dhb Classic Thermal Softshell Jacket

Jackets like the dhb Classic Thermal Softshell are incredibly useful – they're warm yet very breathable and unrestrictive, and work well as either a mid or outer layer. This is all of those things, plus it's well made, well cut and well priced. Perhaps most vitally, though, it's also windproof.

This is typical of what I've come to expect from dhb – it fits brilliantly, looks good and works much better than its price might suggest, thanks to considered design and strong attention to detail.

Of the two complaints I have, one is minor: the zipped pocket is just too small for large modern phones at 18x10cm internally, mostly because it's just 12cm at the zip.

The other complaint is both minor and shallow... it's that the polyurethane fabric has a slightly shiny, synthetic sheen that up close looks a bit cheap.

It works very well, though. I really like the fit as it has a really good length in both the arms and the body, without being anywhere near excessive. The broad cuffs slip securely under winter gloves, the tail (aided by a fully-encircling silicone gripper) protects your back and the front is just right for both warmth and comfort in a crouch.

The sizing, meanwhile, is accurate, with the Classic coming up unflappably slim yet with decent room for layers beneath.

The fleecy white inner Roubaix is lovely and soft too, as is the (wisely black instead) lining of the collar. There's a zip garage to protect your chin from the chunky metal YKK, and the overlocked seams (flatlocked at the neck) caused me no problems either, even with a waterproof on top.

On the back the usual three pockets do the business just fine, though the thick fabric does add a little bulk and heat if you're sandwiching this jacket in other layers. On the upside, the pockets are tough, and well up to being routinely stuffed with waterproofs, warmers and all the rest.

Okay, the fabric seems to pick up armpit smells a little sooner than some, but it's as easy as anything to wash and fundamentally just a basic, effective garment that – thanks to being windproof – proves useful on a great many UK autumn and spring days. And because it's very breathable, it's a great winter midlayer too.

Value

While £80 is not the crazy bargain some dhb things represent, it's still good, and its value is enhanced by its versatility. Lusso's 50 Shades Thermal Jacket is £69.99 and very warm, for instance, but it's not windproof, which greatly reduces its usefulness as an outer (or indeed, as you might call it, as 'a jacket').

> Buyer’s Guide: 29 of the best winter cycling jackets

Gore's C3 Gore-Tex Infinium Thermo Jacket is also very good – if not quite breathable enough as a midlayer on mild yet wet rides – but it's £129.99.

The dhb Classic matches the similarly 'budget' Van Rysel Cold Weather Extreme Racer Jacket in many ways, and essentially matches its £79.99 price too.

Conclusion

Overall, the dhb does its job very well. The cut, sizing and construction are great, performance is good and it looks pretty good. It's not the most sophisticated thing ever – the thick, slightly synthetic-looking fabric sees to that – but it feels rugged, is very versatile and should prove a really worthwhile investment.

Verdict

Warm, breathable and windproof with a great cut – it's a very useful layer