You may have seen British freerider Tom Isted backflipping to a World Record, or Amaury Pierron and Myriam Nicole from team Commencal/Muc-Off smashing it on the DH circuit. If you have, you may have noticed that they wear some pretty out-there kit, and that’s all thanks to DHaRCO. The Australian brand takes its inspiration from surf and street culture, with a casual and relaxed ethos, its tagline ‘No ordinary life’ adorns most of its kit and it's that little bit different from best mountain biking jerseys out there.
Luckily, its gear is not just for pros and is also available for us mere mortals, so as the sun’s out, it’s guns-out to see if I can make some shapes on the trails and see how the DHaRCO Short Sleeve Jersey jersey fares.
Design and specification
Made from 100 percent moisture wicking recycled Polyester, this jersey has mesh side panels to further help with moisture management. The material is four-way stretch for comfort and to aid mobility on the bike. It’s a standard fit, so neither too loose or tight with a slight dropped rear and simple crew-neck collar – perfect for everyday trail riding and enduro, especially as we're now into warmer weather. There’s a zippered side-pocket for stashing small items, but that’s as far as features go. Available in a large range of bold colors and designs, I went for the 'Cookies and Cream' version but there are also some truly outrageous patterns, I especially like the Aloha-styled Wilko design.
Performance
It’s an easy jersey to like in terms of look and comfort. I really dig the paint splatter graphics – not too crazy and easy to pair with the rest of my riding wardrobe for a bit of standout. It’s a good fit too, with ample length at the hem and arms. It’s long enough to wear with a hip pack without access material ballooning because of the slim cut or being too short making it ride-up.
I would describe the material as mid-weight. Certainly not heavyweight but not as light as DHaRCHO's race jersey which is really lightweight. It’s spot-on for trail riding, hot-laps and big days out at the bike park. It wicked sweat away no problem and stayed pretty cool without ever getting soaked through – the underarm mesh panels helping greatly here. Flatlock stitching throughout ensured it was chaff-free and it also felt tough enough to fend off snagging. The little side pocket is OK for stashing a snack, and it did fit my phone, but that was just too heavy to ride with so I relegated it to small light items.
I could get a few rides out of it before the pong set in and it washed up well not losing shape or shrinking.
There may be a small window for short-sleeve riding in the UK, but if you are after a new jersey that stands out from the crowd this could tick the box for sure.
Verdict
It wicks really well and kept me cool which makes it perfect for summer riding. The cut is excellent and styling really cool, with something to suit most tastes. The little side pocket isn’t really up to much and small items were more comfortable stored in my shorts pocket. At $66 / £63 / €69.99, pricing may seem steep but it’s in line with Troy lee Designs Skyline jersey and probably - in my opinion, a little more individual than a lot of other jerseys on the market.
Tech specs: DHaRCO Short Sleeve Jersey
- Price: $66 / £63 / €69.99
- Materials: 100 percent recycled polyester
- Weight: 140g (size medium tested)
- Rival products: Troy Lee Designs Skyline Jersey, Fox Ranger jersey
