Dakar Pro Jersey
Somewhere in the world, there are trees that don't have thorns, rocks that aren't abrasive, and riders who gracefully swoop through loamy single-track without ever touching the flora alongside.
For everywhere else, there's the Dakar pro jersey. At first glance, the price tag seems high, because we're used to buying jerseys for 1/2 as much. But since I don't ride in strawberry shortcake land, and tend to prefer a good apex to intact skin, the price becomes reasonable when it is clear this thing will last many seasons, instead of a few rides.
I bought the Dakar pro for durability, but I fell in love with it for some other features that are less obvious. First, I have never been able to wear elbow guards without getting arm pump. The Jersey is certainly not a replacement for true armor, but it's a heck of a lot better than nothing at all, which was my previous solution. The interior panels are a stretch mesh, which means it is not the least bit hot or clammy, and the sketchiness means it has a better fit than something static could pull off. And finally, it has a lens cloth tethered in the pocket, which I think should be standard on everything that could be worn as an outer layer.
So all in all, the Dakar pro is a pay more, get more kind of product. And that's an equation I can appreciate.