Gilet
Gilet
If there’s a nip in the air then you’ll need something to keep the chill of your chest and that’s where a gilet comes in.
A gilet is essentially a sleeveless, lightweight jacket, usually made from a windproof fabric which more often than not usually offers an element of water resistance, too.
When paired with arm and knee warmers, a gilet will offer protection against changeable autumnal conditions, and can be easily stowed in a jersey pocket, before being pulled back on for a descent or if the temperature drops.
Some gilets are billed as waterproof (save for the holes for your arms, of course) and offer additional protection if caught in a prolonged shower. That waterproofing can come at the cost of weight and breathability, however, so we’d say waterproof gilets are best saved for later in the season, when the temperature drops and the weather worsens, rather than the relatively balmy early autumn conditions we are currently experiencing.
The Sportful Hot Pack Ultralight Vest – reviewed here – has been our go-to gilet through summer and that will continue to be the case for the time being. It’s incredibly light at just 39g and will squeeze into half a jersey pocket, so there’s no excuse not to take it on a ride.
Needless to say, if there’s more than a passing shower or drizzle in the air, or the temperature drops further, a lightweight jacket will offer additional protection from wind and rain.