Madison's Flux jerseys have been around in various guises for many years. This latest short-sleeved Trail version is designed for summer and shoulder season use. Its minimalist styling looks good, as does the £29.99 RRP, so how does it perform and is it a contender for one of the best mountain bike jerseys? I've been testing it through the spring and into the summer to find out.
Design and specifications
The Madison Flux Trail Jersey uses material made from 90 percent recycled polyester and 10 percent elastane. There are two different weights of cloth used for the body and the sleeves. The body uses a lightly perforated mesh, four-way stretch cloth, while the sleeves are made with a snag-resistant, two-way stretch material.
All the seams, including the hems, are double blind-stitched for extra strength. The front and rear panels are one-piece, while the raglan cut sleeves are three-piece with a seam on the shoulder and an extended section at the hems. On the back is a medium-length drop tail.
Branding is super minimalist with Madison written on the left sleeve and a small reflective Madison logo on the bottom right of the back panel.
Performance
Madison pitches the Flux Trail Jersey as suitable for the spring and into summer. I've been wearing it from April onwards and while it's a good option when it's not too hot, it gets pretty warm when temperatures start hitting over 20 degrees C.
While the body does a decent job of wicking away sweat, the cloth is heavier than what I'd typically use on warm days of pedaling and I found when there's no breeze blowing, it traps body heat despite the mesh design. The sleeves don't noticeably wick sweat away at all though, and can get pretty sticky as a result.
Fit-wise, the body is roomy enough without being overly baggy, while the extended short sleeves cover most of my upper arms for protection from brambles etc.
There's plenty of undergrowth grabbing at you on the trails at this time of year, but the Flux Trail has proved itself to be a sturdily built piece of kit. Yes, there are a few small snags in the mesh body after months of wear, but they're barely noticeable and overall the jersey is still in good nick.
A long sleeve version is also available and I've been testing that too. With the sleeves made of the same tough material as the short-sleeved model, I found that it ran pretty warm even on cooler days.
Verdict
While I wouldn't choose the Flux Trail Jersey for pedaling on warm summer days, it's a good option for cooler conditions that don't warrant a long sleeve top. It's also a solid choice for the bike park or uplift days, when overheating is less likely and you want a jersey that can take the knocks. It comes with a very competitive price tag too.
Tech specs: Madison Flux Trail Short Sleeve Jersey
- Price: £29.99
- Weight: 184g (size medium tested)
- Colors: Rust Orange (tested), Lake Blue
- Sizes: Small to XXL
