There aren't that many companies producing female specific cut lightweight windproof gilets- that staple for providing increased warmth with a very low weight penalty- and fewer still producing gilets cut with cycling in mind, rather than running, Rapha are one of them though.

That said, though, the women's Gilet from Rapha is by quite some way the most expensive of the options available to the female cyclist, and also not the lightest. So is it worth the Rapha premium?

Available in a choice of either black or cream we tested the more practical for British contiditons black version rather than the cream pictured. It's a no fuss design, with clean lines, a flattering contoured cut and the bare minimum of features. Conceived as a garment to be tucked into a jersey pocket for those times when the weather takes a turn for the worse, the focus is on packsize, weight and efficiency. The smooth fabric is windproof, breathable (assisted further by a mesh ventilation panel at the back) and treated with a water repellent finish. It's light and with a small amount of stretch, but Rapha have chosen to up the toughness and durability rather than going for the ultra ultra lightweight fabrics favoured by some. There's plenty of reflective piping around, making the rider nice and obvious, and there are a couple of bidon sized pouch pockets on the back and a tiny rear facing (easier to use when in the saddle) zipped key pocket. The collar is softly lined for added comfort.

To wear, it's extremely comfortable and effective, with pleasantly breathable fabric. The dropped tail gives plenty of coverage without interfering with the saddle, the fit is spot-on, with a size medium roughly equivalent to a pretty standard UK12 and the neck is snug and keeps out the wind without being over tight. It's not the tiniest to shove in a jersey pocket or wedge pack, but I didn't encounter any real problems.

Verdict

An extremely capable, beautifully crafted lightweight gilet, with a lot of great features, and a high end price tag to match.