The Galibier Izoard Insulated Reversible Gilet is a warm, practical winter layer that blends lightweight insulation and decent wind protection with a useful reversible design. Not everything about the design works well when reversed, but given the price and its basic performance, its niggles are easy to overlook.
The Izoard uses a high-denier recycled nylon outer shell for a good level of wind resistance, and a DWR coating helps it keep road spray and light showers at bay. Note that it’s only on one side, though – the ‘Beetroot’ side here.
Beneath it you’ll find recycled synthetic insulation (35g/m² ActiveSport), which is warm without making this feel heavy or too bulky. Being synthetic it stays warm if it gets damp, too, and the side panels are Super-Roubaix stretch fabric for a comfy close fit and increased breathability.
One of the key features of the Izoard is its reversible construction, which gives you two looks and slightly different use cases in one garment.
The ‘Beetroot’ side looks quite casual with its quilted section and stylish colour choice, while flipping it gives you a smooth-faced ‘Forest’ colour that looks more grey than green to me. The contrast zip is a nice touch.
I actually tested the Black/Aqua version, which looks good too in a very bright blue on the inner and black on the outside. I’ll get to the issues with that in a moment.
Where the Izoard really excels is in cold, changeable conditions. The insulation keeps the core warm without feeling stifling, which is important as effort levels rise and fall during winter riding.
Wind protection is good, and the water-repellent finish helps when roads are damp or there’s rain in the air. It’s not a rain layer, but it adds a useful bit of weather protection compared to lighter gilets.
The pocket setup is interesting. First off, there is a large pocket at the back which can be accessed from the left and right via zips, but only when you’re wearing it quilted side (the official outer with DWR) out. It’s a shame they couldn’t engineer access from both sides.
The chest pocket, meanwhile, appears on both sides, and they’re handy for small items like phones, keys, or a wallet. Galibier maybe missed a trick by not making these double as stuff sacks; I can just about get the gilet in, but can’t get it zipped up, which seems like a missed opportunity.
There is reflective detailing down the rear seams and the zip at the front, but again it’s only on one side (the quilted outer).
So if you want the cycle-specific features – the DWR coating, pocket access and reflective detailing – you can only wear this one way out. With the version pictured the result is reasonably colourful for visibility in traffic, but with the Black/Aqua version I tested, you’re stuck with black. That will suit riders who like the stealth look, but the very bright blue side might well be wasted on them, just as it (and the Forest colour above) is wasted as a true cycling option. Ideally both sides of this reversible jacket would be ‘outsides’.
Value
Despite the niggles, at £56.25 it’s an absolute steal. It’s competing with the likes of the BodyLite Gear NightVision Gilet which is more expensive for 2026 at £69.55 (and now called the BodyLight NightViz Gilet). It wasn’t well-liked by Stu however due to it’s non-cycling specific design and lack of reflective areas.
Perhaps a better comparison is the Vulpine Men’s Ultralight Quilted Gilet, which is pretty casual-looking but in terms of practical elements is similarly showerproof, windproof and warm. It’s almost twice the price at £100, though.
Overall
This is a versatile, well-priced and well thought-out winter layer, with the exception perhaps of Galibier flipping which side is light/dark between models. Its effective insulation and (mostly) practical design make it a very useful piece of kit when temperatures drop. Galibier could do more to make this truly double-sided, but given its fundamental effectiveness at keeping you warm at a very tempting price, it’s hard to complain too much.
Test Report
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
Galibier says it’s: “An insulated gilet delivering serious warmth in a feather-light, stylish package.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
Reversible design recycled inner (Aqua or forest) and DWR-coated outer shell (Black or beetroot).
Stretchy Super-Roubaix side panels (87% polyester, 13% spandex, 220-230g).
35g Active Sport Insulation for optimum warmth.
Enhanced visibility with 3M reflective band on the rear.
Machine-wash safe.
Capacious rear pocket with dual-sided access.
Chest security pocket and high neck collar for added protection.
Sturdy construction with 4-needle double stitching.
Any further comments on quality?:
A well-made piece of kit, I particularly like the stretchy side panels.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
It’s at the lower end of the scale, especially for its performance and features.
Any further comments on comfort?:
Warm and unrestrictive.
Any comments on sizing? Did it size up too big or too small?:
Sizes up as it should.
Any issues with durability?:
None.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?:
No issues.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
This is warm, windproof and the price is great. Making bike-specific elements such as reflectives and pockets only accessible from the least bike-specific-looking side is a bit odd, but it’s hard to complain too much given the value.
About the tester
Age: 38Height: 182cmWeight: kg
I usually ride: Orro VenturiMy best bike is: Specialized Diverge
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 yearsI ride: A few times a weekI would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: Gravel riding, Commuting, Club riding, Sportives, Fitness riding, Leisure riding
1 thought on “Galibier Izoard Insulated Reversible Gilet”
I have an older version in black and orange. Must be 10 year old and still going strong.