Galibier Ultra Rain Jacket review – impressively breathable and impressively priced

The Galibier Ultra Rain Jacket is very protective and impressively breathable for such a rugged-feeling coat. It’s comfortable, looks good and the price is great. There’s really very little to dislike here.

The rainy days were mild or even actively warm for a lot of this test, and yet the relatively chunky Ultra did very well. Galibier recommends a range of 3-20°C, and I’d say that’s fair.

While I certainly got sweaty when riding hard in 19-20°C air, the Ultra never got into that seemingly exponential temperature rise where you just have to stop and take it off. Being able to leave it on whatever the sky does, without feeling like you’re being boiled, makes it very usable.

Given that 20°C is almost too warm to make any waterproof worthwhile – realistically you’re choosing between getting wet from the inside or the outside – the relatively bulky, three layer, ShieldPLUS Ultra fabric is extremely impressive. The breathability claim of 10,000g/m2/24h is easy to believe. It’s also PFAS-free, if you’re PFAS-ed and furious.

There’s a vent across your shoulder blades where the jacket is all but slashed in two, but lean forward to a dropped bar and it pulls shut. Only a more upright position (as on a mountain bike or hybrid) lets the upper part hang open a little.

I was impressed with the breathability even with it sealed, and as the two parts are pinned in the centre to stop them gaping apart, the vent causes no issues whether it’s functioning or not.

For gentler riding, the Ultra is great, but I still found it excellent for strenuous training rides and it really comes into its own when temperatures dip into single figures.

The sizing is accurate and the fit – described by Galibier as ‘Standard’ – is roomy enough for winter layers. I fell right between medium and large on the chart, and found the large a good fit bar some flapping around the shoulders at speed in the rain (the fabric seems stiffer and less flappy when it’s dry). I think a medium would have improved, if not totally eliminated, that flapping, but this is clearly not designed as a race or even especially slim fit. It’s not super aero, but it’s not like wearing a spinnaker either.

The tall collar is excellent for wind protection and stopping unpleasant drips, and while there’s no zip garage, I had no issues with comfort. The YKK Vislon Aquaguard zip is two-way for easy ventilation and jersey pocket access – this has no pockets of its own – and the main zipper has a nice big reflective puller that’s easy to find in gloves.

The hem seals with elastic and a line of silicone gripper, and that (along with the fabric’s weight) keeps it firmly in place. I particularly like the flap of rubbery fabric that hangs down over your bum, as it does an excellent job of shielding spray while being stealthy enough in black to not make the whole jacket look weird.

The (non-rubbery) black stretchy cuffs create a nice slim interface with your gloves and seal out drafts really well. The Ultra is not an especially slim bundle once you take it off, however, and it has no stuff pocket of its own. It will jam into a bulging jersey pocket at least, and Galibier includes a branded elastic loop to cinch it with.

The stitching everywhere is neat and feels strong, while the seams are all taped for effective waterproofing (claimed at a very worthwhile 10,000mm water column, and again easily believable).

I personally really like the bright orange as it’s very visible without being the usual hi-vis yellow, though it’s a shame there aren’t any other colours if you don’t like it. Perhaps the lack of options is part of what keeps the price low.

Value

At £89, the Ultra is considerably cheaper than the majority of rain jackets we review. At the time of writing, the average price across the first page of our archive was £192 and the only other options with two-figure prices were both from Galibier.

That’s not to say there aren’t some excellent alternatives though. If you just want emergency protection to pack on every ride, the Castelli Squall Shell Jacket is £130 and very light at 87g. It’s not fully waterproof in prolonged rain, but it’s still very usefully protective and dries quickly.

For more serious waterproofing, there’s the Altura Nightvision Storm Men’s Waterproof Jacket, which is heavier and not as breathable, but really good for cold days, commuting and town use. It’s not too much more than the Ultra at £100.

If you want everything, you can do worse (and pay much more) than the Lusso Perform HardRain Jacket. It’s £180 and has excellent waterproofing and breathability, plus a great stretchy fit for serious (if not aero-obsessed) riding. It’s twice the price of the Ultra, but arguably more versatile and entirely worth the money.

> How to choose the right waterproof cycling jacket — stay dry and keep riding whatever the weather

Overall

This keeps you very snug against wind and rain thanks to its excellent fabric, comprehensive coverage and comfortable fit. Meanwhile its impressive breathability makes it useful even while working hard in very warm conditions – sure, it gets sweaty at such extremes, but never so uncomfortably hot you have to stop. In more typical winter temperatures it just does a great job all round, and for a very attractive price indeed.