The Maloja Pajarito long sleeved jersey by German company Maloja (pronounced Mah-Low-Yah) is a loose fitted freeride jersey, perfect for trail riding in cooler weather, or long days out in the mountains.
I’ve previously steered clear of long sleeved jerseys. I find I tend to overheat on the climbs and I like cuffs and sleeves to stay out of the way, so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I loved wearing this jersey.
Cute Pajarito bird motif aside (and it is very cute!), the top is simple but effective. The breathable and fast-drying polyester fabric lived up to its advertised properties; I didn’t get excessively toasty on the climbs, there were no clammy, sweat-soaked jersey moments, and the dampness I did feel dried off quickly on the descents.
The long sleeves provided a triple function; I really appreciated the wind-chill protection on the downhill sections, they offered a bit of skin protection on a few small tumbles, and as it was bright they kept the harsh mountain sun off my freckly skin.
I liked the length of the sleeves too, which had nice wide ribbed cuffs. These sat just over the top of my hands when riding, and gripped my forearms comfortably and securely when I pushed them up on warmer rides or while climbing.
The jersey is part of Malojas freeride range; it’s loose fitting, but with a feminine cut so it manages to look quite flattering despite having ample room for movement or large alpine lunches. I tried a size M, which fitted over my curvy UK size 12 frame fine.
That said, I did find that bulky elbow pads were a very snug fit under the jersey, and the cuffs were a little tricky to work over them. If you are planning on wearing body armour, you’re best going up a size.
The jersey is made from Polygeine treated fabric, which is supposed to keep you whiff-free. Happily, this did indeed seem to be the case for the most part, though by the end of a particularly long day there was a hint of ‘eau de sweaty mountain biker’ developing – so this isn’t a jersey for multi-day wearing without washing, in my opinion.
Back to the jerseys looks. Maloja are known for producing kit that’s distinctive and different, with a variety of patters, colours and motifs. I like this, as I want to keep my own style when on the bike as much as off the bike. The Pajarito jerseys bird motif is part of the Peruvian-inspired Pachamama range, and is available in blue, black and a dusky red colour.
Another downside of this jersey is finding somewhere that stocks it. The short sleeved version is available in a range of shops, including BikeTart and Minx Girl, but the long sleeved option is hard to find anywhere. However, if you like the freeride cut and the fabric, there are loads of options with different prints available from a range of online shops.
VERDICT
A great jersey for long days out in cooler weather on the trail or for all mountain riding. It’s not the cheapest, but it does perform well, and looks distinctively different from other ride jerseys out there. I’m a fan!
PROS
– Loose fit but with feminine cut
– Distinctive attractive motif, and available in a range of colours
CONS
– On the pricy side
– Hard to get hold of
Price: RRP £66
Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL
Colours: Cobalt Blue, Snow White, Moonless Black, Berry Pink, Forest Green
More information: Maloja
Available from: Similar-styled jerseys available from Rose Bikes, and Bobshop.de
Like the Pajarito jersey and want to complete the outfit? Check out our review of Maloja Cadena Tulip MTB shorts, or have a look at our first impressions of a range of Maloja gear.
What Maloja say about the Pajarito long sleeve jersey:
[Translated] The classic cut Freeride full print shirt from Airdry material is characterized by its special material properties, such as increased breathability, excellent wicking and lightweight and has an additional odor control equipment. The shirt is cut slightly longer and has a maloja in the left chest area. Beautiful colorful design element is the Pachamama Pajarito on the front.
