I run pretty hot when working, so I don't wear a ton, which means I chill quickly when stopped for anything more than a couple of minutes. Even with a waterproof or softshell (Montane Dyno) on top to block the wind. I'm also prone to cold hands and feet which won't warm back up once cooled, and keeping my core warm all the time is an important part of avoiding that.
So I'd like some insulation, probably for static use mostly - breaks for food/rest, admiring the view, mechanicals/emergencies etc. I'm wondering if an insulated gilet rather than jacket would suit, while being a more versatile (under a shell) and packable piece I'd be more likely to always take with me even in the hip pack. Never had a gilet before.
I've read a couple of old threads and it's probably down to: general outdoor gilet, bike-specific gilet (insulated front only), or a general outdoor jacket (Montane Prism type). And then probably PrimaLoft for the static use requirement rather than Polartec Alpha; I have one of those for hiking, I want warmer than that. Although who knows how I end up using it.
What type or specific items do you recommend, STW? Thanks in advance.
I bought a down one very cheap from tk maxx as a just in case layer. It it unbelievably hot when riding. It also turned into a soggy mess, which wasn't a huge surprise.
Today I was out in a galtier one, the previous version of this.
https://www.galibier.cc/product/izoard-pro/
I was cooking in 4 degrees much to my mates amusement.
Lightish, much warmer than I expected, drys fast, black or orange for road/ off road.
It just fits in a big jacket pocket, I recon I would fit in my hip pack.
Down sides, the zip failed and I was too lazy to send it back and sewed a new one myself. I would have been easier to send it back.
honestly, Decathlon kit is great VFM
The one I have packs to its own pocket, but I have a smaller bag that it'll fit into if you squeeze it down.
I would forget the gilet and go for a lightweight Primaloft or similar synthetic jacket with a hood. You lose a surprising amount of heat from your arms, which makes gilets disappointing ime. And you don’t save that much weight by not having sleeves. YMMV but that’s my experience.
I've got the Galibier one - lives in a frame bag and is very handy for al fresco cafe stops or while fixing mechanicals. Too warm to ride in.
The mavic allroad insulated gilet is one of my absolute favourite bits of kit, pretty much from ‘grabbing out of the cupboard on an unexpectedly chilly September morning for the wait at the start of the ride’ through ‘over a fleecy jersey for cold weather’ to ‘passing between soaking, freezing friends in a cafe for 10 minutes at a time warming up’.
That middle case is what i use it for most- I find a roubaix type jersey and the gilet to be about equivalent use to a decent softshell, but with slightly different strengths. If it’s all windchill you want the softshell on your arms, but otherwise the gilet keeps your core comfy while allowing your arms to breathe better.
Standard version of that Galibier Izoard could be an option. Insulated front and back. They even have a photo of its size when rolled up.
It's the size rather than weight that interests me - for an useful amount of insulation I'd need something like a Prism (40gsm), which would take up my entire hip pack, so leaving me to choose between not taking it or taking a backpack. If it's seriously cold I'll be taking a backpack with one of my hiking jackets. So I do fancy trying a gilet to see how it works for this scenario.
Galibier Izoard - "Active Sport" 40gsm
Endura MT500 Freezing Point - PrimaLoft Gold front-only, unspecified density but 150g total. Expensive for an experiment.
I'm using the OMM Rotor vest (gilet) here
Packs very, very small (easily goes in Gabba pocket) and weighs ~130g. I used it throughout last years lockdown cafe stops which had me standing in the street at -8°C on one day. Obviously you can get warmer/thicker, jackets, hoods etc but for minimal weight and bulk with just enough insulation they're hard to beat.
Hard to beat the Decathlon Forclaz 100 gillet. I've got 5 synthetic insulated gillets.. and the Decathlon is pretty much as good as any of them at a fraction of the price. But I use them for long wet or cold, steady rides. For stopping and staying warm BWD has it, I'd get a 60gsm jacket with a hood like the Montane Prism or Decathlon Forclaz.
I came here to say the Forclaz 100 only to see I'd been beaten multiple times over.
I’ve got a Patagonia insulated gilet that I got about 15 years ago in Chamomix (necessity purchase for some cold snowboarding days!) It was pricey even at the time but honestly looks as good as new and gets hammered over the winter. Perfect for biking either over the top or under a waterproof if it really is minging out. Be surprised if it doesn’t have at least another 10-15 years left. Good price per wear!
EDIT: it’s a synthetic gilet which is perfect for chucking in the wash and also keeping warm when damp.
jameso
Full Member
Hard to beat the Decathlon Forclaz 100 gillet.
i have one of these, jameso told me about it. it is ace.
Decided against the gilet experiment, thanks for your advice.
"Stopping and staying warm" - yes, this is the key. A gilet as a single insulated layer carried for this purpose may be a bit of a token item I think, especially for MTB. Especially one that isn't insulated all-round.
Even with the super-compact OMM one, I wouldn't have enough room in my hip pack for all the other stuff I should be taking with me on a ride where I felt the need to take such a layer.
I disagree, TBH. Mine's not for riding in - wear the right kit for that - but f you know you've got a stop somewhere, or even for coverage for an unintended stop if it rolls small enough just carry it for that. Has turned a potentially cold mechanical repair stop into a bearable experience several times.
This isn't what you asked for, but I recently impulse-purchased this badboy...
Tested it a couple of times during the recent cold snap and it's brill for riding in temps a couple of degrees above zero and sub-zero (obvs). Shrugs off a bit of drizzle as well.
I'll also be putting it in my backpack when I go up mountains.
Aye. I run hot and never wear insulated clothing whilst actually riding (over and above softshell or some such). The insulated layer is for when you stop and delays the rapid cooldown you get when you stop working. I don't carry enough insulation to hang around for hours in -10°C as it's just too bulky.
Fixing a puncture on a freezing winter day (or standing outside a cafe during winter Covid regs) can get bloody chilly. A pertex windproof or Shakedry (both supa doopa compact) is not enough in this case.
I have a Rapha insulated gillet, obvs not the cheapest being Rapha.
Not used it this year as it's more an autumn piece (for me) and the weather seems to have skipped autumn and just switched straight from summer wear to winter wear overnight.
my OMM rotor gilet fits in my hip pack no problem
I can carry full water bladder, tools, emergency waterproof, gilet, arm warmers, windproof gilet all in there. Tube on the bike. It really does go down small. I will often ride home from the post-ride pub wearing it
The experiment is back on - thanks for persisting with your conflicting opinions and experiences. Ordered the OMM Rotor in both vest and smock forms, promising myself I'm not allowed to keep both.
The vest packs up tiny into its chest pocket. The smock packs up loosely into its kangaroo pocket to form a pillow, so it ends up much bigger, and it'd still be just under 2x the size of the vest if you used a compression sack. So for a hip pack ride (3L) it'd have to be the vest and a waterproof, or just the smock - which it can't be. Both can be pulled over a helmet, but it's quicker and easier just to take it off. Safer too; I wouldn't want to snag the thin fabric on anything.
Just been standing outside wearing various combinations over a long-sleeve jersey, deeply unscientific and unrepresentative, although I did come in to warm up between each go. It's 6deg and a slight breeze. With the vest over or under (better) a light waterproof, my arms immediately feel cold. Not uncomfortable, but noticeable and I was cooling slowly. With just the vest over a jersey, my arms are way colder and I feel cold air in the arm holes with any movement, but this isn't a realistic situation anyway. Felt much cosier in the smock, hardly any difference whether alone or with the waterproof. Could happily stay out in it. All logical and unsurprising stuff.
The partly-insulated gilets mentioned earlier would have been no good.
I like the smock more as a thing, but not for this job. Better a vest with me than a smock not. Still might end up sending both back.
I've the Galibier Iozard Gilet. It packs usefully small, so will go easily in my larger hip pack, and, at a push, my smaller one for shorter, warmer rides. It's useful to have for spring/autumn rides if you need to stop, but wouldn't keep you warm for very long at this time if year. It's also too hot/sweaty to ride in unless its pretty cold and the pace is steady.
TBH, at this time of year, if I'm going to be stopping for any length of time, eg sitting outside for post-ride beers, I'll take a full mid weight down jacket, which again, easily fits into my 6l hip pack.
not what you've asked about but i have a hagloffs LIM jacket. full zip no hood. weighs less than a 200g merino baselayer and goes in my evoc pack along with a windproof, tools, pump and whatnot. it's a lovely thing though how long it will last is anyone's guess as it is so light. i just wrap it up tight in a stuff sack and jam it in the pack. with the shit i usually cart about in there.
I have a Rapha insulated gillet
Been toyong with getting one of these for a while now, thinking good for warm ups, or cold starts…how packable are they?
Casual use around the house etc. I have a Finisterre, love it…
I don't have one of these (yet) but i have plenty of other Victory Chimp kit. Well made, small operation, based in N.Ireland and have always provided great service. Not sure how small it packs down but looks like it would well on and off the bike.
Been toyong with getting one of these for a while now, thinking good for warm ups, or cold starts…how packable are they?
I've got the Polartec Alpha, DHB take on this and it's just about pocketable, but the Rapha one has zoned - ie: less - insulation and packs smaller, so should be better in that regard. If you look at the Rapha productpage, there's a shot of it being stuffed into a pocket.
Alpha's brilliant on the bike, I often use the DHB gilet layered under some sort of shell for additional warmth as well as just over a jersey when it's chilly. Surprisingly warm, but also wicks brilliantly and dries really fast. The DHB version isn't as pretty as the Rapha one, but works well and is significantly cheaper.
Been toyong with getting one of these for a while now, thinking good for warm ups, or cold starts…how packable are they?
I can get it in a jersey pocket (well enough of it in to stay there) once the day warms up. Mine is their Brevet one with the white and pink stripes.
Here you go....
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51751166715_75a311ac10.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51751166715_75a311ac10.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mR5fT6 ]Rapha Brevet Insulated Gilet[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
I always carry ex-Post Office rubber bands for wrapping stuff up before sticking in jersey pockets.
Thanks both, so the Pro Team one currently uses zoned insulation which maybe packs a touch smaller than the Brevet/Polartec...for an extra tenner.
Not a lot in it really.
Pricey though, will see what Christmas brings...
I'm a bit caught between the Forclaz 100 and Izoard Gilets at present I need something for the coming winter months both on and off the bike, packing smaller is a general benefit for Gilets (not having sleeves and all) and working with layering I kind of prefer them to jackets TBH.
I'm currently living in a Forclaz jacket half the time, probably the most useful £50 I've spent recently, but it is a little delicate, I've had to fix a couple of snags already which makes me worry about using the sleeveless version on a bike, does anyone know if the Galibier is anymore robust?
There's only a tenner in it the forclaz is down insulated, the Galibier is synthetic (but also more cycling specific)... Winter is going to be spent riding Gravel and Road bikes mostly for me, but I'd like to wear any Gilet I buy off the bike as well.
Of the two I'm edging towards the Galibier at present, is there any good reason to pop for the decathlon option though?
What about some kind of packable belaying jacket to just throw over the top of whatever you’re wearing when you stop? Then no need to remove the layers you’re already wearing.
I’ve got an old down jacket (can’t remember the brand as it’s a hand me down from an uncle and about 40 years old (I’ve had it for over 20!) I think it might be an old TNF one. I don’t care if it gets filthy as it’s been patched numerous times, emptied, cleaned and refilled more than once and cover in Tenacious Tape. Fits in a back pack on cold days. They’re are plenty of other non-down options, my wife has a TanF Primaloft jacket that’s basically like wearing an oven, but packs to almost nothing and works better when wet)
If it’s for occasional use then there are plenty of decent cheap ones (Decathlon are always pretty good), but if you’re going to use it a lot and want it for years then investing in something like Patagonia or a long lasting brand might be more cost efficient.
What about some kind of packable belaying jacket to just throw over the top of whatever you’re wearing when you stop? Then no need to remove the layers you’re already wearing.
Someone had a down jacket on their winter bike's rack on yesterday's ride. It managed to escape and bounce down the road...
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51751150634_b1b994d18d.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51751150634_b1b994d18d.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2mR5b6Q ]Dave and his bag of shame[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
If it’s really cold enough for a winter jacket I tend to facet a small(ish) hydration pack/rucksack over pockets/bumbag/on the bike storage. If it’s just a short ride that doesn’t need extra warm kit then it’s just LS thermal, tech T/jersey, soft shell and pop the few bits of kit I need in pockets/frame.
@zerocool The point is I don't want another Jacket, I have jackets, I tend to overheat a bit in them until it's really cold. Where as a Gilet can just keep your core warm, supplemented with arm warmers/LS base/LS jerseys, be opened up if temperatures go up a bit, or stripped off entirely and stuffed in a back pocket (I don't like riding with a backpack). It's ideal if you set off early and find morning temperatures climbing by 10 degrees or more, which happens.
And it's very much a seasonal thing, I've a lightweight Gilet for Spring/Autumn so the insulated one will be mainly for Winter... Spending a fortune on posher winter kit that's not going to see lots of use every year is a bit of a waste for me.
Plus I've been out riding with "Jacket-man" before, He's always well equipped for all the temperatures apart from the specific one's you are encountering that particular day; stopping to remove an overheating jacket and then again later because he's now too cold, can become tiresome...
There’s only a tenner in it the forclaz is down insulated, the Galibier is synthetic (but also more cycling specific)… Winter is going to be spent riding Gravel and Road bikes mostly for me, but I’d like to wear any Gilet I buy off the bike as well.
The Forclaz gilet I have is synthetic. I think they have a few versions.
Great thing about gilets is doubling them up with a jacket when you stop. Double Primaloft. Also useful for cold, wet alpine descents.
Sorry, I must have misread your original post, I thought you were after something to bung in once you stopped for a bit, not to ride in. My bad.
Down is lighter and packs away smaller, synthetic works better when wet but compressing kills it quicker, it’s heavier and doesn’t pack as small.
I’ve got a down RAB gillet that I’ve used for biking (road) and mountaineering and still going strong after years (it’s not bike specific and is worn when I stop or bumbling to/from the pub. It’s over 10 years old and been used hard. My synthetic one has died in that time as they don’t like being squashed as much and have a much shorter product life
Of the two I’m edging towards the Galibier at present, is there any good reason to pop for the decathlon option though?
If you wanted insulation on the sides. None on the Galibier.
Guy showing round his Galibier Izoard: