Funkier WJ-1322 Soft Shell Windstopper Jacket

Funkier's WJ-1322 Soft Shell Windstopper is a weather-repelling jersey-cum-jacket with some quirky touches. It fits beautifully and is ideally suited to the depths of winter, although breathability doesn't match its thermal properties when temperatures fluctuate.

On the tech front, it's a sophisticated polyester shell with acres of Scotchlite and no fewer than seven mesh panels for tuneable climate control. In common with the main zip, these sport generous silicone tags for relatively easy adjustment in gloved hands.

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Silicone grippers also adorn the cuffs and hem, hugging the shiniest Lycra and forming a totally impervious seal. The collar is second skin close, though similarly comfortable, and features a thin pile fleece that does an equally competent job of keeping wet and cold firmly outside.

Aside from the outer layer's slightly rubbery texture, other deviations from the traditional training jacket formula include two hip pockets. Apparently these are designed as parking for hands when chatting at cafe stops or other mooching about times off the bike.

Personally, I found them ideally suited to lugging keys, smartphones and other valuables needing to be kept within easy reach, leaving the cavernous rear pocket free for spare tubes, tools, pumps, glove liners and other ride essentials. Tailoring is spot on here too – no danger of catching knees when hunkered low on the drops when spinning like a dervish on my fixer.

Medium was absolutely perfect for my 1.81m, 70kg frame, with no hint of flutter, regardless how severe the winds. With the mercury wandering between 5 and -2°C, the fibres maintained a beautifully temperate inner climate, with only the faintest glow under extreme efforts, although I have tended to run the pit zips at half mast and stuck with long-sleeve merino baselayers.

The glossy Scotchlite outer shell is extremely conspicuous – friends reckon they could spot me from around 600m along pitch black B roads, although I've been inclined to pair ours with a fluoro gilet on murky, foggy mornings.

It's also extremely water-resistant; sleet and relatively heavy showers tended to bead up and roll harmlessly away. It will begin to creep in around the sides after about 90 minutes, mind, so take a micro-jacket along for longer rides/in changeable conditions.

> Check out our guide to the best clothes to keep you warm in winter, here

Horses for courses perhaps, but where it doesn't score highly is during milder weather. Anything above 8°C left me feeling boiled in the bag – even at a moderate 17mph with the mesh vents completely open. Things got soggiest around the collar and lower back – I was literally drenched after 20-mile blasts in these temperatures.

Summing up, if you ride in the coldest weathers and/or are particularly prone to chill then the Funkier is well worth a closer look. But I think a baselayer, jersey and technical jacket win hands down for less extreme conditions.

Verdict

Great for the coldest days but breathability doesn't match its weather-cheating prowess