When pulling together my list of the best cycling jerseys, some categories were easier than others. All-rounders were tricky, as there are a lot of factors to consider, whereas lightweight options were pretty simple as they have to work well in scorching heat with other considerations secondary. Choosing the best aero jersey was the hardest, as I am incredibly conscious that in this modern age of cycling in which everything is quantifiable, it’s impossible for me to say which is the most aero jersey from a truly scientific standpoint. Even if I could, the results would probably differ depending on who's wearing it.
With that in mind I tried to choose what I thought was the best aero jersey from the options on the market that we’d all think of as a 'normal' aero jersey. If you want true speed then, being realistic nowadays, you’ll be opting for a skinsuit anyway, and so the aero jersey sort of gets relegated into just a faster, more aero generalist for those who want to smash out PRs without considering all the tiny details.
In any case, if you want an aero jersey without actually quantifying anything, then I think the Rapha Pro Team Aero Jersey is the place to go.
Design and aesthetics
This is the latest in what is now a well-established product for the British brand, though this edition feels like more of an overhaul than previous updates. The Pro Team Aero Jersey now feels more like the top half of a skinsuit than a jersey, and the most extensive changes have been made on the sleeves, shoulders, and upper back - the leading edges, in aero terms. The headline figure is that this jersey is four watts faster than the previous version, which is not insignificant. It’s also claimed to be 7.8 watts faster than… something else unspecified, so take that one with a pinch of salt.
The entirety of the sleeves, along with the upper back and a small section under the armpits are constructed from Rapha’s textured ‘Clima’ fabric. It is relatively textured, in an almost dogtooth manner, but it’s basically a load of triangular indents embossed into the fabric. It is also very compressive.
It actually feels like something of a halfway house between the older Pro Team Aero Jersey and the now-discontinued Pro Team Crit Jersey, which made even more use of this textured fabric, extending it halfway down the chest and further down the back too.
Here though, the main body, front and back, is a lightweight but unperforated Lycra. Unlike some, the jersey opts to eschew dedicated side panelling, often made of more vented materials, instead simply sewing the back and front panels together. Fewer panels means fewer seams to potentially dig in.
Compared to the older version, the cut is a little shorter, to better facilitate truly aero riding positions without anything bunching up. The rear hem has a wide and relatively stiff gripper, while the front is just a wide rolled hem. The fit is such that this really isn’t in any danger of riding up though.
At the back are the standard three pockets and one zipped valuables pocket. The rear lining is mesh in this case, to avoid the jersey being double-glazed in the small of your back. It’s a little detail, but these things do matter.
The neck is perhaps the first thing you’ll notice as a point of difference when viewing this side-by-side against the old one. This one has a much wider neckline that is becoming the trend throughout the pro peloton.
Performance
Again, it’s worth reiterating here that I do not have access to a wind tunnel. We have wind-tunnel-tested aero helmets, as well as wheels in the wind tunnel, but not jerseys. Even if we do this, it’s very rider subjective, and what works for one rider may be different to another, so performance in this case is individual. Yes, each manufacturer claims to be the most aero, but without an identical testing protocol, it’s impossible to say on that front either.
What I can say is when I pull on the Pro Team Aero Jersey, it feels fast, not so much because I can notice fractions of a watt in real-world riding, but for two key reasons. First up is that it looks fast. General riding, all-purpose jerseys are becoming more aero, and so if you want an aero jersey that has the aero look then it ticks that box. It's often overlooked but I am a firm believer in "look fast, feel fast, ride fast".
Secondly, and more quantifiably, it has a brilliant fit. The body is snug without being overly tight (though getting the size right is key here), but it’s the shoulders and sleeves, and that very compressive Clima fabric, that make it feel supportive and purposeful.
There’s next to no bunching, even in a full, forearms-flat aero position. The hem on the end of the sleeves isn’t rubberised, with a simple roll-over stitch which does bite in a little bit even on my chicken arms, but the fabric itself means it’s not going to shift. Likewise, the wider neck means that even with the zip open there is less flapping than with even a slightly raised collar.
It’s not the lightest in terms of breathability though. The Castelli Aero Race 7.0 has a lighter, more perforated body fabric, and thanks to the reduced compression level is likely a better choice for all-day comfort, but it is cut longer, and the front is more prone to bunching up. If I was racing I’d pick the Rapha option, in the absence of wind tunnel data.
Pockets are so often, especially on small aero jerseys, too small. Here they are large enough to just about swallow a smartphone and a bit of nutrition, but don’t expect to be stuffing a day’s worth of tools, spares, tubes etc in comfortably. The compressive nature does mean that the load is pretty secure though.
One final note on the pockets - The upper hem is great, as it's had a little flap of material left as something of a catcher to stop things from slipping out. It's something I'm seeing increasingly on the best cargo bib shorts, and I'm glad to see it in this setting too.
Value
With an RRP of £185 / $245 it’s more expensive than the Castelli Aero Race 7.0 by £50, which isn’t a small amount of money. It’s a more specialist bit of kit, and I think it’s edging somewhere towards a halfway house between a jersey and a skinsuit, so if you want to use that as a way to justify saving money on an actual skinsuit then be my guest.
In all honesty, if you aren’t racing, or don’t want that super compressive fit, then you can save a fair wedge and buy elsewhere. It’s a good jersey, and only a hair more expensive than the Assos Equipe RS Jersey S11, but be sure it’s going to fit your needs before you buy.
Verdict
Of all the aero jerseys I’ve had come across my desk recently, the Rapha Pro Team Aero has the most single-minded feel about it. There are fewer concessions to all-day comfort in favour of a very racy-fit. It’s expensive, but if you want something that looks and feels fast - with the caveat again that I don’t know if it actually is - then it’s a great buy, but it is expensive compared to the competition.
