The Galibier Liberté Insulated Packable Jacket has so many functional features coming in at such a competitive price.
- Brand: Galibier
- Product: Liberté Insulated Packable Jacket
- Price: £82.00
- From: Galibier
- Tested by: Hannah Dobson for 2 months
Pros
- Great value
- Will see a lot of use off-the-bike
- Warmer than most
Cons
- Unisex fit may not suit you
- More voluminous than other brands
- Warmer than most
Our rating
Previously I’ve had waterproof jackets, down jackets, and windproof jackets – or cosy baselayers. It’s been a very long while since I’ve had anything of the windproof, insulated, and cosy variety. I ended up with this ‘insulated packable jacket’ on test, so here’s what I thought.
Galibier is a relatively small company so doesn’t try to meet the bulk order demands that you’ll get from the branded fabric suppliers. This means you won’t see the likes of the ‘Polartec’ logo on their gear.
This has 40gsm recycled synthetic insulation for warmth, is windproof, and has a PFC-free DWR coating for light splashes. After making some prototypes of different insulation values and taking them to try out on a bikepacking trip, the folks at Galibier decided that the 40gsm option offered the best balance of warmth, weight and volume.
It’s perhaps not as sleek in style as the other brands’ similar intent jackets, but it has a fair amount of functionality packed in at a great price. It’s a little snug around my hips (perhaps as a result of it being a unisex design), but the next size up was a bit too baggy in the arms and body for me.
There’s a hood that you can zip off completely or stuff into the collar for a padded and cosy effect. There’s a small stuff sack into which you can pack down the jacket. Two hand pockets on the front have zips so you can keep a few belongings secure.
Overall
The fabric feels nice against the skin, and while in theory you could layer it up, I find it a bit voluminous to go under my rain layers. Plus, it is quite warm – more of a campsite jacket for the end of a day’s ride than it is for on-to-go activities. It’s not cut especially short and snug, giving it a plenty of off the bike versatility. Nice to see so many functional features from a smaller brand coming in at such a competitive price.
I’ve got one of these, and love it. I think it packs down nice & compactly and has good warmth for it’s size/weight. I’d probably not cycle in it unless very cold, but it seems a great thing to take for Spring/Summer/Autumn bike-packing/bivvy trips.
I’m a bit puzzled by the sizing. As a big person, I’ve got a 46-inch chest, even when skin and bone. XXXL here is only a 44 (and a half) inch chest. I’ve no problem being at the many X of the scale, but the sizing for packable jackets really means that most won’t fit. This looks a good “stopped for a wee think and chill" jacket, but not doable due to the size. Glad I’ve got a similar mountain hardware one that goes large enough.
Galibier kit is amazing. Hard wearing, good quality, and great value. They are my go to for many items. I have one of the previous versions of their packable jacket. A few years old and still going strong. Almost too good because a new jacket would be nice!
In these reviews it would be nice to know:
Where the garment is made
The working and living conditions of the people who made it
The distance it has travelled
Most people on STW have enough cash not to buy the cheapest and consider the ethics of their purchases.
As for the garment featured – looks fine apart from the ill fitting hood.
Most of the info that you asked about is available on the Galibier website and there is an email address for further queries. https://www.galibier.cc/earth/ I agree it would be useful to have a pointer to this in the review.
That actually gives me none of the info I asked about. No mention of the countries and distances which are key. Having a page like that is pretty standard fare – it’s heavy on making the right noises and thin on facts – carbon off set annoys me, it’s never a patch on not emitting carbon.
Anyhow, There’s a manufacturer in the town I live in where I can see the clothes being made from materials sourced as locally as possible (for example Italy) and there’s a manufacturer in Valencia that supplies my clubs’ kit. A jean manufacturer is called 1083 because thats the distance the jean has done before sale.
This is not a specific dig at Galibier, I could have written this on any review where the manufacturer is less than clear on the origin of their products.
I understand that you would like to see this stuff in a review, and I appreciate from your various previous posts that this is important to you. And do not want to rile you in any way. But I certainly do not want to see where a product is made or any of the other info you’ve mentioned in every single (or any) reviews in a bike mag. I consider that to be info I would seek out myself from the manufacturers website. And if I’m not happy with the level of info on the manufacturers website, then I feel completely free not to purchase from them.
You haven’t, all views welcome. For me it’s an important part of the purchasing decision but I’m far from perfect and resigned to the fact that there isn’t a local maker for everything I want to buy even if I’m happy to pay a premium. As you note I’ve started a thread and often posted on the topic. Perhaps I should start another rather than contaminate this one.