Wool by the bucketful, or should it be the thimbleful? Ornot’s Super Thermal Merino Jersey reviewed

A made-in-California winter jersey that combines jacket-like warmth with exceptional breathability.

Ornot Super Thermal Merino Jersey
(Image credit: Tyler Boucher)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

Ornot makes clothes with understated looks, fun, if muted tones, and environmentally friendly materials. The Super Thermal Merino Jersey is cut and sewn in California and, despite being wool, is a modern piece that is both cozy and breathable. In the right conditions, it does its job admirably, though the long cut won’t work for everyone.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Extremely warm

  • +

    Excellent breathability

  • +

    Sewn in USA

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Possibly too warm?

  • -

    -Relatively low wool content

  • -

    -Cut is a bit unusual

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

When I first started racing bicycles, cycling clothing was still in the dark ages. My club jacket was made of thick, foam-like material with a brushed surface that trapped moisture like a waterproof shell and yet was somehow also useless in rain or wind. Nevertheless, I loved it and wore it even when it was warm out. At that time, the clothing options were scratchy wool, pilly polypropylene and little else.

Things are different today. We live in a golden age of cycling clothing, with items available for every possible climatic condition. Fashion-forward designs abound, quality is uniformly good and eco-friendly waterproof garments are finally coming down the pipeline.

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