The best cycling gilets, or vests if you’re in the US, offer a serious bit of extra warmth without bulking out your cycling kit. These lightweight and sleeveless garments can be a really useful addition to your cycling wardrobe, offering extra warmth for your core when the weather is changeable. They can be packed down small and stashed when not in use, and then pulled on and off throughout your ride, whenever the temperature drops and you just need a bit of extra protection from wind chill. Some are heavier weight, and can do a really great job of keeping your core toasty, while still allowing you to wear less. It’s an extra layer that doesn’t leave you feeling restricted and doesn’t compromise your aerodynamics.
Gilets come in all sorts of designs. Some are super lightweight and packable, while others are heavier, windproof, and water-resistant, perfect for the colder months. In this guide to the best gilets, we’ve included a range of options that serve various purposes, and we’ve put them to the test in all kinds of weather conditions. Our top pick is the Spatz BurnR Gilet, which our reviewer found to be versatile enough to be part of their year-round cycling wardrobe. Van Rysel Windproof Gilet RCR is a great budget-friendly option, which combines wind protection with a performance-oriented fit. As we’re now in the midst of spring, the MAAP Draft Team Gilet is a great choice as well, thanks to its lightweight and fully breathable design that still provides ample warmth when you hit a cold patch of shade.
It doesn’t hurt to invest in a couple of well-chosen gilets that are versatile enough to see you through the year. You’ll also find that adding one as an outer layer means you can get a lot more use out of your other kit that you might usually pack away until the next season. Remember that layering is key to staying comfortable on the bike, whatever the weather.
Last updated on 07th April 2026
This best gilets for cycling guide has been refreshed for Spring, streamlining the guide to increase readability and navigation. How to choose and FAQ section have also been improved to provide more information for the reader.
Best cycling gilet
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Best overall
The Spatz BurnR gilet earns the highest marks from us. Despite being tight-fitting, it’s made from super-stretchy woven and ribbed material, which means it hugs your torso but stays very comfortable. We’ve given it the best overall title from the group test because our reviewer absolutely loved riding in it.
It has a wind block section across the front of the chest, which extends up into the shoulder area. Three good-sized mesh pockets at the rear provide ample storage, so you don’t need to worry about digging down a layer to reach your jersey pockets. Mesh does mean it’s not fully waterproof, of course, but you can also stash a rain jacket in the rear (as you can with the rest of the gilets we’ve listed that have rear pockets).
It’s very packable and fits easily in a jersey pocket, and offers quite a lot of value and versatility for its size, so we’d say it’s money well spent. The woven fabric is really comfortable to wear, and definitely outperforms more rustly gilets.
As with a lot of Spatz products, the BurnR is specifically designed for terrible weather riding. There’s zero flap, and you feel aero and protected when you’re racing or riding hard. It can easily fit under a jacket to add some extra warmth when needed as well, and overall is versatile enough to be good all year round.
For more details, you can read our full in-depth Spatz BurnR review.
Best budget
While the name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, the Van Rysel Windproof Gilet RCR is quite clearly the best budget-friendly gilet we’ve tested. For the price, it’s a super solid piece of kit and comfortably competes with some of the more expensive options we’ve listed here.
Being a more affordable option, you can’t expect it to be as featherweight as the Albion and Maap offerings, which are thinner and lighter. But this can also be a plus: the Van Rysel gilet can do a bit more, at a very accessible price point. With slightly thicker torso and side panels, combined with a thin mesh back, you’ve got a well-constructed garment that offers windproofing where it matters most, and breathability where you need it.
It can work well with other layers when the weather is colder, but it is also enough to keep you comfortable on all but the warmest rides. It has a performance-oriented fit and sits nicely against the body, while three rear pockets allow you to stash what you need.
We think it offers great bang for your buck all around.
Read our in-depth review of the Van Rysel Windproof Gilet RCR.
Best insulation
The Castelli Unlimited Puffy Vest is a great option if you want a good warmth-to-weight ratio. It’s filled with lightweight but snug Polartec Alpha insulation on the torso and back, which adds extra warmth where it’s needed. Compared to the Endura PRO SL gilet featured below, which uses down, the Castelli is less suited for deep winter riding and instead is designed to see you through into spring and summer. With its thin and lightweight Alpha lining, you still get warmth without the bulk, and plenty of breathability to help you regulate your temperature.
We thought the cut of the Unlimited Puffy was excellent, providing a comfortable fit that’s nowhere near as snug as the Spatz or Maap gilets, but also more fitted where it counts most. It’s well executed all round, really. And if you’re likely to head off-road on the regular, then the more relaxed cut of the Castelli works just as well there too. 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 by the effectiveness of its DWR coating.
Read more in our full Castelli Unlimited Puffy Vest review.
Best style
If you’re looking for something stylish that works well for spring, summer and autumn, the MAAP Draft Team Vest is a solid option. It’s lightweight, bang on trend and uses a mesh back panel to add breathability and help you regulate your body temperature.
It has a fitted cut with stretchy fabric that doesn’t flap in the wind or rustle, which is always a plus, especially if you’re often riding at faster speeds. It works well as a top layer over a jersey when racing on cooler spring days. You can size up if needed for a slightly looser fit if you’d prefer, otherwise you’ll find your usual size to be a snug fit.
The only thing it’s missing is rear pockets, or even just a single zipped pocket. That said, the two-way zip does make it a bit easier to access your jersey pockets if you need to grab your phone or keys. Plus, foregoing the pockets saves on weight and materials, meaning it’s actually one of the gilets in this guide that packs down the smallest, which is great if you just need a bit of insurance on whatever ride you’re doing.
Check out the MAAP Draft Team Vest review for more.
Best all rounder
The Albion Wind Gilet is, as the name suggests, designed to keep wind chill at bay on warmer days. It’s made from Pertex Quantum micro ripstop face fabric, a thin and lightweight material that is very popular at the moment, which means it can pack down really small. Perfect as an insurance policy to stash in a jersey pocket, it also has a DWR coating to shed a bit of light rain.
In terms of fit, it’s relatively snug but not super tight. It works well for both road and gravel rides, in the UK and further afield. Two large mesh zippered pockets at the rear offer some useful storage, while an extra one on the chest really comes in handy. You can use them to stash a load of kit, though if you’re a stickler for well-ordered organisation, you might prefer something with the traditional three rear pockets.
The dark olive colour looks good wherever you are, whether you’re sticking to tarmac or heading out on the trails. It seems to straddle all the different disciplines, aesthetically, so if that’s something that matters to you, it’s very versatile.
A silicone hem gripper stops it from riding up while you’re riding, and easy-pull zips make it simple to adjust how much air you let onto your chest and torso for temperature regulation. There are also adjustable hem toggles and reflective rear details, so you can really finetune the fit and feel visible in low light conditions. The Wind Gilet offers great quality and well-thought-through details, making it a solid option for spring and summer.
Best for winter
Scottish brand Endura offers up the PRO SL Primaloft II Gilet, which promises the performance of down, but with synthetic insulation. Primaloft is made from recycled material, particularly plastic bottles, which offers surprisingly good warmth for a non-down product. The gilet uses 80g of PrimaLoft Gold insulating fibres on the front torso, while 60g of PrimaLoft Silver Active fibres have been used on the back. It results in a lovely and snug gilet that provides a high level of warmth for cool and cold rides.
There’s enough stretch in the fabric for it to top a few other layers, while the cut has a nice, relaxed shape. In terms of storage, it offers the traditional three rear pockets, plus a fourth zippered one for essentials. They’re slightly on the narrow side, so bear this in mind if you’re planning on carrying a hefty rain jacket or loads of spares. You may need to pack wisely.
On the topic of rain, the Pro SL features a ‘water repellent’ finish, which does result in water beading and running well off it. That said, it’s mostly suited for light showers, and if you’re faced with a lot of rain, it will get a bit sodden eventually. That said, it’s slim enough to be worn under a waterproof jacket if you need to.
Also Tested
The Ale Reflective Shell Gilet is designed purely to keep you visible on the roads in low-light conditions. It comes alive in dark or dim conditions, with the help of microscopic glass spheres embedded in the Polyamide fabric, resulting in a silvery material that really lights up and dazzles when light hits it.
So whether you’re doing the daily commute year-round, or heading out after dark for a post-work spin, this reflective vest is a really handy option to help you stand out to other road users. You can also get it in Iridescent, should you wish to really push the boat out.
For when it’s not dark out, the gilet wouldn’t look out of place, though that distinctive silver/grey finish that you see on most very reflective pieces of kit won’t appeal to everyone. And it’s not just about visibility either, the material has a bit of heft to it that does a good job of keeping wind chill at bay, so it also serves as an additional layer for warmth. It doesn’t have any pockets to speak of, though, so for some that may be a deal breaker.
GripGrab’s PACR Insulated vest is, for the most part, designed to be used as a mid-layer, beneath a jacket, for keeping your core warm on cold rides. That said, it doubles up really well as a fully-fledged gilet as well, and comes with a DWR coating.
It’s actually quite a technical piece of cycling kit as well, with its very lightweight, almost delicate feel. The inside is lined with Teijin Octa Airmesh fabric, which is not only super light but also really soft and fleecy against the skin. The back panel also features fleecy fibres, despite being translucent, which is nifty. It’s very similar to Polartec Alpha insulation, which you’ll find in some other garments listed here, but it’s a lot finer. Meanwhile, the side panels are made from stretchy fleece to help deliver a fitted cut.
All this is to say that you’re getting a gilet that is not only extremely lightweight, but also fleecy and snug on the inside, and allows moisture to escape easily. This makes it ideal to wear as a top later, and there’s even a little extra warmth thanks to the material on the chest and front of the torso, which feels satisfyingly light and ‘puffy’, because of those fleecy fibres we mentioned.
Our reviewer wore it for an intense one-hour race in November, which he paired with a thicker jersey. He found that he was able to regulate his body temperature exceptionally well and didn’t get sweaty at all. On top of all that, because it’s so light and relatively fitted, it could easily slip under a jacket for extra warmth in the winter. It even has a small zip pocket.
If you’re on the hunt for something stylish and lightweight that’s easily packable, that can just take the edge off on cool spring and summer days, or to pull on at a cafe stop or at the pub post-ride, Rapha’s Core Gilet is it. It comes in some very understated and aesthetically pleasing colours, as we’ve all come to expect from Rapha as a brand.
As with all the brand’s offerings, the Core Gilet is a really high-quality piece. It’s shaped with a slightly dropped tail at the rear, to accommodate a more racy riding position and keep your pack shielded against the elements, plus a wide gripper on the hem to stop it from riding up as you pedal. The fit is snug, but not super tight, so there’s even a decent bit of room underneath for layering.
It ticks a lot of our boxes when it comes to features, with a decent collar height for warmth, reflective tabs on the rear for low-light visibility in traffic, and a two-way zip to make it easier to access your jersey pockets. The gilet itself doesn’t come with any storage, however. We admit that a single pocket would be nice, but you can’t have everything.
Nalini’s Light Reflex Vest is a great option if you’re heading out in foul weather. Much like the Ale gilet listed above, the medium-weight Light Reflex is something of a visibility party piece, but it has body-warming credentials too.
On a three-hour ride where the temperature was 4C / 32F and rose up to 7C / 42C, our reviewer wore it with a jersey, arm warmers and a winter base layer. He found it to be toasty warm. The three generously-sized rear pockets, along with the back panel of the vest, are super reflective and become luminescent when the light hits it. Being that little bit more visible from behind to motorists can bring peace of mind, and this gilet delivers it in spades.
The reflective material, while doing exactly as it promises, isn’t the most breathable, however, so if you’re working hard, you may experience a bit of back sweat. That said, it wasn’t enough to cause our reviewer any real issues.
If you’re riding in temperatures that reach single digits, the Light Reflex will keep you comfortable, while remaining lightweight enough that you can use it in much warmer conditions as well.
Read our Nalini Light Reflex Vest review for more details.
How to choose the best cycling gilet
- How should a cycling gilet fit? If you are looking for something for fast riding you will want to opt for a close fitting design to avoid flapping material. For longer or more general riding a slightly looser fit will allow you more flexability when choosing what to wear underneith.
- What weather are you riding in? Most gilets will offer some protection, even lightweight gilets will usually feature some wind resistance while others will have insulated down paneling for warmth or DWR treatment against rain showers.
- Do you need pockets? We would recomend choosing a gilet with some rear pockets for added storage, that said some riders will be happy to sacrifice some storage for lower weight and better packability.
- How packable do you need a gilet to be? A lightweight windproof gilet will probably tuck away in a jersey pocket while a insulated alternative might be too bulky.
Everything you need to know about cycling gilets
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. Check out our ultimate cycling layering guide to see how a gilet can 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.
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 stay 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 to 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. I tend to prefer pockets generally, but if you just want something you can take on and off, they aren’t essential. There are no rules.
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.
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, gilets 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 a 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 as 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.
I weigh them, photograph them and follow up with the manufacturer or distributor with tech or design questions I have.
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.