The Evade Pro Base 2.0 is the latest everyday jersey from Australian brand MAAP, one of the market leaders in on-bike fashion.
Though not sold as an aero product, the jersey is slick and tight-fitting, and is made primarily from sustainable materials.
I received a ‘gargoyle’-coloured version for testing a few months back, and it instantly became my favorite jersey in my wardrobe. Over a series of chilly mornings and warm spring evenings, I put the Evade Pro Base 2.0 to the test to see how it stacks up against the best short sleeve jerseys for summer riding. Here’s my verdict.
MAAP Evade Pro Base 2.0: Construction
(Image credit: Tom Davidson)
MAAP, the brand of choice for flat-white drinkers and K-pop stars, has tailored this jersey with its ‘Pro-fit’. In non-cycling parlance, this means it is very snug. When I first put it on, I noticed it has a similarly cosy feel to Rapha’s Pro Team Aero Jersey, although the material on the Evade Pro Base 2.0 is a bit more forgiving around the ribs.
The 2.0 version comes with a few key updates in the design. Firstly, there is a greater emphasis on sustainability. The primary body of the jersey is 70 per cent made up of recycled fabric, and the entire product is bluesign approved, meaning that the process of making it is deemed safe for people and the environment.
Secondly, the rear pockets have undergone a revamp. There’s now a zipped pouch, a feature also on Rapha’s Pro Team Aero Jersey, and the material doesn’t sag, which was important for me as I prefer not to use a saddlebag. Even under the weight of my pump, inner tube, tire levers, phone and banana, I was impressed by the tautness. After all, there’s little worse than the feeling of loose pockets when you’re climbing out of the saddle.
The only downside of the pockets is that they sit quite high up the back. This makes them a tad difficult to reach, and sometimes requires contorting the elbow, à la Cirque du Soleil.
Anyway, enough about pockets. My personal highlight on this jersey is the sleeves, which MAAP refers to as ‘honeycomb mesh’, and are wonderfully soft.
I’m less mad about the reflective prints – a chest logo, sleeve badge and a line on the back – which are so small in size that they are almost defunct. Still, they have withstood about 20 wash cycles, so chapeau to the construction quality.
MAAP Evade Pro Base 2.0: The Ride
(Image credit: Tom Davidson)
I’m a big believer…