The Heritage long sleeve from London brand Svelte is billed as a 3-season jersey, and having tested it over the past couple of months, it's easy to see why. The medium-weight jersey has seen me through the rain, sun, hail and gales of early spring, to the point where it's become the first thing I reach for before a ride.
What really impresses about the Heritage is the fabric that Svelte have chosen; it's a merino blend (36% wool) and an ideal weight for riding in those low-to-middling temperatures that seem a staple of the UK climate, whatever the season.
Paired with a light mesh base and gilet, the Heritage has kept me warm in temperatures of 5-9 degrees with chilly winds. In recent weeks as the mercury has risen, I've left the gilet at home and relied on the jersey alone. Unlike the weather forecast, the Heritage has yet to let me down.
Aesthetics are of course subjective, but the Heritage has the look and feel of a quality garment. The cut and styling - all achieved in Svelte's East London factory - are impeccable, with an understated aesthetic that will appeal to fans of early Rapha; or, indeed, anyone averse to the brash logos and garish colourways of the pro peloton.
Available in burgundy, navy or the green version tested, an embroidered, colour-matched Svelte logo on the front left is about the only clue to the jersey's provenance - apart from a delightfully retro brass button on the rear key pocket.
The cut is described as "athletic", and the Heritage will certainly keep your less aerodynamic features tucked neatly out of the breeze. The sleeves and tapered cuffs are especially close-fitting, to the point where I was concerned about tearing the seams when squeezing my hands through. I needn't have worried though - on the bike, the close fit comes up trumps, clutching your arm like a tipsy friend to exclude draughts. The sleeve length is perfectly tailored for a typical stretched out riding position, and there's a tacky silicone strip stitched inside the hem to keep the rear of the jersey from riding up.
With its tailored lines the Heritage is a jersey you'll hardly want to load with cargo, but Svelte have provided the traditional three pockets to the rear. These are all of a good depth, well supported to minimise sagging under load, and the side pockets are angled to allow easy access.
Inset in the left pocket is the aforementioned button-down key pouch, which is useful to keep your keys from scratching your phone screen/melding with loose energy sweets to form a gelatinous pocket-monster. And finally, there's a concealed zip pocket to the side, with just enough room for, well - whatever it is you might wish to conceal, so long as it's approximately the size of a pack of cards.
Speaking of cards, a word on the price. Svelte is positioning itself as a high-end brand, and this is reflected in the jersey's price tag of £110. But perhaps it's fairer to say that this price reflects the quality of the garment. Construction, choice of materials, features and finish are all impeccable: the Heritage is a jersey that appears destined to stand the test of time in every sense. I've had mine through the wash a dozen times already and it's wearing in well, with just the faintest of bobbling to the collar. It's even survived being stuffed at the bottom of my backpack for weekend trips, most recently to Belgium where I wore it on the Tour of Flanders sportive.
I'm reaching for comparisons, and perhaps the nearest thing to the Heritage in my wardrobe is a Rapha winter jersey. That's an excellent jersey too, of course, but for me the Heritage shades it. The slightly lighter weight of the Svelte garment lends itself to a wider range of typical UK weather conditions - and, of course, that also means you can expect to get plenty of use from your investment.
If practicality and good looks alone don't persuade you, the Svelte Heritage even has a sense of humour. At least, the care instructions do:
Available in burgundy, navy and the green version tested, the Heritage also comes in a women's version and in short sleeves, if you can't bear to be parted for a few weeks each summer.
In short: if you're looking for a cycling jersey that will see you through most of the year, for many years to come, then reserve a space near the very top of your list for the Heritage.
Svelte Heritage Long Sleeve Jersey, £110 from svelte.co.uk
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