Patagonia Nine Trails Bike Jersey

The Patagonia women's Nine Trails Bike Jersey is a versatile shirt that keeps me comfortable throughout long days on the trail. It layers well over a tank or short-sleeved tee, and under a wind shirt or other nylon-like outer layer. The three-quarter length sleeves are a nice feature that allow me to ride without the cuffs falling down onto my wrists and gloves. Avoid wearing the shirt under a fleece or other grabby material that could cause the sleeves to bunch.

Testing Conditions: I tested the Patagonia women’s Nine Trails Bike Jersey as a member of the Trailspace Review Corps. I wore the shirt hiking and mountain biking in and around the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire from June through October 2018. Temperatures during testing ranged from about 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. 

While the shirt is designed for biking, it’s versatile enough to wear across other sports. This is an important feature to me as I like to invest in gear that can be worn across a variety of activities. 

Fit and Comfort: I’m 5'4" with a fairly small upper body (35" hip, 27" waist, 33" chest, 15.5" torso length). The size small fits well, providing plenty of wiggle room. The material is a polyester spun jersey. It’s soft like a cotton t-shirt, but quick drying and moisture wicking.

                                     As comfortable as snuggling a two-year-old :)

The sleeves are quarter-length length. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this sleeve length, but I ended up loving it. The extra length of the sleeves provides a bit more warmth than a standard short-sleeve t-shirt. Because the sleeves don’t extend much beyond the elbow I don’t have to worry about them bunching against bike gloves or falling down while I ride (as can be the case with long-sleeve t-shirts). When I warm up a bit, I scrunch the sleeves up just past my elbow and they stay put there fairly well. 

                            three-quarter length sleeves front view (above) and side view (below)

Water Resistance: Don’t expect the Nine Trails Jersey to protect you from rain. It’s not designed to be water resistant. So, bring your rain gear. 

Breathability and Moisture: I find the Nine Trails to be quite breathable and wick moisture well. Like any other layer, it has its limits. For example, nothing can really prevent sweat from building up under my pack when I bike or hike. So, don’t expect miracles.

                              Keeping me comfortable over 20+ miles of single track

After machine washing, I line dry the shirt. It dries quickly (within a day depending on the humidity in the air). I’ve experienced no stinky odors associated with laundering.

Warmth and Layering: I wore the Nine Trails primarily in early summer and fall. It layers well over a tank or short sleeve t-shirt. In September and October, I often wore it under a wind-shirt (at least at the start of a hike or bike, or during a descent). 

                                        Nine Trails Jersey layered under my pack

Just be aware of what you layer over it as the sleeves can bunch up when you put on certain outer layers. Wind-shirts or nylon-like material is slippery enough that it doesn’t pull the sleeves but something like a fleece can be a bit grabby. Because the sleeves are three-quarter length you can’t hold them with your hands when you pull on an outer layer. 

Abrasion: The Nine Trails incorporates flatlock seams designed to eliminate chafing. This, paired with the comfortable jersey material, leaves me chafing-free throughout my adventuring. 

                                           Flatlock seam (above and below)

Function/Ease of Use:The shirt is fairly straightforward without unnecessary bells and whistles. It has a bit of a v-neck, but not so deep as to leave me feeling exposed when bent over my bike.

                                                                V Neck

The back hem extends down a bit further than the front, providing extra coverage for situations like mountain biking descents when hips draw back and torso lengthens. 

                Extra length in the back for extending over bikes and schlepping nephews ;-)

                                                   Length in front vs. back

There’s a small zipper pouch sewn into the back of the shirt. It’s large enough to store a key or perhaps a packet of energy gel, but not much more. It fits an iPhone without a case, but even though the case on my phone is slim it takes quite a lot to wrestle it into the pocket. I wouldn't recommend storing a phone there anyway as it weighs down the shirt. The zipper can be a bit sticky to open and close, but this may also be due to the angle—I find it kind of tough to operate a zipper that’s behind me. I do appreciate how low profile the zipper is. It doesn’t chafe or snag on other layers. 

                                     Zipper pouch closed (above) and open (below)

              Pocket easily accommodates ID/credit card (above). iPhone is a tight fit (below)

Construction/Durability: Over five months of regular wear, the Nine Trails Jersey shows some mild pilling. It's limited to high abrasion areas such as the underarm and the part that sits beneath the hip belt of my pack. I've noticed no signs of fraying. The fabric is Bluesign approved, which reflects a process of sustainable production. 

                                                                 Pilling 

Retailing at about $60, I feel this shirt is well worth the price tag. I’m considering buying one in gray next season as it’s been a versatile layer through the summer and fall months. 

                Held up better than I did across a two-day, 80+ mile bike packing adventure!

Overall Impressions: The Nine Trails is a great option for those on the market for a simple bike jersey that won't break the bank. It keeps me comfortable and gets out of the way, allowing my attention to spin along the features of the trail. Be prepared for some pilling to occur over time, and select layers that work well with three-quarter length sleeves to avoid wrestling with bunched up fabric.

Thanks to the folks at Patagonia and Trailspace for the opportunity to test and review the Nine Trails Jersey!