Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket

9
£59.30

VERDICT:

9
10
Great waterproofing and impressive breathability, and you can't beat the price
Weight: 
174g
Contact: 

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.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket has an impressive ability to shrug off the heaviest of rain for ages without soaking you from the inside out, and when you don't need it, just stuff it in your rear pocket. There's a bit of a plasticky feel to the fabric, but it works really well.

  • Pros: Good waterproofing; performance cut fits well
  • Cons: Fabric can feel a bit plasticky next to your skin

Using a HydraStop membrane, the Tempest Pro delivers factory results of 9,000mm when it comes to waterproofing; that means it can resist 9,000mm of water from a hydrostatic head (tube of water) before it can't hold any more and it leaks through. In the real world that means heavy rain and downpours.

> Buy this online here

There have been plenty of chances to get out and test it too, especially in prolonged heavy rain. Depending on how heavy it was falling, I could head out for at least three hours without getting drenched, with the rainwater just beading off the surface.

Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket - riding.jpg

To back up the material you are also getting fully taped seams, a stormproof zip, and the collar is pretty tall too, to stop the wind and rain entering.

Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket - chest.jpg

The most impressive thing for me, though, is the breathability. On one of the wet days I'd gone out in a summer baselayer with the dhb Aeron Equinox Thermal jersey over the top; I'd say it was about 8°C. Riding pretty hard for a couple of hours saw me remain comfortable, and although I was warmer than if I was just wearing the jersey on its own, I didn't feel as if I was overheating. I knocked the Galibier's zip down on a couple of the steep hills to keep everything in check, but that was it.

Arriving home, my arms and torso were a little damp from the effort, but I wasn't soaked in sweat and the jersey was dry on both the inside and outside.

When the temperature was in double figures and I knew it was going to be wet for the whole ride, I just went with the short sleeved baselayer to keep me cooler. The only thing I wasn't a fan of was the plasticky feel of the membrane against my skin.

Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket - inside and pouch.jpg

Backing up the performance of the fabric is a very race-orientated cut to the jacket, so when on the bike there is no flapping of excess material in the wind. (It's not me in the photos.)

Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket - back.jpg

The chest and shoulders are cut close to help the aerodynamics.

Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket - shoulders.jpg

The sleeves are cut in such a way that they sit perfectly when you're in the saddle, with the cuffs angled slightly to make sure you have enough fabric on the top to sit over your gloves without interfering underneath with your palms on the bar.

Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket - sleeve.jpg

The tail is dropped a long way compared to the front, which gives you loads of rear end coverage if you are riding without mudguards. The high front removes any excess fabric from flapping around your midriff when crouched over the bar.

Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket - hem.jpg

Sizing is pretty realistic for UK riders, and taking a look at Galibier's size guide will point you in the right direction for which one you need.

There is a large Galibier reflective logo on the back to help you be seen, and a little reflective tag, but being a rain jacket there are no rear pockets. I wouldn't expect any really, though there is a small pocket inside in which you could bung a gel or energy bar.

Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket - tail.jpg

The Tempest Pro is all about being packable, and it comes with its own drawstring bag sewn onto the inside. The jacket will scrunch up into the pouch and fit easily into a jersey pocket, so if the weather is looking a little iffy I'll carry it as a matter of course.

Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket - packed.jpg

There isn't much to it, to be honest, but what there is is put together well and it's nicely finished. All of the seams are double stitched for durability, and when I took a bit of a tumble on the gravel tracks the fabric resisted any damage.

> Buyer's Guide: 29 of the best waterproof cycling jackets

All this makes the £59.30 price tag very competitive. The Endura Pro SL Shell Jacket II is a similar design and offers great waterproofing, but it's not as packable and costs £164.99.

Or how about one of Rapha's offerings? The Pro Team Lightweight Shadow jacket is £200 and the Galibier looks to match it on performance and fit.

Performing as well as those two jackets and smashing them on price shows just how good the Tempest Pro is, and during the test period it has definitely been part of my go-to kit for wet days.

Verdict

Great waterproofing and impressive breathability, and you can't beat the price

road.cc test report

Make and model: Galibier Tempest Pro Jacket

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the jacket 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 says, "Light-weight and packable 'out-of-the-pocket' jacket, that combines technical weatherproofing and great breathability.

"The Tempest jacket provides you with the high level of protection of our Tourmalet jacket but in a lighter, packable construction and still as breathable as ever. Our fabric mill has managed to reduce the thickness of the HydraStop material used in the Tourmalet without reducing its effectiveness. The jacket will take everything that the weather can throw at it and at only 164 grams (large), will fit easily into its own stuff bag and into any jersey pocket.

"As befits a high function garment, the jacket is tailored to be very close fitting with no excess fabric to slow you down. The sleeves are constructed in a three-piece design making them extremely sleek and enhancing the fit. There are taped seams throughout, doubled stitched for durability. A storm proof zip and high collar keeps you protected when the skys open. There is also a wind guard/baffle behind the zip, in addition to a zip garage, which keeps out wind and rain. On the collar a softer cotton material helps prevent any discomfort on the neck.

"High function/High performing- 4 season garment."

It's a very good jacket for keeping out the elements.

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

Galibier lists:

HydraStop membrane

Storm proof zip

Taped seams

Double stitched seams

Packable pocket

Rate the jacket for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the jacket for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the jacket for waterproofing based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for breathability based on the manufacturer's rating:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the jacket for sizing:
 
8/10

Sizing is pretty normal compared to other brands. Just follow Galibier's guide.

Rate the jacket for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the jacket for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the jacket for value:
 
9/10

Compared with many of the others we have tested, like those mentioned in the review, the Galibier is very well priced indeed.

How easy is the jacket to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Follow a 30 degree wash cycle with no fabric softeners and you will have no issues.

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

It's lightweight and packable and keeps the rain out.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the jacket

Excellent breathability.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the jacket

Plasticky feel against the skin and it makes a bit of a scrunchy noise.

Did you enjoy using the jacket? Yes

Would you consider buying the jacket? Yes

Would you recommend the jacket to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's excellent. The material can feel a little weird next to the skin, but you really can't fault its performance.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 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

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

Add new comment

6 comments

Avatar
txortena | 5 years ago
1 like

I got mine yesterday, and did my first "test ride" today. It was still 19 degrees C today where I cycle, and no rain, so I only tested the fit and the breathability  1

The fit is ok. The size guide on their page works only with the chest measurement, but a mail reply from Myles from galibier.cc got me sorted out with the proper size for me. It's not super snug, but that's ok with something that you would wear over other stuff. Nothing is flapping in this jacket for me. It's comfortable even in the drops. I see only 2 fit downsides: 1) It bunches up a bit around the shoulders and neck (also visible in one of the photos above). 2) With a lot of stuff in the pockets of the jersey underneath, the "rear flap" lost a lot of its coverage. Those are acceptable for me personally.

As I said, I was riding in 19 deg C, going easy, mostly downhill sections, flat, and short climbs, not doing any big climbs, with a summer baselayer and simple long sleeve jersey underneath. I got a bit sweaty and stuffy, to the degree that I almost wanted to stop and take off the jacket a couple of times. But this was much better than expected. The jacket wasn't much damp from the inside afterwards. These are clearly not conditions for wearing this garment normally (I wouldn't want to do any big climbs like this) and still it fared well.

The small pack size in the little stuff bag is super practical. Fits in a jersey pocket, with enough to spare to stuff in some gloves too. Clearly something to take along if conditions leave any kind of doubt about the weather.

Really like the blue colour, but took the orange due to visibility concerns. Still the orange look s good enough.

galibier.cc also has the coolest company blog ever, so that's another reason to buy from them.

Avatar
tugglesthegreat | 5 years ago
0 likes

I think you can beat the price. I've got two waterproofs both for about £20 and are great. They are not something I wear that much. As soon as it is dry enought to not wear it, I take it off and it goes back into my rucksack or back pocket.

Avatar
Biggie Smells | 5 years ago
1 like

I’m sorry, but if you have to wear just a base layer under it to stop yourself from overheating it’s clearly not breathable (like 90% of so called waterproof cycling jackets). I'm in no doubt that you'll sweat like Pavarotti in a cake shop in one of these . As for the fabric not flapping – file under ‘buttery smooth’ and ‘modulate’ – it’s just stock journalist lingo. I'd bet a C64 that the fabric flaps in the wind.

 

 

Avatar
Freddy56 replied to Biggie Smells | 5 years ago
1 like
Jimmy Walnuts wrote:

I’m sorry, but if you have to wear just a base layer under it to stop yourself from overheating it’s clearly not breathable (like 90% of so called waterproof cycling jackets). I'm in no doubt that you'll sweat like Pavarotti in a cake shop in one of these . As for the fabric not flapping – file under ‘buttery smooth’ and ‘modulate’ – it’s just stock journalist lingo. I'd bet a C64 that the fabric flaps in the wind.

 

 

Trust the reviewer Jimmy! I am coming off a Castelli Superleggera which was as packable but not as breathable. I crashed in the RideLondon (my fault) and ripped that, I bought this and used it pretty much weekly on a fast commute home and delighted. I dont think any jacket is full of magic beans, but this is as good as I have used. 

Avatar
notonthis | 5 years ago
1 like

Picked up one of these at the Cycle Show. Great piece of kit and at a fair price. 

Avatar
bobbinogs | 5 years ago
0 likes

Looks to be a good VFM option but I don't think I would describe that as a race cut, looks somewhat generous around the torso.  Probably extends the appeal though.

Latest Comments