I have worn my Stolen Goat jersey cycling top a few times and have received many favourable comments. It looks really bright and colourful and I think that cyclists are looking for new brands and designs; something that makes their kit different from others.
Stolen Goat is a fairly new brand. It was started in 2012 by Tim Bland who wanted to “bring everyday cyclists a bespoke collection of awesome cycling products”. The also proudly offer a list of great benefits.
I can’t recall where I first saw Stolen Goat products but I think it was an advert on Facebook. I contacted them and asked if I could test a couple of items. The PR agreed to send me a jersey.
The Stolen Goat jersey is from the SS16 spring and summer collection. There are jerseys and bib shorts for men and women, plus a few accessories. The designs are bright and bold with lots of nice attention to detail. I have been testing the Hypervelocity design jersey.
Stolen Goat women’s Bodyline short-sleeved jersey
SG state: “Inspired by going insanely fast… so fast that colours and light start to blend and merge… that’s hypervelocity.”
And: “The women’s specific jersey is built around the popular Bodyline cycling jersey with a perfect fit and breathability, four luxurious pockets, hidden full-length YKK zippers, neck protector, laser cut sleeves… the list goes on! It’s also designed to complement our Bodyline ONE shorts.”
Features:
Longer, aero sleeves – with a raw, laser cut end. The sleeves support muscles, have zero flapping and simply stay put all day long without being restrictive or overly tight. They give you the pro look without costing you a pro’s wages.
Water resistant zipped 4th pocket. The perfect size for a smartphone. It keeps your phone and belongings safe from showers and perspiration.
Full length YKK cam-lock zipper. Zips are something you only notice when they are bad. You won’t notice these. YKK make the best zips, simple as that. The zips open and close easily with one hand or two and lock in place when pushed down.
Neckline zip protector. No matter how great the zip is, if it rubs against your neck all day long. It’s annoying! A zip garage at the neck takes care of that.
Heat transfer neck labels. Nobody wants to ride with a scratchy neck label so purely heat transfer labels have been used for the neck.
Four-way stretch fabric. The UV-protected material that makes up the core of the jersey is designed for optimum ventilation and super fast quick drying. It has a four-way stretch meaning it moves with your body and is ultra comfy all day long.
Athletic fit. The Bodyline jerseys are designed to be an aero fit – whatever your size or body shape. They are not skin-suits by any means but they are an aero fit making you more competitive on the bike.
Subtle branding. The Bodyline jerseys have very subtle branding because who wants to be a moving billboard?
My thoughts: Stolen Goat women’s Bodyline jersey
The fit is very neat. In fact, while I would normally be a size small (UK10) I had to return the Stolen Goat size small and request a medium. Even the medium fits neatly and it’s not that long. I like close fitting cycle tops though so it’s a good cut for my shape.
These are my only main criticisms of the jersey, however. I love the feel of the fabric and how comfortable it is to wear. It’s so light and silky, especially the sides and the sleeves.
The top comprises two types of fabric, the sides and sleeves and the perforated front and back sections. I found I could happily wear the jersey against my skin and that it allowed sweat to easily evaporate. I have worn it in very warm weather and felt very comfortable.
The sleeve length is longer than my other jerseys, although I have seen this pro-style design being used in a number of up-dated brands recently. The longer short sleeve offers more protection against sunburn and also looks really flattering. It feels great to wear as well.
I am not sure if it supports my arm muscles that much but who knows?!
I sometimes find the sleeves of regular cycling jerseys rise up too high, which is annoying, but the Stolen Goat sleeves are brilliant. So soft and light yet they stay in place.
The three back pockets (the ones that are open) are just about right. They are fairly deep and keep things, such as spare tools and snacks, nicely in place.
What I really like is the zipped pocket with a waterproof liner. I tested this with paper money and it did an excellent job of keeping the sweat out. It would be even better if the pocket was large enough to take an iPhone 6 but it’s not. With a squeeze it would take the smaller iPhone 5 or similar but phones these days are quite large. I hope Stolen Goat take this point on board and make the zipped pocket larger. In the meantime, it’s good for car keys, money and small phones.
Other features that would be helpful include a silicon lower hem. I found the top crept up my back and front a bit. Also, while YKK zips are fairly standard in cycling kit I have never thought they were brilliant. I found the zip a bit fiddly to put together and to do up. It’s similar to many other cycling zips, however, so I don’t think you would find it worse than other brands. I like the zip garage at the top.
The no label idea is very thoughtful.
Above all, though, I love the colours and designs of the jersey. It’s so different and the many positive comments from other people are testament to this.
Pros: Looks, design, slim fit, pro-style sleeves, waterproof zipped pocket (although please make it bigger).
Cons: On the small/short size (I recommend you go up a size), no silicon hem.
Men’s Stolen Goat Bodyline cycling jersey
The Stolen Goat Bodyline SS Hypervelocity jersey is £60. There are six other great designs for women in the collection. There is also a fab men’s range. The bib shorts have fun and colourful wide hems.
See Stolen Goat
You can read why Stolen Goat is called Stolen Goat.