Womens Hors Categorie Jacket: Fit, Layering and Care FAQ

Fit and sizing questions

What sizes does the Women's Hors Categorie Jacket come in?

The supplied catalog lists XS, S, M and L, all in Navy/White. No other sizes or colors are confirmed in the supplied information.

Does the catalog give a size chart or body measurements?

No. The supplied record does not include a size chart, chest measurement or fit description. Use the listed sizes as your starting point and check Le Col's current sizing guidance before ordering rather than guessing from the size label alone.

Is it a race fit or a relaxed fit?

The supplied information does not label the cut as race or relaxed. What it does confirm is what you wear underneath: the jacket is built around Polartec® Alpha® Active Insulation, a soft, breathable lining that releases excess body heat as ride intensity rises. That points to a close-fitting insulating layer, but the catalog does not state a fit category.

Should I size up to wear it over a jersey?

The catalog does not give a layering allowance, so there is no verified rule for sizing up. The jacket is described as the warmest winter jacket in the range, intended for off-season training, so it is designed to be worn as the outer layer. If you plan to wear a thick jersey underneath, that is a personal fit decision the supplied evidence cannot settle.

Layering questions

Do I need a base layer under the Hors Categorie Jacket?

The catalog does not specify a base layer requirement. It does describe the inner Polartec® Alpha® Active Insulation as releasing excess body heat as your ride intensity increases, which is the mechanism behind the claim that it reduces the need to shed layers mid-ride. What you wear underneath is your call; the supplied evidence does not prescribe one.

Will it overheat on harder efforts?

The catalog states that the combination of Polartec® fabrics offers warmth and protection without causing overheating, and that the Alpha® lining releases excess body heat as intensity increases. Those are the manufacturer's claims in the supplied record. The catalog does not give a temperature range, so use your own experience of similar insulation to judge conditions.

What makes the outer layer windproof and waterproof?

The outer uses Polartec® Power Shield®, described in the catalog as a patented bio-based performance fabric with a durable waterproof and windproof membrane that maintains breathability and lightweight comfort. The record does not give a waterproof rating or a hydrostatic head, so treat it as weather protection for winter training rather than a stated specification.

Can I wear it as a mid-layer under a shell?

The supplied information does not describe the jacket as a mid-layer, and it is positioned as the warmest winter jacket in the range. The catalog does not confirm compatibility with an outer shell, so there is no verified layering system to recommend here.

Catalog evidence behind the layering answers

• Womens Hors Categorie Jacket: Engineered as the warmest winter jacket in the range, the Women's Hors Categorie Jacket is described as the preferred choice of pro riders training through the off-season. Sets the intended use: cold-weather training as an outer layer, not a three-season jacket.

  

• Womens Hors Categorie Jacket: The outer layer uses Polartec® Power Shield®, a bio-based performance fabric with a durable waterproof and windproof membrane that maintains breathability and lightweight comfort. Explains the weather protection side of the layering question, though no waterproof rating is supplied.
• Womens Hors Categorie Jacket: Inside, Polartec® Alpha® Active Insulation provides a soft, breathable lining that releases excess body heat as ride intensity increases, reducing the need to shed layers mid-ride. Directly addresses overheating concerns and explains why the jacket is built as a single insulating outer layer.

Storage, visibility and care questions

How much can I carry in the pockets?

The jacket has a four-pocket storage system at the back, including one waterproof zipped pocket for secure storage. The catalog does not give pocket dimensions or a capacity in liters, so plan around the four-pocket layout rather than a stated volume.

Is it visible in low light?

The catalog lists reflective panels on the arms and a reflective strip across the rear for visibility in low light. No reflectivity rating is supplied.

How should I wash and care for it?

The supplied record contains no care instructions, washing guidance or fabric treatment advice. Rather than invent a routine, follow the care label on the garment and Le Col's current care guidance for Polartec® fabrics.

What does the catalog not tell me?

No temperature rating, waterproof rating, fit category, size chart, weight or care instructions appear in the supplied record. Those gaps are decision limits, not confirmed absences from the product itself, so check the product page or label for the details you need.