Winter riding jacket recommendations please

With a gravelly/roadie leaning, I haven’t ridden the MTB in a couple of years.

Ive just been given £200 to be spent on winter cycling clothing, receipts to be shown. I had a pleasant ride on Sunday and was wearing a ten year old base layer, a 15 year old Endura MT500 and a Karrimor Vail pertex on top so that gives you an idea of how old my kit is.

Googling suggests Gabba is a thing I need, or even warmer, I’m quite nesh.

So Castelli Perfetto or Alpha? What would equivalent be from other manufacturers? Size wise, I’m 6’2” and 44” chest so large in UK and xxxxxxxxxxxxxxl in Italian?

Cheers all.

I can’t compare it to the Castelli equivalent but I have a couple of the Galibier Mistral jackets. I’m really pleased with them (and then matching Mistral bib tights).

https://www.galibier.cc/product/mistral-5-foul-weather-cycling-jacket/

With that much budget, you could get a whole outfit from Galibier!

I’m more MTB, but would wear the same on the gravel bike

I was always a fan of the old Endura Stealth softshell (which I still have), but it’s a bit tired. So I’ve replaced it with an Endura Singletrack. I’ve not actually used it yet, but it’s very similar. Perfect for when it’s in single digit temps and not pissing it down

Endura Singletrack

Ive just been given £200 to be spent on winter cycling clothing, receipts to be shown

I’m presuming it’s work related, otherwise seems a bit odd lol

The Galibier kit looks nice, shame they don’t have non bib trousers/tights, I find modern shorts worn tight don’t need them on me, so I’ve mostly ditched them for convenience. I could do full kit at their prices though.

Decathlon Endurance range are looking pretty good too.

The Endura jacket doesn’t have back pockets which I’m a convert to when the jacket stays on for the whole ride, rather than an added layer for cold spells. My old MT500 jersey has served me well with the windproof panels and lighter side panels.

I much prefer a softshell over a base layer to a water/windproof over normal riding kit for winter rides and also went for a Galibier Mistral, honestly I think it’s the best value piece of riding kit that I own.

Rab cinder Borealis.

7mesh CoPilot or Rebellion, currently about £200 in their sale.

7mesh.com

185cm/76kg and I fit a large Perfetto with 1 layer underneath but only just.

Thermal base layers work well with it. Even so, less than about 8 degrees I probably wear something else. Depending on ride duration/intensity.

Tried a rapha pro team thermal jersey but the fit was odd for me. Less than 200 if you can get a code. Near enough the same fabric as the perfetto. There is also the rapha winter jacket but its well over 200. It looks like the same fabric again.

Mrs Llama has a Beihler deep winter jacket which is really nice but needs to be cold

For non-mountain bike, I find the Gabba really good – I’m not 100% sure how it relates to the Perfetto, they’re very similar, the missus has a Perfetto and it seems pretty much the same. Bear in mind though, that it has very limited actual insulation value – basically it’s just stretchy windproof and very water-resistant fabric with minimal backer – so you’ll beed to factor in something underneath. If it’s proper cold, I wear a Polartec Alpha gilet. It’s also more race than relaxed fit and has small panels of non-Gabba fabric, which improve venting/cooling/breathability, but make it outright less warm. Works best when you’re working quite hard I think, but it’s subjective.

If you want warmer, something with some sort of thermal lining – Polartec Alpha is great but expensive and not that easy to find – but an all-in-one insulated/shell is always going to be less versatile than layering stuff.

I got a Perfetto convertible last year and it’s been great. Have used it in its short sleeved guise (so as per a Gabba) quite a lot too. A couple of zips on the front means you can regulate temp nicely.

https://www.assosoutlet.com/gb/mille-gt-winter-jacket-evo-11-30-363-18.html

Bought one of these recently but been too warm to try it. Probably cool and wet enough next week for it’s maiden journey. Looks very nicely made. Similar size to you in a 2XL.

Victory Chimp winter jacket, super warm and also waterproof.

Men's Signature 2-in-1 Winter Jacket (Teal)

Is Victory Chimp some reference that I’m not cool enough to understand, because wearing that on my chest would give me the ick. The jackets look good otherwise.

I think I’m going to get a Rab MTB Borealis jacket to replace my now knackered 7mesh Northwoods but then I run hot. If I was wanting a warmer jacket then I’d get the Rab Vapour Rise MTB jacket, as modeled here:

Rab Cinder Vapour Rise Jacket Review

Rab really does make plenty of variations of jackets, but I’m not sure how you’d know which would suit best unless you try them all.

Castelli Alpha Doppio. Just got to be patient and they always come on offer eventually.

I use the fox defend trousers and jacket. Banging kit. https://contour-cycles.myshopify.com/

I got a discount code too if wanted

UKBS2024Q4TD