Castelli Velo Vest review
A windproof and water resistant gilet that could quite easily become a key addition to your kit, thanks to its lightweight and packable nature
All in all, a great go-to gilet that will get you through cool damp days in the saddle or when you need an additional windproof layer. At £60, there are cheaper gilets on the market, but which such versatility and good performance - calculating the cost per wear over a season will make this seem like a bargain
-
+
Versatile
-
+
Water resistant
-
+
Lightweight
-
+
Packable
-
-
Slightly long at the front
You can trust Cycling Weekly.
Constructed using Castelli’s ForceField micro ripstop, the Velo Vest claims to also prevent that waterlogged feeling post-downpour.
Testing on a changeable day, it kept me feeling drier in the torso than a standard gilet along with doing a good job of keeping the chill off after a passing shower. The shoulders and back fit exceptionally well, thanks to the three-panelled design and stretchy mesh side panels, and the super-low tail does a great job at keeping road spray at bay.
The front could be two or three inches shorter, as it has excess fabric folds in a riding position. Weighing just 64g it's barely noticeable when on.
>>> Cycling gilets: a buyer’s guide
It comes with its own built-in stuff sack and the flyweight fabric makes it small enough to pack into even the smallest of jersey pockets.
This is an ideal kit addition for changeable days, or mountain days when you need an extra windproof layer for a long descent.
The extra detailing of practical reflective rear logo is a nice touch, although for the UK market it would ideally be right, rather than the current left side, prominent.
With five colours on offer there's an option to match most kit.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Hannah is Cycling Weekly’s longest-serving tech writer, having started with the magazine back in 2011. She has covered all things technical for both print and digital over multiple seasons representing CW at spring Classics, and Grand Tours and all races in between.
Hannah was a successful road and track racer herself, competing in UCI races all over Europe as well as in China, Pakistan and New Zealand.
For fun, she's ridden LEJOG unaided, a lap of Majorca in a day, won a 24-hour mountain bike race and tackled famous mountain passes in the French Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites and Himalayas.
She lives just outside the Peak District National Park near Manchester UK with her partner, daughter and a small but beautifully formed bike collection.
-
Undercover Mechanic: Contrary to popular belief, the bike industry is not collapsing - but disinformation is rife
The overstocking amid the Covid spike is problematic, but some businesses are thriving, argues our insider
By Undercover Mechanic Published
-
Tweets of the week: Brutal weather at Flèche, an idiot sandwich and is there a new POC helmet?
There's a lot of love for Kasia Niewiadoma, and it turns out Norwegians are good in bad weather
By Adam Becket Published
-
Juanpe López wins Tour of the Alps, does 34 kick-ups with a football
'My coach said to do it for Betis,' says Spaniard of his boyhood football club
By Tom Davidson Published