Endura Singletrack Fleece jersey review

The Endura Singletrack Fleece jersey is designed to help you maintain a consistent body temperature while riding through the winter. Doing this can be tricky, especially for mountain bikers because the rapid shifts in pace and effort as the terrain changes can make for seriously sweaty riding if you’ve piled on the layers.

Good winter jerseys such as this one from Endura are intended to help in these demanding situations.

The idea is that on mild days, a jersey alone should be enough to keep the chill out, but when the mercury does plummet, pairing it with a base layer should be enough.

Assuming it’s not belting down with rain or properly freezing outside, a jersey such as this should provide enough warmth so you don’t need to bother with an additional outer layer as well.

The Singletrack Fleece from Endura can be worn as a jersey or a mid-layer, depending on the weather.

Endura Singletrack Fleece jersey details

The Endura Singletrack Fleece contains, according to the Scottish brand, just over 80 per cent recycled fabric, which is impressive.

The fabric in question is a grid-backed insulation material that has a soft, almost fleece-like feel to it, much like PowerGrid from Polartec, used in Altura’s Esker jersey. Unlike the Esker, though, the Singletrack Fleece doesn’t boast a windstopper panel at the front of the jersey.

Raglan sleeves should help to ensure unrestricted movement through the shoulders.

The cuffs are elasticated and deep, so shouldn’t pinch your forearms should you wish to push them up if you’re running a little hot.

At the rear, Endura has dropped the rear hem to ensure there’s enough material to keep your body properly covered when you're stretched out on the bike.

Interestingly, the dropped hem has the grid-backed fabric and another layer of fabric. We’re assuming this has been done to help reduce mud build-up, or at least make it a little easier to clean the mud away from this part of the jersey.

Considering the price, the small, zipped pocket at the right rear of the jersey (if you’re wearing it) is a really nice touch. This might just about house a smartphone, though we’d refrain from putting anything as heavy or bulk as that in there. Car keys or a credit card fit perfectly.

Endura Singletrack Fleece jersey performance

As soon as you slip the Singletrack Fleece on, it feels cosy and warm from the get-go. The grid-backed fabric is really soft and feels warm almost instantly – something not all thermal materials achieve.

When riding into a particularly cold headwind, I really appreciated the great cut around the neck of the jersey.

It’s tight but not uncomfortably so, and never felt restrictive. Thanks to this, cold drafts are prevented from entering the body of the Singletrack Fleece.

After numerous washes and wears, the neck hasn’t stretched or deformed, so even after months of testing, it’s still keeping out the cold just as well as it did when I first used it.

The fit in general is impressive. At just the right side of baggy, the Singletrack Fleece is tailored enough to avoid that feeling of having excessive material flapping about, but not so tight that it feels like you’ll need to peel it off.

There’s decent length in the arms and plenty of coverage in the body so that at no point when seated and pedalling, or when throwing the bike around, did I feel exposed to the elements.

On chilly days, the Singletrack Fleece insulates well, but when you do start working hard, it never feels overly stuffy or claustrophobic. Even on steep, technical climbs that saw my heart rate skyrocket, although I did get a bit sweaty, I never felt as clammy or as hot in the Singletrack Fleece as I have in some other jerseys.

And it’s this, in part, that helps to make the Singletrack Fleece something of an all-rounder. On those days when the weather simply can’t make its mind up and the temperature fluctuates, the Singletrack Fleece copes really well.

My one main criticism is that it doesn’t block wind as well as some other jerseys, but considering its all-round performance, fit and comfort, that's something I’d be more than willing to accept.

And should you get a soaking, the Singletrack Fleece dries quickly, too.

Endura Singletrack Fleece jersey bottom line

The Singletrack Fleece is a great jersey for winter riding and, better still, doesn’t feel overly hot on milder or changeable days, either. Its cosy material is incredibly comfy against the skin and instantly warm, but when you do work hard it’ll breathe enough to prevent you from melting.

The cut and fit are excellent and Endura has added some great, rider-friendly details that make a difference on the trail. While it won't block the wind completely, or as well as some of its closest rivals, it still manages to keep you warm and doesn’t cost a fortune. I’m a big fan.