Le Col’s first full gravel range, launched in 2024, was “a bold new step for a brand that has spent the past decade pursuing speed and performance,” according to founder Yanto Barker. ARC stands for ‘adaptable, reliable, capable’ and Le Col says it’s crafted using “premium materials and advanced fabric technology” for durability and long-lasting comfort.
So it might be something of a surprise – a pleasant one – that merino, often regarded as traditional rather than advanced fabric, has been liberally used and features in the jersey, base layer, T-shirt, arm and leg warmers while the ARC rain jacket is made from PFC-free Pertex Shield. The cargo shorts in their fabric and construction are more similar to road bib shorts – except they feature “innovative storage solutions” in the form of side leg pockets and rear pockets. Here are my impressions, after wearing and riding in the kit over the last few months.
Le Col ARC Lightweight Rain Jacket
The ARC jacket is more cagoule than race cape – as ultra-light roadie rain jackets used to be called – which means that as well as downpours, it dispels any notion that ‘gravel specific’ is just repurposed road gear pitched at a trendier scene. For starters, it has a hood which, in a wind tunnel, would probably turn into a parachute at the right yaw angle. The type of gravel that the ARC range is designed for isn’t interested in aero, it’s all about adventure, and this rain jacket is ideal for that.
First of all, the cut isn’t a racing snake so you can layer up underneath it in the cold and it will serve as a windproof shell. But it’s nicely tailored so that it’s more fitted around the waist, which also has a drawstring, and it really has a nice, flattering shape. The size chart is accurate – I’m 178cm and 69kg and the size small is perfect.
It’s made from Pertex Shield, which is waterproof and windproof but breathable, and all the seams are taped. It’s not stretchy, however, and has the texture of a traditional cagoule except with a matte finish. In my experience, fabrics that claim to be waterproof but are also very stretchy rely too heavily on a DWR – durable water-repellent treatment – which doesn’t last. But the non-stretch ARC jacket genuinely keeps you dry in the heaviest rain. Since Pertex Shield is PFAS free, made without the notorious ‘forever chemicals’ which are gradually being banned globally, it does also use a DWR, so just to make sure it stays as waterproof as it was on day one, my advice is to try not to wash it.
Gravel is all about ‘storage solutions’ too, and the ARC jacket has those, though it doesn’t have pockets at the rear like a road jacket. There are two deep front pockets with flaps and a zipped breast pocket. To let the heat out there’s a vented flap horizontally across the back and the zip is two-way so it can be opened at the bottom while remaining fully zipped up the top.
I’ve spent a lot of time in this jacket off the bike as well as on, and literally my only snagging point would be that it’s difficult to do the zip all the way up to the top with one hand because it gets stuck on a backing flap of fabric that begins at collar level. With two hands it’s no problem to tuck the flap underneath with one hand while the other operates the puller, but if you’re riding a bike, especially on gravel, you can’t always take two hands off the bars.
Other than that, the ARC jacket not only does all the practical things that the acronym stands for, but it’s super-stylish too, exudes quality and looks as good on the tube as it does on the trail. There are two colour options and seven sizes in the men’s version, and five sizes in women’s.
Le Col ARC Merino Jersey
Who doesn’t love wearing merino? It’s soft, lightweight, stretchy, performs well in both hot and cool weather and has a classic look. It’s always noted that it doesn’t hold onto odours too, so if you’re doing a multi-day trip where you don’t have access to a laundry, it’s the fabric for you. The ARC Merino Jersey comes in long-sleeved and short-sleeved versions. The fabric is a blend of 67% Italian merino, 15% polyamide and 18% elastane. Le Col says it originates from the renowned textile region of Biella, Italy, and that the merino used offers “superior softness and durability due to the meticulous production processes and high-quality raw materials”. Blending it with synthetic fibres helps it keep its stretchiness and shape, preventing a Maurice Garin-style rear-pocket sag over the rear of the saddle. That look might have been de rigueur in 1903 but this is 2025…
That said, it still has a more relaxed fit than the modern manmade road jersey, to “optimise freedom of movement over extended distances”. The cut is still pretty slim though and the size chart, as with the jacket, is accurate. If you do want to use the three rear pockets (plus one zipped compartment) and find yourself between sizes, I’d say size down just to make sure the loaded pockets stay in place and don’t sit too low.
In the short-sleeved version I tested, I found the sleeves to be the perfect length, finishing just above the elbow. Since the sleeves are soft and stretchy, they have cuffs rather than silicone grippers and will move with the jersey depending on your bike position. I appreciated this approach – an overly sticky band around the arm wouldn’t be in keeping with the overall softness and smooth feel, and because they’re a decent length they don’t ride too far up the arm.
There’s a full-length zip with a good-sized puller which sits in a small zip ‘garage’ at the top of the collar. I found the collar was exactly the right size for me – it’s of course the luck of the draw but always nice to find one that’s neither too tight nor too baggy when zipped smartly up to the top.
There are men’s and women’s versions with two colour options for the short-sleeved jersey and three for the long-sleeved. Seven sizes for men and five for women.
Le Col ARC Cargo bib shorts
I’ve been a big fan of Le Col’s road bib shorts – both entry-level and hors catégorie – for as long as I can remember, and that’s why I’m really pleased that the ARC Cargo follows the same base recipe but just adds a few extra ingredients to give them a gravel flavour.
‘Cargo’ means side pockets, initially ridiculed when they were introduced – like most ‘gravel specific’ clothing was – but now not questioned, and even expected. With Le Col’s Cargo shorts it also means rear pockets at the lower back for the occasions when you’re wearing a T-shirt without traditional jersey pockets. Call me traditional, but I don’t think I’ll be doing that since I’m old enough to remember what a baggy T-shirt and cycling shorts looked like the first time round. So, fortunately for Gen Xers who don’t want to look like Princess Diana and who will be wearing traditional jerseys, the shorts’ rear pockets are discreet enough that you don’t know they’re there if – sorry, when – you’re not using them.
The other gravel upgrade is the multi-terrain chamois, and this is something Gen X riders will welcome. Le Col says it has “high elasticity fabrics and multi foam layers to absorb impact… a bamboo microfibre top sheet is quick-drying, high-wicking and breathable, providing next to skin softness for ultimate long-lasting comfort.” It’s very comfortable, well placed and works as advertised. I’ve also used it for Zwifting – on a Wattbike you obviously don’t get bounced around but there’s zero compliance and you get very hot – so I’ve found it’s actually a pretty effective way to gauge whether a chamois is any good or not.
The reason why I like Le Col’s shorts in general though is because the cut is always flattering and the mesh bib section that starts a bit higher up the torso than many not only avoids a muffin top (most of us have a slightly higher body fat percentage than the pros) but is also like a half-base layer under the jersey and is very comfortable. I much prefer this to the other way, where raw elastic straps are sewn directly to what are effectively waist shorts. The ARC shorts feature an even higher back than usual – there’s a mesh panel between the straps, so that's even better. The shorts fabric has a more matt, slightly plusher feel than most road shorts. Overall a superb pair of bibs and good not just for gravel. At £210 they're the same price at the flagship HC shorts but they wouldn't be out of place on the road – like the rest of the ARC kit they don't need to be saved for gravel.
Le Col ARC Merino Base Layer
We didn’t photograph the base layer when we shot the other kit and in some ways that’s in keeping with its role as the unsung hero. For most of the year in the UK, there’s literally nothing better than a merino base layer that fits snugly. Like the jersey, Le Col’s ARC base layer is made from the same Biella-sourced merino blended with synthetic fibres to make it more durable and to help it keep its shape. It works perfectly underneath the ARC jersey for double merino insulation, and I actually wear it as a warm base layer when I’m doing other activities in the winter, like going for a run with the dog. £70 is quite a lot for what some might call a glorified vest, but I would almost call it a game changer it’s that good – and since it’s so versatile and, like the jacket, is not limited to cycling, you’ll absolutely get your money’s worth.
For all the details and prices visit Le Col’s website.
