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Rapha Brevet Windblock Jersey

8
£135.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Windproof, insulating and highly visible jersey ideal for commuting, touring and bikepacking
Weight: 
209g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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An extremely comfortable jersey with great wind-resistance and enough breathability to cope with a wide range of temperatures, the Rapha Brevet Windblock Jersey offers the added bonus of large reflective stripes, which all combines to make it ideal for early morning or late evening training rides, murky commutes, bikepacking or Audaxes.

Rapha Brevet Windblock Jersey - riding.jpg

Since escaping the big smoke and moving out to the countryside, I've embraced high-visibility and reflective clothing like never before, and I've become a fan of Rapha's Brevet range. Why? It manages to combine style with high-visibility in a way that few other clothing brands have managed yet. What started out as a jersey when some Rapha employees wanted to take part in the 1,200km Paris-Brest-Paris Audax a few years ago, the Brevet range has since expanded to a complete range alongside Rapha's Classic and Pro Team offerings.

>> Read more: Original Rapha Long Sleeve Brevet jersey

To create this versatile garment, Rapha has taken a lightweight merino jersey and added a windproof panel to the front, using the same fabric as its Brevet Gilet. It's as simple as that, but it's a design that works well in a wide range of conditions. The merino provides good insulation on colder rides and the natural anti-odour properties make it ideal for daily riding, whether it is regular commuting or a multi-day adventure race or cycle touring.

Buy Rapha Brevet Windblock Jersey

Rapha Brevet Windblock Jersey - collar.jpg

The addition of the windproof front panel negates the need to carry a gilet. That's ideal for those rides when you want to travel light, or don't want to carry spare clothing and sacrifice pocket space for other essentials like food. Talking of pockets, you get five of them, plenty of cargo capacity for all the stuff you might want to carry on a long or multi-day ride. That's three regular sized pockets and two zipped pockets. One of them located on the front is ideal for a small essential you want easily to hand; I mainly used it for my house keys.

Read more: The best winter cycling jerseys — buyer's guide + 11 great choices

While the front panel stops the wind, the exposed merino wool on the arms and back provides enough breathability to prevent overheating. It's a slightly lighter weight merino wool than the original Brevet jersey, which means the jersey works at higher temperatures: I tested the jersey up to about 15 degrees and it was okay, but then I do run cold. Above that temp, it started getting a bit moist. Keep it in low double figures, and preferably in the single digits, though, and it's right at home. The layering you opt for underneath the jersey makes a difference, of course, as does the pace at which you are riding. The lightweight fabric also ensures the jersey dries quickly during and between rides.

Rapha Brevet Windblock Jersey - zop pocket.jpg

A pair of bands, one high-visibility and the other made from a reflective material, loops around the front and back. Together they provide a huge amount of visibility, both during the daytime when it's overcast or when you're riding in the dark. There are some small reflective details, on the collar, sleeve edges and zipper. Combine with a good set of lights and you really are going to stand out on a dark ride, though the amount of forward rotation in the saddle does impact the effectiveness of the rear stripes to an extent.

The jersey was tested and developed during the 2015 TransContinental race, the ideal place for such a versatile piece of clothing that is able to cope with any sort of weather you might encounter, as well as helping you to stand out on the road. If you're planning a bikepacking adventure or a traditional cycle tour, choosing clothing can be tricky because you need kit that can adapt to rapidly changing weather, be light and comfortable, resist bad smells after several days in the saddle, and offer some visibility.

Rapha Brevet Windblock Jersey - back.jpg

The Rapha Brevet Windblock Jersey meets these requirements extremely well. And even if you're not going adventuring, it's ideal for the daily commute, evening training rides, the club run or chillier weekend rides. This is one of those garments that, wet weather aside, works well in a vast range of situations, making a pretty good investment if you want one jersey covers most of the bases.

Verdict

Windproof, insulating and highly visible jersey ideal for commuting, touring and bikepacking

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Rapha Brevet Windblock Jersey

Size tested: Small, Black/Black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Inspired by the Rapha Brevet credo of 'pack light, travel far', the multi-functional Brevet Windblock Jersey fuses into one piece the all-day performance of a lightweight merino jersey, with the wind protection of a gilet. An overlaid panel made from the fabric of the Rapha Brevet Gilet is stitched on to the front, meaning that you won't need to carry a windbreaker on tours in milder conditions, or all-day endurance rides. With reflective and hi-vis Brevet stripes on the front and back, and a total of five pockets, this is a versatile, multitasking piece. The prototype of this garment was tried and tested during the Transcontinental race in 2015 - a 4,000km journey across Europe.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Wind-resistant polyester panel stitched on to front

New quick-drying, lightweight merino fabric

Reflective and hi-vis Brevet stripes on front and back

Zipped pocket on front-left of jersey for valuables

Triple rear cargo pocket for easy-access storage

Concealed zip compartment on rear

Hi-vis, ribbed tipping on collar, sleeve edge and zipguard for visibility and comfort

Silicon gripper on rear hem to hold the jersey in place

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

Excellent fit and shape provided you get the size right

Rate the product for sizing:
 
7/10

If you're slim, you might want to downsize - I have to wear a size small

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10

It's light enough to dry quickly and be comfortably breathable

Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10

The merino wool is very soft on the skin and it's a comfortable jersey for any sort of riding

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

We're being treated to more and better high-visibility clothing with each passing year, but none look quite as nice as Rapha's Brevet Jersey

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

No problems, it can be washed in the shower or machine washed just fine

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Works well in a wide range of conditions, keeps the wind at bay and breathable enough for warmer days, and enough insulation for cooler temps

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Highly reflective yet still looks stylish

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

It doesn't cope well in the rain

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

A stylishly reflective jersey ideal for a wide range of conditions and riding styles, the amount of use I've had out of it makes it a good investment for the cyclist who values staying warm and dry and standing out on the road, while doing it with a bit of style

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180  Weight: 67

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

Add new comment

17 comments

Avatar
freeewheelin | 7 years ago
2 likes

Put a blinky rear light on and feel safe in any colour. 

Avatar
Freddy56 | 7 years ago
0 likes

I've had a Galibier windproof fronted jersey for years and they are the business stopping the wind and you don't need to layer as much.

This looks the ticket

Avatar
dafyddp | 7 years ago
0 likes

I second the suggestion of going for a combo. A gilet doesn't need to be breathable - they have massive holes on either side so if you get your timing right you can buy two Rapha tops in the sale and have enough left to buy a cheaper gilet. 

Avatar
themartincox | 7 years ago
1 like

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFoa1Zggse3/?taken-by=themartincox

the black/white combo works well, far better than I imagined.

I was following these two at a distance and they were plenty visible!

Avatar
alexb replied to themartincox | 7 years ago
0 likes
themartincox wrote:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFoa1Zggse3/?taken-by=themartincox

the black/white combo works well, far better than I imagined.

I was following these two at a distance and they were plenty visible!

 

So, in my mind, I should be able to cycle in whatever colour clothing I like and if I'm hit by a car, it should be the driver's fault for failing to see the clearly visible cyclist. However, the legal profession see this as an opportunity to get the jury on-side with an acquital based on the argument that the victim was insufficiently visible.

I like the design and the philosophy, so how about making it available in red? I can see the long-sleeved version is available in pink and this jersey is available in blue with pink and white highlights.

It's a shame as Rapha are really working hard to design products that seem to work really well for longer distance rides. I just think there's a design aesthetic here that is more about the aesthetic than I'm comfortable with.

 

 

Avatar
alexb | 7 years ago
0 likes

Is this from some alternate universe, that I've missed out on, where black and grey are high viz colours?

Avatar
Danger Dicko replied to alexb | 7 years ago
0 likes
alexb wrote:

Is this from some alternate universe, that I've missed out on, where black and grey are high viz colours?

 

The stripes on the back are both reflective.

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to Danger Dicko | 7 years ago
0 likes
Danger Dicko wrote:
alexb wrote:

Is this from some alternate universe, that I've missed out on, where black and grey are high viz colours?

The stripes on the back are both reflective.

Hi-viz and reflective aren't the same though: reflective materials are great when you're picked out headlamps after dark but they don't help otherwise/most of the time.

Avatar
HowardR | 7 years ago
2 likes

Re: 'you can buy bin bags from Aldi much cheaper and they do the job just as well'

I don't know about you but I save a few extra groats by emtying out previously filled bin bags & using those......

Nest week - How to 'up-cycle' hessian sacking in to a stylish pair of shorts....

 

Avatar
Gourmet Shot | 7 years ago
0 likes

Can I get in with the 'you can buy bin bags from Aldi much cheaper and they do the job just as well' comment first ?

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes

Wish they'd put some windproof material in their beanies, winter hats etc. Nothing more painful than wind chill in the ears. Cuts right through merino and most fabric. Wrecks me. Suppose the weather's not as harsh down in England where Rapha are based.

Avatar
Gourmet Shot replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes
unconstituted wrote:

Wish they'd put some windproof material in their beanies, winter hats etc. Nothing more painful than wind chill in the ears. Cuts right through merino and most fabric. Wrecks me. Suppose the weather's not as harsh down in England where Rapha are based.

I've started using the 'Dexshell Waterproof, Windproof, & Breathable Beanie'.  Its pretty warm and keeps the water out (as is lined).  

Avatar
tritecommentbot replied to Gourmet Shot | 7 years ago
0 likes
Gourmet Shot wrote:
unconstituted wrote:

Wish they'd put some windproof material in their beanies, winter hats etc. Nothing more painful than wind chill in the ears. Cuts right through merino and most fabric. Wrecks me. Suppose the weather's not as harsh down in England where Rapha are based.

I've started using the 'Dexshell Waterproof, Windproof, & Breathable Beanie'.  Its pretty warm and keeps the water out (as is lined).  

 

Nice cheers!That looks perfect actually laugh

Avatar
EddyBerckx replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes
unconstituted wrote:

Wish they'd put some windproof material in their beanies, winter hats etc. Nothing more painful than wind chill in the ears. Cuts right through merino and most fabric. Wrecks me. Suppose the weather's not as harsh down in England where Rapha are based.

 

No!!!!!!!!

 

I run hot and would be all sweaty!! There must be aldi bin bag sellers near you?

 

 10

Avatar
jacknorell replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes
unconstituted wrote:

Wish they'd put some windproof material in their beanies, winter hats etc. Nothing more painful than wind chill in the ears. Cuts right through merino and most fabric. Wrecks me. Suppose the weather's not as harsh down in England where Rapha are based.

 

Gore Bike Wear sells a Windstopper Beanie, should work pretty well.

Avatar
EddyBerckx | 7 years ago
0 likes

Hmmmmmm....you've published this just as the sale is ending and they've sold out almost all the sizes....

Avatar
bendertherobot | 7 years ago
1 like

It's an interesting product but, price aside, I can't help but feel that the Brevet plus Brevet gilet is a more versatile one.

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