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Invani Reversible Slim Fit Long Sleeve Jersey

8
£90.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Well-priced, super-versatile option for the shoulder seasons, with the added advantage of a reversible design
Well priced
Reversible
Impressive, comfortable fit
Limited to shoulder season use
Bottom zip can chafe/fray bib shorts
Weight: 
214g
Contact: 

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The Invani Reversible Slim Fit Long Sleeve Jersey has a neat trick – as the name suggests, it's reversible. It's a shoulder season jersey for the cool months of autumn and spring, and its reversible design means you're effectively getting two jerseys for the price of one (ish – but you can ring the changes), and it's already quite reasonably priced.

> Buy now: Invani Reversible Slim Fit Long Sleeve Jersey for £90 from Invani

If you are looking to invest in a new jersey, make sure you check out our best winter cycling jerseys buyer's guide, covering our top choices from just £25 to £200.

The jersey is available in two colour options, which gives you a choice of four colours overall: Grey/Navy Blue; Black/Dark Green. These restrained hues work well when paired with traditional black bib shorts, including the Invani Cool Weather Bib Shorts we also have on test.

Invani Reversible Slim Fit Long-Sleeve Jersey logo detail.JPG

The stretchy material is made from a mix of 83% polyester and 17% elastane. It's made from Italian-sourced fabrics and is manufactured in the brand's EU factory. According to Invani, the company has had zero returns as a result of manufacturing or fabric defects since the company launched in 2019, which should add confidence if you're considering buying. At 210g, a smidge under the 214g claimed weight, it's also significantly lighter than most cycling jerseys, with only the 214g Cafe du Cycliste Constance jersey coming close among those we've tested.

Invani Reversible Slim Fit Long-Sleeve Jersey zip.JPG

In terms of the design, it's a fairly stealthy jersey with little in the way of branding. There's just a solitary keyline Invani logo on the upper right of the chest, with a reflective vertical logo and a small rectangular strip on the central rear pocket.

The jersey is available in six sizes from XS-XXL, which should cover most of us, along with a women's option that's five quid cheaper and comes in five sizes from XS-XL. It's designed for temperatures from around 8-16°C, which made it ideal for my late summer to autumn testing period, which included a chilly spell.

Invani Reversible Slim Fit Long-Sleeve Jersey rear.JPG

The insulation has been excellent so far but I'd recommend pairing it with a gilet or a baselayer should temperatures dip below 8°C or so. I've even been caught in a few light showers and was left impressed by the jersey's ability to deal with moisture. It's not waterproof – and isn't advertised as such – but light drizzle beads on the material rather than being instantly absorbed.

The Invani also coped well when it came to odour management, which is a boon considering its reversible design. The zipper is fine but I would have preferred an extra tab at the bottom to prevent my bibs shorts from potentially chafing and fraying on the contact point with the zip end. That was my only concern with the jersey's overall quality and its performance.

Invani Reversible Slim Fit Long-Sleeve Jersey zipper end tab.JPG

The three pockets are decently sized and the stretchy fabric ensures their contents stay put. You can even use the inside pockets of the reversible side to store extra items such as bank cards, money and small tools – though if you fully load both sides the jersey will hang awkwardly.

Invani Reversible Slim Fit Long-Sleeve Jersey pocket stretch.JPG

Value

At £90 the Invani jersey represents good value, especially when you factor in its reversible functionality.

The Van Rysel Men's Long-sleeved Road Cycling Winter Jacket Racer Extreme matches it on price and Laurence was impressed with it, but it's a heavier jersey-cum-jacket and designed for colder riding conditions.

In terms of fit and weather resistance one of its closest rivals is probably the Santini Pure Dye Jersey. At £120, the Santini is £30 dearer and isn't reversible but Josh rated it highly for its comfortable fit and impressive ventilation.

Matching it for its choice of colours is the £115 Band of Climbers Empire LS Thermal Jersey that Laurence appreciated for its thermal properties, but it's not reversible and it lacks reflective details.

Conclusion

The Invani Slim Fit Long-Sleeve Jersey's party trick is its reversibility, which I see as an attribute that will appeal to many of us – like a two-jersey option at a one-jersey price. It has a racy cut, impressive storage options and while it won't cope with the depths of winter, you can up its versatility by pairing it with a gilet, baselayer and arm warmers. I've also used it on colder days on the indoor trainer before getting up to operating temperature.

There's nothing much I'd change and, while its use is limited to the shoulder seasons in the northern hemisphere, it could have more year-round use in the milder winter climes of southern hemisphere places like South Africa, Australia and New Zealand's north island.

Verdict

Well-priced, super-versatile option for the shoulder seasons, with the added advantage of a reversible design

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Invani Reversible Slim Fit Long Sleeve Jersey

Size tested: XS

Tell us what the product is for

Reversible long-sleeve cycling jersey for frugal consumers. Designed for the shoulder seasons to provide insulation in temperatures ranging from 8-16 degrees Celsius while still looking stylish.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

The material comprises 83% Polyester/ 17% Elastane and naturally has a stretch feel to it. It's constructed from Italian-sourced fabrics, and manufactured in the brand's EU factory. It weighs just 214g.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

Sizing is on the smaller side, so you can safely size up.

Rate the product for weight:
 
9/10

At 210g, it's one of the lightest jerseys on the market.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

The fabric is pretty hardy and you can machine wash it. This does nothing to affect the longevity or integrity of the jersey and fabrics.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It performed as intended. Ideally suited for temperatures above 5°C – the close-fit and long-sleeve design provide a certain degree of insulation while not getting overly warm. The racy fit helps keep material from flapping around and the three- pocket design – both inside and out – is superb for carrying extra goodies.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The reversible nature is a great addition.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The lower section of the zipper has no fabric tab to protect bib shorts from chafing or fraying when it comes in contact with the zip end.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

It's £30 less than the Santini Pure Dye Jersey at £120, which isn't reversible, and £25 less than the £115 Band of Climbers Empire LS Thermal Jersey that Laurence appreciated for its thermal properties, but again isn't reversible and lacks reflective details.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

The Invani Slim Fit Long-Sleeve Jersey's party trick is its reversibility, which I see as an attribute that will appeal to many. It also benefits from a racy fit with impressive storage options. It's super versatile. While it won't cope in the depths of winter, you could get extra use from it if paired with a gilet, baselayer and arm warmers.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 0  Height: 175cm  Weight: 62kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Novice

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, mtb, Gravel and Elite Cycling eSports

Aaron is the editor of off-road.cc. He completed his BA honours at the University of Cape Town before embarking on a career in journalism. As the former tech editor of Cyclingnews and Bike Perfect, digital editor of Bicycling magazine and associate editor of TopCar, he's travelled the world writing about bikes and anything with wheels for the past 17 years. A competitive racer and Stravaholic, he’s twice ridden the Cape Epic, raced nearly every mountain bike stage race in South Africa and completed the Haute Route Alps. He's also a national-level time triallist and eSports racer, too - having captained South Africa at both the 2022 and 2023 UCI Cycling eSports World Championships. 

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