Made from micro fibre polyester, its red and grey livery coupled with minimal Scotchlite detailing looks sporty yet understated and there’s even a zippered rear panel for smaller nick-nacks. Other colours include blue, white and garish fluorescent yellow. It'll easily fit into a jersey pocket and it also folds into its own stuff sack for safe keeping.
Cut is what Bontrager term semi-fit, meaning close but not figure hugging, and this keeps it looking good with either traditional Lycra or courier baggies. Sizing is bang on too, the large couldn’t have been a better fit and there's no annoying flapping when riding into headwinds.
The polyester front keeps wind chill firmly at bay and the large rear mesh panel maintains a steady flow of air, preventing the slightest hint of dampness even after prolonged effort. Calling it water resistant is stretching things a little – it’ll defend against damp very effectively but anything more than a light drizzle soon reveals its limitations. In fairness, it dries very quickly and it's more durable than appearances suggest- chance encounters with foliage have made little impression. Care couldn’t be simpler, machine wash at forty degrees and allow to dry naturally.
£30 seems on the steep side but despite my initial cynicism, it delivers what it promises. If you’re in the market for a lightweight wind and shower-resistant micro gillet for early season racing/training this is one of the best I’ve encountered.
road.cc test report
Make and model: Bontrager Sport wind vest
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?
The Micro Gilet is designed for riders needing a wind/showerproof micro gilet for early and autum riding. Calling it showerproof is overstating a little but it offers excellent protection against chill.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Polyester based micro fibres provide block wind whilst managing moisture, scotchlite adds some welcome additional security. Folds down into a tiny sack or jersey pocket.
Rate the product for quality of construction:
8/10
More durable than the texture suggests and washes well too
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Excellent in chill, damp conditions but shows limitations in showers.
Rate the product for durability:
7/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
9/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
8/10
Excellent fit and cut. Also available in a women's specific model.
Rate the product for value:
8/10
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
The Sport wind vest performs very, very well in all but wet weather and makes a great companion for all early season's disciplines.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Cut, colour scheme, low weight and compact sizing
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Age: 35 Height: 1m 81 Weight: 70 kilos
I usually ride: Rough Stuff Tourer Based around 4130 Univega mtb Frameset My best bike is: 1955 Holdsworth Road Path and several others including cross & traditional road
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo cross, commuting, touring, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,
To answer your question, yes you can sometimes feel the difference. Built a set of wheels for a friend and he installed them with new lightweight...
"braking zone" This is about bunch riding.
Riding in primary wouldn't stop a motorist crossing the white line to overtake: arguably, it would encourage them to cross the white line giving...
Cycling infrastructure does not force drivers to break the law, drivers are the reason they break the law, no one else.
Ah but taking pictures of things to defy the man (avoid a fine) is righteous. Taking pictures of people to grass on them to the cops (perhaps...
As a woman, this works great for me! My chain broke once, and a kind guy stopped with a chain breaker and sorted it all out for me. We stopped at a...
Same. I also have gone through a bunch of their tyres, and only the extralight disappointed (torn sidewall) but the standards are fantastic....
thanks for the ideas....
Indeed - but it's no more inconsistent than our current road design - very often UK high streets are "for shopping" and also a busy through route....
If you ask the world's leading economic commentators how many people have been rescued from abject poverty by capitalism the average answer would...