Giro Wind Jacket

Giro's Wind Jacket is a very effective and very stowable outer layer that's good as an extra buffer on cold mornings or to keep the chill off at a cafe stop. It doesn't really live up to its water resistant claims, though, which makes it less useful as a winter wardrobe item in damp UK conditions.

The Wind Jacket is constructed from a super-thin 15 denier ripstop nylon fabric. Some ripstops can be quite scrunchy and noisy in the wind, but the fabric Giro has used here has a very soft feel. That, combined with a sensibly close fit all round, means that you don't get any noisy billowing and flapping of the jacket when you're going fast, which is a definite bonus. 

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

The sleeves are a good length and the back is slightly dropped for better coverage in a race position.

The fabric has a good level of wind resistance for its thickness and makes a noticeable difference on a cold morning, keeping the chill off until you're warmed up and ready to ditch a layer. At that point you'll be glad of the Wind Jacket's packability. It stuffs into its own captive stuff sack in no time and once in barely takes up half a jersey pocket. It's tiny, and at less than 100g it's super-light as well.

If you don't want to take the Wind Jacket off you still won't overheat as there's a full-length vented panel in the back which allows excess heat to escape. Not that the ephemeral-feeling fabric is much of a heat barrier anyway. In spite of its thickness (or lack of it) the jacket seems fairly durable, coming out of scrapes and snags with the odd pull but no major damage.

It's not much use in the rain, though. Giro claims the jacket is 'water resistant' but let's be honest, it's not. Anything heavier than a mild drizzle penetrates pretty quickly, so this isn't really like a race cape that serves as a windproof when you're setting off and an emergency waterproof layer should you need it.

It's really only useful when there's no rain forecast. On those days the quiet fabric and well-considered fit make it a first choice, but £80 is a lot to spend on an outer layer that does half the job of a lightweight waterproof shell for the same kind of money. Something like the Vermarc Extreme Rain is a similar price but a lot more versatile.

> Check out our guide to the best windproof jackets here

That's not to say I didn't enjoy using the Wind Jacket, because I did. It's comfortable and effective on dry, cold days. If you want a jacket just for that then it's a good choice, but most of us need our winter wardrobe to be a little more versatile.

Verdict

Super-light and comfortable extra layer, but only really useful in the dry