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The Altura Esker Trail Long Sleeve Jersey helps you get through the worst winter conditions. Riding in the colder months isn’t always the most enjoyable experience and having the right kit for the job makes a big difference when the temperature drops.
We’ve all heard of layering, but getting it right on a mountain bike isn’t always easy. Too many layers and you’ll melt on the climbs. Too little and you’ll chatter your teeth as your riding mates chew on the fat.
A heavier jersey designed for winter riding can be a real bonus when worn alone on warmer days or paired with a base layer when the mercury drops properly.
Get your hands on a good jacket and, assuming you’re not dealing with torrential rain, you can even go without a jacket in a lot of situations. This means you won’t have to continually add or remove a layer every 10 minutes during your commute.
Altura’s latest offering, the Esker, looks incredible on paper, but how does it fare in the hills?
Details of the Altura Esker Trail long sleeve jersey
The fact that the Esker includes Polartec fabric may cause you to recheck the £ 50 price tag. It is a fabric that is often found on very expensive clothes, so it is a real plus to see it used here – I have always been impressed with the Polartec based clothes I have used in the pass.
In this case, Altura uses Polartec PowerGrid fabric to create a windproof front panel designed to help keep your core body warm.
Altura used what he calls a “thermal†fabric to construct the sleeves. This also rises over the shoulders and makes up about two-thirds of the back panel (there’s a grid-like fabric – like on the front – used for the middle third of the back panel to help reduce heat build-up). The fabric offers a lot of elasticity and has a soft and very smooth feel.
At the back of the jersey, the back panel is cut low for better coverage when lying on the bike.
All seams are sewn flat to help reduce irritation, while the cuffs are taped. Altura printed sizing information at the neck rather than adding a tag, to further improve comfort.
To better protect you from the elements, the Esker also has a C6 Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating.
Performance of the Altura Esker Trail long sleeve jersey
How we tested
I rolled this jersey back to back with five other similar jerseys in a real mix of weather conditions. These ranged from milder fall days with temperatures around 10 ° C and occasional rain showers, to cooler rides, around 5 ° C with high winds.
On all outings I either wore just the jersey (with pants, knee pads, socks, shoes and a helmet) or the same sleeveless underwear to keep things as consistent as possible.
In consecutive tests, I also did not carry a bag.
Also in test
- Fleece Endura Singletrack
- Madison Zenith Thermal
- Rapha Trail Windscreen
- Scott Trail Storm
- Troy Lee Designs Skyline Chill
With the Esker, I was immediately impressed with the fit. The neck is snug, but not tight or restrictive. On very windy days this is a big plus and it helps prevent cold drafts from entering the swimsuit and cooling you down.
I opted for the size small (which is designed to fit a 930-970mm / 36.5-38 inch chest) and liked the tailored fit. While it’s loose and totally free and easy to move, the fit is close enough that you don’t have excess material fluttering in the wind as you ride, or when you really throw your body on the bike.
It also means that the jersey stays in place and that I have never had a problem with the Esker in use.
The sleeves were pretty tight around my forearms but not uncomfortably, and thanks to the amount of stretch offered, if you start to heat up, they can be rolled up onto your forearms without any discomfort.
When you put on the jersey in cold weather, the sleeves do not have the same fleece lining as the body of the jersey, so you may get a little cold when you put it on for the first time. It’s not the end of the world, however, as your arms heat up pretty quickly.
When you’re riding head-on in a cold wind, the Esker does a great job of keeping you warm and sheltered from the breeze. Over time, my neck stretched slightly and a draft entered, but not enough to cool me down.
In cold weather, with a thin sleeveless base layer underneath, I never felt cold or had a problem with overheating when working hard on the climbs. Even in the face of light rain showers and splashing puddles, the Esker kept me toasty warm.
Impressively, if it’s not really cold outside, the Esker does a decent job of regulating your temperature before you really start to warm up.
Yes, this jersey is best suited for winter days on the bike when you need to stay warm, and isn’t as good as some of the lighter options on those tough transition days, but it will still do the job, even with a little more perspiration on the climbs.
Considering the price, however, the Esker offers a lot in terms of performance and makes cold and wet riding much more enjoyable.
Bottom of the Altura Esker Trail long sleeve jersey
The Altura Esker jersey packs a serious punch for the price. The perfect fit, quality construction and thoughtful details really make sense when you’re on the track.
While it performs incredibly well on the colder days in the hills, the milder conditions are handled without too much trouble and just a little more sweat. While the sleeves may feel a little less tight at first, get moving and things warm up properly.
For the money, the Esker is a great jersey and I have found myself hitting it over and over again as the weather gets worse.
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