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Funkier Stream Gents Short Sleeve Active Jersey

7
£34.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Nice budget jersey with decent fit and features, but waterproof pocket is a mixed blessing
Weight: 
202g

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The Funkier Stream Gents Short Sleeve Active Jersey offers a decent specification for modest money and performs surprisingly well. I have two minor gripes, though: the fabric feels more synthetic than other blends, and the waterproof pocket can leave a localised clammy patch and 'sweaty' contents.

  • Pros: High spec and decent overall performance for the money
  • Cons: Synthetic feel, waterproof pocket lining can induce a clammy patch against the skin

You might have guessed from my opening statement that the Stream is 100% polyester. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but nonetheless the specification is pleasing.

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For starters, it has inbuilt UPF50+ protection – always welcome on longer rides in very hot weather, though no substitute for high factor sun creams – and it has offered decent protection from the sun's rays on rides around the 50-mile mark.

Funkier Stream Gents Short Sleeve Active Jersey in Yellow - riding.jpg

The 'net' (mesh) fabric, coupled with a full-length zipper and 'Quick Dry active protection', promise optimal ventilation and tuneable climate control.

Funkier Stream Gents Short Sleeve Active Jersey in Yellow - back.jpg

The zipper also features retro-reflective detailing, which keeps things conspicuous at dusk/beyond. And if fluoro yellow's not your bag, the Stream also comes in black.

Pockets

Round the back we have the traditional three-pocket layout. These are generous enough for bottles, bananas, mini-pumps and so on, and although it's a road garment, I've blasted along bumpy bridleways without anything coming close to being ejected.

Funkier Stream Gents Short Sleeve Active Jersey in Yellow - pockets.jpg

The middle incorporates a zipped waterproof pocket. This would suggest an obvious home for money, smartphones and other valuables, but as Steve found with the F-Ride Active, the contents can get 'sweaty' – as can your back underneath. (I addressed this by parking my Backbottle water bottle in the open pocket underneath.)

Cut/sizing

The Stream is snug but not second-skin close, so doesn't draw unwelcome attention to minor lumps and bumps we might be self-conscious about.

Our medium was refreshingly generous around the shoulders, and the sleeves slightly longer than many in my collection. I'm a big fan of raglan sleeves, which in my experience offer superior freedom of movement and comfort.

Funkier Stream Gents Short Sleeve Active Jersey in Yellow - sleeve logo.jpg

Being proportionately short in the torso, things looked and felt right here, too.

Performance

The relatively thin, summer-weight fabric, vented panels and full-length zipper make for an airy and generally arid inner climate.

Polyesters begin wicking once the inner climate reaches a certain temperature. I found that within about 30 minutes' riding at a decent pace a misty clamminess became apparent at the armpits, chest and lower back, after which the fibres began wicking and maintaining a predominantly dry, comfortable state.

Need more air? Simply drop the sensibly proportioned zipper tag. This has been easily operated in liner type gloves, and at around 20mph.

Funkier Stream Gents Short Sleeve Active Jersey in Yellow - chest.jpg

On a couple of occasions I got caught by a short, sharp shower without a jacket, but with a gentle breeze I was predominantly dry given 20 minutes and a moderate breeze.

I wore ours for three consecutive days to test odour management. By the third, some mild funkiness was apparent around the armpits but not in wallpaper-stripping territory. Like most polyesters, it's easily chucked in the machine wash at 30 degrees and emerges looking and smelling fresh.

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

Surprisingly there's no sign of bobbling or fraying, despite getting snagged on meandering brambles and low hanging branches.

Value

Specification and overall performance are very competitive. It's a tenner cheaper than the dhb Blok and a good deal better than the Boardman Relaxed Fit Jersey, although B'Twin's 700 Cycling Jersey will give it a good run for your hard-earned.

Conclusion

Overall, the Funkier Stream is a capable summer-weight model that offers a nice mix of features for a modest price. The fabric does feel decidedly manmade, which may be a deal-breaker for some, and although a nice idea the waterproof valuables pocket can leave kit clammy, but otherwise it's a decent, well-specced summer jersey.

Verdict

Nice budget jersey with decent fit and features, but waterproof pocket is a mixed blessing

road.cc test report

Make and model: Funkier Stream Gents Short Sleeve Active Jersey

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Funkier says, "Keep up your speedy style through the intense heat of summer thanks to the cool and comfortable Stream Short Sleeve Jersey from Funkier.

"Helping keep sweat at bay when the sun is doing its hardest to knock you off your feet, the Funkier Stream Short Sleeve Jersey features plenty of ventilation to keep the air moving at all times. Quick-dry Active Protection technology moves moisture away from your skin at great speed with net fabric and a full-length zip maximising the cooling performance. On top of that, the jersey is fully-summer ready by offering protection against the sun's harmful UV rays up to and above factor 50, while in the back you'll find a trio of pockets for your essentials, and a fourth pocket is fully waterproof too."

My sentiments: Slightly synthetic feel, and waterproof pocket not the boon it might sound. However, a surprisingly comfortable, modestly priced jersey.

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

From Funkier:

* Quick-dry Active Protection

* UPF 50+ - Provides Protection from the sun.

* 3 Rear Pockets

* 1 Middle Waterproof Pocket

* Net Fabric for full ventilation.

* Full Reflective Zipper

* Raglan Short Sleeves

* Machine Washable

* 100% Polyester

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
7/10

Uniformly good throughout.

Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
6/10

Seems rugged and durable, in the everyday sense.

Rate the product for fit:
 
10/10

Excellent cut and fit. Snug, but flattering and unrestrictive.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

As I'd expected.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
6/10

Generally good, although the weave did feel noticeably synthetic when worn directly against the skin.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

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

Very easy to live with. Machine washes beautifully at 30 degrees.

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

Overall, the Stream has been a very pleasant surprise. Slightly synthetic feel aside, the fit and cut are excellent and the vented panels ensure a steady stream of cooling air. The long zipper tags mean it's easy to open and close the full length zipper, should you need to fine-tune airflow mid-ride. Pockets are sensible and generally very usable, though the waterproof one doesn't breathe, resulting in clammy contents and a localised sweaty patch.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Great fit and spec relative to the price, and overall performance is pretty good.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Waterproof pocket is a nice idea in principle but results in a localised sweat patch and often clammy contents.

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

Pricing is very favourable relative to the specification and indeed, some store-branded models, which tend to offer better spec/performance for similar money.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, for the most part.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Well worth a look.

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a decent jersey with a nice cut, fit and overall standards of performance. However, the waterproof pocket needs revising, and the slightly synthetic texture might not be to everyone's taste.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 45  Height: 1m 81cm  Weight: 70kg

I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset  My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road

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

I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

Shaun Audane is a freelance writer/product tester with over twenty-eight years riding experience, the last twelve (120,000 miles) spent putting bikes and kit through their paces for a variety of publications. Previous generations of his family worked at manufacturing's sharp end, thus Shaun can weld, has a sound understanding of frame building practice and a preference for steel or titanium framesets.
Citing Richard Ballantine and an Au pair as his earliest cycling influences, he is presently writing a cycling book with particular focus upon women, families and disabled audiences (Having been a registered care manager and coached children at Herne Hill Velodrome in earlier careers)

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