Louis Garneau went right to the top when selecting Polartec Wind Pro for use in the Course Wind Pro Jersey — the fabric is legit and maintains excellent warmth in spite of challenging weather conditions.
Louis Garneau Course Wind Pro Jersey Features:
- Polartec Wind Pro panels block wind/weather
- Thermasoft 180 fabric on sides comfort and breathability
- Full-length zipper with zipper garage
- Inner zipper flap for improved protection
- Front and back reflective accents
- Price: $219.99
Course Wind Pro Jersey Delivers
With a cold, but relatively dry winter going on here in Utah, I’ve been testing a wide variety of winter-weight gear. When the Louis Garneau Course Wind Pro Jersey arrived, I thought it would be best used once the weather warmed a bit, but took the opportunity to push its limits anyway and came away surprised.
I’m no stranger to Polartec Wind Pro. I’ve used several jackets over the years that feature this wind-shedding fabric and this is one of the best incarnations to date. With the majority of the jersey covered in Wind Pro, it makes for a jersey/jacket that maintains warmth beyond its weight.
When the temperatures were in the 30’s, the Course Wind Pro was surprisingly warm and comfortable. To test its limits, I put on a light base layer (Castelli Uno Plasma LS) underneath and went out into temperatures that would be better suited for a much thicker layer. The magic of the Wind Pro fabric cannot be understated here — it blocks wind and maintains warmth extremely well. So, 35 degrees and a light base layer and I was just fine.
While the warmth was excellent at that temperature, it was quite a struggle to get the jersey to slide on top of a long-sleeve base layer as it annoyingly bunched up the sleeves. So, it is honestly best-suited to temperatures in the low-40’s with a sleeveless base layer (like the Pearl Izumi Transfer Lite).
I really appreciate the cut and height of the collar. It sits just tall enough to block the wind and is just snug enough to eliminate any wind penetration. On top of that, Garneau has chosen to put a long, stiff zipper for easy use with thick gloves on.
The three back pockets are of excellent size and placement for easy reach in the saddle. With gloves on, I did have somewhat of a challenge placing items back into the side pockets, but not any worse than other jerseys while wearing thick gloves. Speaking of wearing with gloves, I found the Thermasoft sleeve cuffs to be ultra comfortable and perfect for tucking into a variety of gloves for a protective fit.
Further extending the capability of this piece, I’ve worn it both road and mountain biking into the mid/upper 50’s. While it does retain warmth and lower temperatures, it breathes really well as the mercury rises. Another nice feature of this jersey is the fabric’s resistance to stink. I’ve worn this on three consecutive days and it honestly didn’t get nearly as stinky as I’ve experienced with other fabrics.
While the zipper is backed, I did notice that it gives the sensation of a cold draft when I turned around and descended back down the American Fork Alpine Loop after climbing nearly 2000 vertical feet at 40 degrees.
Note on Fit: This jersey features a snug fit with the size Large fitting me precisely as expected. For reference, I’m 5’11” and 170 lbs.
The Good
- Ultra-comfortable next-to-skin
- Nice sleeve length
- Sleeve cuffs are soft and play well with outer layers/gloves
- Three real rear pockets
- Superb anti-stink properties
- Sheds snow and light rain aplenty
The Bad
- Front zipper can feel cold when descending
- Flatlock seams would make this even better
The Bottom Line: Louis Garneau Course Wind Pro Jersey
Louis Garneau made an excellent choice in dance partners with this piece as Polartec Wind Pro makes this cold-weather jersey truly unique. With warmth beyond what seems possible and weather protection to boot, this jersey takes the cake.
Buy Now: Available at CompetitiveCyclist.com
