Madison Flux Trail Short Sleeve Jersey review – fantastic value for money

Robustly made trail/enduro jersey ideal for shoulder season or gravity venue use

A man wearing the Madison Flux Trail Short Sleeve Jersey by a trail
(Image: © Don NG)

Bike Perfect Verdict

A well-put-together, loose-fitting jersey with a budget-friendly price tag. I found it a bit warm for full summer use, but it works well in spring and autumn.

Pros

  • +

    High-wicking chest and back

  • +

    Snag and scuff-resistant sleeves

  • +

    Sturdily constructed

  • +

    Value for money

  • +

    Made from recycled polyester

Cons

  • -

    Runs warm for a summer jersey

  • -

    Toughened sleeves can get sweaty

  • -

    Only available in the UK

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Madison's Flux jerseys have been around in various guises for many years. This latest short-sleeved Trail version is designed for summer and shoulder season use. Its minimalist styling looks good, as does the £29.99 RRP, so how does it perform and is it a contender for one of the best mountain bike jerseys? I've been testing it through the spring and into the summer to find out.

A man wearing the Madison Flux Trail Short Sleeve Jersey seen from the rear

The minimalist branding includes a Madison logo on the dropped rear (Image credit: Don NG)

Design and specifications

The Madison Flux Trail Jersey uses material made from 90 percent recycled polyester  and 10 percent elastane. There are two different weights of cloth used for the body and the sleeves. The body uses a lightly perforated mesh, four-way stretch cloth, while the sleeves are made with a snag-resistant, two-way stretch material.

All the seams, including the hems, are double blind-stitched for extra strength. The front and rear panels are one-piece, while the raglan cut sleeves are three-piece with a seam on the shoulder and an extended section at the hems. On the back is a medium-length drop tail.

Branding is super minimalist with Madison written on the left sleeve and a small reflective Madison logo on the bottom right of the back panel.

Close up of the two types of cloth used on the Madison Flux Trail Short Sleeve Jersey

Here you can see the toughened cloth used on the sleeves and the tight mesh that makes up the body (Image credit: Don NG)

Performance

Madison pitches the Flux Trail Jersey as suitable for the spring and into summer. I've been wearing it from April onwards and while it's a good option when it's not too hot, it gets pretty warm when temperatures start hitting over 20 degrees C.

While the body does a decent job of wicking away sweat, the cloth is heavier than what I'd typically use on warm days of pedaling and I found when there's no breeze blowing, it traps body heat despite the mesh design. The sleeves don't noticeably wick sweat away at all though, and can get pretty sticky as a result.

Fit-wise, the body is roomy enough without being overly baggy, while the extended short sleeves cover most of my upper arms for protection from brambles etc.

There's plenty of undergrowth grabbing at you on the trails at this time of year, but the Flux Trail has proved itself to be a sturdily built piece of kit. Yes, there are a few small snags in the mesh body after months of wear, but they're barely noticeable and overall the jersey is still in good nick.

A long sleeve version is also available and I've been testing that too. With the sleeves made of the same tough material as the short-sleeved model, I found that it ran pretty warm even on cooler days.

A man wearing the Madison Flux Trail Short Sleeve Jersey by a trail

The Flux Trail is ideal for slightly cooler or days when there's less pedaling going on (Image credit: Don NG)

Verdict

While I wouldn't choose the Flux Trail Jersey for pedaling on warm summer days, it's a good option for cooler conditions that don't warrant a long sleeve top. It's also a solid choice for the bike park or uplift days, when overheating is less likely and you want a jersey that can take the knocks. It comes with a very competitive price tag too.

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The lowdown: Madison Flux Trail Short Sleeve Jersey
AttributesNotesRating
FitTrue to size with sleeves that cover your upper arms★★★★★
ComfortComfortable feel but runs pretty warm for a summer jersey★★★
DurabilityTough cloth on sleeves and mesh body isn't overly prone to snags★★★★★
Value for moneyWell made and comes with a bargain price tag★★★★★

Tech specs: Madison Flux Trail Short Sleeve Jersey

  • Price: £29.99
  • Weight: 184g (size medium tested)
  • Colors: Rust Orange (tested), Lake Blue
  • Sizes: Small to XXL
Rich Owen
Editor, BikePerfect

Rich Owen joined the BikePerfect team as editor in 2021. He's worked as a journalist and editor for over 24 years, with 12 years specializing in cycling media. Rich bought his first mountain bike (a rigid Scott Tampico) in 1995 and has been riding MTB for almost 30 years.

Current rides: Merida One-Forty 6000, Banshee Paradox, YT Jeffsy Core 3, Saracen Ariel 30 Pro

Height: 175cm

Weight: 69kg