Le Col Sport winter jacket review

I went on record the other week as saying that it was still autumn so there’s no need for winter woollies just yet. However, a couple of early-morning rides over the past few days served to disabuse me of this viewpoint as a chilly wind made riding almost uncomfortable.

Salvation is at hand in the form of the Le Col Sport winter jacket. A thermal garment with a windstopper front section, it is intended to provide all-round warmth but particularly to a rider’s exposed frontal area.

Unlike some bulky weatherproof layers, this has a tailored fit and it feels too tight around the shoulders at first, although once you’ve adopted the racing cyclist’s crouch it’s totally natural thanks to built-in stretch.

The full-length front zip features a flap to cut out the breeze - and the zip’s large tag allows one-handed unzipping if you find yourself getting too warm.

The tall collar is lined with a lovely fleecy-feeling material, while an elasticated hem prevents the jacket riding up. The wide cuffs are snug, too.

Le Col - established in 2011 by Yanto Barker, a former professional cyclist who prides himself on personally testing garments before they reach production - clothing is also renowned for its style, so not only does this jacket feel good when you’re riding, it looks the part too.

The brand is also marked out by its attention to detail, so the stitching is beautiful and there is a useful zipped pocket inside the left breast area, although it’s not quite large enough to accommodate a mobile phone. Even the (mercifully discreet) logos are stitched rather than printed.

At the rear are the usual three pockets, but deeper than the norm to reflect the extra amount of kit you’re likely to carry when riding in the cold and wet, such as a rainjacket and glove liners.

My only slight concern is the black and navy blue colour scheme of our test jacket. Despite narrow reflective strips on the front of the shoulders and a broad strip on the centre of the three rear pockets I feel that it’s not quite visible enough in low light, and although brighter colours (as well as women-specific fits) are available the back panels of all of them are unrelentingly black.

I get around this by wearing a brightly coloured racing jersey on top of my warmth layers, but it’s a concern that so much cycling apparel comes in black, dark grey and navy blue. Many riders seem to like blending into the shadows wearing nothing but black, but I can’t help thinking that visibility is closely allied to safety.

That apart, a jacket such as this should be a staple part of your winter wardrobe. There are always cheaper options, but generally with cycle clothing you get what you pay for.

Price: £170

From: lecol.cc