To say that I was skeptical of this jacket’s performance would be an understatement. How could something this thin possibly keep me from freezing in the winter? I quickly learned a valuable lesson with Alpinestars’ winter jacket: the body is a furnace, and if you minimize heat loss to the environment, a rider can push themselves farther through harsher conditions than what common knowledge would lead them to believe.
Photo Credit : Andrew Holman
It’s 10 degrees below zero and I’m sweating. On a morning without any insulating cloud coverage, the sting of winter is brutally apparent. As I pedal along the trail, looking at the early morning sky, alight with constellations, I can only think one thing: “I think I’ve over-dressed.”
As I prepped for my morning ride, I held the Alpinestars jacket at arm’s length, and couldn’t help but think that I was going to return with a serious bit of frostbite. There was no conceivable way that this non-insulated shell was going to keep me from becoming a frozen fat biker, or so my traditionalist mind thought. In what I thought was my best interest, I layered up heavily; the sun wouldn’t show its face for several hours, so it was imperative that I retain any semblance of body heat, lest I find myself on the side of the trail, in a snowbank, succumbing to winter’s frigid clutches.
That may be a bit dramatic. In any case, the last thing a rider wants to be is cold, so I donned three layers of thermal shirts in an effort to ward off the freezing temperatures. Within two miles, I found myself removing a sweat-soaked long-sleeve. “This jacket may just work,” I found myself thinking. Several miles later, another layer was being peeled of my body and being stuffed unceremoniously into my frame bag. “This jacket may work too well.”
Take it as a word of warning–you will be warm when riding with Alpinestar’s All Mountain Jacket. Though I had my doubts when I first saw the garment, all concerns were quelled by the end of my first ride. In fact, I had to dramatically alter my winter riding clothing strategy, as this jacket does a fantastic job of using the rider’s own body heat to protect them from the chill of winter. Thinking traditionally, one would expect that winter riding apparel would have to be puffy and cumbersome. However, when pedaling, the body produces an excess amount of heat, and rather than let that heat be exhausted and turned into waste energy, the Alpinestars shell captures it and does an admirable job of keeping the rider toasty in the most trying of conditions.
Photo Credit : Andrew Holman
The Alpinestars jacket is little more than a waterproof shell that keeps the wearer isolated from the elements. However, this very simplicity is one of my favorite aspects of the jacket. Rather than trying to reinvent the garment industry, Alpinestars seemed to have adopted a strategy of simplicity, forgoing the use of bulky insulation in lieu of a non-permeable membrane that uses the body’s exhausted heat energy to maintain a level of comfort for the rider. This heat can be regulated via a pair of zippered vents that are easily adjusted by the rider while on the bike. In addition to the zippered vents, the jacket also sports two external and two internal pockets to keep possessions secure.
Stylistically, the jacket has a bit of a “European” cut about it and fits neatly to the rider’s body. Those who prefer a baggier fit would be well-advised to choose a size up, as the designers at the Italian-based Alpinestars aren’t used to crafting clothing for inhabitants of countries who dine primarily on fast food. This tighter fit has proved useful not only for cycling, but also for a number of other winter expeditions including ski touring, ice climbing, hiking, and cross-country skiing, so if you’re a multi-disciplined adventurer, the shell should be a welcome addition to the gear closet.
Photo Credit : Andrew Holman
After a harsh season of riding, the Alpinestars All Mountain Jacket has proven itself to be a worthy addition to this rider’s wardrobe, with primarily positive experiences being logged. At times, I did find myself feeling a bit clammy, though I found this more to be a factor of over-layering than a shortcoming of the jacket.
When choosing a kit for a winter ride, it’s crucial to remember that this jacket will not exhaust heat nearly as well as a soft shell or a winter jersey. Once adjusted to the heat-retaining properties of the coat, I found myself quite satisfied with its performance. Over a 50 degree spread from -10º to 40º, I’m confident that this jacket would prove a worthwhile investment for many a rider.
As an added bonus, it’s proven to be quite abrasion-resistant, as I have had many high-speed crashes (I’m clumsy and my bike’s tires leave a lot to be desired), and the jacket shows no signs of wear.
For those looking for a lightweight, simple, and stylish winter riding shell, one would be hard-pressed to find a better deal than the Alpinestars jacket. Its solid construction and excellent fit make it worth every rider’s consideration.
MSRP: $199.95, but on sale for $149.99 as of press time.
Thank you to Alpinestars for providing the All Mountain Jacket for review!
If you’d like to see more of Andrew Holman’s photography, check out the aptly named AndrewHolmanPhoto.com
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