Updated October 18, 2026. Prices checked October 15, 2026.
Five layers cost between $80 and $145. The Pearl iZUMi Attack Thermal is the only one made for cycling, and its only independent test is from 2021. The other four come from our running and hiking rankings, where testers rated them as breathable and light, and nobody tested them on a bike. The Patagonia R1 Air has the best breathability, and the Pearl iZUMi has pockets and a hem made for riding.
How these scores are built. Mid layers are judged mainly on warmth, which counts for 45% of the score. Breathability counts 25%, and the other two criteria count 15% each. Based on: A 2021 Feed the Habit review of the Pearl iZUMi, independent running and hiking tests for the other four, manufacturer specifications and prices read on October 15 and 16 (and on Competitive Cyclist on October 18), 2026. We do not test products in person. 15 source pages are linked under the 5 products so you can check each finding. How we score.
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Product
Best for
Warmth
Score
1
Patagonia R1 Air Zip-Neck Pullover
Best for hard efforts in the cold
6
6.8
2
Pearl iZUMi Attack Thermal Jersey
Cycling-made thermal jersey
6
6.7
3
Janji Waffleloft Long-Sleeve Shirt
Best cozy running layer
6
6.5
4
The North Face Cedar Trail Grid Fleece Quarter-Zip
Warmest in this range
6.5
6.4
5
Mountain Hardwear Summit Grid Half Zip Hoody
Best owner ratings and packability
6
6.2
01
Patagonia R1 Air Zip-Neck Pullover
Best for hard efforts in the cold, $145.00
6.8/10
Warmth 45%
6/10
Breathability 25%
9/10
Weight and packability 15%
6/10
Durability 15%
6/10
Pros
Reviewers rate it highly for breathability. CleverHiker calls the zigzag fabric soft and breathable, and a GearJunkie tester says it vents sweat while holding warmth.
One reviewer was comfortable in it at 18 to 20 F under a windshirt. 21 REI owners give the current version 4.8 out of 5.
Cons
It lets wind through, and the slim cut leads some owners to size up. Field Mag's tester found the crew version too heavy for running at 278 grams.
The reviews we found cover the earlier version of this top, which REI has replaced. The new version costs $145 and may differ.
We scored it from running reviews and owner reports. None of them tested it on a bike, so fit and comfort when riding are untested.
Feed the Habit calls it an affordable jersey that does a good job overall, with a brushed fleece interior it describes as ultra comfortable.
It breathes well through a channeled lining, has secure pockets, and the outer fabric resists snagging and wear.
Cons
Feed the Habit says it works as a mid layer in very low temperatures and as an outer layer in the 50s, and that it offers little wind protection. Cuffs and collar are bulky under snug layers.
The review is from 2021, when the jersey listed at $100. It gave no packability finding, so that score is a neutral estimate. Owners on Competitive Cyclist rate it 4.5 out of 5, from 7 reviews.
Readers in Germany, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and Sweden are sent to their own Amazon store, where prices show in local currency. The prices on this page are US prices.
03
Janji Waffleloft Long-Sleeve Shirt
Best cozy running layer, $98.00
6.5/10
Warmth 45%
6/10
Breathability 25%
7.5/10
Weight and packability 15%
7/10
Durability 15%
6/10
Pros
Outside's long-sleeve running shirt test recommends it as an under-$100 pick. Its testers found the polyester blend breathed well at 35 to 50 F and handled freezing weather with extra layers.
A Run & Become reviewer found moisture management kept them dry as pace rose, and several owners like the thumbholes. 11 REI owners give it 5.0 out of 5.
Cons
It has no zip or vents. Outside's testers could only cool off by tying it around the waist, and Run & Become lists it as possibly too warm for hard efforts in milder weather.
Owners disagree on sizing, with some saying it runs large and others small. REI shows only 11 reviews.
We scored it from running reviews and owner reports. None of them tested it on a bike, so fit and comfort when riding are untested.
The North Face Cedar Trail Grid Fleece Quarter-Zip
Warmest in this range, $80.00
6.4/10
Warmth 45%
6.5/10
Breathability 25%
6.5/10
Weight and packability 15%
6/10
Durability 15%
6.5/10
Pros
The grid fleece weighs 216 g/m2 and is 95% recycled polyester with 5% elastane. It has reinforced binding at the collar, cuffs and hem.
An REI owner calls it a mid layer that is not bulky and still keeps them warm under a coat on winter hikes. The Navy Exchange page shows 4.57 out of 5 from 54 reviews.
Cons
We found no expert review. REI shows 16 owner reviews at 4.4 out of 5 and says it fits slightly large.
It is a hiking fleece, so the cut is looser than a running top.
We scored it from running reviews and owner reports. None of them tested it on a bike, so fit and comfort when riding are untested.
Readers in Germany, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and Sweden are sent to their own Amazon store, where prices show in local currency. The prices on this page are US prices.
05
Mountain Hardwear Summit Grid Half Zip Hoody
Best owner ratings and packability, $119.00
6.2/10
Warmth 45%
6/10
Breathability 25%
5/10
Weight and packability 15%
8/10
Durability 15%
7/10
Pros
CleverHiker (4.3 of 5) praises its warmth for the weight, durable fabric and large hood that cinches. OutdoorGearLab (76) says it works well over a base layer and is among the best for packing small.
Owners on the Mountain Hardwear site rate the fit as true to size and the quality as excellent, and all 52 reviewers who answered recommend it.
Cons
OutdoorGearLab says it is not very warm for its weight, and CleverHiker says it breathes less on hard efforts and has a cropped fit and no thumbholes.
The tests list 10.9 to 11.5 oz, and Switchback Travel says it is not ideal for performance use. The Mountain Hardwear site blocked our browser, so the creator read the page.
We scored it from hiking reviews and owner reports. None of them tested it on a bike, so fit and comfort when riding are untested.
Readers in Germany, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, the United Kingdom and Sweden are sent to their own Amazon store, where prices show in local currency. The prices on this page are US prices.
How we picked
Each score comes from independent reviews, manufacturer specifications and the regular price at a named retailer. We do not test layers in person. Ratings are our assessment of what the reviewers report. Where a review says nothing about packability, we use a neutral estimate.
The Pearl iZUMi has one independent review, from 2021. The other four rest on running or hiking tests, so their scores carry more doubt for cycling.
What we left out
Rapha Core Thermal ($130): no review of the thermal version found, and owners describe thin, small-sized tops.
Castelli Competizione and Nebula Thermal ($140 and $150): US prices read, no independent review found.
Brooks Dash Quarter-Zip ($80): scored below the five here.
What to look for
A brushed or grid interior that traps warmth without bulk
A close fit that sits under a shell
A zip to vent on climbs
Questions
Which layers come from running and hiking?
The Patagonia R1 Air, The North Face Cedar Trail Grid, Janji Waffleloft and Mountain Hardwear Summit Grid were scored from running or hiking tests. They have no cycling test.
Why is the Pearl iZUMi review old?
The only independent review we found is from 2021, when the jersey listed at $100. We read the current $120 price on Competitive Cyclist and Backcountry.
Where do the prices come from?
The regular price at the retailer named under each product, on the dates in the basis line. Sale and outlet prices are ignored.