Like this site? Help us to make it better.
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price. Fibre Optic Cable
Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
Italian brand RH+ is reasonably new to the UK market but the number of people I've seen wearing it at events this year shows it's making a big impact very quickly. We've tested a fair few bits of their kit over the last few months, from helmets to jackets and bibs and next up for scrutiny is the Power Stretch jersey.
With a name like Power Stretch you're no doubt expecting something at the performance end of the roadie scale and you're not wrong. RH+ have their own rating (1-4 hexagons) for highlighting how technologically laden the garment is and it's full marks for the Power Stretch jersey.
The first thing you'll notice are the kind of rubberized stripes adorning the shoulders and side panels and this is where the jersey gets its name from. The Firedry Gold 100 fabric is naturally stretchy anyway but these stripes add a bit more and their tautness means the material returns to its original shape quickly as you move, so it works almost like a compression garment.
The whole jersey is cut to a riding shape so it feels like the proportions are all wrong until you are on the bike. Once you're riding, though, the fit is bang on with no rucking or excess fabric sitting up into the wind, and the dropped tail gives plenty of cover at the rear as well. The hem is kept in place by a deep 5cm silicone gripper and likewise for the arms.
The Firedry fabric is a very fine knit polyester (90%) and Lycra (10%) mix which feels very smooth and thin to the touch. It's designed to be breathable and quick drying, both of which it does very well even on very humid muggy days. The rear panel is more of a mesh, not a see through sort of thing just a wider knit than the rest and it works well to transfer body heat away as you're riding.
There are some neat little touches to justify the £110 price tag. For example, the small tab that sits behind the zip when it's fully done up, has little foam tabs in the style of the RH+ logo to stop the zip pressing into your neck. There is also a zipped valuables pocket at the rear alongside the usual three deep ones for all your gear. It's big enough for some keys, and a fiver but not much else. Lastly the RH+ logos are reflective plus there is reflective detailing on the sleeves as well should you get caught out in the dark.
Size wise it's typically Italian so go one up. The medium here did fit me but only just. If I was buying it for myself I'd go for the large to keep the form fit but get just a little more give.
There are a couple of downers though. Being predominately white means it marks easily and a maximum 30deg wash doesn't get a lot of the stains out. To be fair if I'd paid this much for a white jersey it would only be worn on the driest of dry days but its worth noting just in case you get caught out. The stitching was a bit rough in places to, something that had never been an issue on any of the other RH+ kit I've tested so it came as a bit of a surprise.
To avoid the marking issue the Power Stretch does come in a black version with either white or yellow highlights. The white comes in white/red, white/black and white/blue with both available right up to 3XL sizes. If you're a onsie kind of guy you can also pair up with the Power Stretch shorts to complete the outfit.
Well the fit is good (better if you remember to size up) and performance is pretty much as good as you'll find but the staining issues and above all the slightly iffy stitching isn't what you expect of a jersey costing more than a hundred sheets. The rest of the RH+ kit I've tested has been flawless so maybe this is just a bad batch. Overall if the quality control comes up to scratch the Power Stretch jersey is worth the price in terms of comfort and breathability.
A top end jersey in terms of fit and performance let down slightly by quality control.
If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website
Make and model: RH+ Power Stretch Jersey FZ
Size tested: white/red, medium
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
It's part of RH+'s Prologic range which is the male performance line up. That means a form fit cut and Firedry fabric for breathability, comfort and good wicking properties. It ticks all of those boxes with a good level of performance.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
.Waist gripper with microfiber elastic depth 5 cm.
. Two-way front zipper with self-locking customized tab
. Thermoformed microfiber front zip garage
. 4 rear pockets, one with zipper
. Rear pocket locking system with fixed fabric insert
Hopefully a one off batch as the rest of RH+'s kit as always had excellent build quality.
The white version stains from mud quite easily.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Performance is good along with the fit.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Difficult to keep clean in the white version and some dodgy stitching.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes, but in black.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
Age: 35 Height: 180cm Weight: 76kg
I usually ride: Ribble Winter Trainer for commuting, Genesis Flyer My best bike is: Sarto Rovigo
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,
We’ve noticed you’re using an ad blocker. If you like road.cc, but you don’t like ads, please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as £1.99.
If you don’t want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site.
If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.
With 20 years of road cycling and over 150,000 miles in his legs it's safe to say Stu is happiest when on the bike whatever the weather. Since writing his first review for road.cc back in 2009 he has also had a career in engineering including 3D-CAD design and product development, so has a real passion for all of the latest technology coming through in the industry but is also a sucker for a classic steel frame, skinny tyres, rim brakes and a damn good paintjob. His fascination with gravel bikes is getting out of control too!
It's 2023. Use an air fryer, obvs, or risk missing out.
I couldn't resist googling for Ronnie Pickering and this is his non-apology https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/road-rage-ronnie-pickering-wishes...
That junction/area is such a mess. TBH I'd probably just dismount and use pedestrian crossings, if faced with that... ...
I share your view on the GP5000. I have seen them at £60-70 per tyre and that is simply too rich for my blood. But then CRC dropped the price to ...
I watched the video thinking 'this is normal driving', why the fuss?
time to stock up on cassettes, chains and chainrings then.
I haven't yet been down to look at the scene of this tragic incident a couple of miles away. There's not much traffic along here, but it is...
Read the premise and went through the index page - sounds super interesting. I've been recently reading a lot on this ecological concept - Climax...
Hi both, apologies for the confusion here. To clarify the reviewer was in no way insinuating anything about the quality of goods...
Tight yet comfortably fitting jersey that's excellent at coping with heat from either the sun or your own efforts
Great fit, breathable, stylish and good high-capacity pockets
Simple and effective, this is a light, highly breathable race jersey with excellent attention to detail
A great-looking and close-fitting summer jersey, but sizing is on the snug side.
Editorial, general: info [at] road.cc Tech, reviews: tech [at] road.cc Fantasy Cycling: game [at] road.cc Advertising, commercial: sales [at] road.cc View our media pack
Report an advert on road.cc
Fiber Optic Box All material © Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. Tel 01225 588855. © 2008–present unless otherwise stated. Terms and conditions of use.