Cycle in style: Rapha Brevet Gilet review

Rapha has long been placed as a high-end brand; its products are often pricey, but this has been especially true in the last few years. Rapha products have become more and more durable. You can see its use of sustainable materials and advancing technologies on show in the Rapha Brevet Gilet.

There are some excellent features on this gilet. It’s super packable and will fit into its pocket and sit in the palm of your hand, making it fantastic for changeable conditions. The ultra-lightweight (28gsm) nylon shell provides windproof protection, and a durable water-repellent (DWR) offers protection from light rain. Mesh side panels provide breathability and ventilation, and a double zip can be opened from the bottom or the top for ventilation and access to your jersey pockets.

Rapha recommends that this jersey is best for cool and windy conditions, with reflective tabs on the back panel for added visibility in low-light conditions. You get a pocket on the front and a hanger loop to allow the gilet to dry as quickly as possible.

Rapha’s Brevet collection is for long, more relaxed days in the saddle, a much more relaxed and comfortable fit, compared to the performance chasing of the pro team collection.

Verdict: Great to stuff in your back pocket on autumnal and spring rides when you can never be sure about the weather, or the temperature is a bit cooler.

What’s good?

The Rapha Brevet Gilet is excellent in changeable conditions. The fact that you can unzip it from the top or the bottom means that you can keep the gilet on and have maximum ventilation, perfect for keeping the gilet ‘on’ but not feeling like it’s on. This saves constantly on and off when you cannot decide.

On cooler rides, the insulation in the front of the gilet help keeps you warm, deflecting wind, while the top panel on the back is ventilated to aid cooling. This, however, isn’t the gilet’s party piece. It packs so small you can fit it into the palm of your hand. Super handy for slotting into your jersey pocket and not feeling as if you’re carrying a brick behind you.

While the brevet Jersey is generally a looser fit, you can still fit it under a jacket for added insulation in the winter months.

What’s okay?

While the colour range is bright and bold, some who like to match their colours to their current kit and bike would be fine if all your kit is Rapha. The bright colours are pink and orange, which contrasts nicely with the winter kit, which is usually a bit more subtle. It’ll help you be seen in low-light conditions. The darker colours, navy and black, still have contrasting bands, but I feel they’re not quite bright enough.

The offset zip from Rapha is gone, which some might not like. I like the offset zip, as you can have it done up, and it won’t catch on your chin. However, the material on the gilet is soft, and you can always undo it a little.

There are also no pockets on the back of the gilet, which can be OK because a quick unzip from the bottom and you can reach your jersey pockets – this also streamlines if you place another layer over the gilet. However, getting quick access to your energy gels, food or phone can be a little fiddly.

Any negatives?

I’m going to say £105 for a gilet is quite pricey. We know Rapha is generally a bit more expensive than most, so the price tag isn’t too surprising, but it’s still steep.

I’ve found it durable, coping with brushes against hedges, twigs and bits which flick off the road and catch you on the chest. So while it is expensive, I’m a person who would buy something once, rather than buy cheap and five times.

More items to consider

How the product was tested

I rode the Rapha gilet as part of my regular rides, wearing it with different types of kit, under jackets and over jerseys to see how it faired. I rode with it in varying conditions from Autumn through to Winter.

Myles is a Commercial Content Writer for What's The Best, Parkers and CAR. His areas of expertise include cycling, fitness tech and hot hatches.

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