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review

dhb Windslam gilet

7
£34.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Windproof gilet with some neat, well thought-out features, but we found the collar much too loose
Weight: 
233g
Contact: 
www.wiggle.co.uk

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This new gilet does a fine job of keeping the cold air off your upper body and, like most of dhb’s redesigned range, boasts several really neat features.

The main fabric – the blue stuff – is a virtually windproof polyester that’s stretchy, especially widthwise, so you can get a close, flap-free fit without any restriction. Road spray and light drizzle roll off the outer surface without soaking in while the fleecy inner holds a lot of warm air around your body to keep you toasty when the temperature drops. A baffle behind the high-quality YKK zip stops the wind getting in there and we found the arm holes close fitting enough to provide good sealing – they certainly don’t gape open and let all that warm air escape.

The rear panel below the yoke, on the other hand, is a lightweight open mesh – you can just about see through it – so it lets moist air escape to keep you from getting damp and sticky.

We especially like the two pockets tucked into the side-seams just above your hips. They’re rear-facing so all your gubbins sits on your back rather than falling to the front where it would get in the way of your pedalling, and they’re zipped so nothing can fall out. Each of them comes with a gap for running an earphone lead internally too, if you want to be wired for sound.

An elasticated band stops the waist from billowing out while a silicone gripper does a good job of holding it in place as you move. You get a decent amount of reflective trim too – piping around the back and a couple of flashes on the chest.

Downsides? We’ve said it before but we struggle with the width of the necks of some of dhbs outer garments. The Windslam’s collar is tall with a lovely soft microfleece lining, but we just find if too large – much too large – so it let cold air in when we wanted to shut it out. Fair enough, it gives you the option of wearing a couple of high-necked layers underneath, but we found it draughty unless we filled up the space with a Buff.

The only other issue you might have is that the Windslam is bulky compared to some windproof gilets, which can be an issue if you want to take it off mid-ride and store it away. You can remove an ultra-skinny gilet on the fly and stuff it in your pocket without stopping, as long as you’ve got some half-decent handling skills. The DHB model is more of a squeeze. It will fit into a pocket, but you have to roll it up tightly to get it in there, and there’s less room for anything else you want to carry.

That said, at £34.99 the Windslam gilet is very affordable. If the cut of the neck works for you, you won’t find much better value for money.

Verdict

Windproof gilet with some neat, well thought-out features, but we found the collar much too loose

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road.cc test report

Make and model: DHB Minima gilet

Size tested: Medium, blue

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?

DHB say, "Secure yourself into the Windslam gilet and get out. This superb fitting gilet provides comfort like you’ve never had it. The interior fleece offers great warmth and the windslam membrane provides wind protection. Super breathable mesh back. 2 discrete, secure zip pockets in left and right side seam, both with the ability to wire in your music. Pockets are rear facing for the rider who doesn’t stop and doesn’t want bulk hanging below them. Invisible chin guard. Reflective trim detailing front and back. Elasticated hem with silicone grip."

We'd take issue with the 'suberb fitting' bit. Several riders we got to try it out found the neck too loose.

It's equally suited to road riding and mountain biking.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
6/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Did you enjoy using the product? The neck fit was completely wrong for me, so not really

Would you consider buying the product? No, because the fit doesn't work for me

Would you recommend the product to a friend? If it fitted them, yes.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 39  Height: 190cm  Weight: 74kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding,

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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1 comments

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Fixie Girl | 13 years ago
0 likes

Another #fail dhb garment. What do they base the necks size on.. Or do you Brits wear thick woollen scarves!  19

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