The Best Cycling Tops for Tour de France-Level Fit-Offs

Cycling is one of the best low-impact, cardio workouts around, but if you want to make it even better, you’ll want one of the best cycling tops. Aside from the actual bike and helmet, a dedicated cycling jersey top is one of the essential pieces of kit that it would be unwise to go without. You might think you can get away with a t-shirt, trust me, you don’t want to. Cycling tops are specifically designed to regulate temperature quickly, promote aerodynamic efficiency, and provide convenient storage, all things that will ensure you have a better experience on the bike.

Whether you’re a seasoned road warrior back from a hiatus or just dipping your toes, you’ll need the right gear—no easy feat in a sport that is infamous for an obsession with the minutiae of dialing in one’s equipment. We tested some of the top offerings with picks along the spectrum of price and suited for a variety of weather conditions, and here are the best ones we found.

The Best Cycling Tops, According to GQ

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The Best Overall Pick

Specialized Prime Short Sleeve Jersey

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The Rainy Day Pick

POC The Supreme Rain Jacket

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The Cooling Pick

Castelli Climber’s A/C Limited Edition Jersey

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The Best Cycling Top Overall: Specialized Prime Short Sleeve Jersey

What does one look for in a good cycling top? The goal is something that offers ventilation, storage, and an aerodynamic fit all while (hopefully) not abusing your bank account. The Specialized Prime short-sleeve jersey strikes a great balance between all of those categories. It has mesh paneling that runs under the armpits and along the waistband to boost ventilation. The jersey uses a nylon, elastane blend that is form-fitting and breathable. I like that the sleeves extend down to my elbows and the collar is low profile (two things I look for in a quality jersey). It has three main back pockets and a zippered compartment. It rests on the cheaper end of the price spectrum for tops on this list, so snag one for yourself, relish in the excellent price to quality ratio, and ride off into the sunset.

The Best Cycling Rain Jacket : POC Men’s Supreme Rain Cycling Jacket

You don’t want to be halfway through a long ride, maybe 30 miles from home, when a torrential downpour kicks in. You forgot to check the forecast, or maybe the forecast was wrong. It happens. But how do you avoid getting soaked to the bone on the long ride back? You pull out the Supreme rain jacket from POC. A dedicated cycling rain jacket, it combines an aerodynamic fit with three-layer construction and glued seams to keep the water out. The best part is that it weighs just under 90 grams and miraculously packs down to about the size of a tangerine. I don’t know what fancy fabric science went into this thing, and quite frankly, I don’t need to. I do know that I won’t be getting caught in any more surprise downpours as the supreme rain jacket is now a permanent fixture in my jersey pocket.

The Best Cycling Top for Staying Cool: Castelli Climber’s A/C Jersey

Summer is in full swing, and it is hot. On a recent ride in Prospect Park on a 97-degree afternoon, I began seriously regretting some of my life choices. However, one choice I did not regret was donning the Castelli Climber’s A/C jersey before the ride. The Climber’s A/C Jersey is purpose-built for long, hot rides in heavy sun. It is paper thin with ventilation panels throughout that keep the air flowing and you cool. It also blocks over 90% of UV rays and has elbow-length stretch sleeves for extra coverage. The real bonus of such excellent temperature regulation is not having to sacrifice aerodynamics by zipping open your jersey to let it flap in the wind (there is a very nice zipper pull tab should you choose to). So stay fast, and stay cool, but know that the excessive ventilation, while an asset in the heat, does mean the jersey is a bit see-through—something to consider if planning a post-ride victory lap at your local bar or cafe.

The Best Splurge Cycling Top: Assos Mille GTO Jersey C2