Best cycling gilets 2024: Vests to keep you warm and protect you from the wind

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 design 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 and 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 Spatz BurnR Gilet which has proven to be versatile enough to be part of my year-round cycling wardrobe. Van Rysel Windproof Gilet Racer is a great budget offering combining protection from the wind and a performance-orientated fit. As we approach winter, the Endura Pro SL Primaloft II Gilet is a great option 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 base layer, cycling jersey and arm warmers with the right gilet well into the winter months for example. If you usually transition straight from winter jackets to jerseys or vice versa you may be surprised at the versatility a good gilet or vest can bring to the table.

Quick List

Written and tested by

Written and tested by

Tom Wieckowski

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 the 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.

The best cycling gilet

Best overall

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 it.

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 the 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.  

For more details, you can read our full in-depth Spatz BurnR review.

Best budget

The Van Rysel Windproof Gilet Racer (not the smoothest name 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 light 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' name 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. Providing great bang for your buck all around. 

Read our in-depth review of the Windproof Gilet Racer.

Best insulation

The Castelli Unlimited Puffy Vest is a new addition to the guide for this year and I've come to really value it after testing. 

This gilet uses lightweight but snug Polartec Alpha insulation on the torso and back to add warmth. This is a different setup from the 'down' design of the 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 some nice features elsewhere, including a large zip puller on the two-way zip, 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 a 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 Draft Vest or gilet is a solid, stylish option for spring, 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 doesn'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 smallest, great for an extra bit of insurance on all sorts of rides.

Check out the MAAP Draft Vest review for more.

Best all rounder

Another new edition this year 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. 

The Wind Gilet is as the name suggests designed to keep 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 large mesh zippered pockets on the rear and a useful one on the chest which are good for just 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 look-wise, though you 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 new gilet for spring and summer, the Wind Gilet has some really nice details. 

Best for winter

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 warmth. 

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. Primaloft 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 are slightly on the narrow side so bear this in mind if you want to carry a hefty rain jacket or lots of spares. On 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 bike or being used for running or walking, potentially making it quite a versatile year-round buy. 

Best for visibility

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 the silvery/grey finish may not be for everyone. It's not wafer thin and does a good job of keeping the wind at bay on blowy rides, there aren't any pockets though. 

Also Tested

The ThermaCore body warmer from GripGrab is primarily designed to be worn as a body-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 inside uses Teijin Octa Airmesh fabric which is super light but soft and fleecy inside. The back panel 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 relatively fitted that it could slip under a jacket to add extra warmth really easily.

There's also a small rear zippered pocket and a DWR coating on the windproof front panels.

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 tabs 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 Light Reflex vest from Nalini is a medium-weight gilet that offers good foul weather protection and 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 from 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 Reflex vest will look after you down into single digits comfortably but is light enough that it would work well in much warmer conditions too. 

Read our in-depth review of the Nalini Light Reflex Vest here 

How to choose

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, go for it. 

I think generally, most riders think of a thin windproof layer when 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 open 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-focused 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 gilets already and want to expand your wardrobe, check out the Castelli Unlimited Puffy or the Albion Wind Gilet, both are really nice bits of kit and can do a lot.