Best cycling vests 2024: extra warmth when you need it

Gilets (or vests) are probably the third most important item in a cyclist’s wardrobe after shorts and a jersey. They are supremely versatile and offer the best bang for buck in terms of warmth and value. On a ride, the weather can change quickly and even on a warm day you can easily get chilled on a long descent after a sweaty climb, so this is where a lightweight gilet is worth its scant weight in gold. They are easy to pack into a jersey pocket and pair well with arm warmers to add a significant amount of weather protection without taking up much room.

As well as lightweight, packable gilets, there are also heavier-duty vests that add even more insulation. These tend not to be made for packing down and carrying, but instead, they are designed to provide extra warmth in conjunction with a winter jacket or waterproof without adding restrictive bulk around the shoulders and arms.

Whichever you choose, you should ensure that the gilet is a good, close fit without being restrictive when in the riding position so that it doesn’t cause unnecessary drag or flap noisily at speed. The chest that needs the most protection against the wind, so often a gilet will have a totally windproof front paired with a more breathable mesh back panel to help with moisture management and temperature regulation.

The quick list

Our pick of the best cycling vests

Best overall

Castelli's Espresso Vest uses a very stretchy, tightly woven fabric to provide its wind resistance and superb fit. Coupled with a mesh rear, it also means that it is very breathable yet adds more insulation than a simple Pertex-style Gilet.

On test, we loved the fantastic, close-to-the-body fit that didn't flap at all yet was entirely unrestrictive on the bike. It still packs down small and weighs very little so that it fits easily into a jersey pocket when not needed.

There are three rear pockets included but no storage bag or pouch, and we would have preferred some larger reflective details, but otherwise it performed superbly.

It is available in a plethora of colours for men and women

Have a look at the full review of the Castelli Espresso Vest.

Best for wind protection

The excellent-quality Windchill II features three deep, open pockets and a fourth smaller zipped pocket on the rear making it the perfect cycling gilet for an extra layer for colder days on the bike. A fifth zipped pocket on the front has a headphone port and a little cloth for wiping sunglasses sewn into it — all nice touches for a reasonable price.

We found it hard to fit in a pocket though, and all those features add more weight than might be ideal in a gilet.

Best for reflectivity

This Endura gilet is super lightweight and breathable. We were really impressed with its ability to keep spray at bay and minimise wind penetration while remaining breathable. We found the neckline a little tight though so make sure it fits you with your cycling jersey on.

Reflective details are also included in the rear central Endura logo and the full length of the zip, as a nod to visibility while out on the road.

Best for versatility

We are big fans of the Castelli Perfetto Vest, giving it a 9/10 on test and a Cycling Weekly Editor's Choice Award.

With the RoS bit standing for Rain or Shine, the Castelli Perfetto vest is the perfect cycling vest for those changeable conditions that we are met with so often on a bike. It fits well, has some pockets and is rain and wind-resistant too, whilst the high neck provides good protection against the elements.

It'll be a great addition to anyone's riding wardrobe, adding versatility to your outfit without much bulk or being a nuisance when the temperature rises or it starts to rain.

Made from Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper fabric, it is a little bulkier than some vests, so worth remembering to save pocket space if leaving home with it on hoping to strip off when the ride warms up later in the day.

Best for warmth

Santini's Alpha Pack Vest offers something a little different to the gilet norm. Aimed slightly more at gravel and casual riders rather than racers, it pairs a woven wind-resistant shell with a warm Polartec Alpha lining, both of which work together to move any moisture away from the body for greater comfort.

Our tester loved its comfort and versatility, with warmth when required and great breathability. We would suggest that it might be a bit warm for fast-paced rides except in the very coldest months, at which point it will add plenty of extra insulation to your outfit.

There are three large rear mesh pockets and a wide front pouch to store plenty of snacks, tools or extra layers in and the off-centre front zip avoids any possibility of the zip rubbing against your chin.

See what else we thought about the Santini Alpha Pack Vest.

Best cycling vest for a looser fit

Here’s a gilet you won’t see wrapped around riders in the WorldTour anytime soon. As its name suggests, the Gorewear Windstopper Everyday Vest has been developed for rides of a more casual nature, as well as off-bike adventures.

I've enjoyed wearing it on days when I don't have the call for the wind-cheating, aero benefits of Lycra. Whether it’s a ride to my local shops or a carefree cycle with my family, being able to hop on my bike wearing everyday clothes feels both convenient and liberating.

The fit is far from, well, fitted, and the length, both front and back, is long. There are two easily accessible, zipped front pockets deep enough to swallow more than anyone should ever have to carry on a bike ride.

The front face and shoulders are constructed from Gore-Tex Windstopper to take the edge off, while the back, which has some stretch to it, is plain polyester for maximum breathability.

The looser fit and style won't suit all riders or rides, but this is a versatile comfy garment that can comfortably handle any mid-season endeavours that aren’t against the clock.

Best for spring

The Le Col Sport Gilet is a great, well fitted lightweight layer that on test offered a great balance of breathability and protection.

It is a little pricey and ideally there would be an alternative colourway, but it's great to see male and female specific options on offer.

Easily stowed into a rear pocket, it quickly became a great go-to cycling vest even for warmer rides when there was a long descent midway to wrap up for, meaning if you do invest, you get a lot of use from it and won't be disappointed.

Windproof and water resistant thanks to a DWR coating, it's a great performance-focused vest, and conveniently packs down well too if you want to stow it away.

Your full guide to dressing for spring rides

Advice

Cycling vests and gilets: what to look for

Wind Protection

When buying any gilet, protection against the wind should be top of your agenda. The insulation should take care of this on thermal gilets, but for lighter weight offerings, things are not always so simple, with only a thin layer of material, most commonly some form of nylon or polyester, to keep the chill off your chest.

However it’s not just the material that’s important, it’s what you do with it. A high neck with a close fit will prevent cold air from rushing down your front, while it’s also key that the holes for your arms are not overly generous to prevent air from getting in at the sides. This will also avoid windflap.

Good quality gilets might also offer some sort of design feature to prevent cold air from getting through the zip. This usually comes in the form of either a taped zip or a storm flap, essentially a strip of material which covers the back of the zip.

Rain Protection

While the best waterproof cycling jackets will protect you from wet weather, it's handy to have a bit of extra protection in a vest. As pieces of clothing designed to be worn in spring and fall, plenty of the best cycling vests will also give you some sort of protection against the unexpected April shower.

While some vests are completely waterproof, this is obviously of limited use seeing as even if your torso is dry, your arms are still going to get soaked. Instead you’re more likely to find water-resistant gilets, designed to protect you from light showers and road spray, without sacrificing breathability.

Breathability

Although not as much of a problem as with some waterproof jackets, the boil-in-the-bag effect is not something we want to see from a vest at any price-point. This can be a particular issue with vests which attempt to offer higher levels of protection, with windproof and waterproof fabrics doing a good job of keeping the elements out, but also, unfortunately, keeping body moisture in.

To this end, many manufacturers include mesh panels in their vests, occasionally constructing the entire rear panel from a more breathable material in order to let hot air escape without compromising windproofing.

Packability

Obviously, this doesn’t apply to thermal vests, but seeing as you’re hopefully only going to be wearing your lightweight vest for the first hour of a ride, while the temperature starts to rise, or for the duration of an Alpine descent, it’s important that you choose one that can be easily stowed away for the rest of your ride.

It’s really a case of the smaller the better when it comes to packability, and ideally, you should be looking for a vest that packs down small enough not to take up an entire jersey pocket. Unfortunately, choosing a more feature-packed vest offering things like pockets and water resistance often comes at the cost of packability.

If you do find that you want to stow away a larger vest, then it's worth also investing in one of the best bike saddlebags for packing the essentials and freeing up some pocket space from tools or spares.

Finally, some vests come with their own stuff sack, which although useful when packing your gilet in luggage, often doesn’t keep it as small as if you really stuffed it down into the bottom of a jersey pocket.

Pockets/Access

Of course, you can just flip up the rear of your vest to access what’s in your jersey pockets, but this risks knocking items out of your pockets in the process. To mitigate against this, some vests offer a hole or two in the rear so you can get at your energy bars and gels.

Alternatively, a double-ended front zip that can be undone from the bottom also allows easy access to your pockets on the go without having to unzip completely.

Many vests also offer pockets for a little extra storage, although these are less useful on lightweight gilets as you don’t want to be emptying out your pockets at the side of the road when it’s time to shed the outer layer.

Bonus features

As with any piece of cycling kit, it’s possible to add countless extra features to the humble gilet. Plenty of brands offer either high-viz gilets or gilets with reflective elements for added safety after dark.

If you’re after a little extra protection, some gilets also offer a bum flap to keep your backside warm and dry, while others come with a drawstring or elasticated hem to stop cold air from entering from below.

If you are specifically thinking about road riding safety features, it's worth reading our page that reassures you that it is safe to cycle on roads but here’s how you can be safer.

How we test

As well as our general testing guidelines, we assessed the gilets for a few important characteristics that make them more effective and useful.

A good, close fit without being restrictive helps keep any cold breeze out and stops the gilet from flapping annoyingly at speed. The fabric should be highly wind-resistant and very breathable as well as usually having a DWR treatment to ward off light rain or spray. As a garment that will hopefully spend a lot of time in your pocket (except the insulated gilets), packability was also high on the list of important attributes.

Thus all the gilets were worn and carried for many miles on the road and worn in the rather variable British weather in order to give our ratings.