The Hincapie Arenberg Zero Vest is a stylish and well-made gilet best suited to windy conditions and to low, rather than freezing temperatures.
We wore it in conditions characterised by temperatures from five degrees and above and where light showers were the worst we could expect.
The two-way zip, classic three pocket layout on the tail, and very deep collar made the Arenberg eminently useable, while the close fit in the body and at the ‘sleeves’ provided a sleek silhouette and a form to equal the function.
The principle function of any gilet is to provide an extra layer of protection against the elements, and the Arenberg Zero Vest did that with aplomb. This not the super lightweight, ‘hard shell’ type, but softer and more substantial – a fabric known to Hincapie Sportswear as MTX Wind Repel. It was still compact enough to stow in a jersey pocket on rides warm enough to dispense with it, but this was a matter of folding rather than stuffing.
More importantly, the additional bulk of the fabric – windproof at the front and fleece-lined at the rear – made it of real use in staving off the often inhospitable conditions of late winter and early spring. We paired it with long-sleeve, fleece-lined jerseys (variously dhb’s Vaeon Roubaix and De Marchi’s Contour Plus) over a long-sleeved base layer (Endura’s Transmission II) and stayed warm.
We only experienced light showers in our test period, and the Arenberg Zero coped without complaint, but heavier rain may find it out. A hardshell gilet, particularly one treated with a DWR coating, would be a better choice if rain rather than wind is likely to be your principal opponent.
Another pleasing spin-off from the use of a ‘soft’ fabric (as distinct from ‘hardshell’ garments) was the presence of three rear pockets. At 190mm deep and at least 100mm wide (the centre pocket is slightly wider at 115mm), they proved copious enough to stow anything we needed, including, on one occasion, a bidon. Chapeau to Hincapie Sportswear for resisting the baffling tendency of many clothing manufacturers to alter the classic three pocket layout. If it ain’t broke…
The collar was arguably the stand out feature. Deep, and with a raised section to protect the nape of the neck, it gave the Arenberg Zero Vest a real sense of cosiness and the feel of a heavier garment. The inclusion of a fleecy ‘garage’ meant the zip could be used to its full extent without irritation at the neck. There was a similar arrangement at the base of the zip, too.
While on the subject, the zip was robust and finished in a striking shade of red that provided a pleasing contrast with the black fabric deployed elsewhere. It was a two-way affair, allowing it to be undone from the bottom as well as the top. We found limited use for this facility – force of habit saw us lift the hem and fold it upwards when we needed access to the pockets of the jersey beneath – but it might benefit riders seeking serious amounts of ventilation.
Conclusion
The Hincapie Arenberg Zero Vest is the best of this type of garment we’ve tested. Gilets are often an after-thought, but a level of consideration typically reserved by manufacturers for jerseys and jackets is present here and evident in the use of high-quality fabrics and practical features. The Arenberg Zero is very good indeed.
All that quality comes at a price, however, and £92.25 would be a serviceable jacket. Is it an investment worth making? The decision will rest largely on budget and the amount of use that can be made of it. In the UK, where shorts, short-sleeved jersey, warmers, and gilet will cover at least six months of the year, occasions when it might be pressed into service are unlikely to be in short supply.
Price: £92.25
Size: S to XXL
Colour: black
Website: Hincapie Sportswear
