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

Best Cycling gilets

A gilet or vest if you are in the US can provide a really useful addition to your cycling wardrobe. The lightweight, armless 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. 

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

The best gilets for cycling available today

You can trust Cyclingnews Our experts spend countless hours testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

Best overall

Spatz BurnR Gilet

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)
Best Overall

Specifications

Rear pockets : Three
Fits into a pocket : Yes
Colours : Red / Black
Sizes: S - M/L - L/XL

Reasons to buy

+
Three rear pockets are great
+
Stretchy, comfortable fit 
+
Aero 

Reasons to avoid

-
May be too fitted for some 

The BurnR gilet from Spartz is a really interesting and pretty unique gilet. 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.  

You can read our full in-depth Spatz BurnR review here.

Stylish and lightweight

MAAP draft gilet

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)

2. MAAP Draft Gilet

Stylish and Lightweight

Specifications

Rear Pockets : No
Fits into a pocket: Yes
Colours : Seven options
Sizes : XS-XXL

Reasons to buy

+
Stylish design Compressive, stretchy fit 
+
DWR coating 

Reasons to avoid

-
No rear pockets 

The MAAP Draft gilet is a solid, stylish option for spring, summer or autumn. It's lightweight and uses a mesh back panel to aid breathability but there's just a little more to it than some of the really superlight options in the guide such as the Assos Mille GT. 

I've worn it to spin home in after a hard club rub 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.

A down gilet

Endura Gilet

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)

3. Endura Pro SL Primaloft II Gilet

Soft primaloft insulation for extra warmth

Specifications

Rear Pockets : Three rear and one zippered
Fits into a pocket : Yes, if folded well
Colours : Black, Hi Viz Yellow, Pomegranite, Pumpkin
Sizes : XS-XXL

Reasons to buy

+
Plush, luxurious feel 
+
Four pockets in total 
+
Versatile 

Reasons to avoid

-
Won't do well in the wet 

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 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. On the subject of rain, the gilet has a 'water repellant' finish and water does bead and run well off it, but I suspect if a good amount of water did overcome it it may 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. 

Low light visibility

Ale Guscio

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)

4. Ale reflective shell gilet

Super reflective in low light

Specifications

Rear pockets : No
Fits into a pocket : Yes
Colours : One colour
Sizes: XS - 3XL

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 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. 

Deep winter capability

Velocio gilet

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)

5. Velocio Signature softshell vest

Capable well into single digit temperatures

Specifications

Rear pockets : Three rear, one zippered chest pocket
Fits into a pocket : Yes if well folded
Colours : Coffee, light olive, fire red, night (navy)
Sizes : XS-4XL

Reasons to buy

+
Four good pockets 
+
Nice fitted cut with zero flap 
+
Will add a lot of warmth 

Reasons to avoid

-
This is winter jacket money for a lot of riders? 

If you prefer to wear a gilet more than a big jacket generally for all but the heaviest winter weather the Signature softshell vest from Velocio is worth a look. It just about uses the heaviest construction of anything in the guide and offers a good amount of warmth and protection. I wore it with a heavy-weight base layer and jersey recently and was almost too warm in it. 

It has a medium weight of 210gsm (grams per square meter of fabric) and uses an eVent and Primaloft membrane to aid breathability and moisture management. eVent material is designed to let moisture escape easily and the outer shell of the jacket feels reassuringly protective. 

The Signature softshell has three rear pockets as well as a handy zippered chest pocket so will work well as your top layer on longer rides and you won't have to constantly reach under it or stop to unzip if you need your phone or food. 

Best budget option

dhb aeron gilet

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)

6. dhb aeron packable

Best budget cycling gilet

Specifications

Rear pockets : No
Fits into a pocket : Yes
Colours : Three - black, hi viz, orange
Sizes : XS-2XL

Reasons to buy

+
Good performance for the price 
+
Bright colour options

Reasons to avoid

-
No pockets 

The dhb Aeron packable gilet is a lightweight budget offering that, like a lot of other dhb kit, is good value for money, and you can often pick the Aeron packable up with further discounts for an even better saving. 

This is a superlight gilet that will be best for spring and summer days when you just need something to keep the edge off or for extra protection on longer descents etc. 

There's a large rear mesh back section, a two-way zip and a soft fleece section on the raised collar. The construction and feel aren't quite as premium as some of the options in this guide, but for the money the dhb Aeron will do a solid job. If you don't tend to ride with a gilet, it may be a good test piece to see if it's worth investing further. 

GripGrab thermacore

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)

7. GripGrab Thermacore body warmer vest

Airmesh fabric that adds warmth and aids breathability

Specifications

Rear Pockets : One small zippered one
Fits into a pocket : Yes
Colour : Black
Sizes : S-XXL

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent thermal properties 
+
Fitted cut 
+
Very lightweight 

Reasons to avoid

-
Insulating fibres may go 'flat' over a time

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. The side panels of the gilet use stretchy fleece. 

So you're getting a very lightweight gilet that's wonderfully 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.

Assos Mille GT Gilet

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)

8. Assos Mille GT wind vest

Lightweight and packable premium gilet

Specifications

Rear pockets : No
Fits into a pocket : Yes
Colours : Green, Black, Red
Sizes : XXS-XLG

Reasons to buy

+
Nice hem gripper keeps it in place
+
No material rustle when moving 
+
Packs down very small 

Reasons to avoid

-
No Pocket

The Mille GT wind vest from Assos is a super light, windproof option that's going to be ideal if you want a gilet to throw on for a descent, the cooler earlier part of a ride or if the wind gets up.

It uses what Assos calls the Foil Ultra windproof, water-repellant and ripstop fabric. There is also pretty much zero rustle from the fabric and it shouldn't deafen you if you are riding in a lot of wind or descending. It's also very smooth and silky to the touch, there's no rustly, bin bag construction here. The cut is a little more relaxed and isn't race fit so will fit over a range of layers. 

The Mille GT doesn't have pockets, and a large mesh back panel indicates this is a gilet designed for warmer days when you just want to add an extra layer for a bit of protection. It folds down the smallest out of all the gilets here and will be pretty innocuous in a jersey pocket.

The Gilet is available in two colours (hi-viz yellow and red) and is currently discounted on the Assos website, surprisingly for an Assos product making it one of the cheapest gilets in the guide at the time of writing.

Rapha Core Gilet

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)

9. Rapha Core Gilet

A stylish and lightweight option

Specifications

Rear Pockets : No
Fits into a pocket : Yes
Colours : Brown, Navy, Black, Olive
Sizes : XS-XXL

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 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, Nacy, 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. 

Nalini Light Reflex

(Image credit: Future / Tom Wieckowski)

10. Nalini Light Reflex Vest

Versatile with foul weather protection and an extra visibility feature

Specifications

Rear Pockets : Yes
Fits into a pocket : Yes
Colours : Black / Reflective
Sizes : XS-4XL

Reasons to buy

+
The reflective rear is great in low light
+
High neck has a nice soft lining 
+
Good for a wide range of temps 

Reasons to avoid

-
Reflective rear doesn't breathe as well 

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. 

How to choose

Why do cyclists wear gilets

Cyclists ride in such a wide range of weather conditions 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 really 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 feel a little bit more agile on the bike. 

If you are riding 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 of 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 different 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 down what you want is going to be deciding on pockets or not. For some people a gilet without pockets is automatically off the list. You might want to think that through a little bit though. There are some situations where no pockets make a lot of sense. For other scenarios pockets are a must. 

The most basic place to start is with your strategy for wearing a gilet and what 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 strategy, look for a design that makes getting to your jersey pockets easier. 

If you intend for the gilet to be part of the layers you keep on the entire ride then you probably want pockets. This is a great way to expand the usable temperature range of a favourite long, or short, sleeve jersey and in this scenario, you are replicating the jersey pockets. Having pockets on a gilet also makes it possible to wear something under it that has no pockets at all. You can pair a heavy-weight winter base layer with a gilet that has pockets. It's another way to mix and match what you have to find the perfect option for any temperature range. 

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 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 and 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 for adding warmth to a summer jersey as well 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 combinations 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. 

Tom Wieckowski
Tech writer

Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as tech writer. Tom has over 10 years experience as a qualified mechanic with 5 or so of those being spent running an independent workshop. Tom 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, even the odd bit of bike polo. Tom is as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike exploring the Worcestershire lanes.