Le Col Pro Insulated winter cycling jacket review – Can this lightweight jacket seriously withstand the winter chill?

The Le Col Pro Insulated winter cycling jacket promises to deliver enough warmth to keep the frost bite at bay during your winter rides, without feeling like you’re swaddled in Michelin Man-like layers of heavy fabric. Lightweight, packable and aero optimised – yet windproof, shower resistant and supposedly warm enough for temperatures down to 0°C (32°F). Can this seriously light jacket really stand up to the bitter chill of early February in the UK? Keep reading to get the verdict!

Key features

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Summary: The ‘TL;DR’ overview

Despite initial concerns that I’d be turning around to retreat to the warmth of indoors after 5 minutes, the Le Col Pro Insulated jacket was surprisingly warm, especially considering how lightweight it is. It’s primarily designed for tempo rides/intervals, but so far on steady rides up to an hour it’s still been warm enough (with a base layer underneath) even while sticking to Z2 numbers. It’s close fitting without being restrictive, and unlike other jackets made from ‘rain jacket’ style material, there’s no sign of it flapping around. The only thing that really lets this jacket down is the lack of pockets. Unless you’re commuting/bike-packing and using frame bags or a back pack. You’ll always need to layer up with another jersey to be able to carry your essentials.

First impressions

Honestly? When I first got this cycling jacket out the box, my first impression was that it looked super nice – but there was no way in hell it was going to keep me warm enough. This jacket is incredibly lightweight, constructed mainly from a silky smooth rain jacket material – a far cry from the scratchy, rustling ‘pack-a-mac’ style fabric you’ll find on other packable cycling rain jackets.

The MAAP Apex winter jacket has been my go-to for the last year or so – which is pretty lightweight itself, but also reassuringly ‘thick’ feeling when you’re about to voluntarily subject yourself to a few hours of riding into a freezing cold head wind. In comparison, the Le Col jacket felt so thin it was hard to imagine it would do much to keep the cold at bay, even while riding at effort. But this jacket has a secret weapon: a clever Polartec® Alpha™ Active Insulation lining on the inside of the chest, upper back and sleeves. To touch, this is super soft, fuzzy material which gives warmth without adding any real bulk to the jacket.

Fit and function – nice aero fit, but people want pockets!

The fit is true to size – the XS is consistent with other kit I have in my rotation right now from MAAP and Stolen Goat. There’s enough room to add a base layer and a long sleeved jersey underneath, but not so much that you’ll turn into a parachute on wheels at the first sign of a head wind. This is close-fitting and aerodynamic, with just enough stretch to make sure it’s comfortable. I have strangely long arms for a relatively short human being, but the sleeves are long enough to fully cover my wrists and tuck nicely into my winter gloves.

Notably, what’s missing though is pockets. Presumably this jacket is intended to be worn over another cycling jersey so you can use the pockets on that for your phone/keys/snacks. But I’d have preferred at least one pocket on the jacket itself so you’re not having to make like an octopus in a phone box and contort your arm up and under the jacket if you need to get something out of your pocket on the move. Given that this jacket has a relatively premium price tag. The lack of pockets, or at the very least openings so you can still get at the pockets on whatever garment you have underneath (an underrated feature that I love on one of my Stolen Goat gilets/vests). Just feels like a bit of an oversight. But equally, not a deal breaker.

Performance: Can the Le Col Pro Insulated winter cycling jacket strike the balance between comfort and aero performance in cold conditions?

This jacket is promoted as being ideal for harder efforts in cold conditions. But with a heavy day of training in my legs the day before, my first ride wearing this was actually just an easy recovery ride. Setting off as soon as the sun had risen, with the temperature down at 2 degrees C and a real feel of -3 degrees C – this was a sure fire way to find out one way or another whether this jacket could actually deliver anything on the warmth front.

As my rear wheel, after several attempts to take itself off on a solo adventure over lingering ice patches, will attest – it was bitterly cold out. And I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by the Le Col jacket. Even at a low intensity, with a base layer and a thin long sleeved jersey underneath, my core and my arms were perfectly comfortable. That insulation from the Polartec® Alpha™ Active fuzzy lining, and the wind-proofing, might be low key. But it’s certainly effective. Colour me impressed, Le Col.

I do tend to feel the cold so overheating isn’t often a concern for me during winter rides. But usually after a higher tempo ride, I’ll get home with a nice layer of sweaty condensation hiding under my jacket. Delightful. So far though, my base layer has remained bone dry after rides in the Le Col jacket – suggesting it’s doing a good job on the breathability front.

Functionality

The fit of this jacket was comfortable in the riding position. There was no tightness across the upper back or shoulders, despite the aero fit. And the sleeves stayed in place both while riding on the drops and up on the hoods. My only real gripe – lack of pockets aside – is that the gripper is only on the rear of the jacket. In practice, this means the front of the jacket can have a tendency to ride up.

Verdict – The Le Col Pro Insulated jacket is a versatile, lightweight cycling jacket that will deal with changeable conditions well.

Will this jacket become my go-to for all my long, winter rides? Probably not. My MAAP Apex ticks too many boxes and for the long miles, gives that extra bit of warmth I need to stay comfy for a few hours in the saddle.

But for shorter efforts where I’m likely to overheat in the MAAP, I’ll definitely be reaching for the Le Col jacket. And as we move into that awkward early spring territory where the temperatures are freezing first thing but get up to low double figures by the time you hit the coffee stop. I think the Le Col Pro Insulated jacket will really come into its own. I can see this jacket being incredibly versatile. Warm enough to see you through that first chilly hour or so, but breathable enough that you won’t be drenched in sweat once the temperatures rise. And it’s also lightweight enough that if the weather really changes it’s mind, you’ll quite easily be able to roll this up and stick it in your back pocket.

For riders who tend to run hot. Commuters and bike-packers who want a versatile, weather-ready option that won’t take up too much space when you’re not wearing it. And for shorter winter rides with efforts. The Le Col Pro Insulated winter cycling jacket is an excellent option. Stick some pockets on it, bring the gripper all the way around the hem and extend the women’s size curve – and it would be ticking even more boxes.

Ratings

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