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Funkier Prima Pro Ladies Short Sleeve Jersey

9
£44.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Brilliant – no race fit, but quality and performance for a fraction of many others
Weight: 
177g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Funkier Prima Pro Ladies Short Sleeve Jersey is lightweight, well made and really breathable, with a relaxed fit. All this comes for an easy to swallow price, making it a top choice for riding on hot days. The only negative is the waterproof pocket – the same gripe as with the men's jerseys tested recently.

  • Pros: Breathable, affordable, high quality
  • Cons: May be too dark for some, waterproof pocket

The first thing that struck me about the jersey was how well made it was and just how much lightweight fabric had been incorporated to make the jersey exceptionally breathable. The front, rear and sleeves are all made of a very thin, semi-transparent fabric – air flows in freely and heat easily escapes.

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The side panels are a mesh material that performs equally as well. The jersey really is designed for hot weather. I've had it teamed with undervests to date and found this perfect for temperatures around 18-20 degrees. I imagine it'll come into its own when the mercury goes above 25.

Funkier Prima Pro Ladies Short Sleeve Jersey in Black-Wave - riding.jpg

The full frontal zip is chunkier than those often used on short sleeve jerseys. The zipper itself runs smoothly and is easy to locate, with a decent length of cord and a hard, textured, grippy tab; you're not going to struggle with it under any circumstances. Unlike on the recently reviewed Funkier Mataro, there is a chin guard.

Funkier Prima Pro Ladies Short Sleeve Jersey in Black-Wave - collar.jpg

Thanks to the jersey's more relaxed fit, I had no issue with it being too tight anywhere. It does have some shape around the waist but not a huge amount. If you are looking for a relaxed fit, stay true to size, otherwise size down. Despite the looser fit, it doesn't budge while riding – the elasticated waist performs well and the sleeve cuffs have some gentle compression. (The Mataro that Sarah tested is meant to have a tighter 'pro' fit so might be worth considering – though according to Sarah you might need to size down.)

Funkier Prima Pro Ladies Short Sleeve Jersey in Black-Wave - cuff.jpg

While some might find the jersey too dark – though I doubt it'll put everyone off, especially as summer time might see high-vis colours drop in your list of priorities – it is certainly easy to team with other kit thanks to the rather neutral design.

Funkier Prima Pro Ladies Short Sleeve Jersey in Black-Wave - back.jpg

My one niggle with the jersey – as Shaun and Steve found with the Stream and the F-Ride Active – was the waterproof zip pocket. It adds a stiff patch to the back of the jersey and compromises the performance of the rest of the top. I noticed a significant heat/sweat patch building under it if I was working hard.

Funkier Prima Pro Ladies Short Sleeve Jersey in Black-Wave - zip pocket.jpg

I have discovered that it's possible to cut out this plastic patch without affecting the jersey's construction in any way: I refused to let this one tiny element ruin what is an otherwise excellent jersey! It's made worse by the fact that moisture tends to build on the surface of anything that's in the pocket, so while it kept rain out, the contents would still end up wet.

Funkier Prima Pro Ladies Short Sleeve Jersey in Black-Wave - pockets.jpg

Funkier has pitched the price of Prima brilliantly, given its great performance. While we haven't had many 2019 short sleeve jerseys in on test, I suspect it will be hard to beat. Looking back to the 2018 jerseys, a similar lightweight, 'summer-specific' one such as Monton's Lifestyle Bamboo Jersey cost £90; even the more affordable Lusso Stripes costs £25 more than the Prima.

> Buyer's Guide: 17 of the best summer cycling jerseys

> Read more road.cc reviews of women's jerseys here

Putting the pocket issue aside, the Prima is perfect for anyone who appreciates a more relaxed fit but doesn't want to compromise on performance, or fork out a fortune.

Verdict

Brilliant – no race fit, but quality and performance for a fraction of many others

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Funkier Prima Pro Ladies Short Sleeve Jersey

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Funkier tells us that its Prima Pro Ladies SS Jersey is 'designed with a less aggressive and casual cut, the Prima Women's jersey meets the comfort needs of every range of cyclist from beginner to elite.'

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

From Funkier:

*100% breathable/moisture wicking polyester; bird eye front/back panel fabric; mesh upper back, underarm and side panels

*Double Lycra sleeve band

*SG-06 stretchy elastic waist gripper

*Full length zipper with puller

*3 standard back pockets; one water resistant zippered central back pocket stores valuables and smartphone up to six inches

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Tidy.

Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Highly breathable away from the waterproof pocket. Stays in place well.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Stood up to regular washing and wearing during five weeks of testing. Not identifying any weak points at the moment.

Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

As it's claimed, relaxed, so no body compressing going on here.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

It's designed as a more casual cut, so if that's what you want stay true to size.

Rate the product for weight:
 
9/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

Just had a niggle with heat build-up under the pocket. Otherwise faultless.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

Excellent value for money. The quality and performance of many of those twice its price.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

As per instructions: 30 degrees, comes out fresh every time and is dry in a jiffy.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Will come into its own as the temperatures rise.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Lightweight and relaxed fit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The waterproof pocket.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Cheaper than the majority of comparable jerseys tested last year and may well beat competition this year.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

You get the performance and quality of a top-end jersey, forgoing the 'race-fit' trend – great for those who don't want the skin-tight look. For the money, I think it's exceptional, with just that waterproof pocket compromising it slightly. 

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 173cm  Weight: 64kg

I usually ride: Road  My best bike is: Carbon road

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, club rides, general fitness riding, getting to grips with off roading too

Emma’s first encounters with a road bike were in between swimming and running. Soon after competing for GB in the World Age Group Triathlon Championships in Edmonton in 2001 she saw the light and decided to focus on cycling. 

After a couple of half decent UK road seasons racing for Leisure Lakes, she went out to Belgium to sample the racing there and spent two years with Lotto-Belisol Ladies team, racing alongside the likes of Sara Carrigan, Grace Verbeke, Rochelle Gilmore and Lizzie Deignan. Emma moved from Lotto-Belisol to Dutch team Redsun, then a new Belgian team of primarily developing riders, where there was less pressure, an opportunity to share her experience and help build a whole new team; a nice way to spend her final years of professional racing. 

Since retiring Emma has returned to teaching. When not coercing kids to do maths, she is invariably out on two wheels. In addition to the daily commute, Emma still enjoys getting out on her road bike and having her legs ripped off on the local club rides and chain gangs. She has also developed an addiction to touring, with destinations including Iceland, Georgia and Albania, to mention just a few. There have also been rare sightings of Emma off-road on a mountain bike…

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