Funkier F-Ride Active Leisure Short Sleeve Jersey

The Funkier F-Ride Active Leisure short-sleeve jersey is a well-made, comfortable and relaxed top, with a low-key design incorporating useful high-vis details. The water-resistant zipped pocket is a draw, but sadly it's useless for keeping phones dry against sweat.

• Pros: Comfortable, well made, well shaped
• Cons: Sizes up a little large, pocket may ward off showers but your phone still gets wet if you get hot

While you're hardly starved of choice in the short-sleeve jersey section of the market, the F-Ride impresses with its well-shaped cut, good build and great value.

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Despite the price it has its share of nice details, including grippy silicone Funkier logos inside the broad elastic hem, mesh side panels with overlocked seams, a long rubber zip pull and neat, accurate stitching all round.

It's a shame that its one standout feature doesn't work. It's a rare rider who doesn't carry a phone, and a waterproof pocket would cut out the hassle of bulky, awkward extra covers or pouches to keep it dry. The lined central pocket here swallowed my ancient iPhone 5S (I know, the shame) without issue, and the zip kept it totally secure. Post-ride on dry, warm days, however, the phone came out as soggy as ever.

This does at least prove the fabric's breathable, and that vapour is penetrating even through the extra layers at the base of your spine. Perhaps a genuinely waterproof membrane – rather than this pointlessly water-resistant one – would feel noticeably hot and sweaty, whereas the F-Ride's doesn't. But it would also, you know, work.

I should note that it's never been quite warm enough during the test to wear this alone, so it's been under other (breathable and often not windproof or waterproof) layers. Possibly the F-Ride would do a better job if exposed, or if I faced the screen outwards at the greater risk of crash damage, but moisture penetration is what it is.

It's no worse than a regular pocket, though, so there's no major downside. It doesn't interfere with the three regular pockets either, which are a good size and secured well with elastic.

Those mesh side panels do a good job of cooling, and the full-length zip makes heat management easy. The cut is generous but not baggy, and while it's supposed to be more casual than pro, you might still want to size down if you're slim. According to Funkier's charts, my 100cm chest puts me bang in the range for a Large, but this Medium gave a really good, relaxed fit. (It's not me in the photos.)

At £45 the F-Ride is cheaper than the vast majority of jerseys we test on road.cc. It's on a par with dhb's Blok Swirl, though few would claim the Swirl's, erm, 'adventurous' 80s stylings had the F-Ride beaten. In fact, going back through the tests, the next option at anywhere near this price was Funkier's own Isparo Gents Elite at £55.

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

Disappointing pocket (by sheer coincidence, the name of my high school band) aside, Funkier's F-Ride Active Leisure is a great choice for any non-competitive riding as it's well made, good value and pretty stylish to boot.

Verdict

Comfortable and well-made jersey with a more relaxed cut, but forget the fancy tech pocket