An excellent fit thanks to a simple pattern, an effective fabric, and a lovely simple aesthetic make the new Maap Aeon jersey a real winner in my eyes, and one I keep reaching for even as the temperatures continue to rise.
Pros
+
Excellent fit
+
Brilliant main fabric
+
Simple design
+
Extremely breathable
Cons
-
Quite a high RRP for what is on offer
-
Limited colour range
You can trust Cyclingnews
Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.
Maap Aeon LS Jersey
Price: £190/$240
Sizes: XS-XXL
Colours: White, Black
Main fabric: 62% Polyester,35% Lyocell, 3% Spandex
One of my revelations of last year (I know I am late to the party but sue me, I’m a busy guy) was thin, summer-weight long sleeve jerseys. For harder efforts in slightly cooler conditions spring days and summer evenings) they are wonderful, and a lot more comfortable than faffing about with arm warmers, and now, when considering which options to include in my guide to the best cycling jerseys, there's always going to be one. The Maap Evade Pro Base LS Jersey has become a real staple, as has the Rapha Pro Team Long Sleeve Lightweight Jersey.
There’s now a new kid on the block, or at least on my specific block, and that’s the Maap Aeon LS jersey. It is by far the lightest, most breathable long-sleeved jersey I’ve come across and poses the question of whether you can wear long sleeves in high summer.
In short, the answer is yes, you can go long sleeves in summer with this jersey. It doesn’t mean you should, but it is very much possible if that’s your cup of tea. I have really enjoyed using the Aeon LS jersey, and it’s become a regular part of my wardrobe. There is a short-sleeve version, which probably makes a little more sense to my mind, but as I’ll go into later, the material is so breathable it’s going to be more of an aesthetic choice than a performance one.
Image 1 of 5
Yes it's a long sleeve jersey, but it's not designed for winter, or even spring/fall use as most are. (Image credit: Will Jones)
The design is minimal; one block colour in this off-white or in black. (Image credit: Will Jones)
A Maap wordmark on each sleeve is basically all you get. (Image credit: Will Jones)
The rear pockets and lower hem are the only part not made of the new Polartec Delta fabric(Image credit: Will Jones)
The pockets are good and roomy, and even have a cable port for headphones, which I really like.(Image credit: Will Jones)
Design and specifications
Normally I’d tackle the aesthetics first, but in this case we’ve got a new fabric to discuss: Polartec Delta. You’ve probably heard of Polartech Alpha, primarily because kit reviewers like me rarely ever stop banging on about how good it is as an insulator in winter cycling jackets. Polartec Delta is the polar opposite (pun sort of intended), insofar as it is designed to be worn in the hottest, most humid conditions out there.
The entirety of the Maap Aeon LS jersey, except for the lower hem and the outer pocket fabric, is Polartec Delta. It is mesh, but not in quite such an extreme way as the likes of dedicated climbing jerseys, which are borderline translucent; nobody is going to see your nipples, even in the white version that I’ve been testing.
The outer face of the fabric is a series of lozenge-shaped scales, but flip it inside out and at the meeting point of each lozenge is a raised dot of material. It’s a little like shark skin, in this regard, but not nearly so abrasive. The aim is that the little dots raise the surface of the fabric away from your skin, reducing the cling you feel when the fabric gets wet. There are also claims of enhanced evaporation cooling thanks to the use of hydrophobic (water repellent) and hydrophilic (water-loving) yarns, but I’ll get to that in the ‘performance’ section.
In terms of construction the Aeon LS jersey is the polar opposite of the Maap Alt_Road Jersey that I recently reviewed, insofar as the pattern is very simple. One main back panel, one main front panel with a full zip, two side panels, and raglan sleeves, all in the same material. The cuff and collar are rollover stitched, while the lower hem is a wide elastic strip with plenty of tiny dots at the rear, and a bonded, elasticated strip of Delta at the front. The rear pockets are stretchy Lycra with a bonded rollover hem at the top, plus an additional valuables pocket.
All in all, it's neat, crisp, unfussy, and in the off-white I have here, a very pleasing visual package that would go with basically any set of shorts you can think of. A couple of big, black ‘MAAP’ wordmarks on the shoulders, and a wee little logo on one side panel, and it’s a feast for the minimalists out there who prefer block colours over jazzy designs.
Image 1 of 6
The pockets arent so high as to be difficult to access.(Image credit: Will Jones)
The collar is low profile, and the raglan sleeves mean there are no seams on your shoulders if you wear a hydration pack. (Image credit: Will Jones)
A little Maap logo on the left hand side is another small tough. You can just about see through it in photos, but in use it's far less transparent. (Image credit: Will Jones)
The zip is plenty smooth enough, but the fabric is so breezy you'll probably need to unzip less than you think. (Image credit: Will Jones)
The arms are long enough even for my gangly limbs, and stay exactly where they should. (Image credit: Will Jones)
I'm yet to come across another long sleeve jersey that fits this well. (Image credit: Will Jones)
Performance
While I am a little sceptical about any claims of ‘active cooling’, there is no denying that for hot weather, and even high tempo efforts, it’s a brilliant jersey.
The fit is excellent, I actually can’t fault it at all in this regard. The sleeves are long enough for even my gangly arms, there is barely a wrinkle anywhere and at the same time it’s never restrictive as some aero jerseys can feel. It is very similar in this regard to the Maap Evade Pro Base LS Jersey, but the Raglan sleeves are an improvement in my eyes. When riding, everything stays exactly where it should, with the sleeves never riding up, nor the hem.
The lower hem was something I was critical of with Maap’s new Alt_Road Jersey, but it’s a very different story here, with a lovely low-profile rear gripper keeping things secure without being restrictive at all. It’s not all out aero, and so don’t expect a truly skintight fit as you’d get with the likes of the Castelli Aero Race 8S, but for longer days out, I’d be picking this every time. It’s tailored enough that it’s not going to flap, and that’s about as aero as many of us really need.
In terms of breathability, the Polartech Delta really does work very well indeed. It’s not quite so breezy as some really open mesh jerseys, but it’s also a lot more versatile. I spent a relatively high effort day in this jersey with just a mesh base layer beneath it in temperatures around 9ºC/48ºF and it was absolutely perfect, but I really wouldn’t feel uncomfortable pulling this on for rides where the temperature is approaching the high 20’s, which is unheard of for a long sleeve. The little dots really do feel like the fabric is almost hovering above one’s skin, rather than resting on it, something the body fabric of both the Maap Evade Pro Base and Rapha Pro Team Long Sleeve Lightweight suffer from when it does get warmer than expected.
I don’t have anything to complain about in the pocket department either; they’re roomy, relatively easy to get to, and despite the meshy nature of the jersey as a whole, didn’t seem to mind being loaded up. They are quite tall, meaning the opening is somewhat high up the back, but it’s not super extreme. There’s even a hole in the base of the middle pocket through which one can thread cabled headphones; I’d rather this was on the right, but at least in the middle, it caters to those on either side of the ‘which pocket does your phone go in?’ debate.
The question is… why would you want a long-sleeved jersey that deals well in really hot conditions? I think part of it is aesthetics, but I also think that having the fabric raised ever so slightly off the skin creates a little bit of insulation, meaning it’s also a bit warmer than you might expect. A 9-degree ride, even a high tempo one, would not normally be warm enough for mesh fabrics in my book, but I was just grand in this. There is also the fact that the fabric itself boasts UPF15 sun protection, which isn't enough to replace sunscreen for a really long day, but it's certainly helpful.
I think the short sleeve makes more sense from a purchasing standpoint, as the material is really a summerweight option, but if you’re looking for something that can stand you in good stead from spring through into summer, then it’s a really great option.
Image 1 of 4
Here's a close up of the inside face of the fabric. it isn't as rough as it looks, but the raised dots do help it feel less clammy. (Image credit: Will Jones)
The front hem is a bonded rollover, while the rear is a grippy elastic. (Image credit: Will Jones)
the front of the collar is a little stiffer than the rear. (Image credit: Will Jones)
I imagine we will see more use of Polartec Delta down the line from other brands. (Image credit: Will Jones)
Value
At £190/$240, it’s relatively pricey as jerseys go. It’s more expensive than the likes of the Castelli Aero Race 8S, which has a more complex design and variety of fabrics. They are different horses for different courses, but for a relatively simple design, however well executed, you are paying a bit of a premium.
The short-sleeved version is £170/$210, which is still quite dear but a little more in the right ballpark. You are getting a new fabric in either case, though, and there are performance gains that come with that in terms of it being very comfortable, but I think in both cases, there is an amount of aesthetic premium at play, too.
Verdict
As long-sleeve jerseys go, the new Maap Aeon LS jersey is one of the best I’ve tried, but you do almost have to view it as a summer jersey and ignore the sleeves. It’s perfect for long, spring and autumn days out, and is good down into high single figure Celsius days all the way up to pretty roasting rides, even at high intensity.
The fit is exceptional, the comfort on offer from the Polartec Delta fabric is brilliant, and it’s a jersey I keep coming back to even as the temperatures continue to rise. It is a little expensive for quite a simple design, however, but being one of the first garments to use a new fabric often comes with a premium.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Testing scorecard and notes
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and aesthetics
A well executed simple pattern, clean design, with nothing superfluous. A real winner in my eyes.
9/10
Thermal management
For a long sleeve jersey, as long as you know it isn't for winter use, it's pretty brilliant.
9/10
Storage
The three pockets are roomy enough, and stretchy enough, and the zipped valuables pocket is crucially on the outside.
9/10
Comfort and fit
I don't think I've had a long sleeve jersey fit this well or be this comfortable, while also remaining tight enough to not flap.
10/10
Value
There is a new fabric, and something of an aesthetic premium at play here, but nevertheless it is a good jersey so it's not too bad.
Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He’s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the standard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He’s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn’t ever ride indoors he’s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
