Alé Women's Crossover Gilet

Alé's Women's Crossover Gilet is light, easy to store, and very windproof. Alé says it's "specifically designed with the female racing cyclist in mind" and I'd say it's succeeded well – not many get this right in my experience, but Alé has got the cut spot on.

There are plenty of gilets on the market, so any manufacturer wanting to stand out and get rave reviews is going to have to produce something seriously special. To my mind, Alé has created an excellent product that will more than satisfy the gilet needs of any avid female cyclist.

> Find your nearest dealer here

The front, side and upper back panels are all made of the same windproof material, which feels rather paper-like – well, the pros used to stick a newspaper down their front at the top of an Alpine descent, so why not? The fabric functions exceptionally well. Despite me thinking it might be a little noisy on a descent, the snug fit ensured that it didn't flap or move about.

A mesh panel down the length of the rear helps reduce overheating and excessive sweating, and results in a garment that does exactly as Alé claims – it keeps you warm while not allowing you to drown in sweat. I never found myself in a rush to remove it because of overheating, which can often be the case with gilets. If you do need more ventilation, the CamLock front zip means if the gilet is half open the zip can be 'clicked' down to lock it in position.

The same J-Stability System used in many of Alé's jerseys has been employed here – a carefully cut, lightly elasticated baseline hem with the addition of a silicone strip results in the gilet sitting perfectly still when in a riding position, without any excess gathering or bagging of material.

Alé has also incorporated a stuff sack: no folding, rolling or screwing up necessary to get it into your back pocket – often a battle in windy conditions. An extra section of mesh at the base of the rear forms a pouch, which allows you to quickly stuff the garment in on itself to create a malleable bundle no bigger than a cricket ball. When stuffed in this sack, a loop appears for you to hang up the 'ball' should you wish to. It's the little things...

> Check out our guide to the best gilets

The black I tested is great for use on muddy roads – no fear of staining or marking – with added fluorescent trim and the rear logo making for pleasing aesthetics as well as heightening visibility. Two subtle yet effective reflective tabs have been sewn into the seams along the rear mesh panelling.

Overall, this is an excellent piece of windproof kit designed specifically for a female figure. It doesn't require you to accept any garish colour combinations, is seriously stylish and performs exceptionally well in the conditions it was designed for. It's the best female-specific gilet I have ever tried, cut for an athletic build and offering supreme protection against the wind. My only reservation is with sizing; it's on the small side, so size up to ensure it'll fit over winter jerseys.

Verdict

Excellent windproof layer for the female form without being boil-in-the-bag