VELOCIO DELTA TRAIL JERSEY AND
ULTRALIGHT SHORT REVIEW

HIGH PERFORMANCE COMES AT A PRICE

Words by Robert Johnston  | Photos by Sam Howard

We’ve enjoyed Velocio’s ridewear at every chance we’ve had to test it so far, with Alex and Nic both agreeing that the performance matches the high price tag. So when Velocio got in touch with some more items to test in Europe, I happily agreed to welcome them into my riding kit rotation, and they served me well in the second half of this summer across the UK and Europe.

THE LAB

All of Velocio’s kit is designed to limit environmental impact, both during manufacture and by being durable and repairable to ensure a long service life. They commit 1% of their annual revenue to the planet, donating to climate and bike advocacy organizations; and offer a repair service at their repair centers to restore damaged gear to a usable state.

DELTA TRAIL LONG SLEEVE JERSEY
The Velocio Delta TRAIL Jersey is made with Polartec’s Delta fabric, which uses a 3D grid pattern to create air channels between the jersey and your skin in a bid to create a cooling effect and help to wick moisture quicker. This fabric is constructed from a blend of 70% recycled Polyester and 30% TENCEL (Lyocell), a semi-synthetic fabric similar to cotton. The overall cut of the Delta TRAIL jersey is fairly relaxed, with an extended hem and articulated shoulders to help the jersey to move with you as you ride.

The Velocio Delta TRAIL jersey is available in a very wide XS-4XL Men’s and XXS-3XL Women’s size range in a choice of four colors, with an RRP of $99.

ULTRALIGHT TRAIL SHORT
The Ultralight TRAIL Short is designed to be highly versatile, with a healthy amount of stretch and limited bulk to its 115gsm fabric to give a “barely there” feeling. The shorts are given a streamlined fit, with space around the knees designed to fit a low profile knee pad in without issue. The fabric consists of a 79% Polyamide and 21% Elastane blend, milled in Italy with a double weave to strike a balance between high levels of stretch and durability. There are minimal seams to improve comfort and reduce the chance of failure, and the shorts are given a pre-shaped 3D pattern to tailor the cut and offer the best pedaling characteristics.\

The Ultralight TRAIL Shorts rely upon belt loops to tailor the fit, with an ARCADE stretch belt included to ensure they stay put without restricting movement. There are zip pockets on the legs which face towards the rear of the shorts to minimize cargo movement when riding. The fabric is given a C0 DWR treatment, free of PFC’s, to shake off light rain and mud. Retailing for $159, the Velocio Ultralight TRAIL short is offered in a choice of four colors in Men’s sizes XS-4XL and a Women’s cut in sizes XXS-3XL. Inseam lengths are adjusted for each size to offer the best chance at a good fit.

THE DIRT

A black jersey with very discreet branding would not be to my taste typically, however there’s something about the cut, looks and feel of the Velocio Delta TRAIL long sleeve that’s seen me reach for it much more than I’d initially expected, especially over the last few weeks at the tail end of the summer. It seems to hit the sweet spot of airiness and heat retention for temperatures around the 12-20C (53-70F) range, above which it begins to feel a little on the hot side, especially when the sun is beating down where the black really feels to suck the heat in.

The fit is true to size with a slightly slim cut through the body, and there’s enough flexibility in the jersey overall to keep it comfortable when being dynamic on the bike. It’s managed to shake off a healthy amount of bushwhack and a couple of highly muddy rides without showing any signs of wear, so I’ve got no concerns for its long term longevity. At $99 for a very simple jersey though you’d hope so. I’d struggle to suggest that a typical riding buddy should splurge that sort of money for it, but those with deep pockets will be well served by Velocio’s premium synthetic long sleeve.

I wish I hadn’t been provided the snot green…ahem, “Light Olive” colorway of these shorts to test, as I’m really not a fan. Aside from the personal preference of the color though, there’s a lot to like about Velocio’s minimalistic trail short offering. They’re super light, flexible and rank amongst some of the coolest shorts I’ve tested, but somehow avoid feeling overly vulnerable both in terms of their durability and the protection they offer from a little crash or being whacked by a branch. The fit is certainly on the slim side compared with some so my heavy set thighs filled them out, but they’re not too extreme. The material’s stretch avoided any restriction when pedaling thanks in part to the slightly baggier cut around the knee to squeeze in a trail pad without issue. The fit system, relying upon the excellent ARCADE stretch belt to tailor the sizing instead of a velcro system or inbuilt strap, is very neat and effective, though you can feel a slight extra heat from the thicker belt than if there was an inbuilt system. Overall though it works well and keeps them very firmly put without causing any discomfort.

The pocket’s orientation towards the rear took quite a while to get used to, but was a godsend for avoiding the tight cut from becoming problematic when pedaling with a phone in there. The DWR coating was effective for around ten washes before dropping off, as is typically the case for the more environmentally friendly coatings, but it’s easy to bring them back to their water repelling best with a fabric re-proofer. Through a solid amount of miles in the saddle they’ve managed to stay looking good as new, with no signs of damage all around, so they seem to pack some good durability. At $160 they’re certainly not cheap, but with that belt included it begins to feel a little more reasonable for a very high quality short that’s perfect for logging the miles in hotter conditions. Consider me impressed, just not by that color.

THE WOLF’S LAST WORD

Overall Velocio’s kit has continued to impress us with well thought out materials that offer good performance without sacrificing durability. As an end of summer coming into shoulder season kit pair, there’s little to complain about other than the relatively high price tags.

Price:
Delta TRAIL Jersey – $99
Ultralight TRAIL Short – $159

Website: Velocio.cc