A cycling gilet, or a vest if you are in the US, can provide a really useful addition to your cycling wardrobe. The lightweight, sleeveless desig💮n of a gilet means that it can be packed down small for jersey pocket storage and pulled on and off multiple times on a ride to keep the wind at bay or just keep you that little bit warmer. Heavier weight gilets can also do an excellent job of keeping your core warm and comfortable but allowing you to wear less and stay a little more aero, less restricted an⭕d faster feeling on the bike.
Gilets come in all kinds of designs, from super lightweight packable options, to heavier weight, windproof and water-resistant options for winter and cooler temps. I have included a wide range in this guide that serve a range of purposes and have tested them in all kinds of conditions. My favourite is the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Spatz BurnR Gilet which has proven to be versatile enough to be part of my year-round cycling wardrobe. 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:Van Rysel Windproof Gilet Racer is a great budget offering combining protection from the wind and a performance-orientated f🅠it. As we approach winter, the Endura Pro SL Primaloft II Gilet is a great opti🅰on for adding extra warmth on its own or as part of a layering system.
One or two well-chosen gilets can add year-round versatility and open up additional kit options that will allow you to also use more of your cycling kit 12 months of the year. For higher intensity rides you can stick with a 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:base layer, 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:cycling jersey and 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:arm warmers with the right gilet well into the winter months for example. If you usually transition straight from 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:winter jackets to jer🍰seys or vice versa you may be surprised at the versatility a good gilet or vest can bring to the table🌺.
+ Great performance for the money
- Will be a little sweaty in warmer temps
If you're looking for a good gilet at an affordable price, just get one of these. I've been really impressed with it. It's well-fitted and comfortable with a m♉esh back and three good pockets.
+ Insulation offers lightweight comfort and warmth
- Rear pockets are a little loose
The premium Unlimited Puffy Vest from Castelli uses lightweight Polartec Alpha insulation to keep you snug. It will cover a range of ridi♑ng andಞ conditions
+ Design and style works on or off road
- Open mesh pockets a bit busy when full
The smart Albion Wind Gilet is great for warmer days when yওou want some added♛ protection. It features two large rear mesh pockets and looks great whether you are riding road, gravel or even MTB.
+ Warm, winter-weight gilet
- Would you just opt for a jacket?
The Endura Pro SL Primaloft II Gilet is one of the warmest gilets in theꦡ guide thanks to its PrimaLoft Gold in𓆏sulation. It will keep you warm and comfy on colder rides.
I've been cycling for most of my life and gilets have been a cornerstone of my cycling wardrobe. I have been on the hunt for the perfect gilet, pretty much constantly testing options from loads of brands for Cyclingnews over the last two years. Each gilet I review is tested over a prolonged period of time to check how it wears, washes and holds up in real-life use. I try each gilet with a range of cycling kit and layers to see how it performs over a range of temperatures and conditions. What I specifically look for may not be ꦡthe same as what you need so I do my best to test across the board and for a range of conditions to provide the best advice I can.
Recent updates
Last updated on 29th of October 2024
This best gilets for cycling guide has been refreshed for Autumn with links to new reviews, the addition of Buy if/Don't buy if recommendations, removed discontinued products and reformated how to choose and FAQ section to streamline information for the reader. The intro was also rewritten to highlight our top picks from the guide.
The best cycling gilet
Best overall
The BurnR is fast,ꦯ flat free and very comfortable (Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)
The BurnR gilet from Spartz receives our best overall award. Its tight-fitting but super stretchy woven, ribbed material means it hugs your figure but remains very🥃 comfortable. I've given it the best overall title from the group test and have loved riding in i𒀰t.
There's a wind block section across the front of the chest and up into the shoulder area and three good-sized mesh pockets at the rear, which the updated version of the vest received. Meaning though the gilet isn't waterproof you can stash a rain jacket in the rear. (like th♔e rest of the gilets here with rear pockets)
It packs down to 🀅fit comfortably in a jersey pocket and brings so much to the table for its size that it's going to be money well spent. I've really enjoyed pulling it on and wearing it when I've headed out in it for testing. The woven material means it's very comfortable and I think that's what I liked the most when compared to other more rustly gilets.
Like a lot of Spatz equipment, there is a specific design to aid foul weather performance. If you are racing in your own kit or riding hard the BurnR has zero flap and keeps you feeling fast, aero and protected but it could easily go under a jacket to 💞add extra warmth as an extra layer too. It's versatile and will be good for cold winter sessions or cooler spring and even summer days.
The Van Rysel Windproof Gilet Racer (not the smoothest na🌜me I know) has emerged comfortably as 🔜the best budget gilet for me in testing. For the price, it's a really solid gilet and comfortably competes with more expensive offerings.
It looks good, with some simple Van Rysel logos and the black and lighไt 🍎olive colours I've tested both look good.
It isn't a featherweight and the Albion and Maap options are thinner and lighter. But I just see this as a plus for the price, the gilet can do a bit more. The torso and side panels are just a little bit thicker, tying in with the 'windproof' nameಞ whilst the back is thin mesh to help things breathe.
It will work well with layers on colder riders but also keep you comfortable on all but the warmest days, the fit is performance-orientated and fits well and the three rear pockets are well done too. Providi💮ng great bang for youﷺr buck all around.
The Castelli Unlimited Puffy Vest is a n🌳ew addition to the guide for this year a๊nd I've come to really value it after testing.
This gilet uses lightweight but snug insulation on the torso and back to add warmth. This is a different setup from the 'down' design of t😼he Endura PRO SL gilet we feature in the guide. If you're torn between the two, the Endura is more suited to winter, the Unlimited Puffy will take you into spring and summer. The Alpha lining is thin and lightweight but adds warmth whilst breathing well.
The cut of the Unlimited Puffy is excellent in my opinion, it's a comfortable fit, nowhere near as tight as the⭕ Spatz or Maap options but more fitted where it needs to be. Well executed all around and importantly the more relaxed cut works just as well riding on the road or off it, depending on what you're doing and wearing. The fit means you could ride in it all day, and it wouldn't look out of place off the bike either, it does both really well.
There are s🌼ome nice features elsewhere, including a large zip puller on the two-way zᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚip, a zippered chest pocket (as well as the two at the rear) and a high fleecy collar.
The ♐gilet is available in six colours and some can be had at a significant discount right now. It also folds down to fit into aജ jersey pocket and would be a welcome addition across a range of temperatures or under a jacket. I've worn it in a downpour with soaking roads and lots of spray and was very surprised with the effectiveness of its DWR coating.
Best style
The MAAP Draf꧂t looks very stylish in blue and is pretty on trend (Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)
The MAAP Dr🧜aft Vest or gilet is a solid, stylish option for sp꧅ring, summer or autumn. It's lightweight, bang on trend and uses a mesh back panel to aid breathability.
I've worn it on cooler spring days and as a top layer in a race over a jersey. The fitted, stretchy cut means it d♏oesn't flap around or create noise which is always a plus, especially at faster speeds. 🔯For reference, I'm 65kg and around 5'9 and tested a small. If you want a slightly looser fit it may pay to go one size up, but stick to your size if you want a snugger fit.
I think🌸 the addition of even a single zipped pocket would be really great on the Draft gilet, but the two-way zip does allow you to get into jersey pockets easily enough for your phone or keys. Its light weight means it's one of the gilets in the guide that packs down the small𒈔est, great for an extra bit of insurance on all sorts of rides.
🦹The Albion Wind Gilet styling means it looks good riding a range of disciplines (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
5. Albion Wind Gilet
Great for a wide range of riding
Reasons to buy
+
Stylish colour and cut
+
Several well thought out features
+
Good chest pocket
Reasons to avoid
-
Large rear pockets might get a bit messy when full
Another new edition this yearꦉ is the Albion Wind Gilet. I've found myself reaching for this gilet a lot this year and have come to really rate it, hence its inclusion in the guide.
ꦚThe Wind Gilet is as the name suggests designed to kꦗeep the wind at bay on warmer days, it's thin and lightweight and packs down really small. Using the popular right now Pertex Quantum micro ripstop face fabric, which also has a DWR coating.
The gilet is fairly fitted but not super tight. I've worn it for road and gravel rides in the UK and abroad this year. There are two la🎶rge mesh zippered pockets on the rear and a useful one on the chest which are good for ju🍌st sticking loads of kit in, but if you like the well-ordered organization the traditional three rear pockets provide this may irk slightly.
The colour, a sort of dark olive, and finish mean the gilet looks good for road, gravel riding, or even MTB. It feels like it straddles all the different disciplines lo𝓡ok-wise, though y🦹ou can of course just wear whatever you want.
There's also a nice silicone hem gripper, easy pull zips, adjustable elastic hem toggles and a two-way zipper and reflective rear details. If you're looking for a good quality n💧ew gilet for spring and summer, the Wind Gil💎et has some really nice details.
Best for winter
The Endura Pro SL Primaloft really does feel luxurious in use ꧟ (Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)
6. Endura Pro SL Primaloft II Gilet
Soft primaloft insulation for extra warmth
Reasons to buy
+
Plush, luxurious feel
+
Four pockets in total
+
Versatile
Reasons to avoid
-
DWR treated material will soak through in rain
The PRO SL Primaloft II Gilet from Scottish brand Endura is a down (well, synthetic insulation) gilet for on the bike. It feels lovely and💜 snug when you pull it on and it provides a strong level of warmt🌱h.
Endura uses 80g of PrimaLoft Gold insulating fibres on the front torso and 60g of PrimaLoft Silver Active fibres have been used on the back. uses a lot 🌄of recycled material, particularly plastic bottles to create its fibres.
For cool and cold rides the Pro SL will keep you warm. There's enough stretch for it to go over a few layers and the cut has a nice shape but is a little bit more relaxed. The three rear and one zippered pocket give you room for essentials. The pockets for me arജe slightly on the narrow side so bear this in mind if you want to carry a hefty rain jacket or lots of spares. ൩On the subject of rain, the gilet has a 'water repellant' finish and water does bead and run well off it, but when faced with a good amount of water it will get a little sodden.
Due to the cut and styling of the gilet it wouldn't look out of place off the b🐟ike or being used for running or walking, potentially making it quite a versatile year-round buy.
Best for visibility
The Ale Guscio is a good bet if you want or nee꧂d to ꦇbe seen (Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)
7. Ale reflective shell gilet
Super reflective in low light
Reasons to buy
+
Really aids visibility at night or in low light
+
Lightweight
Reasons to avoid
-
No rear pockets
The Ale Reflective shell gilet is all about visibility. The vest comes alive in dark or dim conditions thanks to microscopic glass spheres that are embedded in the Polyamide fabric. The silvery material really lights up and dazzles when light hits it. For putting on for a commute to or from work or a dim early morning ride in general it's a🦩 handy option that will help you stand out a lot. There's also an iridescent version if you want to push the boat out further.
In lighter conditions, I don't think the gilet looks out of place, though theဣ silvery/grey finish may not be for everyone. It's not wafer thin and does a good job of keeping the wi💜nd at bay on blowy rides, there aren't any pockets though.
Also Tested
The GripGrab Thermacore is warm and light, but has 🌸one small zippered pocket ꦚ; (Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)
8. GripGrab Thermacore body warmer vest
Airmesh fabric that adds warmth and aids breathability
Reasons to buy
+
Excellent thermal properties
+
Fitted cut
+
Very lightweight
Reasons to avoid
-
Insulating fibres may go 'flat' over a time
-
Only one small zippered pocket
The ThermaCore body warmer from GripGrab is primarily designed to b෴e worn as a b🤪ody-warming mid-layer under a jacket, but it doubles up as a full-blown gilet really well too.
It's quite a technical piece of kit. It is very lightweight and almost delicate feeling but the insꦰide uses Teijin Octa Airmesh fabric which is super light but soft and fleecy inside. The back pane🧜l is translucent but also features fleecy fibres, it's a little like Polartec Alpha insulation that can be found on certain garments but it's far finer. The side panels of the gilet use stretchy fleece.
So you're getting a very lightweight gilet that's fleecy and snug on the inside but allows moisture to escape very easily. It's ideal for wearing as a top layer, and there's a little bit more material on the chest and front of the torso that has a satisfying light 'puffiness' due to the fleecy fibres. I wore it for an intense one-hour race in November over a thicker jersey and my temperature was perfect and I didn't get sweaty at all. It's also so light and rel🥃atively fitted that it could slip under a jacket to add extra warmth really easily.
Th𝓰ere's also a small rear zippered pocket and a DWR coating on the windproof front panels.
If you want something light and small for the cafe or first 🔜thing, the Rapha Core is great (Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)
9. Rapha Core Gilet
A stylish and lightweight option
Reasons to buy
+
Stylish design
+
Wide rear gripper
+
Packs down small
Reasons to avoid
-
Material a bit noisy in the wind
If you are looking for a stylish, lightweight gilet that's easily packable and lightweight, to just take the edge off on cool spring and summer days or to pull on at the cafe or pub post ride then the Core gilet is it. There are four colours to choose from: 🔯Brown, Navy, Black, and Olive.
It's another quality piece from Rapha with 💫a slightly dropped rear tail and wide, gripper that keeps the gilet in place. The fit isn't super tight and there's a ▨decent bit of room underneath.
A good range of features get ticked off; there's a decent꧋ height neck which I like, reflective t💮abs on the rear and a two-way zip which should make pocket access a bit easier since the gilet doesn't feature any. Just a single pocket would be nice, but you can't have everything.
The Nalini Li💫ght Reflex is a quality, no nonsense gilet for fouဣler conditions (Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)
The Light Reflex vest from Nalini is a medium-weight gilet that offers good foul weather protect🧸ion an♏d like the Ale gilet, has a visibility party piece.
I most recently used the gilet for a three-hour ride where the temperature was 4C / 32F and rose up to 7C / 42C. I rode with a jersey, arm warmers and winter base layer and was toasty warm. The high collar and three good-sized rear pockets are also well-considered. The rear pockets and the majority of the back panel reflect when light hits it. It should keep you that little bit more visible fr﷽om behind to motorists etc.
I did find the back gets a little sweatier when you⛄'re working hard due to the reflective material but this didn't cause me any real issues.
The Light ಌReflex vest will look after you down into single digits comfortably but is light enough that it would work well in much warmer conditions🔯 too.
Decision-making when purchasing gilets isn't nearly as involved as something like cycling shoes or even bikes. If you see one you like in your price range, ꦬgo for it.
I think g✱enerally, most riders think of a thin windproof layer wh♊en we talk about gilets as at least a starting point. But there is a lot of ground in between that they can cover.
If you don't usually ride in a gilet, you might be surprised at what they offer and how they opꩲen up your cycling wardrobe. My advice would be to buy something with pockets (see pic below) and that is perhaps a bit heavier than some barely there, ultra-light options. I don't think they actually bring much to the table. The Van Rysel gilet is a great place to start.
If you are performance-fo🐽cused and want to be light and fast on the bike, look to the Spatz BurnR, it's a great piece of kit.
If you have a few gil🦄ets already and want to expand your wardrobe, check ꦆout the Castelli Unlimited Puffy or the Albion Wind Gilet, both are really nice bits of kit and can do a lot.
Generally, I'd recommend going for a gilet with pockets, when you do need them, it makes life a lot easier and they don't get in the way when not in use.&nb♋sp; (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
Why do cyclists wear gilets
Cyclists ride in such a wide range of weather conౠditions and temperatures and at different effort levels that a range of cycling kit is needed most of the time to help us feel most comfortable. Moving at speed also creates a lot of wind or wind chill which can also affect our core temperatures.
A gilet can do a great job of keeping your torso and core warm and comfortable whilst not adding too much bulk or when a thicker, heavier jacket might be a bit too much. The ability to carry a gilet easily in jersey pockets means they can reall🔯y help us keep comfortable in changing weather.
Should a gilet be loose or tight fitting?
🎃A gilet can be either. If you are racing or riding with a little more purpose or simply like the style more, a tighter-fitting, racier gilet is going be more suited to your needs. It won't flap and create drag and you may just ꧑feel a little bit more agile on the bike.
If you are ri😼ding off-road, taking it a bit easier or just prefer a more relaxed fit to layer up more underneath size up or choose a more relaxed gilet. The choice is yours. A lot ඣof manufacturers will also indicate the fit of a piece in their product descriptions so look for this or ask if you want to know more about a particular garment's cut.
What kind of gilet do you want?
If you are just starting the journey down the path of cold weather cycling gear you might not realise the breadth of options. There are꧂ options available for nearly every layering strategy and wear use case you can think of. If you are racing and just want to quickly add extra core warmth that's one situation. Are you looking for something that can help warm up chilly descents and will only be a small part of the ride? There are options for under an outer layer or you might want to make the gilet the outer layer. Will you need access to jersey pockets underneath or do you need the gilet to have the pockets?
The list of di𒉰fferent scenarios is long. Start by considering what you have and what capability you are looking to add. Think about the weather you ride in and the weather that exists in your part of the world. At that point you can start sorting what's out there into options that will work for you. In most situations designs will work in more than one scenario but if you can narrow down the style🎉 you want that will help you find the right option.
Do cycling gilets have pockets?
Some do, some do not. Part of narrowing do🧸wn what you want is going to be deciding on pockets or not. For some people,🦂 a gilet without pockets is automatically off the list. I tend to prefer pockets generally, but if you just want something you can take on and off they aren't essential. There are no rules.
The most basic place to start is with your strategy for wearing a gilet and wh🎀at is underneath. If you expect to only wear the gilet for part of the ride then pockets aren't necessary. Loaded-up pockets will make taking it on and off more difficult. If that's your strateg♈y, look for a design that makes getting to your jersey pockets easier.
Should I get a cycling gilet or a jacket?
This all goes back to the first question of what kind of gilet do you want? The reason you might choose a gilet is versatility. Compared to a jacket they are lighter, more breathable, and more storable. Gilets also tend to be a little cheaper. If you want to combine what you have and make it work in more situations, choosing a gilet can save some money and allow for more combinations, by adding a pair of the 澳洲幸运5开奖官网在线查询开奖结果:best armwarmers for example.
If💛 you tend to run cold when riding and expect to keep your layers on, then a gilet might not make much sense. A jacket is going to be warmer andꦚ when you start to stack lots of layers it can feel constrictive. If you don't need the versatility that a gilet offers then choose a jacket instead.
Why would you need a waterproof gilet?
You'd be surprised how much warmer you might be if your core is dry. Especially in warmer rain, just keeping most of you dry goes a long way. It can also come in handy for layering strategy. In some parts of the world, a softshell cycling jacket might be plenty of warmth. The only problem with🌳 that type of jacket is that sustained rain will eventually come through. If it’s rare for you to spend time in sustained rain then adding a weather resistant gilet gives you an option for𓂃 adding warmth to a summer jersey as well as bulking up your winter softshell for the rare times you need it.
How do we test the best gilets for cycling?
I've ridden in as many weather conditions and c🎶ombinations of kit as I can in all of the gilets in the guide to test them and their capabilities out. At times I ride with two or even three with me and swap around during the same ride to help see what they can and can't do.
I weigh them, photograph them and follow up with the manufacturer or distributor with tech or design questions I✅ have.
Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as a tech writer. Despite having a degree in English Lit🅰erature he has spent his entire working life in the cycling industry in one form or another. He has over 10 years of experience as a qualified mechanic, with the last five years before joining Cyclingnews being spent running an independent workshop. This means he is just as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike, and he isn’t afraid to pull a bike apart or get hands-on with it when testing to really see what it’s made of.
He has ridden and raced bikes from an early age up to a national level on the road and track, and has ridden and competed in most disciplines. He has a keen eye for pro-team tech and enjoys spotting new or interesting components in the wild. During his time at Cyclingnews, Tom has already interviewed some of the sport's biggest names including Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Alberto Contador. He's also covered various launches from brands such as Pinarello, Ridley, Specialized and more, tackled the Roubaix Challenge sportive aboard his own rim-brake Cannondale SuperSix Evo, tested over 20 aero helmets in the wind tunnel, and has created helpful in-depth buying advice relating to countless categories from torque wrenches to winter clothing.
