Best women’s cycling jerseys in 2025

One of the best women’s cycling jerseys is a kit staple for a female triathlete. Key features include breathable panels along the sides and back which have sweat-wicking properties, a zip garage to avoid uncomfortable catching on the skin, coupled with smooth YKK zippers.

In terms of storage, look for a jersey with deep yet secure pockets, while a separate zip-up pocket for keys and other valuables is also extremely useful.

Some jerseys also come complete with funky designs, a skin-tight fit, or reflective strips, so you should be able to find a top to fit your individual style and purpose.

In this article, we’ve rounded up our favourite 11 women’s short-sleeved cycling jerseys with reviews from our expert testers. Let’s get into it…

Best short-sleeved cycling jerseys for women

1. Castelli Espresso Women’s Jersey

Price	$129.99 / £125
Sizing	XS-XL
Weight	121g
Colours	Eight
Features	Raw-cut sleeves, three rear pockets and fourth zipped, silicone grippers on elastic waist, reflective rear tab

The Castelli Espresso Jersey lives up to its name—smooth, stylish, and energising! With a minimalist design and bold colors, it balances race-fit and comfort well.

The lightweight Air_O fabric provides good, even ventilation, while the elastic waistband and silicone grippers keep it secure.

Thoughtful details like the raw-edge sleeves, a sturdy YKK zipper, and spacious rear pockets (including a zippered one for valuables) make it both practical and comfortable in use.

Quick-drying and versatile for layering, we found it ideal for warm rides. Though premium-priced, its performance, style, and range of colors make it a solid investment for cyclists who want both function and to look good.

Read our full review of the Castelli Espresso Women’s Jersey here.

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2. Stolen Goat Slamm Ibex Everyday SS Women’s Jersey

Price	$105 / £75
Sizing	XS-3XL
Colours	20
Features	Full-length front zip, three rear pockets plus one zipped, lazer-cut sleeves, silicone waist gripper

The Stolen Goat Ibex SS Jersey is a standout— with its bold and stylish design, and impressive comfort.

Made from soft, stretchy fabric, it offers a flattering, body-hugging fit with excellent length.

The laser-cut sleeves and elasticated hem keep everything in place, while the smooth zipper and cozy collar enhance comfort.

Breathable and moisture-wicking, it kept us cool while testing, without needing extra ventilation panels.

With bright, eye-catching designs for visibility and practical storage—including three roomy pockets and a secure zippered one—it’s a great balance of performance and personality.

Quick-drying and well-priced considering what you get for your money, the Ibex is an everyday jersey that doesn’t compromise on style or function.

Read our full review of the Stolen Goat Ibex Women’s Jersey here.

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3. MAAP Women’s Training Jersey 2.0

Price	$165 / £130
Sizing	XS-XL
Weight	119g
Colours	14
Features	Raw-cut sleeves, three rear pockets and fourth zipped, silicone grippers on elasticated waist hem, reflective rear markings, UPF 50 rating

The MAAP training jersey with the supersoft fabric offers comfort for a long day on the bike. The stretch fit gives freedom of movement whilst ensuring a close fit for maximum performance.

The styling is really sleek with reflective logo and markings on the rear and the sleeve and the jersey has neat toggles on the zippers making the pocket easier to access and adding to the overall look.

The jersey is made with 70% recycled fabrics and is blue sign approved certifying harmful chemicals are cut out of fabric production.

Additionally, the jersey offers UPF 50 protection. Undergarments are visible through the chalk colour version and the jersey was slightly short in the torso, but the wide silicone waistband did keep the jersey in place while out riding.

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4. Surpas Shift Shirt SS Women

Price	€100 (euro only)
Sizing	XS-2XL
Colours	Red, blue, green
Features	Seamless sleeves, three rear pockets plus one zipped, silicone grippers on elasticated waist hem, reflective rear markings, zip guard

Surpas describes the Shift Shirt jersey as having an extremely tight fit, which is very accurate. I found it really small and would definitely recommend sizing up even if you like the close fit.

Sizing aside, the jersey is soft, comfortable, and really does feel like a second skin, particularly around the arms with the seam-free sleeves.

The mesh back provides plenty of ventilation, but it does make the jersey quite see-through. The fabric cover on both the top and base of the zipper is a nice touch and creates a clean line on the front of the jersey.

Despite the silicone, the jersey did ride up a little. It’s great to see a jersey made with recycled materials, and I’m sure in warmer climates it comes into its own, keeping you cool on the hottest of days!

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5. Madison Flux Short Sleeve Jersey

Price	$54.99 / £39.99
Sizing	8-16
Colours	Pink, black, blue
Features	Seamless sleeves, three rear pockets plus one zipped, elasticated silicone hem, reflective rear markings

Madison’s Flux short sleeve jersey provides a solid garment at a very reasonable price. The jersey offers a comfortable, true-to-size fit with good length in the body.

The stretch fabric aids comfort, and the clean-cut seamless sleeves hold nicely in place with delicate silicone linings that do not cause irritation. The robust zip is easy to move up and down, and the soft collar provides comfort around the neckline.

Unfortunately, the design of the zip housing, while effective, creates rather bulky seams on either side, causing some discomfort.

The jersey has a sharp look, and although darker in colour, it features a few subtle reflective markings to aid visibility. The three storage pockets would benefit from being slightly deeper.

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6. Van Rysel Short-Sleeved Road Cycling Jersey RC500

Price	£19.99 (Europe only)
Sizing	XS-XL
Colours	Red, blue
Features	Three rear pockets plus one zipped, elasticated waist, full-length zip

The Van Rysel RC500 is an absolute bargain at just £19.99. The classic fit provides a comfortable, practical jersey, and although not quite as light as the others on test, it is still reasonably lightweight thanks to the large mesh panel on the rear, which primarily aids ventilation.

The slightly thicker and heavier material does take longer to dry out, though. Visibility is limited in this dark color, but it is available in brighter colorways. The jersey boasts two large storage pockets on the rear and an additional zip pocket.

The zippers are a little clunky, and the absence of a zip garage causes some irritation around the neck. The fabric and components might feel cheaper, but with competitive pricing, the RC500 is a good budget option.

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7. Madison Roam Merino

Price	£59.99 (UK only)
Sizing	8-16
Colours	Blue, green, grey
Features	Five pockets inlcuding one zipped, elasticated silicone hem, zip guard

Madison’s merino jersey offers a completely different feel to the rest of those on test. Like a cosy blanket you’d like to curl up with, the material’s incredibly soft to touch, offering insulation against the cold and high-wicking properties in the warm.

With this versatility, Madison looks to be targeting the ever-growing cycle touring market, claiming to be ideal for overnights and varying all-day conditions.

Fabric-wise it’s ideal, aside from the glaring issue of the colour. Available in either grey, green or navy – both the colour of dusk – we’d definitely want to rely on more than the subtle reflective details on the back when riding at night.

For all-day riding there are three large rear pockets along with an extra zipped one for added security and a mesh pocket for larger items. The relaxed fit certainly allows for unrestricted movement and good ventilation on the fly, but that’s at a slight detriment to aerodynamics.

8. Shimano Element

Price	$73 / £59.99
Sizing	S-XL
Colours	Red, black
Features	Three rear pockets, reflective details on back, elasticated hem, full-length zip

Made from 100% recycled material, Shimano’s Element jersey ticks the box for being eco-friendly. Inspired by nature and designed for women, the top itself is incredibly lightweight and sits on the more budget-friendly end of this test.

It has noticeably shorter arms and smaller shoulders with less flexibility than others we’ve reviewed here, while a wide waist and short body leaves it prone to riding up at the back.

It’s available in four sizes so you can always size-up if you’d prefer to, though larger-chested women may struggle to find the right fit.

Two colourways are available: a sleek black and a red version for those wishing to be more visible. The jersey features three rear pockets offering moderate storage, which is in keeping with the jersey’s themes of simplicity and functionality.

9. Tri-Fit Sykl Pro Earth

Price	$133 / £99
Sizing	XS-XL
Colours	Blue
Features	Two rear large pockets and two side aero pockets, elasticated silicone hem, full-length zip, seamless sleeves

Tri-Fit’s stylish jersey not only bags the prize for best looking, but also manages to feel luxurious and smooth at the same time.

The lightweight and breathable fabric kept us cool during a British heatwave thanks to the technical moisture-wicking fabrics used in high-sweat areas and heat-reducing panels on the front and rear.

It features two standard rear pockets and a further two aero pockets, offering plenty of capacity and easy access regardless of bike position.

Without anything in the pockets, the top did ride up a little at the back, so it may be worth sizing up if you want a bit of extra length.

Even in a larger size, the arms were comfortably tight, preventing unwanted movement and enhancing aerodynamics. It’s certainly pricey, but it’s worth noting there’s considerable discounts offered when purchased with the matching bib shorts.

10. Le Col Women Hors Categorie

Price	$225 / £150
Sizing	XS-XL
Colours	Green, black, blue
Features	Three rear pockets pockets and one zipped and waterproof, UPF 50+ protection, elasticated silicone hem, full-length zip, seamless sleeves

The latest offering from Le Col’s premium cycling range, the Hors Categorie Jersey, claims to provide an ‘unbeatable on-bike experience’ thanks to the four-way stretch polyamide fabric.

Admittedly, it feels extremely soft and comfortable against the skin, but it’s the thickest-feeling fabric on test. As a result, it’d be our choice for cooler summer rides over more overtly breathable and ventilated options.

The quality build extends to the fit, which is secure and snug thanks to an elasticated hemline gripper and laser-cut stretch panels along the arms. Comfort continues with the unobtrusive zip-garage.

Large elasticated back pockets provide plenty of space to stuff bars and gels, while a smaller zip pocket complete with water-resistant lining proved useful in protecting keys and small valuables, though it’s not large enough to stash a phone.

For safety in low visibility, we found the reflective back strip a thoughtful feature.

11. Endura Loop Zipped S/S Jersey

Price	$69.99 / £49.99
Sizing	XS-2XL
Weight	156g
Colours	Grey, purple
Features	Three rear pockets pockets and one zipped, elasticated silicone hem, full-length zip, reflective rear details

Endura offers a super comfortable relaxed-fit traditional cycle jersey in the Loop Zipped Short Sleeve Jersey. You could even size it down if you prefer a more athletic fit, and the extra length in the rear of the jacket (including additional longer hem under the pockets) ensures you remain covered up even when assuming a more aggressive riding position with pockets stuffed. 

The jersey has three good sized rear pockets with elasticated tops plus an additional zip shut pocket which has plenty of space and can comfortably accommodate keys, money and a phone. There is still plenty of space for snacks, a jacket and other essentials. The jersey features a full length zip which runs up and down with ease. There is no cover at the top of the zip but I didn’t experience chafing and thanks to the relaxed fit there was no pulling from the shoulders either.

 It is made from Endura’s lightweight DriRelease fabric which feels really soft and silky against the skin. In addition to the light feel, the back panel has a mesh panel which enhances ventilation and ensures that any moisture can quickly escape keeping you dry inside.

Although it feels light to the touch, I found I was adequately warm enough riding in dry temperatures of around 18-20 degrees and didn’t require an additional layer. This is a great option for road or off-road everyday riding where comfort and storage are important. 

Buyer’s guide to the best women’s cycling jerseys

The spectrum of summer cycling jerseys is surprisingly broad, so to help you make the right choice, we’ve explained what to look for in a short-sleeve bike top.

Fit

On the relaxed side, you have looser fitting cycling jerseys often pitched at touring, bikepacking and gravel cycling. These are a good option if you prefer a more casual look. 

The flapping fabric will cause drag though, so if speed is more of a priority, opt for something closer-fitting. At the extreme end, you have aero jerseys which are almost as tight as a skinsuit or the best tri-suits. 

Most of the best women’s cycling jerseys reviewed above are in the middle ground, which is the sweet spot for comfort, aesthetics and speed.

Fabric

You’ll need to match the weight of the fabric to the temperature range you’ll ride in. Go for the lightest material possible with mesh back panels for warm days and heavier materials, even merino, for cooler days. Breathability and moisture wicking are important regardless of the temperature. 

Several brands now incorporate UPF protection into their hot-weather jerseys to prevent sunburn through your top. 

Seams

The presence or absence of seams in jerseys have a big impact on comfort. The gold standard are laser-cut sleeves because there’s no stitching to irritate your arms. What’s more, they’ll be more aerodynamic than stitches. 

On the arms and hem, which ideally will be elasticated, the best women’s cycling jerseys will have silicone grippers. Like on the legs of the best cycling bib shorts, these prevent the material from riding up. 

Zips

Full-length zips have become the norm, enabling you to unzip your jersey to regulate your temperature as you ride and speed up toilet stops. 

Many cyclists like a zip guard, a fabric sleeve to cover the metal, to stop it rubbing against your neck. 

Storage

Most cycling jerseys have three rear pockets and a fourth zipped compartment to store valuables. 

Their capacity differs a lot: endurance-style jerseys will have room for multiple energy bars, a waterproof cycling jacket and everything you need for roadside repairs, including a multi-tool and puncture repair kit. 

The storage in race-oriented jerseys will be less generous. You might only be able to carry an inner tube, a couple of energy gels, your phone and a light gilet. 

Colours

Some brands, such as Castelli and MAAP, offer their cycling jerseys in a massive colour range while others’ only give a choice of a few shades. 

Whichever colour you prefer, look out for a top with reflective strips or details on the back to boost your visibility in poor light.