The MAAP Aeon LS jersey uses the same Polartec Delta material that the brand debuted on the Aeon short sleeve in 2025. It’s made up of polyester and spandex, but also lyocell, a sustainable fibre made from wood pulp.
(Image credit: Future – Andy Turner)
Design details
The Polartec Delta material aims to be highly breathable and fast drying for enhanced evaporative cooling. In some ways it’s similar to Merino wool, allowing for greater insulation when cool, but greater moisture wicking when you’re sweating The structure of the material is partially perforated, but less so than the Pro Air 3.0 jersey in MAAP’s range.
The long sleeves should help improve cooling if evaporative heat loss is possible, i.e. not overly humid, as well as featuring a UPF 15 protection. This means that only 1/15th of the sun’s UV rays can penetrate, so 6.6%, giving it a pass as rated for sun protection. While SPF is a time-based protective rating, UPF is constant, so does not deteriorate over the duration of a ride.
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Only the pockets and hem feature a thicker material, used to keep the base of the jersey in place and pocket contents secure. There are three standard pockets, with a zip up valuables one as well, all featuring a bonded hem edge at the top, which gives a smooth and sleek fit. They are paired with a folded hem at the neck and sleeves for secure and longer lasting fit. It’s a form fitting jersey, but not quite as r’ace cut’ as the brand’s Pro Aero and Race line is.
Sizes range from XS to XXL, while four colours are available. Temperature range is recommended as 18-35˚ C / 64-95˚F
Performance
The MAAP Aeon LS has proven to be rather effective across a range of conditions. The suggested temperature range is a bit off in my opinion, but then I do tend to run rather hot. I’ve found that between 14-26˚C / 57-79˚F has been a good range for this jersey, but above this it starts to get a bit too toasty.
In cooler temps the jersey still provides enough of a layer of insulation but can easily be paired with a mesh base layer for added protection. The mesh like structure also works brilliantly when it comes to heat dissipation, and I’ve not found it uncomfortable in those higher reaches. This level of breathability also makes it superb for higher intensity rides, especially where the temperature is more changeable – either early morning starts when the heat ramps up, or evening fast paced group rides when it’s cooler.
100km in and at 26˚C the jersey was getting a bit sweaty, but not excessively warm which surprised me, even with a base layer due to the 10˚C starting temperature
(Image credit: Future – Andy Turner)
When it comes to very hot temperatures I find that pretty much any garment has its limits Like many jerseys the Aeon LS struggles with humidity. The moisture wicking and transfer only works if the external air carries less moisture than the layer above your skin, which in high humidity is not the case. But in higher humidity additional fabric across the skin in a long sleeve jersey makes it feel warmer in my experience.
However, for non-humid riding, a big benefit of the long sleeve variant though over shorter sleeves is the increased UV protection. Your arms are pretty much always in direct sun exposure, so having a UPF protective layer is far better for your long-term skin health, especially if you aren’t in the habit of reapplying suncream. This is however slightly at odds with the lower neckline of the jersey.
However, the neckline is comfortable, especially when breathing heavily during higher intensity. Meanwhile the raw cut and folded hems on the neck and the sleeves are smooth, not bulky, and provide zero irritation. In the short sleeve variant, I had an issue of the fold coming undone on the sleeve as the glue failed; no such issue with the long sleeve where it looks like some stitching has been added.
I appreciate the length of this jersey. I’m rather lanky, and the body and the sleeves are plenty long enough without being excessively so. I’m not a fan of short bodied jerseys as they also tend to situate the pockets high up on the back making them a faff to access. Again, no such issue here.
As for those pockets, they feature a flat-top design which gives a very sleek look when they are empty but are still easily accessible. They’re spacious enough for plenty of tools and spares, while the zip-up side pocket has a longer tab making it easy to use.
(Image credit: Future – Andy Turner)
Value
I do like the Aeon LS jersey, but it is £190 / $240 for essentially a mesh jersey that can be used in a broad operating range of temperatures. It features no specific aero qualities and outprices a lot of very effective long sleeve jerseys for warmer conditions. Options such as the Rapha Pro Team Lightweight LS jersey come in at just £145 / $200 by comparison, while the Assos Mille GT LS S11 Evo jersey is £135 / $180 (We reviewed the short sleeve version).
Obviously, there are similarly priced competitors. The likes of the Q36.5 Dottore Pro LS jersey (£200 / $270), Pas Normal Studios Mechanism Pro LS (£220 / $290), and Castelli Corretto (£175 / $210) promise similar benefits at a similar price. I am however a big fan of the Polartec Delta fabric, and I think it does allow for a jersey that is effective towards the lower end of the recommended temperature spectrum as well as rather hot dry heat conditions.
But when it comes to jerseys, if aero is not the focus, I find it very hard to justify prices that exceed £150, let alone near the £200 mark. Especially when you consider the Rapha Pro Team Aero LS jersey (£225 / $295) and Assos Equipe RS S11 LS (£185 / $260) are both pretty good in warmer conditions but also feature aero features to go some way further to justifying a price that high.
Tech spec
- Price: £190/ $240
- Pockets: 4
- Fit: Race
- Type: Long sleeve
- Colours: Chalk, Slate, Black Musk
- Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
