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review

Giro Wind Jacket

6
£79.99

VERDICT:

6
10
Super-light and comfortable extra layer, but only really useful in the dry
Weight: 
87g
Contact: 

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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. 

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

Giro Wind Jacket - on bike

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.

Giro Wind Jacket - packed

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.

Giro Wind Jacket - back

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.

Giro Wind Jacket - zip

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

road.cc test report

Make and model: Giro Wind Jacket

Size tested: Medium, Blue Jewel

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Giro says: "The Men's Wind Jacket is an easy-to-stow, lightweight jacket for quick protection. It's made to pack down easily, so you can easily stash it in your pocket as the temperature changes or as you climb and descend. The Wind Jacket's low-profile design benefits from subtle details like clean-finished seams. Perhaps our favorite feature – the vented back panel keep this piece comfortable as the speeds drop and the road tilts up."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

100% Nylon Rip-Stop, 15 Denier, Water / Wind Resistant, Stretch Elastic Hem, Vented Back Panel, Reflective Piping

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
6/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
9/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Its range of uses is a bit limited but it's good as an extra layer on drier days.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Fit is good, fabric isn't flappy.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Needs to be more waterproof.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes, and no.

Would you consider buying the product? Probably I'd go for something a bit more versatile.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Probably not.

Use this box to explain your score

It's a well-fitted and supremely stowable outer layer but the lack of water resistance means it's limited in application.

Overall rating: 6/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 189cm  Weight: 92kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Kinesis Tripster ATR, Kinesis Aithein

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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