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review

Galibier Colombiere Training Jacket

8
£77.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Very warm, well fitting, hardwearing training jacket; could do with a splash of colour
Weight: 
443g
Contact: 
www.galibier.cc

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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The Colombiere Defense jacket is part of Galibier's cold weather range and is designed to repel the wind on those long base mile training rides throughout the winter.

According to Galibier's website the Colombiere jacket takes its name from the "Alpine climb of which the last kilometres seem to be perpetually into a headwind". I can't confirm or deny having never ridden said climb but you can see their logic for a windproof jacket.

Some of the front facing panels and the arms are made from Shield Pro material which feels kind of like a softshell fabric. This is used as the main wind blocker on the body parts which are exposed as you are riding. It certainly does a good job of keeping the breeze out especially on those days with really icy winds that cut right through you. It'll stand up pretty well to the odd shower too with the ability to repel rain and drizzle for half an hour or so before the fabric is overwhelmed.

Galibier quote a useable range of 3-13°C which is bang on at the top end at least. The Colombiere does run warm and with just a mesh baselayer on I was sweating at 15°C. Going lower into freezing temperatures wasn't an issue with a thicker base underneath.

The rear panel uses a Super Roubaix material which is four-way stretch and is much more breathable than the Shield Pro, venting a lot of your body heat. When you stop on a cold day you can actually see heat vapour escaping from the panel. It uses the same material under the chest panels as well for the same effect.

The cut feels a little odd when you first put the Galibier on as the front is very short but this turned out to be the 'Diaphragm cut' which stops any bunching at the front and it is very comfortable when you are actually in the saddle. You get a decent height neck and extended cuffs to keep the drafts out and in terms of fit you can see the Galibier has had a lot of thought go into it. The sizing chart on the website seems pretty true as the medium tested is perfect for my 38-inch chest.

I'm not totally against black kit; I've got a fair bit myself but I do think an item of clothing that is most likely to be worn on grey days should have a bit of colour splashed about on it just to catch the eye of others. If you're wearing the Galibier in the dark though you will be very well lit up as there is a fair amount of reflective on show. All the Galibier logos front and rear are reflective plus there is a large mountain motif on the lower pocket which coupled with the pocket linings makes for good visibility.

You want easy access to pockets in the cold as you don't want to be stopping for too long and the three on the Defense jacket are pretty much spot on, a decent size to get in with gloves on and plenty deep enough. There is a zipped one for your valuables too.

The £77 tag seems pretty good value for money against some of the other smaller clothing companies on the market. You're getting a decent quality garment here with double stitching and materials that seem to be able to shrug off daily scuffs and scrapes. The fit is well thought out too with performance to match.

Overall it's a very warm training jacket that looks smart and is hardwearing. As I mentioned earlier a bit of colour wouldn't go amiss but that's the only real criticism with the Colombiere as it does everything Galibier set out to achieve.

Verdict

Very warm, well fitting, hardwearing training jacket; could do with a splash of colour.

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Galibier Colombiere Training Jacket

Size tested: Medium, Black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Galibier say "Col de la Colombière , a stunning Alpine climb. Famous in part, because the last brutal kilometres seem to be perpetually into a head wind.

We took this torture as our inspiration for a jacket that will protect the rider from the fiercest elements. We wanted to produce an advanced garment, made from the finest fabrics, to protect in multiple seasons"

They've certainly achieved what they set out to do, the Colombiere is comfortable and completely windproof.

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

Windproof anti-stick zip.

At least 3 meters of Power Shield fabric in each jacket

A zip garage protects the neck from irritation

Each seam and the rear pockets, have 3M reflective trim to increase visibility .

3 high stretch rear pockets

A zipped security pocket provides valuable storage

Silicone waist band keeps the jacket locked in place.

Double stitching throughout.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

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

It is totally windproof with the added feature of some water resistance. It is warm though so if you run hot yourself you'll only need minimal layering.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit and warmth.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The only colour is black.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 35  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Whatever needs testing or Genesis Flyer, fixed of course!  My best bike is: Kinesis T2 with full Centaur Red

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed,

 

John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.

He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.

Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.

John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.

He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.

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4 comments

Avatar
The _Kaner | 9 years ago
2 likes

I recently picked up their Tourmalet shell jacket. Impressed with the quality of the material and workmanship - Large fits perfectly with enough room for a longsleeve jersey underneath. Not bulky/heavy and rolls up well to fit in a rear pocket.

I have a previous softshell jacket from Galibier, but found it fairly stiff (quite overwarm in fact - IME) and restrictive (sized large- but even too small to be considered a UK medium, and the pockets restricted immensely by the reflective 'binding' tape at the top...)

I might have to give this one (Colombiere) a try also...for those that own one, how does the sizing on this measure up to say Endura/Altura..other UK branded/sized cycle wear...?
EDIT: Just received mine and have to say it's a fantastic feeling/quality item for the price. Will now need to go out and use it to assess it's pro's/cons. It looks well designed and the materials used belie it's modest price. On the surface it looks to be a great purchase.
Also, a special mention to Galibier for their excellent customer service.

Avatar
Yorky-M | 9 years ago
1 like

Love this-  3

Avatar
Freddy56 | 9 years ago
1 like

Best £80 I spent this winter. Just a base layer and this Galibier jacket this morning at 4 degrees. Nice fit and the split front panel sits sweet when I'm on the drops. Gotta wonder how outer companies charge double this... For less

Avatar
allgearnoidea | 9 years ago
1 like

Got one of these the other day after getting a voucher code for £30 off with another purchase (gillet) I made - so for £47 I thought this jacket was a bargain.
Im yet to take it out on the bike yet, but it fits great and feels really good quality - I guess time will tell but at less than £50 it's definitely worth a punt.

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