Bisley women's FLX & Move hooded softshell jacket

This is a women's softshell jacket built for the shoulder seasons, when the weather can't make up its mind and you want something warmer than a fleece but lighter than a heavy padded coat. The outer is a showerproof fabric with a breathable membrane, so it sheds passing rain without turning into a sweatbox once you're moving. Inside, a bonded fleece face adds a bit of warmth against the skin.

The shape is meant for movement. There's an adjustable sleeve tab with touch tape so you can snug the cuff down, a chin guard zip stopper to keep the zip pull off your throat, and a hood that zips off completely when you don't need it. Bisley quotes a waterproof rating of up to 8,000mm H2O on the fabric, which puts it in showerproof rather than full storm-jacket territory.

Storage is straightforward: two chest pockets and two waist inseam pockets, all with zip closures, and the chest pockets use a waterproof zip. If you want to check the cut and current colour options before ordering, the full product page on Done Right Safety has the detail.

Choosing the right layer

Be clear about what you're asking the jacket to do. A softshell like this sits between a fleece and a hardshell rain jacket: the up to 8,000mm rating means it will handle showers and a bit of drizzle, but it isn't a substitute for a sealed waterproof in sustained heavy rain. If most of your day is cool with the odd shower, it's a good match. If you regularly work through downpours, treat this as a layer rather than your only rain protection.

Getting the fit right

This is cut for women, so order by the size chart on the product page rather than guessing from a men's equivalent. Leave room for a base layer or light fleece underneath, since softshells are designed to layer. Use the adjustable sleeve tabs to close the cuffs against wind, and zip the hood off when you're indoors or wearing a hard hat so it isn't in the way.

Care and looking after it

Follow the care label, since the breathable membrane and bonded fleece face don't love high heat. Keep the waterproof chest zips clean so grit doesn't chew the teeth, and let the jacket dry fully before storing so the fleece face stays fresh. If the showerproofing starts wetting out over time, a reproofing wash made for technical fabrics can help restore beading.

The jackets in the table are genuine like-for-like, same-type products from the Done Right Safety range. Two of them are women's softshells, and one is a women's padded jacket included as a warmer alternative when softshell isn't enough.

If you want showerproofing plus the option to ditch the hood, the Bisley is the obvious pick: it's the only one of the four with a quoted water rating and a zip-off hood. The James Harvest Savannah is the closest women's alternative if water resistance matters less and you plan to add a logo, since its lining opens up for printing and embroidery.

For colder, drier work the James Harvest Arches steps up the warmth with proper polyester padding, though it trades the softshell stretch and showerproofing for insulation. The Biz Collection Geneva is the one to look at if you're kitting out men on the same crew and want a matching fleece-backed softshell.

As a women's softshell, this Bisley covers the brief well. The combination of a breathable membrane, a bonded fleece face and a quoted 8,000mm rating tells you it's aimed at cool, showery conditions rather than storms, and the zip-off hood plus adjustable cuffs add genuine day-to-day flexibility. The four zip pockets, two of them with waterproof zips on the chest, are a practical touch for keeping a phone and keys secure.

What's confirmed on the listing is the fabric type, the water rating, the fleece face, the pocket layout, the detachable hood, the sleeve tabs and the reflective piping. What isn't stated here is the size range, the available colours, or any garment standard, so check the size chart and current colour options on the product page before you order.

One thing to set expectations on: the black reflective piping is a styling and low-light visibility detail, not a hi-vis rating. If your site requires certified high-visibility clothing, confirm the requirement separately, since no visibility standard is listed for this jacket.