The Albion Ultralight Insulated Jacket is a minimalist, sub-100g jacket designed to enhance warmth and weather protection during rides. While it isn’t waterproof, it punches well above its weight, providing excellent insulation and offering a small packed size that makes it easy to carry on changeable-weather rides.
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Albion Ultralight Insulated Jacket – Technical Details
Albion has clearly pushed the boundaries of eco-conscious fabric choices with the Ultralight Insulated Jacket. The main fabric is made from 100% recycled nylon, while the thin Clo Vivo Performance insulation layer consists of 93% recycled polyester derived from single-use plastic bottles. Despite its thin profile, the insulation offers surprising warmth, defying expectations based on appearance and feel alone.
Although the fabric isn’t waterproof, it is windproof and includes a wind-blocking strip behind the zip, preventing draughts.
The jacket is available in seven sizes, ranging from XXS to XXL, accommodating chest measurements from 73cm to 117cm (29 to 46 inches). With no stretch in the fabric, selecting the correct size is crucial.
Two colour options are available: Burnt Orange, which was tested, and Graphite, a near-black shade. Both feature minimal reflectivity, limited to the Albion logo on the back.
Albion Ultralight Insulated Jacket – Performance
During testing, I wore the jacket over a jersey and base layer, which I expect is standard for most riders. Off the bike, its design—featuring a raised front and a long, dropped tail—ensures it clears jersey pockets, even when fully loaded. The lack of stretch in the fabric reinforces the importance of choosing the correct size. I opted for the upper limit of the XS size, and as Albion claims, the sizing is true to size when worn over a jersey and base layer.
Due to the thinness of the material and the slim fit, care is needed when putting the jacket on. Removing it can also be tricky and occasionally frustrating. The cuffs lack elasticity, making it challenging to take off, especially while riding or wearing winter gloves. Often, turning the sleeves inside out proved the simplest method. Additionally, the fabric’s minimal thickness sometimes caused it to snag in the zip, and there was slight fraying along the inside stitching where it attaches to the zip.
The jacket doesn’t include an integrated pocket for packing but compresses to roughly the size of a tennis ball. It fits into most jersey pockets or, when paired with other Albion garments, can be stowed in the side-access pockets of the three-season bib tights, winter bib tights, or Traverse jersey. Despite its small size, the jacket provides remarkable insulation, making it ideal for rides with fluctuating temperatures.
I wore it during autumnal rides and milder winter days, often expecting to remove it but found its breathability and the double-zip feature—allowing for added airflow—kept me comfortable enough to leave it on.
The double zip is particularly practical, offering easier access to rear jersey pockets in addition to regulating airflow. Both zips feature cord pullers, long enough to use with gloves, and have different colours to make them easier to differentiate.
Insulation is strategically placed on the upper chest and arms, targeting areas where warmth is most needed. This design minimises bulk and weight while maximising effectiveness. Pull cords on each side of the jacket adjust the fit, reducing fabric movement, though the jacket occasionally rode up slightly when riding drop-handlebar bikes, particularly around the torso.
While it’s hard to quantify the additional warmth provided, I often wore the jacket with a summer jersey on days between 8°C and 15°C, rather than opting for a thicker autumn or winter jersey. For colder rides, pairing it with an extra layer, such as the Albion All Road Pertex® Rain Shield jacket, proved effective.
Albion Ultralight Insulated Jacket – Verdict
Retailing at £175, the Albion Ultralight Insulated Jacket is undeniably expensive for such a minimalist garment. However, its combination of insulation, packability, and eco-friendly materials sets it apart. Few alternatives offer similar functionality.
For comparison, the Castelli Unlimited Puffy (£250) weighs 205g for a size small and provides more warmth, but it’s less packable and designed more as a standalone garment with integrated pockets. The Gore C5 GWS Thermo (£200) offers similar features but, like the Castelli, is not as compact or lightweight as the Albion jacket.
While not perfect—its narrow cuffs are a particular frustration—the Albion Ultralight Insulated Jacket excels as an ultra-light insulating layer for changeable conditions. Whether you’re tackling ultra-endurance events or simply need a high-performance layer for variable weather, it’s a worthwhile addition to your wardrobe.
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