapha recommends for this jersey.

The jersey does however feature a brilliant two-way zip, often reserved for gilets and jackets, and I am a huge fan of these. It allows you to unzip from the top for a blast of cool air, but also unzip from the bottom to avoid that billowing effect that slows you down, and increases the rate of heat loss from the rear as the hem opens up. For those wearing this over a lighter jersey, it also gives you easy access to the pockets.

Fit wise is another area where this jersey performs well. I like the Rapha Pro Team fit, but in recent years it has veered into the annoying trend of pockets being placed super high up the back. This has been addressed, dropping the pockets down and making them far easier to reach while riding, while the overall tight race fit remains. The pockets themselves are also nicely large enough to pack well, but lack a zip up valuables pocket.

Elastic cuffs on the sleeves also help get this jersey on and off with the less pliable membrane material, but it can still be a touch tight. I do really like the reflective detailing on the back, left sleeve (needs to be on the right as well), and on the chest too, while the range of colours is on trend.

Value

Value wise, the Shadow Jersey has seen quite a hike in price compared to the Windstopper Jersey it replaces. Jumping from £220 to £275 / $365, makes this quite possibly the most expensive jersey that I have had on test so far, veering well into the region of winter jacket prices.

In fairness to the jersey, the way it performs is more akin to a winter jacket, offering exceptional weatherproofing and thus insulation through protection from the elements. More so than any foul weather jersey that I’ve tested. Combining with a deeper winter base layer means this jersey can be used in low single figure temperatures.

Even then, there are plenty of effective jackets that come in at a similar price or cheaper. Kit inflation over recent years does make this comparable with several market competitors though. The Castelli Perfetto 3 is far more breathable but far less weather proof and at £280 / $320, it is also advertised as a jacket. Meanwhile the similarly performing Assos Equipe RS Spring Fall Jacket S11 is £305 / $390, but the Equipe R SF jersey is just £175 / $210. Perhaps the Castelli Gabba R is most similar in terms of being lightweight, weatherproofed, and featuring pockets and two-way zip, but that does come in at £299 / $370.

The saving grace for the Shadow Jersey is its weather proofing and projected longevity of said proofing. It does not come cheap, but for foul weather, the performance is unquestionably good, and for the combined insulation, weatherproofing, and practicality, it outperforms several waterproof jackets while undercutting them and providing more versatility. If you want a one-stop foul weather piece of kit that you can adjust for temperature with base layers, rather than buying a jersey, a jacket, and a waterproof, the Shadow Jersey is incredibly capable.