Galibier is a small family-run business based in Northern Ireland, selling direct-to-the-consumer at fantastic prices. The Zephyr Adventure Jacket is the brand's versatile, lightweight, waterproof jacket ready to tackle the elements, whether you’re on your gravel bike or MTB.
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Galibier Zephyr Adventure jacket - Technical details
Made from four-way stretch lightweight 2.5-layer AquAVent Ripstop fabric – using 50 per cent recycled materials, the Zephyr gets a Fluorcarbon-free DWR treatment. Its 13K rating for protection against heavy downpours and prolonged light rain and 12K rating for breathability make it more than capable of taking on some tough riding conditions. All seams are fully taped, and it features a full-length two-way YKK waterproof zip.
The fit is well cut, leaving room for layering, and a nicely sculpted helmet-compatible hood features a small pull-toggle to fine-tune fit and a small formed peak. Apart from the hood, the only other adjustability is the velcro cuffs, which should help seal out the elements. To the rear, three large vents near the shoulder should provide some moisture release and the drop-back hem is designed to provide additional protection from trail spray.
There are some nice touches for a jacket at such a good price point. Laser cut holes at the neck should help reduce moisture build-up when tucked into it, and silicone print across the shoulders is intended to reduce wear and enhance grip when wearing a pack. The whole jacket packs into a rear zippered pocket with two velcro tabs for securing it to your bars – bar-bag style. Two zippered hand pockets are the right size for stashing smaller items, and there’s an additional small internal chest pocket.
It’s only available in Ice Grey – which is a brave choice given its duties, but you’ll certainly get seen on the road, and a large reflective print Galibier logo at the back hem and small chest logo combined with large reflective zip-pulls ensure you’ll get seen at night. Sizing ranges from XS up to XXXL, so there should be a fit for everyone.
Galibier Zephyr Adventure jacket - Performance
I tested both the small and medium sizes and, after a few rides, settled on the small size for its closer fit. I like the look and feel of the Zephyr, and the fit is spot on. The material has a slight waxed feel, and the cut is excellent. Arm length is ample, and although the large velcro wrist adjusters seem a little overkill, they do a sterling job of preventing moisture and mud ingress. The hem scoops gently to the rear, where an extra little flap of material creates a deeper level of protection.
My size small offered enough room to layer up in colder weather without it feeling all restrictive, and there was no excess material to cause any bulking. I could easily carry smaller items in the side pockets without causing any interference or annoyance when riding, but the small internal pocket is tiny. I found it useful for cash, cards or a snack, and it’s internal, so whatever I stashed there kept dry. The helmet-compatible hood fitted snugly over gravel and MTB helmets and offered some degree of movement when fully done up.
Tested in some utterly filthy weather - oh, the joys of testing – riding a mixture of trail and gravel bikes, I put it through the grinder. I rode in sustained downpours and prolonged light rain and went hunting for the wettest, muddiest trails I could endure. So ,how did it fare?
Well, the windproofing is excellent, as are its waterproofing capabilities. It’s easy to wear all day in mucky conditions as it breathes well and keeps me warm enough in temperatures down to 3-5 degrees with a baselayer and jersey. And I get the impression it should work in milder to warmer weather too, but time will tell. Moisture build wasn’t an issue, with the large rear vents helping to create some airflow but still keeping the wind out, and it held up much better than expected in the rain. As a lightweight jacket, I was sceptical as to its longevity in heavy and prolonged showers, but it was excellent. I’d happily wear this in most scenarios except deep winter adventures.
I like the Ice Grey colourway. Yes, it’s a brave colour choice, but I think it looks great and provides a lot of visibility getting to the trails. There’s a downside, of course, and that’s post-ride, it ends up looking filthy. It’s required some dedicated handwashing on my part to get it clean, and after many washes, it’s now more of a mid-grey colour, however, the Zephyr continues to deliver a high level of protection to the elements. Annoyingly, I have managed to acquire a few small tears in the upper arm fabric from a brush with a hawthorn bush, but I’d say most jackets would have fared the same.
Once stuffed into the rear pocket, it fitted the handlebars easily, but it’s a slightly unwieldy proposition that does bounce about, and it's in a prime position for getting covered in mud. It’s not somewhere I would choose to store it, preferring to stash it in my hip pack or a rear pocket. I could see how it could fold down to half the size though, given a strap system like the Rapha Trail Lightweight jacket where it straps to your frame or an old favourite of mine, the Sombrio Chinook 2 jacket, which folds into its rear pocket and becomes a mini hip pack with the attached straps.
Galibier Zephyr Adventure jacket - Verdict
Retailing for £78, there’s no denying the attractive price point of the Zephyr, especially given its high level of performance and multi-use credentials. There are myriad options out there but not many at this price point.
Madison’s Roam Men’s 2-Layer Jacket comes close at £100, but the fit lets it down a little. Specialized’s Trail Rain Jacket is another good lightweight and packable option, but performance issues marked it down. Pat rated the Endura GV500 Waterproof Jacket at £160 for all-round use in a lightweight package. Of course, if you have deep pockets, something with Gore-Tex in the title should ensure high levels of performance like the GoreWear Gore-Tex Paclite Waterproof jacket costing £200.
The Galibier Zephyr Jacket is a great packable, lightweight, and waterproof jacket for prolonged use. It’s as durable as most jackets in this category and has a neat packable feature. The colour choice may not be for everyone, and some darker options would be good.
1 comments
Have it -love it. I bought for a bikepacking trip but have used it as my emergency jacket in my backpack this winter.