Galibier Colombiere jacket....

terrydel

Anyone got one of these?
I got their winter gloves before Christmas and they are impressive, great value for money too.
Could do with another winter jacket, especially as ours seems to be interminable!
Ive a bicycleline one currently, which I find great, but hard to get it washed and dried regularly with our weather, so a 2nd one would be good.
Any opinions on the Colombiere? Or alternatives, in and around the same price? Not 300euro Castelli stuff please

Sarz91

I have the Columbiere jacket. I believe they've updated it since I bought it. I've found it to be absolutely useless unless you're just plodding along on the bike and putting in no real effort. Every time I use it I end up with soaked sleeves from the sweat. It's disgusting. It keeps you grand and warm for the start of the ride but after an hour in the saddle of even just Z2 you end up soaked.

harringtonp

Sarz91 wrote: »

I have the Columbiere jacket. I believe they've updated it since I bought it. I've found it to be absolutely useless unless you're just plodding along on the bike and putting in no real effort. Every time I use it I end up with soaked sleeves from the sweat. It's disgusting. It keeps you grand and warm for the start of the ride but after an hour in the saddle of even just Z2 you end up soaked.

Have to say that was exactly my experience. Blurb is great, wore it once on a damp cold day. Lots of trapped sweat going cold made me wonder if I'd be better off with it off. Went back to my cheap but very breathable aldi shell after that

Domane

I've got the Galibier Mistral jacket and I love it. Wear it on every ride with just a Galibier base layer under it and I stay nice and toasty but not soaked in sweat. It's also rain proof in even the biggest downpours. They've a new version out shortly called the Mistral II.

kingoffifa

Have the Columbiere. has to be low temperatures or else i suffer from the soaking wet arms too.

its a November to February jacket when you question why you are cycling.

in horrific conditions, its a great jacket. if you run hot at all, it's probably not the jacket for you.

i used it on the commute thru the winter with a light shell for the downpours.
if i didnt make sure to hang it up it would still be wet the next day.

fit was good and the material is rugged. would buy more of their gear at the right price.

paudie2005

Domane wrote: »

I've got the Galibier Mistral jacket and I love it. Wear it on every ride with just a Galibier base layer under it and I stay nice and toasty but not soaked in sweat. It's also rain proof in even the biggest downpours. They've a new version out shortly called the Mistral II.

How do you find the fit? the arms seem very skinny and too tight to get over gloves - or maybe i just got a size too small!

gaffmaster

paudie2005 wrote: »

How do you find the fit? the arms seem very skinny and too tight to get over gloves - or maybe i just got a size too small!

The arms on my Mistral are very tight too. It's a strange cut. The front side is a good deal shorter than the back, and the arms are quite tight. Having said that, it's a great jacket with massive pockets. I don't think I got the wrong size, as the length of the arms is perfect. Like the Colombiere mentioned, I find it can have "hot arms" at times. I wonder if their new Mistral will address this?

paudie2005

gaffmaster wrote: »

The arms on my Mistral are very tight too. It's a strange cut. The front side is a good deal shorter than the back, and the arms are quite tight. Having said that, it's a great jacket with massive pockets. I don't think I got the wrong size, as the length of the arms is perfect. Like the Colombiere mentioned, I find it can have "hot arms" at times. I wonder if their new Mistral will address this?

Hopefully because as you say it's a great jacket otherwise

Sinbad_NI

Got a Parentini Mossa recently. Really really like it. Temp always just seems to be right and waterproof as well which is useful in Ireland!

slow

I have used the Mistral throughout this very wet winter. Raced in it as well. It's the best piece of kit I own (and I include my €250 Assos winter bibtights in that) and is still waterproof after 100 washes.

ballyharpat

slow wrote: »

I have used the Mistral throughout this very wet winter. Raced in it as well. It's the best piece of kit I own (and I include my €250 Assos winter bibtights in that) and is still waterproof after 100 washes.

I agree, the best cycling item I own is the Galibier Mistral, I used it all winter with a base layer and a s/s jersey if it was real cold, still waterproof and adjusts to temperatures somehow, I was out last Saturday and started off in 45deg weather, I hit 30deg along the way at times, my jacket kept me warm and dry through rain, sleet, hail and snow and just unzipped a bit in the sun.

My previous best ever piece of cycling kit was/is an adidas windbreaker that I have nearly 12 years, it will never die and washes great.

mathie

Have the Colombiere and Mistral.
As others have said the Colombiere gets wet internallt if you're any way warm.
Not so with the Mistral.
Also the cuts are different.
I've L in both and the Colombiere feels baggy (especially in the arms) and the Mistral is a far better fit. More a race fit.

I'd go the extra few quid and buy the Mistral, its far superior.

terrydel

Thanks all.
I went with the Colombiere as I got a 16 quid sterling discount from Myles at Galibier, he set me up my own discount code!
I will only use it in the depths of Winter I'd say, when out for 1-2 hours max, so should be fine.
Thanks for all the adivice.

Domane

paudie2005 wrote: »

How do you find the fit? the arms seem very skinny and too tight to get over gloves - or maybe i just got a size too small!

I bought the XXL as it suited my 44inch chest. Fit is perfect on me, nice and snug and so doesn't flap around in the wind. It's cut short at the front so it doesn't bunch up when you are on the hoods or drops. Great jacket that has kept me warm and dry all through the gales and rain of winter.

marvin80

Has anyone bought the Galibier Tourmalet rain jacket? And what do you think of it?

Unknown Soldier

slow wrote: »

I have used the Mistral throughout this very wet winter. Raced in it as well. It's the best piece of kit I own (and I include my €250 Assos winter bibtights in that) and is still waterproof after 100 washes.

It's my best bit of kit also. I have wore it since the Mid of Nov15, and with just various "thickness" of base layers, that is all I have worn over 58 spins covering 1,800kms to date. It's so good I think they have kind of made their winter jacket redundant tbh. I bought one and never used it, sold it on this week.

But I have never had to wash it? It doesn't smell, and trust me if it did my missus would have washed it long ago!
I keep wanting to because I must have too? but it's fine! The one time it got really dirty on a spin I went out the next day thinking I'd wash it that evening but I got rained on so much on that spin that it washed all the dirt off.
I find it interesting you have washed it so much!

Interesting thing about Galibier too..

http://galibier.cc/garment-care-2/

WHAT TO DO WHEN A GALIBIER SOFTSHELL OUTERLAYER STARTS TO ABSORB WATER.
Some Galibier garments like the Mistral have been treated with a durable water-repellant (DWR) finish, which keeps the outer fabric from becoming saturated so that the breathable barrier can do its job. This can wear off over time or if washed incorrectly. If the outer layer, of the 3 layer fabric starts to absorb water, the garment can lose some breathability as well as reducing water proofing. You can rejuvenate the DWR finish by applying a commercially available water-repellent spray-on DWR treatment like Nikwax SoftShell Proof™ We recommend spray-on finishes rather than wash-in finishes as it will effect the moisture management. We can do this for you for free if you return it to us. Our turnaround is 3 days.

G1032

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

It's my best bit of kit also. I have wore it since the Mid of Nov15, and with just various "thickness" of base layers, that is all I have worn over 58 spins covering 1,800kms to date. It's so good I think they have kind of made their winter jacket redundant tbh. I bought one and never used it, sold it on this week.

But I have never had to wash it? It doesn't smell, and trust me if it did my missus would have washed it long ago!
I keep wanting to because I must have too? but it's fine! The one time it got really dirty on a spin I went out the next day thinking I'd wash it that evening but I got rained on so much on that spin that it washed all the dirt off.
I find it interesting you have washed it so much!

Interesting thing about Galibier too..

http://galibier.cc/garment-care-2/

WHAT TO DO WHEN A GALIBIER SOFTSHELL OUTERLAYER STARTS TO ABSORB WATER.
Some Galibier garments like the Mistral have been treated with a durable water-repellant (DWR) finish, which keeps the outer fabric from becoming saturated so that the breathable barrier can do its job. This can wear off over time or if washed incorrectly. If the outer layer, of the 3 layer fabric starts to absorb water, the garment can lose some breathability as well as reducing water proofing. You can rejuvenate the DWR finish by applying a commercially available water-repellent spray-on DWR treatment like Nikwax SoftShell Proof™ We recommend spray-on finishes rather than wash-in finishes as it will effect the moisture management. We can do this for you for free if you return it to us. Our turnaround is 3 days.

Wow. That's a seriously impressive customer service. I'll buy the Mistral ll when it comes out I think. The two garments I have bought from them, a Merino base layer and shoe covers, are great quality.

terrydel

Colombiere jacket arrived today, fits great and very happy with the quality.
Doesnt appear too heavy and as tho you would sweat in it like some have mentioned, but only time will tell.
Anyway, happy with it on first glance.

Sarz91

marvin80 wrote: »

Has anyone bought the Galibier Tourmalet rain jacket? And what do you think of it?

I have the Tourmalet jacket. Great piece of kit. Done about 4000km or so with it (sunny days in Cumbria don't exist). It's just starting to let the water in now a little bit but thats only in torrential rain. Absolutely love it. Not all that breathable but great for keeping the rain out.