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Looking for a warm/thermal cycling gilet but struggling to find anything in XS. Ideally a more racy fit.
For reference, Siroko XS fits but when I tried an XS Altura it was huge.
Stolen Goat used to do some. I have one but mine is not in x-small.
Galibier do a nice one. Don't know about sizes.
Another vote for galibier, I have the foul weather one and the insulated one; both are very good and the usual Galibier good value.
Endura Pro SL Primaloft, comes in XS. I don't have one but the wife does and she really likes it.
I have the Galibier Izoerd(?), another positive vote here and runs true to chest size.
+1 for the Galibier Zoncolan
I have the Endura Primaloft SL. Mine is a medium and it's very closely cut!
I also have the Endura. It's a nice slim cut and is warm, but has the same flimsy zip I broke on an Endura waterproof jacket.
Galibier Izoard insulated gilet. You also used to get a free buff thrown in too. Great quality, good zips and sizing is correct.
The Galibier insulated one looks pretty good. The Endura Primaloft was on my list but reviews weren't so good and it's twice the price of the Galibier.
+1 for Galibier
Both the Izoard Pro and Izoard insulated look good. Would prefer the race fit of the Pro but the other one is reversable so 2 colours for the price of 1.
oldfartFull Member
I’ve tried but Gilets don’t work for me , too roadie fit for me even though I’m not exactly overweight .
I am (very) far from a racing snake, but a gilet is up there as one of the most useful bits of cycling clothing I own, I wouldn't be without one.
The Endura Primaloft are nice but let down by a crap zip.
Just measured my old Endura Primaloft gilet that's too bike and the Galibier insulated one is the same size in XS. Also the Galibier Pro is no longer available in XS.
So Galibiers out. I'll keep looking.
Well I've just ordered an Izoard Insulated in 'L' on a bit of a bit of a whim 🙂
I think Large will fit me right but that is the only thing I find with Galibier, that you really need to double check their sizing charts for each item, they're not as they're always consistent (IME).
I've got a 7mesh Chilco Gillet. It's super warm. Perhaps even a bit too warm for anything other than rides in single figure temps. It's cut on the generous side though, I bought a medium, I could've size down the small pretty comfortably I think.
The Rapha insulated Brevet Gillet is an absolute cracker. Its £165.00 from Rapha but only £74.00 from Sports Pursuit where I got mine from.
Never owned a gillet, do you not just end up with cold arms? Or is the advantage that they are packable so you can take it just in case/remove after warming up?
It's about keeping your core warm, I've only used windproof ones, but during spring/autumn they really come into their own. A single layer (windproof) they pack down really small, so aren't an inconvenience to take
Gore windstopper is fantastic, not insulated but very warm, very windstoppy.
I think I'd get a bit sweaty on the bike wearing a PrimaLoft gilet. I have a DHB Polartec Alpha one and it's great for a mix of insulation and wicking/breathability. I use it stand-alone with arm-warmers, but also as a mid-layer on and off road under some sort of windproof outer layer. Not much help as DHB no longer exists, I think, but there are others out there using the same insulation including Rapha, I think.
There's a Montane Polartec Alpha running gilet that's out there for £60 online, which which might work. It does depend a little on how hot you run, but Primaloft is inherently not that breathable as it's a jumble of fibres sandwiched between two layers of very wind-resistant fabric.
I'm XXL in castelli and L in most others things.
You might find a small or Medium castelli one fits.
Gilets I love
Galibier insulated. Very warm.
Castelli perffeto. Surprisingly warm
Rapha thin one. Makes a surprisingly large difference, even over a thin jacket.
Gilet is probably the most useful bit of kit I own.
In summer I'll often have a windproof gilet and arm warmers with me
In winter I'll often have an insulated gilet, skull cap and buff with me.
In between it varies. But with that set up it covers a variety of temperatures, and they all work with various weights of waterproof
In winter I'll often be in an OMM Rotor or a Rapha Brevet insulated gilet, or at least be carrying them. I've got others but I find these to be the most used. Both of those are slim fitting
I have the Victory Chimp gilet. Insulation only on the front to prevent wind chill, back isn't insulated so you don't overheat
https://www.victorychimp.cc/products/mens-out-there-thermal-reversible-gilet-2
Here’s the Stolen Goat one I mentioned.
https://stolengoat.com/product/mens-sane-kiko-bodyline-gilet/
I'm often tempted by gilets as everyone seems to rave about them but, as asked further up, if you're not wearing a wind stopper jersey don't your arms freeze?
Never owned a gillet, do you not just end up with cold arms? Or is the advantage that they are packable so you can take it just in case/remove after warming up?
As above, keeps your core warm, but also (for me) allows you to tweak just how warm you are, yes a Gilet is easier to remove and pack if you're boiling, you can also open the zip and take off arm warmers (arm warmers are a default bit of kit to go with a Gilet IMO) and stuff them in the back pocket to manage your temperature (goldilocks stuff I'm sure). You can also put an otherwise useless thin, packable 'Shell' jacket over the top of a Gilet if your really cold and/or dealing with heavier rain, where I often find most jackets a bit "all or nothing"; either boil in the bag or thin and useless in cold weather. Gilets are just a more discretely adaptable bit of clothing.
My stupid question for anyone who has the Izoard already, it states In the description:
"Reversible Design: Features a warmth-reflecting Mylar inner and a water-resistant DWR-coated outer shell."
Does that mean the Gilet offers a bit less warmth if reversed i.e. with the Mylar layer on the outside? or am I being a bit dim? Obviously if it's showery you want the DWR layer out, but then how waterproof is the Mylar if you happen to run it shiny side out on a wet day? I'm wondering what the point of making it reversible really is to some extent...
I'll wear a base layer and thermal jersey at about 15 degrees. Add a thin windproof gillet and I'm good down to about 8 degrees and it fits into a jersey pocket.
If its very cold I'll wear a stretchy rain jacket thats obviously windproof but a bit 'boil in the bag' so only good for very cold days or it gets too hot.
A thermal gillet would be the perfect in between.