Sportful Luna Softshell Jacket

Sportful has carried over the no-frills aesthetics of the recently reviewed Luna bib tights to the Softshell Luna Jacket. In addition to the plain design there is a distinct lack of the shaping you might expect with a female-specific jacket. If these (lack of) features appeal then you are in luck, because the Luna's biggest pluses are comfort and warmth; it's a top scorer here.

• Pros: Warm and comfortable, very little tapering around the waist
• Cons: Limited colour choices, few reflectives, very little tapering around the waist...

The design is simple and understated, with the Sportful logo embossed across the rear but barely visible. The jacket lacks reflective detailing so if you opt for either the black one on test or the grey design, you aren't going to be helping yourself in the visibility stakes, though Sportful does have two other offerings, bright pink and a rather unusual green. Otherwise, it's a quality jacket.

The jacket I tested was a medium, and I was surprised that it was so generous. I am used to Italian brands being on the small side, and here in fact, there was a little too much around the midriff (though not as excessive as last winter's Sportful Allure). I would say that it is a rather boyish cut, and certainly a good option if you frequently find some female-specific kit excessively narrowed at the waist. (It's not me in the pics, by the way, it's Tass – who says she, like the Luna, also has a little too much around the midriff…)

There is plenty of length in both the arms and body, so ample coverage and protection against the cold air here. The narrow, minimal cuffs have no elastic in them, though the sleeves narrow enough to prevent draughts entering. I appreciated this, as it meant pulling the jacket on and off was not a battle, as can often be the case.

The baseline hem is very lightly elasticated and lined with small rubbery Sportful logos, though I'm not sure they do very much. The jacket is long and hardly lightweight so I never had any issue with it riding up or moving about excessively.

The pockets are in no way skimpy and are well positioned to allow easy access.

A high collar acts as a great barrier against cold air. The zip toggle could do with being bigger; if I wanted to open up the jacket a little to let some air in I struggled to with thick winter gloves on.

The jacket's fleece-brushed inner traps body heat inside the jersey. While the frontal panels on the sleeves and torso prevent biting wind and cold air entering, slightly thinner panelling on the rear is designed to draw moisture away, so preventing a build-up leading to chills. With a minimal baselayer the jacket really was exceptional. It makes getting ready for a ride in temperatures close to zero very simple: one baselayer, one jacket and no gilet. I was thoroughly impressed with its ability to keep me warm on 3.5hr+ rides in recent temperatures of 2-4 degrees. If my torso and arms are warm, I have less of an issue with my hands too, so I felt I was really benefiting from the jacket.

Considering it's not classed as waterproof (Sportful scores it 1 out of 4 on that), it stood up pretty well to light rain, surface spray and mist, with water beading on the fabric. It took persistent rain to eventually penetrate it, and even when it did there was sufficient frontal windproofing to ensure that you didn't immediately start to chill.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best winter cycling jackets

Value-wise, you could compare prices on these jackets for a long time – there are so many out there claiming to be windproof/thermal. Santini's Coral 2.0 Winter Jacket offers a very similar performance to the Luna and it comes in at £134. Even dhb's Aeron Women's Full Protection Softshell is a tenner more than the Luna. (We'll have full reviews of both the Santini and dhb shortly.) Considering its performance, the Luna is well priced, and if you are happy with the appearance and a rather boyish fit, this is a great buy.

Verdict

Understated design offering outstanding warmth with a boyish cut