The Wonder Jersey

WHAT: Sugoi Hot Shot Jersey WHERE: sugoi.ca HOW MUCH: $85

As a product tester, I’m always leery of other writer’s glowing product reviews. I think, “Man, could this product really be that good? Didn’t the product testers find anything they didn’t like?” Well, I’m about to write one of those glowing reviews (though it will contain a few caveats).

Here’s the deal—I don’t live in Southern California. Haven’t lived there in years, in fact. This means that winter really is winter to me: lots of cold, cloudy days, plenty of rain, sleet and the occasional snow storm mixed in for good measure A woodshop teacher with more than a few missing digits could count the number of days this year that I’ve worn a short sleeve jersey on just one stubby hand. In short, I’m all about the cold weather gear.

Enter the Sugoi Hot Shot. The jersey is made from Sugoi’s FinoTherm—one of those high-tech polyester blends that (you know this drill already, right?) is supposed to keep you warm while wicking away perspiration.

Here’s the amazing thing about the Hot Shot jersey: it does just that. This is, without a doubt, the best-wicking garment I’ve ever worn. I’ve finished plenty of three and four-hour rides only to strip the jersey off and find the back of it absolutely bone-dry. Sure, most jerseys pull sweat off your body and allow it to evaporate, but most only do this to a certain degree. The Hot Shot jersey is a bird of a much better feather. Well, in the wicking department at least.

I should note right now that this isn’t the warmest jersey in the world. Let me contextualize that statement: I wear this jersey by itself (no undergarments, vests or jackets) and am comfortable when the outside temperature ranges between 45 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. When the mercury dips below 45, I first don an undergarment (like a SmartWool t-shirt) and if that doesn’t fend off the chill, I’ll put on a light jacket. I guess what I’m trying to say here is that you can find a better extreme-cold weather jersey. On the other hand, if you’re a fan of ventilation and staying dry, you can’t do much better.

The Hot Shot has a few other nice features: for starters, it features a semi-tight fit that doesn’t give you that stuffed sausage look. It also sports a full-length zipper which is a serious boon when the clouds part and the weather gets a tad too toasty for an ordinary long-sleeve jersey. The top portion of the zipper also has a fabric sheath which ensures that you’ll never have the zipper digging ever-so-annyoingly at your throat when the jersey is fully zipped. Finally, the jersey also has three full-sized, elasticized back pockets—ample storage room for spare tubes, mini tools or a bagel.