If you ride with a pack and baggy shorts – or are just heading out for a quick spin – a traditional cycling jersey is often overkill, not to mention not being the best look for post-ride drinks. It's therefore no surprise that T-shirt styled tops featuring performance materials are getting hugely popular, and the Trail Light Tee from Swedish-company POC is one of the best we’ve used yet.
Comprising a mix of breathable nylon and spandex, the Trail Light's material is far from that of a normal T-shirt. Putting it on, you’re met with an unusually soft feeling material with a gentle touch on your body. It’s a comparable feel to a lightweight surf rash vest.
Even on the hottest of days, we found the Trail Light to be consistently comfy and quick drying. The only thing that occasionally brought attention to the shirt was riding mates asking if it was actually a cycling garment.
We found sizing spot on with our ‘standard’ T-shirt size, and the length is just enough to overlap with your shorts.
The Trail Light is treated with an antimicrobial agent, Polygiene, in order to fight odours. We certainly found the shirt less smelly than many others, but leaving it to mature for a while after a truly sweaty ride proved it isn’t totally immune.
This top lacks any form of cycling-specific features such as pockets, goggle wipe or zipper – and that’s part of the attraction. While it gets a firm thumbs-up, it does, like many things from the Swedish company, come with a relatively hefty price tag.