Universal Colours Mono Men’s Gilet

The Universal Colours Mono Men’s Gilet is described as ‘the perfect layer for changeable conditions’ – and I think it lives up to this claim. That said, I’d expect nothing less for £110, though I can see it repaying this investment, which could make it a price worth paying.

> Buy now: Universal Colours Mono Men’s Gilet for £110 from Universal Colours

The gilet is made from a mix of nylon and elastane, of which 86% is pre-consumer waste nylon and 14% elastane. But despite being quite thin the resulting material feels reassuringly rugged.

The innovative natural dyeing technology originates from Japan. “Onibegie is an environmentally friendly material that uses and combines ingredients extracted from onion skin as a base and various natural ingredients.” In this case it’s rice husks and bamboo charcoal, with the three different colour options named after the pigments used – giving us Bamboo Black, Rice Beige and our Shoot Grey.

The two-way Vislon zip is both rugged and easy to use, giving you easy access to your jersey pockets and helping you to regulate temperature.

The garment is finished with retroreflective UC detailing on the reverse, and a CO2- and PFC-free DWR coating and wind panels, designed to offer resistance to both wind and light rain, but only covering the chest and shoulders.

Sizing & Fit

Our medium was bang on for my 1.81m/70kg frame, roomy enough for a jersey and base layer beneath without bunching and roomy enough around the shoulders. It’s a snug, wind-cheating cut but one that’s still practical for layering. And while this is the men’s version, there is a women’s model too. I should say that I’m slim, short in the torso and long in the limb, and you might want to go up or size or two if you’re longer in the torso or a bit bulkier.

The lightweight silicone gripper is effective.

Performance

Performance has been uniformly good across the board, which is what you’d expect at this sort of price.

The testing period coincided with a period of changeable weather, with early morning rides at around 10°C. A lightweight long-sleeve jersey is lovely as the temperature rises, but is still a little chilly at the beginning – which is where a gilet comes in…

The front of the gilet offered excellent protection from blustery winds, keeping my core warm but dissipating heat very efficiently as tempo increases. This was particularly apparent when tackling longer, steadily intensifying climbs, or when it turned unexpectedly warm during a ride.

Dropping the zipper to half-mast also helps you to regulate your temperature, helped by a generously long tag. The bottom zipper is similarly easy to use.

The cut around the arms is particularly well engineered, offering unrestricted movement but without any annoying flutter on blustery descents.

It folds down very well into its own pocket, which you can then stow in one of your jersey’s rear pockets, though I tend to leave that until a rest stop.

While a packable technical jacket might be a better choice if showers are forecast, I found the gilet’s DWR coating did a reasonable job of fending off the worst of a showery interlude. Bargain on 25 minutes during moderate showers, or 30-40 minutes for intermittent spitting weather, which is arguably what this genre of gilet is intended for.

I had no issue with the lack of water-resistance at the back, since my body stayed comfortable, with the fibre’s wicking properties stopping it from feeling clammy. And when you’re riding in temperatures above 15°C it’ll dry in around 15 minutes.

Durability

Though intended as a road garment, I used the gilet on gravel and mixed-terrain rides where it shrugged off the effects of brambles and sundry shrubbery.

The gilet also hasn’t picked up any grime from grubby and oily fingers, while a 30°C wash with minimal detergent sorted out trail spatter and road grime. The colours are holding up well too, with no fading or deteriorating.

Value

The gilet’s £110 RRP isn’t small change but it’s not alone in costing this sort of price. The Castelli Espresso Vest, for example, costs £125; Matt found it hit pretty much all the right notes save for the price, though he found the zipper a little fiddly at first.

PEdALED’s Waterproof Vest was originally £130 but is now £78, and might have the edge in wetter conditions.

Steve liked the £95 Rapha Men’s Explore Lightweight Gilet for its packability and windproofing but felt the arm holes were blustery in the wind.

You can also pay a good deal less for a decent quality option. The Van Rysel Road Cycling Ultra-Light Sleeveless Windproof Gilet costs just £19.99, comes with a two-year warranty and features wind- and water-resistant fabrics.

Our best cycling gilets buyer’s guide rounds up more of our favourite options.

Conclusion

The Universal Colours Mono Men’s Gilet is a high-quality packable garment that performs well – and I’ve been particularly impressed by its cut, fit and breathability. There are, of course, less expensive alternatives, and if you’re a newer rider you might be better off pairing a quality lightweight technical jacket and a cheaper gilet. But that’s no criticism of what is an excellent product from Universal Colours.

> Buy now: Universal Colours Mono Men’s Gilet for £110 from Universal Colours

Verdict

Very packable, high-performance gilet – but its light weight comes with a heavyweight price

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