Funkier Evo Windbreaker Gilet

Simple, and effective, Funkier's Evo Windbreaker Gilet is a great lightweight piece of kit for small money.

At £34.99, the Evo Windbreaker doesn't break the bank, which is good news: gilets are for throwing on and off when the temperature drops/rises, so scrunching them up repeatedly to stow in a back pocket can be a worry if you've spent much more on your body shell.

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The Evo packs superbly well into a rear pocket, making stowing very easy. The cut is also very streamlined, which helps you maintain your aerodynamic profile (if you have one) in the wind, with very little in the way of flappage. Helping it here is the weight – at 103g it's not mega-light compared with more expensive options, but in the real world it's genuinely unnoticeable.

It also comes with a relatively hard-wearing zipper too (don't worry, it still packs down), which also features an extra flap underneath to stop draughts sneaking in. It's easy to pull up and down on the move, and does everything you hope a zipper will with ease. Also helping to insulate you from draughts are the flat seams – they're not taped, but do an adequate job.

Even the hems are well made, and keep a comfortable shape around the arm holes and hem, staying in place neatly, while also hugging around full jersey pockets. Throw in a lightly reflective nature to the fabric as well (also seen at the seams around the zip), and the basics are well covered.

At this price point, not surprisingly it has a couple of shortcomings. Firstly, it's not breathable save for the mesh rear panel – so while it's excellent at keeping rushing air out, it's also very good at keeping moisture in. As a result, when you do remove it to scale a climb, you can feel quite chilly at first as the cool air hits your damp jersey.

Secondly, it's not stretchy. I'm normally a large in tops – with stretch taken into account – but sized down to a medium here for a better fit (though it was then a little snug). It's worth bearing in mind that if you want a tighter, more aero fit, then buy one slightly on the smaller size compared with your norm.

> Check out our guide to the best gilets

On the plus side, it is water resistant (on the non-breathable panels) and features a sizeable pocket at the rear for storage, should the weather demand you keep it on. Another feature is the carry bag stored within the pocket, helping the gilet to pack in on itself for storage or tidy stowing.

Overall, it's generally comfortable to wear despite the lack of stretch in the overall fit, easy to wash – just stick it on with your normal kit and it'll be fine – and looks good over the top of a range of kits, especially in the translucent and fluoro-orange colourway.

Verdict

Decent value effort from Funkier, but it could be more breathable