MAAP Women’s Blurred Out Pro Hex LS Jersey 2.0

MAAP's Women's Blurred Out Pro Hex Long Sleeve Jersey 2.0 is designed with style and speed in mind, and it delivers both in a comfortable form. While the bold graphic design might not be to everyone's liking, it does make for a unique-looking cycling jersey that I very much enjoyed wearing through late summer and into autumn. If you're heading to warmer climes for a bit of training, it's a great one to have in your suitcase.

For more options for warm weather riding, check out our guide to the best summer cycling jerseys.

> Buy now: MAAP Women’s Blurred Out Pro Hex Long Sleeve Jersey 2.0 for £175 from MAAP

I must say that when I first got my hands on the jersey I was really not sure about its watercolour vibe looks, but as soon as I got my neutrals-loving brain used to the bright pop of colour, I was left impressed by its super light weight. It weighs less than many short-sleeve jerseys and the fabrics are very thin, making it feel very pleasant when on.

Those materials are mostly recycled and the jersey is Bluesign SYSTEM certified, which means it's been made in a sustainable way – "goods are made from materials that are produced only using chemicals and processes that are safe for people and the environment, minimizing the impact on air and water emissions from the manufacturing processes", to quote MAAP.

It has what MAAP dubs its Pro-Fit – it's quite tight, with nothing flapping about, and the sleeves are highly compressive. It's available in six sizes, from XXS to XL, and I tested a small after finding out my usual XS was a little too snug and the sleeves too tight. The small was a much better fit, but even then the sleeves were quite snug around the wrists.

The front hem is bonded – glued, rather than stitched – which helps to make it more comforable when on the bike, as the flat structure means the hem doesn't dig into the stomach.

At the back a wide hem with silicone dots on it helps to keep the jersey in place.

The sleeves feature a differently woven fabric to the main body, and there are micro-perforated materials on the back, sides and collar for added breathability, to wick moisture and keep you cool. Previous versions of the jersey had SPF50+ in the fabric, but there's no mention of that with this one. (We've asked MAAP, so will let you know.)

Performance

Once I had the fit tuned in I was ready to experiment with the conditions this top is designed for. MAAP suggests its ideal temperature range is 25 to 35°C, but living in western Scotland, most of my riding took place in temperatures ranging from about 8°C to just above 20, and it seemed to cope with them all well, despite the very thin construction.

For the higher temperatures, I either paired the jersey with a short sleeve baselayer or rode it without a baselayer at all, both of which worked well, with no overheating despite the long sleeves.

The more ventilated fabric on the sides and back work effectively at letting moisture evaporate, but at the same time the more windblocking fabric on the sleeves and front of the jersey kept the chill at bay when the temperatures dropped.

Paired with a long-sleeve baselayer and a lightweight gilet, I found the jersey great for harder-intensity autumn rides as well.

At the rear there are three standard pockets and a zipped one for valuables. The three standard pockets are spacious enough to store ride essentials, and the little zipped one is roomy enough for a bunch of keys.

Both of the zippers on the jersey – the one on the pocket and the one on the front of the jersey – have great pull tabs, which makes operating them easy.

Value

The price of this jersey is high at £175, but you do get mostly recycled fabrics, which is a plus, and the whole Bluesign SYSTEM-certified manufacturing process.

Finding similarly lightweight jerseys for comparison is a bit of a task, though, as most long sleeve tops are designed for cool weather; warm weather jerseys tend to have short sleeves.

It's quite different to, for example, 7mesh's £160 Women's Ashlu Merino Jersey LS, which is made from a blend of 89% merino, 11% nylon (though it does have UPF 50+ sun protection). Emma found it comfortable in temperatures between 14 and 17°C, though she said it wasn't something you'd want to be wearing on "a group smash-fest".

> Read more road.cc reviews of women’s cycling kit

We haven't tested it, but Velocio's Ultralight Long Sleeve also features recycled fabrics – and UPF30 sun protection – and costs £132.

At the other end of the market, Van Rysel's Women's Long-Sleeved Road Cycling Summer Jersey Ultralight Racer is just £44.99 – though it's currently out of stock online.

Conclusion

This is a great jersey if you like a little pop of colour to your cycling wardrobe, and though it isn't cheap, it can be worn for quite a few months in UK conditions when layered appropriately.

Verdict

Very light, high-quality top, ideal for hot weather and cooler days when layered