Eight vests to keep the wind and showers out
The best cycling gilets are your secret weapon against the elements. Smaller and more packable than a full jacket, gilets are the perfect piece of spare clothing to take with you on changeable days.
In fact, a good gilet can be the most versatile piece of kit in your wardrobe, seeing year-round use. Think cold morning starts in the spring and summer, long descents off mountains and autumn days when the weather won’t settle.
When layering up for winter, they make a great outer layer for fast riding because they protect your core but are much more breathable than a jacket. Pair a gilet with a breathable long-sleeve jersey and you’ll have a warm but well-vented combination.
On that note, the lack of sleeves means a gilet can offer much greater ventilation, helping sweat to evaporate at a faster rate rather than getting trapped inside and eventually making you cold.
Like jackets, gilets come in a range of different materials, styles and price points, meaning there’s something for every type of cyclist. So we’ve tested a wide range and have put together this buyer’s guide of what we think are the best gilets for cycling in 2024.
For more of our top picks, take a look at our guides to the best cycling jerseys, best waterproof jackets, autumn cycling kit, cycling gloves and overshoes.
The best gilets for cycling in 2024
7mesh Men’s Chilco Vest
- £130 / $150 / €130
- Pros: Good fit; comfortable and versatile; WTV fabric works well
- Cons: Pricey; not many features
The Chilco gilet impressed us, with its WTV (Wind Thermal Ventilation) fabric keeping the breeze out while the soft-pile inner fabric insulated well without overheating.
A rear pocket takes essentials such as phones and spares, but we’d like to see a chest pocket for more precious items.
Altura Esker Dune Insulated Gilet
- £110 / €130 as tested
- Pros: Warm and weatherproof; plenty of sizing options; good fit
- Cons: A bigger storm flap would enhance sub-zero riding
Featuring a windproof fabric paired with recycled-material insulation, the Esker Dune retains your body heat well, while a DWR Pertex layer keeps the moisture out.
Chest pockets and a two-way main zipper impressed us, giving the jacket great versatility for cold-weather riding.
The storm flap on the front keeps the wind out, but a slightly larger one would be better on the coldest of days.
Altura NV2 Vest
- £50 as tested
- Windproof and showerproof fabric
- Glows when light shines on it
Featuring a semi-fitted cut and made with Altura’s Shield windproof and showerproof fabric, the NV2 breathes well, while offering protection from the elements.
The clever bit is the Darkproof technology in the fabric, which gives it a glowing appearance when light shines on it.
A silicone waist gripper holds the gilet in place, and the lower back panel features a single zipped pocket with a storm flap.
dhb Aeron Packable Gilet
- £50 / $65 / €56 / AU$90 as tested
- High visibility
- Double zip
This women’s-specific gilet from dhb provides great breathability thanks to its mesh back, and we think it makes a good buy for year-round use. The wind-resistant material on the front of the gilet seems durable.
We found the fit to have a decent, although not relaxed, fit without excess material flapping around. The gilet is a good length and the silicone gripper on the bottom hem actually works.
Visibility is the priority here, with the fluorescent yellow and reflective details working to keep you seen when out on the road.
You can easily fit this gilet into a cycling jersey pocket.
Endura FS260-Pro Adrenaline Race Gilet II
- £68 / $90 as tested
- Excellent stretch
- Available in a women’s-specific cut
Based on the classic race cape style, the translucent ExoShell20ST fabric offers good breathability with excellent stretch properties and waterproofing, improved by sealed seams and an internal storm flap.
The ample reflective trim around the waist, shoulder cuffs and zip provides great visibility.
Endura also offers the FS260-Pro Adrenaline Race Gilet II in a women’s-specific cut.
Endura MT500 Spray Gilet
- £85 / $130 / €100 as tested
- Pros: Breathable and waterproof; nicely finished; plenty of sizes
- Cons: Fit isn’t the most refined
Made from a waterproof front panel and stretchy, breathable fabrics, the MT500 works well in a variety of conditions.
It’s not bulky, but there’s a feeling of durability when wearing the jacket that adds to its charm when out on the trails.
The fit wasn’t perfect for our tester, with a couple of adjustments needed around the chest area.
Endura Pro SL PrimaLoft II Gilet
- £120 / $165 as tested
- PrimaLoft insulation
- Three rear pockets and a zipped pocket
Endura’s gilet will leave you as snug as a bug under a duvet clutching a hot water bottle!
It’s not as packable as most, but this PrimaLoft-insulated gilet does have three standard rear pockets and one zipped one, so it’s great for long days in the saddle when you might need the extra storage space.
We think it’s perfect over a baselayer and long-sleeve jersey on dry, cold days. If you run warm, you might find it a little too warm on long climbs, though like any gilet you can unzip it.
There are reflective details on the collar and hem for added visibility, and it’s available in a women’s cut.
Rapha Pro Team Lightweight Rain Gilet
- £140 / $190 / AU$245 as tested
- Race fit
- Two-way zip
Perfect for cold, rainy days, the Pro Team offers outstanding waterproofing for a gilet. Rapha’s three-layer fabric is also highly stretchy for a race-ready fit.
A two-way zip adds cooling options, along with the Velcro tab at the top. A large rear pocket is ample for on-the-go storage, and it’s covered in a rubber-like film for added spray protection too.
Rapha also sells the Souplesse Lightweight Rain Gilet with a women’s cut.
Gilet buyer’s guide
A cycling gilet is one of the best clothing accessories for the spring and autumn months thanks to its versatility and packability.
Whether you’re warming up for a cold morning start, or caught out in changing weather, a gilet can help keep your core body temperature up without taking up too much room in your rear pockets.
Windbreaking front panels will keep the cold chill off your chest on long descents, and with fewer newspapers about these days they’re becoming a popular choice for professionals descending the high mountains.
The design of gilets is basic and relatively unchained, made up of a packable and windproof material and featuring a sleeveless design – making them the waistcoat of racewear.
Removing the sleeves allows for good airflow to your underarms allowing them to take in the breeze and stop you from overheating.
If you live in a climate where the temperature varies throughout the day then a gilet could be the answer to getting you out of the house without lugging around bulky extra layers.
What to look for in a cycling gilet
Wind resistance
One of the main reasons for getting cold on the bike is windchill, and unless you’re in a perfect tailwind there’s no escaping it.
The best cycling gilets will feature a windbreaker front panel to keep the cool air from infiltrating your body’s core.
Some materials will be more protective than others, with some manufacturers choosing to use waterproof or insulated material for increased warmth on chilly days.
This can lead to overheating on warmer days, so consider the temperature you’ll be riding in and how hot you usually get on the bike.
Breathability
Thanks to their sleeveless designs, gilets are generally very good at venting heat, keeping you at a comfortable temperature in varying conditions.
Some manufacturers will go a step further and include a mesh panel on the rear to allow for more heat to be dumped, making the gilet more comfortable in warm climates.
High levels of breathability keep you warmer, as there is no build-up of sweat cooling you from the inside.
Packability
The key factor of a cycling gilet is the ability to stow it away when you warm up or the weather changes.
For this reason, many gilets use lightweight materials and forego rear pockets to keep a small form factor.
There are exceptions to this, with more substantial gilets aimed at winter riding featuring pockets and heavy hems to keep winter breezes at bay.
With gilets mainly used at the start or the end of the day, it’s common to see reflective materials used on the front and rear panels to help keep you seen in the dawn or dust.
More cycling jackets
While gilets offer good protection on dry days, if you plan on heading out in the rain then you’ll want to check out our roundup of the best waterproof cycling jackets.
If you’re looking for mountain bike-specific jackets, then take a peek at what we think are the best mountain bike jackets.