Furygan Icetrack review | Softshell motorcycle jacket tested

Date reviewed: December 2022 | Tested by: John Milbank | RRP: £239.99 | www.furygan.com

The Furygan Icetrack is a casual-style softshell jacket that’s designed for cold weather use. I’ve been using it for several months to find out not only how good it is in the winter and autumn, but whether it’s also practical in British summers.

Here’s what I thought after riding in it on a BMW R1250GS, Kawasaki ZX-6R and a Honda MSX125…

Construction and Fit

Described on the Furygan website as a ‘three-layer laminated fabric’, this soft-shell 600 denier polyester jacket is not what you might think of when hearing that.

‘Laminated’ textile riding kit usually has a waterproof membrane bonded directly to the inside of the outer shell to make two layers. Products like Gore-Tex Pro and others have a third ‘scrim’ layer bonded to the membrane to protect it from wear in use. While it could be a translation issue, the Furygan Icetrack is not what I’d call a laminated textile jacket as the waterproof membrane is actually a drop-liner that sits separate to the outer shell. It is laminated to the internal mesh comfort liner, but it’s not what I’d call a laminated jacket.

I cut open my Icetrack jacket to see the layers – in the middle you can see the back of the outer shell, with the insulation material on top of that, then a mesh material. On top of this is the internal mesh liner that has the waterproof membrane bonded onto it

Unusually for a soft-shell, the Icetrack doen’t have a hood. Which is a good thing, as they always seem to get in the way when riding, and they just act as a big bucket on your back.

I’ve got my usual Large size, and the fit is good with the arms being the right length for my fairly average 5’10” frame.

I’m a fan of the styling, with subtle branding that makes the Furygan Icetrack look great when off the bike – it’s something I’m more than happy to wear when walking the dog, shopping or visiting friends. It’s also great that the armour is pretty much invisible…

Protection and certification

The Furygan Icetrack jacket achieves a protection level of AA under EN17092, which means it’s suitable for general riding, and certainly more protective than something that only reaches A – a level that really is only suitable for low-speed city-centre use. AAA is currently the top level under EN17092.

Abrasion resistance is improved by layering materials – even very lightweight ones –  so I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the insulation in the Icetrack that helps it meet that AA level.

There’s space for a back protector, but unfortunately one isn’t supplied. However, D3O Level 1 protectors are fitted at the shoulders and elbows. This very thin armour is effective, yet you can’t feel it when wearing the Furygan, and it doesn’t show from the outside at all. Impressive.

The Icetrack has a pair of zips that allow the Furygan airvest to be zipped in, though you could wear a standalone air bag as well.

For everything you need to know about the safety labels in your motorcycle kit, click here.

Pockets

The two pockets at the waist have a comfortable lining for tucking your hands into, but they’re not waterproof. You’ll also find a small breast pocket on the left, with another pair behind the zip, though none of these should really be considered as waterproof.

Fastening

The main fastener is an easy-to use chunky YKK zip with plastic teeth and a metal toggle. There’s no connecting zip to allow the jacket to be secured to any trousers.

Adjustment

There’s no adjustment at the collar, but there are a pair of short velcro straps at the sides of the waist, with another set at the ends of the arms that, while not opening wide enough to get gloves under easily, they do close snugly around the wrists with little rucking up of excess material.

The biceps feature two-position poppers, though there’s only 25mm between them and they pull the vent zip and material across a little clumsily.

Ventilation

Despite a vent across the back and one on each arm, it’s difficult to notice any real difference with them open. The Furygan Icetrack is too warm to walk around in during peak summer in the UK (though the clue’s in the name), at times when even a leather jacket might be more bearable.

The vents on the arms are underneath the bicep cinch straps – when opened there’s nowhere for the strap to fix, leaving it to flap in the wind.

This low venting performance is not helped by the fact that the waterproof membrane sits behind the vents, limiting their ability to get air to the body.

The sleeves of the thermal liner have colour-coded loops that match poppers in the jacket, making it easier to fit

Warmth and thermal liner

Being a relatively short design, and with no connecting zip, there’ll always be the potential for drafts up the back, but the Icetrack does a good job of keeping you warm in Autumn and Spring.

The design does limit its ability to keep you snug in deep winter, and that’s made worse if it gets wet as the water evaporates out of the thick outer shell.

The removable thermal liner adds more warmth, and reaches right the way down to the sleeves. It doesn’t cover the front of the body, behind the main zip, but there’s a good amount of material here to prevent the wind pushing through.

When walking around, the Icetrack can get quite warm quite quickly, which does make me question its breathability somewhat.

The waterproof membrane is laminated to the internal mesh liner

Waterproofing

While it does have a waterproof lining, I wouldn’t recommend the Furygan Icetrack for anything more than light showers or short commutes. The Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating is effective, but heavy rain will eventually beat it (and as with all jackets, it will wear over time), leading to the outer shell getting soaked. While the waterproof membrane inside will stop this getting to your body, the water will also prevent the vapour inside from escaping, leading to you feel damp.

It's also worth noting that during my heavy rain test, while I did stay dry, my arms felt wet at the biceps, behind the unprotected vent zips. When I got home and checked, I was actually bone dry, but it was most likely the cold caused by the water that was sitting against the waterproof membrane inside.

12 hours later, sections of the jacket were still damp, despite being left hanging on a chair in the living room.

Three alternatives to the Furygan Icetrack

Here are some other softshell jackets to consider…

• The Spada Commute costs just £89.99, it includes a back-protector and it achieves level AA. We’d still only consider it to be shower resistance, but what great value! Full review here.
• The RST X-Kevlar Frontline jacket is only certified to level A, and it has a non-removable hood, but its £129.99 price point could make it appealing to city riders. Full review here.
• While we haven’t reviewed it, the £219.99 Richa Toulon 2 Softshell WP is only A-rated, but has D3O armour at the shoulders, elbows and back. It has got a hood, but it’s removable. Find out more here.

These are just three of many alternatives – you can find all the textiles we’ve tested here and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.

Furygan Icetrack review: Verdict

I do like this jacket for the fact that it’s an AA-rated jacket that’s comfortable, has well-implemented armour and it looks great on and off the bike.

While it does keep you dry, there are better waterproof jackets out there, and remember that this is not what most people would consider ‘laminated’. My problem with the Furygan Icetrack is that the warmth means it’s more suited to spring, autumn and light winter use – times you’d be more likely to want the waterproofing to be worthwhile.

Keep in mind that it’s not an all-weather commuter jacket, and that you might run hot in the summer, and there’s still plenty going for it. If it suits your circumstances, then do check it out as it certainly looks great, and at least it doesn’t have a hood!