Giro Insulated Shirt
Color: Carbon
Size Tested: Large
MSRP: $180
Materials:
- Shell: 100% Polyester DWR Waterproof (3,000mm) 60g/m 2
- Liner: Peach Woven 100% Polyester 130g/m 2
- Insulation: 25g Primaloft ® Sport
Features:
- Water-Resistant Fabric
- Chest Pocket / Hand Pockets
- Full Zipper and Button Closure
Reviewer: 5’8″, 165 lbs.
We’ve taken a look recently at some of Giro’s more casual apparel—the Giro CA Ride Overshorts 2.o, and the Giro Wind Guard 1/4 Zip Jersey. While the Wind Guard 1/4 Zip has proven to work well as a technical riding piece, the Giro Insulated Shirt falls more in line with Ride Overshorts: Giro’s aim, here, was clearly to create good looking street clothes that also work on a bike.
Giro also has designed this jacket to be reversible. The shiny side of this jacket (pictured) has handwarmer pockets, and the material feels a little bit like a 1980’s wind shell. The other side is matte grey with a soft, almost flannel-like feel, and does not have pockets. I like the look of the matte grey better, but I also prefer having handwarmer pockets, so it’s shiny-side out for me. But you’ve got options.
Fit
Like the Giro ¼ zip wind shirt, the fit of the Insulated Shirt is a bit boxy, but not terribly so. I personally would prefer a more tapered fit suited to athletic physiques, but YMMV. (At the risk of sounding preppy, but to give you a benchmark, I am pretty much a perfect fit in a J.Crew Slim Fit Medium collared shirt.)
And because the material isn’t very stretchy, the cut is a bit bigger for a given size than the Wind Guard 1/4 Zip Jersey. With the wind shirt, I was happy with a Large, however in this Insulated Shirt I tested the Large, but I would purchase a Medium.
Performance
With the shiny, pocket-adorned side out, I am very impressed by the warmth of the Insulated Shirt. Despite being relatively thin, I can comfortably wear it down into the mid 20s while standing around. I do run warm, but still—I wouldn’t have expected a layer this thin to be quite this warm.
On the bike, I found the sleeves to be long enough, and that the shoulders didn’t bind. (Do keep in mind that I was sized up, though).
And while I found the Insulated Shirt to be remarkably warm, I didn’t find it to be particularly breathable. So for biking, I find the shirt to be warm enough that I would only ride with it on on really cold days. (But on such days, I would probably also want to have sealed cuffs, an elastic waist, and a zippered front closure to keep wind out.)
Note: the Insulated Shirt does not have a zipper as is stated in Giro’s product description; only a button-closure front.
And the DWR coating is a far cry from making the shirt waterproof, but it helps a little.
The shirt packs down small enough to toss in a duffel bag or backpack, but it doesn’t have a stuff pocket or any magic tricks to pack down small, so I wouldn’t be quick to throw it in a riding pack. Because of all these factors, you’d be smart to view this as a warm, very casual layer for easy commutes on the bike, or rides to the bar.
Bottom Line
The Giro Insulated Shirt can nicely fill a niche in your wardrobe as a pre- or post-ride layer, or as a layer for easier, low-output commutes on cold days.
And if you are looking for a warm layer for higher output rides, you ought to consider other, lighter, more breathable options, including layering with the Giro Wind Guard 1/4 Zip Jersey.