Invani Reversible Slim Fit Long Sleeve Jersey

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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