Rapha Core gilet review: Autumn testing with Rapha's most affordable vest

The Rapha Core gilet is the cheapest gilet (or vest) in the Rapha range. It’s a lightweight, polyester vest that’s a nice option for chillier autumn days or any situation where you need to wear a little more than just a cycling jersey.

September is here, and there has been a chill in the air this week in my part of the world. I’m reviewing some of the gilets I wear and test at this time of year. Here I will be sharing my thoughts on the Core gilet, if I think it’s a good option for autumn time, and how it differs in comparison to the more expensive Rapha Pro Team Gilet II, if you are shopping and wondering what to go for.

A gilet can be a good addition to your closet if you need to stay a little warmer and more comfortable on cooler days when a jersey alone isn't quite enough. Gilets aid core and skin temperature whilst keeping you feeling a bit more agile and light on the bike, compared to a heavier garment that may be a bit too hot.

Gilets, of course, also generally pack down very nicely, making them a perfect ally to store in a jersey pocket and pull on or take off during your rides.

I’ve tested dozens of them over the last couple of years, putting together our best cycling gilets guide. You can find lots more solid options as the weather starts to get a little chillier in there.

Design and aesthetics

The Core gilet is available in paprika, navy or black. The green I'm wearing here is no longer available, but the design is the same.

There are a couple of white Rapha logos on the chest and at the rear of the jersey, and a couple of reflective strips, to hopefully help you stand out just a little bit more in low-light scenarios.

The Rapha Core gilet is manufactured from 100% recycled polyester. It has a handy two-way zipper, but no rear pockets. This, for me, makes it a bit more of an additional outer layer, as on longer rides you will be reaching for energy bars, spares or your phone, etc. Though the two-way zipper does make jersey pocket access a lot easier.

There's also one of Rapha's little nods to road cycling culture that can be found on various pieces on the inside of the gilet. It's a small paragraph on keeping count of climbs as you ride.

The neck is a nice height, there's a hang loop inside at the neck, the arm holes are elasticated to keep things tidy, and at the rear, which is slightly dropped, a wide stretchy elastic band does a good job keeping the gilet in place. Aside from that, it's a simple, sleeveless polyester gilet.

I'm wearing a small in the images, and fit-wise, the Core gilet is a little roomier than similar offerings like the MAAP Draft Vest and Assos Mille GT Wind Vest; both lightweight, pocketless offerings.

It's fitted enough that there isn't too much unnecessary excess flap, but it's a touch more relaxed and isn't super racy or tight-fitting.

How does it compare to the Pro Team II gilet from Rapha? Both gilets share basically the same silhouette with the dropped tail and raised neck. The key difference is that the Pro Team has a completely mesh back to breathe a bit better during more intense work. It's also tighter and more fitted in the same size.

If you want a more relaxed fit, go for the Core.

Performance

As a lightweight outer layer to keep you more comfortable in cooler weather, at the cafe or when tackling a longer descent, the Core gilet works very well.

It fits easily over a jersey and arm warmers or a long-sleeved jersey and folds down to a comfortable fit inside a jersey pocket with room to spare.

The polyester material is very soft and feels comfortable and pleasant to the touch, an advantage over some coarser or rougher feeling Polyester gilets I have used. This soft feeling is comforting when you pull the vest on.

The zipper also works well, and can be operated easily one-handed; the two-way function, as mentioned, also helps with pocket access and temperature regulation if needed.

I would personally choose this gilet for all-around, and more relaxed riding, to get more specific for a moment. For more intense or harder rides when I was really going for it, I'd opt for a tighter-fitting and potentially more breathable option, with at least one pocket ideally.

I've been riding a lot more gravel this summer, and some kit has fallen foul of rips and tears from thorns and hedgerows. I haven't had an issue in this gilet, but it's been a reminder to me to wear a kit I'm not precious about if I know I'm riding in overgrown places. I fear the thin polyester wouldn't stand up to much in these situations.

I haven't encountered any issues with my test piece, and the Rapha logos still look good as new after repeated washing. The Core gilet hasn't put a foot wrong.

Value

This is the cheapest gilet in the Rapha line at £85 / $115 / €95. It sits underneath the already mentioned Pro Team II and other insulated and heavy-duty vests.

This is still quite a lot of cash and is around the entry point price-wise for a premium gilet like this from cycling kit brands like MAAP at the moment. It looks great, but this is the starting point if you want that Rapha logo on your gilet.

The quality seems to be there for this piece, but it is a non-essential item, and you can find good quality, cheaper gilets on the market that will do a very similar job.

Verdict

A nice, stylish gilet that does what it says on the tin. If you are looking at investing in a good do-it-all gilet for cooler weather or even all-year-round use, depending on your needs, and want one from a premium brand, this is a great option.