Nopinz Souplesse Gilet Men’s

The Nopinz Souplesse Gilet is a lightweight, packable option perfect for spring, summer and autumn when you need another windcheating layer.

Protection from chilly breezes is brilliant – nothing got through, even on pre-dawn blasts – and clamminess has been a moot point even when I've been cruising along at a steady 20mph for a couple of hours or so, with a decent base and jersey underneath.

> Buy now: Nopinz Souplesse Gilet for £81.99 from Nopinz

It's much the same story when temperatures hit the mid-teens, although unless there's been a stiff breeze taking the edge off I've tended to slip it into a jersey pocket by then.

The laminated fabric seems to offer the core reasonable protection from drizzly rain too. More aggressive cloudburst will make inroads given 15 minutes or so, but it dries expediently too –especially with a breeze in tow.

Nopinz describes the fabrics as 'premium Italian'; it's a polyester/elastane mix and a rather nice one at that. The body panels are thin but feel sturdy and have a slippery texture, while the two stretchy mesh side panels help to encourage dispersal of heat and sweat.

Detailing and standards of construction are excellent, though only what I'd expect at this price point: flat seams and uniform stitching; a sensibly high collar that features mesh backing for comfort; and elasticated cuffs around the shoulders and garment, along with a relatively thin but substantial silicone hem that does a good job or preventing it riding up.

The one rear pocket is relatively deep, and though it's not the widest it will swallow a road tube (700x25-32), tyre levers and a couple of energy bars. It's also reinforced, so holds its shape, preventing contents from bobbing around. Leaving these in situ hasn't hindered me stuffing it all into a jersey pocket when not needed.

Zip pulls/tags are one of my bugbears and the Souplesse's are smaller than I'd like, making it tricky when it comes to things like trying to retrieve something from the pocket at a decent pace, especially when wearing full finger gloves, or donning the gilet mid-ride – I found it best to leave it on and simply drop the front zip when needing more airflow.

Sizing/cut

I'm slightly unusual in terms of proportions – broader across the shoulders than my 181cm height and 70kg build would imply, and also relatively short in the torso. I found the Nopinz graced my frame perfectly, with an excellent cut – by which I mean, exactly as is implied in the blurb. It permits layering without bunching, and doesn't flutter like a bin bag when worn over a thin, summer-weight jersey.

Formative rides were at 5am, with the thermostat barely making it to single figures, which meant winter weight baselayers and jerseys. I was also running a helmet light with a bulky battery pack stowed in the pocket. The cut and stretchy fabric ensured this didn't intrude, and shifting position from drops to hoods and tops, or reaching for a bottle, was effortless.

That said, my default is medium and the size on test is a large – so when it comes to ordering, you might want to size up.

> Buyer’s Guide: 10 of the best cycling gilets

One drawback for some will be that black is the only option; there is some retro-reflective detailing, but it might be a little stealthy for some. Black does go with most things in the wardrobe, though, and it's great for hiding oily smudges and the like. It's washing well, too, when needed. I've stuck religiously to 30 degree machine washes and minimal detergent. From here, it'll line dry in around 20 minutes with a little sun and a gentle breeze.

Though primarily a road garment, I've not shied away from regular bridlepath pootling and more spirited green lane exploration. The odd thorny branch has plucked at the fabric but no obvious wear, let alone damage, to date.

Value

To some extent you can spend as little or as much for a gilet as you like these days. For example, the Van Rysel Windproof Gilet Racer is £35 – pretty good going for a windproof, breathable design with water-repellent front and three jersey-style pockets around the back.

Although £82 is quite an investment, it's by no means the most expensive out there. Rapha's Explore Men's Lightweight Gilet, for example, comes in at £90, while its Brevet Gilet with Pockets is £95.

Lusso's Aqua Challenge Gilet has gone up to £80 since Jamie tested it in 2020. That buys you a waterproof front panel (rated to 10,000mm), though Jamie did find it's a bit bulky to fit into a typical jersey pocket.

Conclusion

The Nopinz Souplesse gilet is a very competent, easily packable choice that is more versatile than those with a more racy cut. The slightly fiddly zip tags could be bigger, but otherwise this is a very good design whose performance generally matches the design brief.

Verdict

Capable gilet with great performance overall, though the zip tags need a steroid injection