I’ve got a really old gilet that’s pretty much knackered and a little too tight nowadays
it’s donkeys years old gore one but has served me well
however looking at replacements gore ones are mega expensive
What’s out there at moment? Forgot how useful gilets are especially in this weather we have for spring
any one recommend one around 50 quid that’s not a roadie cut one - mtb ones seems sparse from what I’ve seen
The Endura Pakagilet isn't too closely cut and would fit your budget. Unfortunately, like most cycling gilets, it has a full mesh rear. I prefer my old Polaris gilet which has a central panel without mesh and therefore doesn't let rear wheel spray wick through onto your jersey.
Rab Cinder Windveil Vest, probably a bit above your budget, but the material is more stretchy and suited to mtb than the usual wind vests IMO.
I have a Fox Defend wind vest, windproof front, mesh back, loose fit but not baggy. I use it loads as I overheat quickly in a jacket even in the depths of winter. I like it, only improvement, for me anyway, would be a chest pocket.
Endura Hummvee is a just a bog standard gilet (inc mesh back), £35-40 and mine has lasted years
I have an old Polaris one that's been great - but I'd like one a bit brighter and bigger... Sadly the only one they list now is two tone fluro yellow and orange... Following with interest.
For me the gilet is second only to bib shorts in the cycling kit hierarchy, shortly followed by arm warmers.
Kryton57Full Member
Go to the Galibier website and buy something suitable
Sadly they don't have anything with a mesh back or I'd happily get one from them
The Rapha one is my most useful this time of year, windblocker front and mesh rear, squishes up teeny as well. Expensive though, at £120.00
Thanks for the recommendation guys
that rab ones is nice and looks to have a good cut and bonus of a back pocket!
Will have a look at the rest but if can get one of them close to 50 it looks spot on
If you do find one for £50 please let the rest of us know where!
I use a big insulated Peter Storm one in winter, it’s £30 from Millets. I previously had an Endurance MT500 freeze point gilet, really good but certainly runs warm as it has Primaloft insulation.
its a shame the mt500 doesnt have a back pocket, £72 on cyclestore
Recently got a Siroko gillet. Really like it. Sizing seems acurate. I'm slim 5ft4 and XS was perfect for me. Packs up very small too.
Some cheap Mavic Gilets on SportPursuit
My lbs stocks rab stuff! Just picked one up that was recommended above - what a lovely bit of kit perfect for mtb - sizing is great and it’s almost too nice to wear! Just a bit over budget but looks a quality bit of kit! Thanks for the recommendation
Endura Wind-chill, use mine all year round unless it's roasting.
Gunz - How does that size up? I find Endura sizing all over the place.
I like my Fox Ranger one. MTB cut, packs into a built-in pouch.
Anyone own the Altura Esker ? Looks a decent Gilet and great slimmer fit.
I've bee using an Endura FS260 Gilet for years. Actually on the 2nd one but only after the 1st was a rank appalling mess after about 7 years of much use.
It IS a roadie cut. But does its job. The material is waterproof, so gives some protection to sh1t and... water ! I use it when running too during most of the year if it's chilly or threatening a bit of rain. Just helps keep the worst of the wetness at bay andalso avoid the man-nips being chafed raw on a run when the T shirt gets wet.🙈
Van Rysel at Decathlon. Use for roadie and MTB. Black, super lightweight and packs down tiny. Just enough to keep the chill off and £30 (3 years ago mind).
You can always cut the arms off an old waterproof jacket. Saw this on nsmb.com and did it to an old MT500 jacket I had. I actually turned it into a short-sleeved waterproof and now it is one of the most used bits of mtb kit I have. before I found it too warm and used everything else I had before using it. I ow can keep my core dry and have additional venting from the arms (or lack of), which is what I need as I run hot.
I tried a Gilet , couldn't get on with it too tight restrictive ? but then again I can't get on with fingerless gloves or bib shorts 🙄
I like the look of the TLD " vest" but I wouldn't agree it's suitable to ride in like they say and at £110 😳😳😳
it’s donkeys years old gore one but has served me well
however looking at replacements gore ones are mega expensive
Maybe if their stuff last for decades, it's relatively good value? Generally most gilets seem to be aimed at roadies, with a tight, short fit. I'd be looking at some of the outdoor brands - Montane does a Featherlite Gilet, though I suspect it'll be built relatively light. Mountain Equipment has a thing called a Frontier Vest, Arc'teryx used to do a relatively loose fit one.
The two I regularly/occasionally use on an MTB are an old Haglofs one with a mesh back and Windstopper front and a simple Arc'teryx running once, neither now in production. My road gilets are all too race-cut to feel sane off road.
I'm sure there are other options out there too - there's a Specialized/Fjallraven colab one that's currently reduced to an almost sane price if you're feeling Scandi-crossover niche, though maybe not in yellow 🙂
https://www.fjallraven.com/uk/en-gb/men/fjallraven-specialized/sf-adventure-vest-m?
Adventure Vest? 🤔
TOG24 cheapy running convertible jacket here - I only ever wear the gilet. Mesh shoulders but central spray strip.
Mrs_oab has a lovely fitting Pearl Izumi convertible 'Barrier pro' windproof and that too is really nice fabric, fit, reflective bits and mesh but with wheel spray strip.
I've two other Gillets, one is the Aussie Grit one that Mark Webber was selling a few years ago, and the other the Chilcot 7Mesh one which is perfect for MTB, but it's warm, too warm really unless it's single figure temps and it's not £50.00.
Ground Effect do a couple the Spectre and Vespa, but are a few quid either side of 50 (if memory serves) both are aimed at commuting I think so the colours last time I looked was either a garish orange or a quite violent lime.
Victory Chimp do a pretty useful plain one that's on sale for £39.00 They normally do lots of pretty normal colours, lots of sizes, but you might not have hat much choice at the moment.
The Aussie Grit one is great, shame the brand died. Does anyone make anything like that?
I've got two Altura gilets, fit well, not fallen apart yet, not expensive.
"The Aussie Grit one is great, shame the brand died. Does anyone make anything like that?"
Was going to ask the same thing. That AG gilet is one of my favourite items, still going strong but will be a sad day when it finally dies.
Have a look on Vinted. There's loads of cycling stuff on there for cheap. I picked up mint condition Pearl Izuma gilet for £3.50.