You can trust Cyclingnews
Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.
Image 1 of 8
The Capo Padrone Thermal Jacket isn't cheap by any means but it's a quality piece with impressive levels of protection from wind and cold plus a highly refined fit.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Capo Padrone Thermal Jacket earned a lot of compliments from fellow riders for its keen aesthetics. Thankfully, it's also very warm and fits great, too.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Tightly fitting cuffs aid the windproof panels in blocking out cold air.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Outer pockets have angled tops for easier access. The zippered pocket is lined with waterproof material and sealed with a waterproof zipper, too.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The white windproof panels on the front of the Padrone Thermal Jacket are burly but are only two-way stretch. Four-way windproof panels on the top of the shoulders aren't quite as protective but they lend a better fit in a critical area.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
When paired together, the Capo Padrone Thermal Jacket and Winter Tights are a formidable pair against the cold.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
Capo fits the waist area with a thinner and stretchier fabric. Bunching in that area is wholly nonexistent. (Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The two-way, full-length zipper is backed by a flap to help block the wind. It's mostly effective as long as you're not going too fast.(Image credit: Jonny Irick)
The Capo Padrone Thermal Jacket's slick black-and-white styling and textured fabrics drew an unusual number of compliments from fellow riders for its grown-up and understated aesthetics. Looks aren't everything, though, as it also offers an impressive level of warmth and a great fit perfect for long days in the saddle.
Freezing temperatures were no problem for the Padrone jacket with just a light base layer underneath and swapping in a winter-weight base brought that comfort range down to an impressive -4°C (25°F) or so. Add in the windproof panels around the front of the torso, sleeves, shoulders, and center of your back along with tight fits around the cuffs and collar and we rarely found ourselves feeling cold even on blustery days that kept most riders indoors.
In fact, we only managed to chink the Padrone Thermal Jacket's armor on descents topping 60km/h (37mph), when the oncoming air was simply too much for the non-protected sections to withstand. We noticed some cold air infiltrating around the armpits in particular along with a bit forcing its way past the full-length front zipper baffle, too.
Fit is outstanding with perfect tailoring throughout the torso and sleeves lending a suitably form-hugging shape that isn't at all restrictive yet still leaves just enough room underneath for a long-sleeved jersey if needed. In a particularly brilliant move, Capo substitutes lighter weight but extra-stretchy fleece-backed panels around the front and sides of the lower torso that totally eliminate bunching that can often plague other winter garments but without overly compromising warmth.
Other neat details include a bit of gripper elastic around the slightly dropped rear hem, a trio of standard-sized rear pockets with angled outer bays plus an additional waterproof compartment, and a bit of reflective detailing to enhance nighttime visibility.
Our sole complaint was the white fabric of our test sample – it was great for visibility but proved very difficult to keep clean. Grimy road spray and mud splatter were especially troublesome and while it wasn't impossible to remove, it certainly took more effort than a simple pre-treat and subsequent run in the washing machine.
True, the Capo Padrone Thermal Jacket is expensive at US$250 but past experience with previous Capo jackets suggests this will last for a long time and cycling outer garments this protective rarely fit this well.
Price: US$250 Available sizes: S-2XL Pros: Impressively warm, excellent styling, very refined fit, wide temperature range Cons: White color option is tough to clean, expensive Cyclingnews verdict: 4 stars More information:www.uplandsg.com
