Conquer the Cold: Best Cycling Gilets
A staple of any cyclist’s wardrobe, a cycling gilet provides excellent core warmth and wind protection. We’ve put together a buyer's guide to the best gilets, highlighting the versatility and performance of the humble gilet as an essential, lightweight, and practical layer for cyclists.
In a notoriously changeable climate like the UK, it is practically a year-round requirement to have one in a jersey pocket just in case the weather changes. Adaptable clothing is crucial for changing weather, and a cycling gilet provides flexibility for riders who need lightweight, storable options that can be layered as needed.
Why Choose a Cycling Gilet?
Usually made from a very thin, densely woven fabric and weighing somewhere around 100 grams, cycling gilets add a surprising amount of extra warmth when worn over insulating layers.
For optimal layering, many cyclists wear a cycling jersey underneath a gilet, as a good cycling jersey provides comfort, breathability, and moisture-wicking properties during rides. The sleeveless design is key, as it keeps your core warm while allowing your arms full freedom of movement and preventing overheating by allowing more heat to escape from your armpits. The air inside the gilet is warmed up by body heat and then kept in place by the windproof layer rather than being whisked away by the breeze.
Best Cycling Gilet For Women
Rapha Women's Pro Team Gilet II
The Rapha Women’s Pro Team Gilet II is a highly effective, performance-driven layer, weighing just 72 grams (size S) and engineered to be easily packable for unpredictable weather. This womens cycling gilet features advanced woven fabrics for wind and rain resistance, alongside a race-tailored design with stretch panels to reduce drag and a two-way Vislon® zip for ventilation and access in aggressive riding positions.
Best Cycling Gilet for Men
Rapha Pro Team Gilet II
The Rapha Pro Team Gilet II is lauded as the essential lightweight, race-ready cycling layer, engineered for speed and protection across a wide temperature range (6 to 16°C). It offers excellent wind and rain resistance from advanced woven fabrics while packing down easily to a claimed weight of just 80g (size S). Key performance features of this mens cycling gilet include a two-way Vislon® zipper for ventilation and pocket access, along with stretch panels and redesigned armholes to ensure a streamlined, comfortable, and race-tailored fit that minimises drag.
Other Types of Cycling Gilets
Cycling gilets come in a range of styles, each tailored to meet specific needs and weather conditions, making them a must-have in any cycling wardrobe. Whether you’re heading out on chilly mornings, tackling hilly rides, or bracing for changeable conditions, there’s a gilet designed to keep your upper body protected and comfortable. Here’s a closer look at the main types of cycling gilets and what makes each one a valuable addition to your cycling kit:
Windproof Gilets
Perfect for blocking cold air and providing reliable wind protection, windproof cycling gilets are a staple for riders who want to stay warm without much bulk. These gilets often feature a DWR coating for water resistance, making them ideal for unpredictable weather. Their lightweight, breathable fabrics ensure you avoid overheating, while a snug fit keeps the gilet from flapping as you ride. Many windproof gilet models include practical touches like a zipped pocket or rear pockets for stashing essentials, so you can keep your jersey pocket free for snacks or tools.
Best Windproof Cycling Gilet: Castelli Espresso Vest
The Castelli Espresso Vest is an ideal windproof gilet for cyclists, offering protection from variable conditions with its lightweight, packable design and wind-resistant front. While blocking the wind, the stretch woven front and highly breathable Air_O Stretch back fabric ensure excellent moisture management and comfort, aided by a tailored fit and three rear pockets. This combination of wind resistance, breathability, and practical features makes it a top choice for rides in temperatures ranging from 12 to 20 degrees celsius.
Insulated Gilets
When extra core warmth is needed, insulated cycling gilets step up to the challenge. Designed for cold rides and winter conditions, these gilets use synthetic or down insulation to trap body heat, offering good protection against the chill. A relaxed fit allows for layering over a long sleeve jersey or under a winter jacket, making them a versatile extra layer for your cold-weather cycling kit. Some insulated gilets also feature several pockets, including a zipped pocket for valuables, so you can keep everything secure on the move.
Best Insulated Cycling Gilet: Assos EQUIPE R Spring Fall Gilet
The ASSOS Equipe R Spring Fall Gilet is the ultimate insulated vest for cyclists, offering a balanced mix of breathable warmth and protection ideal for changeable spring and autumn conditions. It features a strategic blend of fabrics, like midweight RX insulation on the chest and a highly breathable Stabilizator V11 back panel, to keep you warm without overheating during high-intensity efforts. The gilet is finished with an AEPD 11 racingFit, providing an aerodynamic, second-skin silhouette perfected for pro-level performance.
Waterproof Gilets
For those days when the weather turns truly wet, a waterproof cycling gilet is your best defence. Made from completely waterproof materials and often equipped with a storm flap and sealed seams, these gilets keep your core dry in heavy rain. Despite their robust protection, many are still easily packable, so you can stash them in a jersey pocket when the skies clear. Look for models with rear pockets or a single zipped pocket for added convenience during wet rides.
Best Waterproof Cycling Gilet: Rapha Pro Team Shadow Gilet
The Rapha Pro Team Shadow Gilet is engineered for high intensity cycling, offering superior waterproof and windproof protection in unpredictable conditions thanks to a new lightweight membrane, PFAS-free DWR finish, and critically taped seams. Its design, informed by World Tour riders, includes a refined fit, excellent breathability, a double zip for ventilation, and three generous back pockets, making it the ultimate choice for performance and versatility. This gilet improves upon the previous Infinium range, delivering real world comfort and elemental defence for dedicated cyclists.
Reflective & Hi Vis Gilets
Safety is paramount, especially in low light or poor visibility and for commuters. Reflective gilets are designed with reflective details or panels to boost your visibility to other road users. These gilets are a smart choice for early morning or evening rides, and they often combine wind protection with lightweight, breathable fabrics. Reflective detailing is usually paired with practical features like a snug fit and elasticated hem, ensuring comfort and safety go hand in hand.
The other option for commuters is a hi vis cycling gilet. A hi visibility gilet significantly increases your visibility to traffic in low light conditions, drastically reducing the risk of an accident.
Best Hi Vis Cycling Gilet: Castelli Squadra Stretch Vest
The Castelli Squadra Stretch Vest is an ideal, entry-level, high-visibility gilet offering excellent wind protection without overheating. Its coated ripstop nylon body blocks cold air, while the tightly knit stretch side panels provide ventilation and a great fit. Furthermore, the vest includes a high collar and strategic reflective details to boost visibility and coverage in low-light conditions.
Affordable, light, and highly effective, a well-fitting windproof cycling gilet should be right up there near the top of any cyclist’s clothing list. Through testing bikes and riding out on the road in a variety of conditions, we’ve found these features make a noticeable difference in comfort and performance. At Sigma Sports, we have a wide choice of jerseys from the leading brands such as Rapha, ASSOS, Castelli, Universal Colours, Pas Normal Studios and MAAP to name a few.
There aren’t many UK days when popping a gilet in a jersey pocket before a ride isn’t a prudent move, so it’s well worth considering buying one.
Cycling Gilet FAQs
Are cycling gilets waterproof?
Cycling gilets aren’t 100% waterproof but they will often have a hydrophilic chemical DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment on the surface. In real life, most riders find water resistant gilets sufficient for light rain and road spray.
How breathable are cycling gilets?
Some cycling gilets have vents or mesh panels (often on the back) to specifically aid breathability, but as the fabric isn’t a fully waterproof barrier, the breathability is normally very good anyway. This mesh-back design is a key feature of the best cycling gilets, preventing a ‘boil-in-the-bag’ feeling when riding hard.
