Funkier Prima Pro Ladies Short Sleeve Jersey

The Funkier Prima Pro Ladies Short Sleeve Jersey is lightweight, well made and really breathable, with a relaxed fit. All this comes for an easy to swallow price, making it a top choice for riding on hot days. The only negative is the waterproof pocket – the same gripe as with the men's jerseys tested recently.

• Pros: Breathable, affordable, high quality
• Cons: May be too dark for some, waterproof pocket

The first thing that struck me about the jersey was how well made it was and just how much lightweight fabric had been incorporated to make the jersey exceptionally breathable. The front, rear and sleeves are all made of a very thin, semi-transparent fabric – air flows in freely and heat easily escapes.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

The side panels are a mesh material that performs equally as well. The jersey really is designed for hot weather. I've had it teamed with undervests to date and found this perfect for temperatures around 18-20 degrees. I imagine it'll come into its own when the mercury goes above 25.

The full frontal zip is chunkier than those often used on short sleeve jerseys. The zipper itself runs smoothly and is easy to locate, with a decent length of cord and a hard, textured, grippy tab; you're not going to struggle with it under any circumstances. Unlike on the recently reviewed Funkier Mataro, there is a chin guard.

Thanks to the jersey's more relaxed fit, I had no issue with it being too tight anywhere. It does have some shape around the waist but not a huge amount. If you are looking for a relaxed fit, stay true to size, otherwise size down. Despite the looser fit, it doesn't budge while riding – the elasticated waist performs well and the sleeve cuffs have some gentle compression. (The Mataro that Sarah tested is meant to have a tighter 'pro' fit so might be worth considering – though according to Sarah you might need to size down.)

While some might find the jersey too dark – though I doubt it'll put everyone off, especially as summer time might see high-vis colours drop in your list of priorities – it is certainly easy to team with other kit thanks to the rather neutral design.

My one niggle with the jersey – as Shaun and Steve found with the Stream and the F-Ride Active – was the waterproof zip pocket. It adds a stiff patch to the back of the jersey and compromises the performance of the rest of the top. I noticed a significant heat/sweat patch building under it if I was working hard.

I have discovered that it's possible to cut out this plastic patch without affecting the jersey's construction in any way: I refused to let this one tiny element ruin what is an otherwise excellent jersey! It's made worse by the fact that moisture tends to build on the surface of anything that's in the pocket, so while it kept rain out, the contents would still end up wet.

Funkier has pitched the price of Prima brilliantly, given its great performance. While we haven't had many 2019 short sleeve jerseys in on test, I suspect it will be hard to beat. Looking back to the 2018 jerseys, a similar lightweight, 'summer-specific' one such as Monton's Lifestyle Bamboo Jersey cost £90; even the more affordable Lusso Stripes costs £25 more than the Prima.

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

> Read more road.cc reviews of women's jerseys here

Putting the pocket issue aside, the Prima is perfect for anyone who appreciates a more relaxed fit but doesn't want to compromise on performance, or fork out a fortune.

Verdict

Brilliant – no race fit, but quality and performance for a fraction of many others