Pro-level winter jacket or Halloween costume? The Q36.5 Vampire Hooded promises to keep out the cold and wet without leaving you stewing in your own sweat on the climbs. A close race fit, carefully considered temperature regulation and an integrated balaclava are meant to do the trick. How much warmth can such thin fabric provide? Does 450 buy you performance, or just a nasty bite out of your budget?Q36.5 Vampire Hooded Jacket | 320 g in size XS | 450 | Manufacturers WebsiteA winter jacket called Vampire? Its namesakes arent exactly known for their body heat. Q36.5, on the other hand, are obsessed with it: the brand name refers to an ideal body temperature of 36.5C and their stated aim of regulating and maintaining it through technical clothing. The Vampire Hooded jacket brings together high-end fabrics, a cut tailored to the demands of the pros and a dedicated base layer system. Its an intriguing approach for hard winter training and the shoulder seasons. Whether it works becomes clear when a sweaty climb gives way to an icy descent.The Key Facts About the Q36.5 Vampire Hooded Q36.5 Vampire Hooded Key Facts Key Facts Category: performance winter road cycling jacket Price: 450 Weight: 320 g in size XS (measured) Claimed weight: 292 g in size M (more on this below) Recommended temperature range: 010C, according to the manufacturer Membrane waterproof rating: 10,000 mm, according to the manufacturer Fit: close, anatomical race fit Packability: compact for a winter jacket, though fitting it in a jersey pocket can be a squeeze According to Q36.5, the Vampire Hooded was developed specifically for their own professional team and is made in Italy. That sets the brief: a close fit, minimal excess fabric and a construction designed for hard efforts. The brand recommend it for temperatures from 0 to 10C. How warm you actually feel inside will also depend on your layers, pace and how easily you feel the cold.Weather protection comes from a specially developed membrane, designed to keep rain out while letting sweat escape, with a claimed 10,000 mm waterproof rating and seams fully taped on the outside. For warmth, lightweight Air Insulation mesh fleece lines the front of the torso and arms. The back and inner arms stay unlined to let heat escape when youre working hard.The high, close-fitting collar protects your neck and gives the Vampire its name. Theres also an integrated, seamless balaclava that doubles as a neck warmer. Three rear pockets, reflective details and a two-way zip round out the features. If your usual Q36.5 size already feels snug, the brand suggest considering a size up.Whether its the collar that looks scary or this racers pose, well leave you to decideAn extensive base layer system lets you fine-tune the jackets inner climate. Q36.5 offer six different base layers, from lightweight summer options to warmer versions with long sleeves and hoods, priced at roughly 65 to 150. For a third layer, theres the Bullet Proof insulation layer, which costs between 120 and 145 depending on the version. Add several new base layers to your basket and an already expensive jacket quickly becomes a costly winter wardrobe. You dont need a full Q36.5 outfit, though: your existing technical base layers are an option too.Pair it with the right base layer and youve got a winning team.Q36.5 Vampire Hooded on Test: Can It Combine a Race Fit With Winter Protection?Trying it on makes one thing clear: the Vampire fits as closely as a superhero costume and is just as stretchy. Overdo it on the trick-or-treating and you might struggle to get the zip closed. Theres certainly little spare room in this race fit, but freedom of movement is another matter: our tester found that the fabric followed his riding position without a fuss.Hands on the bars, torso leaning forwards: there are no annoying folds around the arms or stomach, and the jacket feels more like a long-sleeved jersey than a bulky winter shell. The soft fleece inside still makes it feel comfortable against the body. Standing upright, the cut takes more getting used to: the short front can leave your lower stomach exposed. The Vampire fits best when the wheels are turning beneath you. For a long chat outside the caf, other jackets have a more comfortable cut.The Vampire is at its best when the pace picks up. On hard climbs, it stayed comfortable inside, with barely any moisture building up and no urge to peel it off immediately. At 12 C with drizzle and overcast skies, a thin summer base layer was all we needed, making it clear that the jacket can handle the shoulder seasons too. Thicker layers should extend its range to around freezing, and the fabrics generous stretch accommodates them without restriction. The right combination depends on how hard youre pedaling and how quickly you feel the cold.and a two-way zip to adjust the ventilation.Soft fleece up front, airflow at the backWe hadnt planned to explore its limits quite so spontaneously. At the foot of the Passo di Lavaz, the thermometer read around 20C. Summer base layer, short-sleeved jersey, bib shorts: all good. Still, we suspected the rules might change some 1,600 metres further up. The Vampire came along as a precaution, tucked into a jersey pocket for the climb. Packability? Check!At the top: 0C, patches of snow and meltwater. Our tester stands on the pass in short sleeves and shorts as the Danish national cross-country ski team put in training laps. Time for the Vampire to prove its worth.Jacket on, collar up, into the descent. We can say this much: we were glad wed brought the Vampire. We still got cold, though. Without leg warmers, that was hardly surprising: wed let the warm morning sunshine dictate our outfit a little too much. The Vampires wind protection, however, was excellent. Even at speeds of up to 80 km/h, we felt no wind getting through the fabric or in around the openings. The jacket stayed close to the body in a low riding position, with no flapping. For similarly frosty rides, wed still plan on more insulation next time. A windproof, insulated jacket cant magically make up for a lack of warmth elsewhere in your outfit.In wet weather, the Vampire showed its teeth. Drizzle and light showers beaded off the outer fabric without wetting it out, and we stayed dry underneath, with no unpleasant clamminess even at a brisk pace. For changeable weather, thats a convincing combination. Sustained heavy rain is the one test it didnt face: a good 1,500 km over two weeks spared us a downpour, so we cant say how long the jacket would keep one out.One detail we grew to appreciate on the road was the balaclava. Full face coverage, neck warmer or head covering: the thin fabric can be worn in several ways. When not in use, it lies against your back beneath the jacket without getting in the way. We used it particularly often as a neck warmer. Having it permanently to hand is practical, though you should stop briefly to pull it all the way up.Whether as a full balaclavaor just a substitute for a neck tube: the fabric is versatile.The two-way zip adds ventilation from below in milder temperatures, which is welcome when the next climb drags on. It feels sturdy, but was a little fiddly to use at times. The reflective details on the seams and logos catch the light from different directions, noticeably improving visibility in the dark.The scale brought a small disappointment. Our size XS sample weighed in at 320 g, 28 g above the 292 g Q36.5 claim for a size M, two sizes larger, and we dont know why. Its still impressively light for a winter jacket offering this level of protection from the cold and wet, but at 450, wed expect more accurate figures. None of this detracts from its packability: being able to carry it in a jersey pocket proved invaluable on our Dolomites ride.Who Is the Q36.5 Vampire Hooded For?Who Is the Q36.5 Vampire Hooded For?:The Q36.5 Vampire Hooded suits you if you like to push the pace even in winter. want your winter jacket to fit as closely as your jersey. want to cover winter and the shoulder seasons by choosing the right base layers. are willing to pay a premium for breathability, packability and weather protection.The Q36.5 Vampire Hooded is less suitable if you want a relaxed cut with plenty of room for thick layers. prefer easy rides with long stops and need lots of insulation. want to put together a complete winter outfit on a modest budget.The Vampire Isnt Just for Vampires!Would We Buy the Q36.5 Vampire Hooded?For our hard road rides: yes. The Vampire impressed most with its comfort during intense efforts and its wrinkle-free fit, while the balaclava adds practical value and the right layers broaden its useful temperature range. At 450 for the jacket alone, that combination has to earn its keep. Ride hard in foul weather and it will. If you mainly want to cruise through winter at an easy pace, your budget is better spent elsewhere.Conclusions about the Q36.5 Vampire HoodedThe Vampire feels at home when your heart rate rises on winter rides. It fits closely, moves freely with you and stays comfortable during hard efforts. Drizzle and light showers pose no problem either. Pair it with a thin base layer and it also works in the shoulder seasons. If youre looking for a winter jacket designed squarely for performance riding, this is a well-considered, high-end option. An impressive jacket for performance-focused riders, provided the fit, intended use and budget all line up.Topshigh breathabilityexcellent water repellencysmooth, wrinkle-free fit in the riding positionversatile balaclavaFlopsmeasured weight exceeds the manufacturers claimhigh priceFor more information, visit Q36.5.Der Beitrag Q36.5 Vampire Hooded Winter Cycling Jacket Review: A Race Fit With Bite erschien zuerst auf GRAN FONDO Cycling Magazine.