Recycled cycling jersey from Craft Cadence

I love that there are more and more sustainable cycling products available and this is the first time I have come across a recycled cycling jersey. It's from Craft Cadence, a London company that specialises in gear for cycling commuters. They asked if I could review one, so I tried it out over the summer  and pretty much love everything about it.

I always use a cycling jersey in warmer weather. Although the main market for this type of clothing is road cyclists I have always used jerseys when cycle touring and for commuting. I Find them to be the best clothing to keep me cool because of their wicking action. The close fit is ideal for cycling and the quality makes them pretty indestructible, they tend to last forever. The rear storage pockets often mean I don't need to carry a bag. Would a recycled jersey provide all these features?

Initially I was a bit concerned that a jersey made from recycled material would not match the performance capabilities of a standard cycling jersey. I had no need to worry. From the moment I put this garment on I found it to be as good as any other jersey I have used.

​Comfort, fit and style
I loved the feel of the material. It felt nice against my skin. I tried comparing the feel of it to one of my standard cycling jerseys and could not notice enough of a difference.

The fit was great. Just the right balance. It was close fitting, but not body hugging.

I like the teal colour with the black dots. I think it looks awesome. It also comes in orange and a couple of designs in black. 

Testing the jersey on a warm day
I wore the jersey on some really warm days. Twenty-five degrees might not sound much, but this is Scotland and I start to feel too hot in anything over 17 degrees! Not once did I feel sweaty as the jersey did its job brilliantly of wicking away the moisture. At the end of one of those warm days a smell test showed that the jersey  didn't need to go in the wash. I could get a good few rides out of it before it needed a wash. When I did wash it the jersey came out looking as good as new, and its probably had over 15 washes since I got it. 

Pockets and other features
The three rear pockets are well made and reinforced. Anything that you keep in there will not be falling out if you happen to bounce over something during your ride. One of the pockets has a small zipped section, for a bit of extra security for belongings. 
 
There is some reflective material under the pockets, but it doesn't seem like very much for it to be that effective. However, with bike lights and reflectors it will be an addition to your arsenal of night time safety measures. 

The rear of the cycling jersey has a recycled logo

Made from recycled plastic bottles
Cycling is sustainable transport, so all of the gear that comes with it should also be sustainable. That's why I was thrilled to come across a cycling jersey that is made from recycled bottles. My review has shown that the recycled material is up to the job and I could detect no difference when compared to the material of a standard jersey.

Cost
£64.99 (November 2021). Cycling jerseys are performance clothing and built to last, so they will pay back the cost by lasting for years and helping to make your rides comfortable.
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Summary
This is a quality cycling jersey that looks great and feels great to wear. It is robust and does a superb job of keeping you cool in hot weather. The fact that it is made from recycled material makes me love it even more.

Craft Cadence website