Campagnolo Gironde Windproof Thermo 50/50 Jacket

The Gironde comes from Campagnolo's Heritage range, home to clothing that has a classic look to it rather than using traditional fabrics. There is a little bit of wool in the Heritage lineup but this jersey is all synthetic - polyester, polyurethane and elastane.

Campagnolo describe this as both a jacket and a jersey, and it actually inhabits the ground where they meet. You could make a case for it being either in that you could wear it on top of just a base layer or on top of a base layer and a jersey. It's not that important what you call it, admittedly, but just so you know where we're at.

So what do you get here? The entire front, the upper-side of the arms, the neck and the yoke are all made from Campagnolo's Textran Thermo fabric. The main features of Textran Thermo are that it's windproof and waterproof. It's also surprisingly stretchy - both crossways and up-and-down - and pretty breathable too.

To me, being windproof is the key one. Keeping the cold air out is what it's all about in winter, and this top does that well while still letting a lot of that sweaty vapour you produce escape. The Textran Thermo isn't as breathable as a non-windproof jersey fabric so you wouldn't want to wear this in warmer temperatures or you will get sweaty, although you can always open the front zip if things do start getting too hot and humid. You get a big, textured zip pull that's easy to grab even in chunky gloves and it locks in place wherever you position it.

The fabric has a Polygiene natural silver salt treatment that combats bacteria and bad odours. I'm pretty skeptical about many antimicrobial treatments but this one seems to work well. You're never going to smell shower-fresh at the end of a big ride but this top stays surprisingly niff-free. Well, you know... it's all relative.

The less exposed sections on the underside of the arms and the back aren't windproof, they're a fleecy polyester. These panels are even more stretchy than the Textran and more breathable too so more of that damp air can escape out.

The cut is slim and there's enough give in the fabrics that you won't feel constricted by a close fit. Soft and stretchy cuffs ensure no cold air gets up the sleeves and there are three deep pockets in the lower back - standard issue stuff - with an internal pocket inside one that'll take a phone, iPod, wallet or whatever. A silicone gripper inside the elasticated waist helps hold the back in place while the reflective stripe on the outside is really noticeable at night.

Verdict

Warm and stylish windproof jersey/jacket for winter -but not cheap