Rapha Pro Team Insulated Gilet

Rapha's use of the excellent Polartec Alpha in its Pro Team Insulated Gilet provides a top that will keep you warm when training without overheating and the versatility of a sleeveless vest top. In usual Rapha fashion, it's nicely finished with some cracking details, and looks fine to boot.

• Pros: Lightweight, warm, breathable, packs small, pockets
• Cons: Pricey, race tight fit

I've tested several garments in recent years with Polartec's Alpha insulation. It was apparently developed for the needs of the US Special Forces – a fun fact to share in the cafe – and comprises a synthetic down material with a high warmth-to-weight ratio, trapping air in the insulation while providing impressive breathability. In short, it's really good at keeping you warm while at the same time regulating your temperature to prevent dreaded overheating.

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The Alpha insulation is easy to spot on this gilet. It's the fluffy stuff you can see in the photos and is used primarily in the front-facing panels. Yes, it does look like something your gran might have worn if you were to turn it inside out.

But looks aside, it works jolly well out on the bike. Worn over a short sleeve baselayer and long sleeve jersey, I found the gilet added wonderful warmth and it's ample for most typical rides that stay north of zero. It's ideal for high-tempo riding and training, and in the hills too, as it copes with increases in body temperature really nicely.

The Alpha material is able to provide this high level of insulation with minimal bulk, which contributes to the low weight and easy packability. An added bonus of the synthetic insulation is that it's quick drying; whether damp from rain or sweat, the gilet dries very quickly. I never finished a ride with it feeling in any way soggy.

It's not just adept at keeping you warm, the front panels are DWR treated so it's able to cope with some light rainfall, certainly enough to keep you moving during a light shower. Anything heavier or more sustained and it's time to break out the waterproof shell.

The fit, as with the entire Pro Team range, is on the figure-hugging/racing snake side. A stretchier material is used around the back and the cut of the gilet is really well executed so it remains comfortable.

The two-way zip is a nice touch. It means, for example, you can unzip the gilet from the hem when you want to get into your jersey pockets for food, rather than from the top. It also provides a handy cooling option on the climbs if you need to manually regulate your temperature.

A gilet is that most wonderfully versatile of cycling apparel, and this is one that can be rolled or folded up very small to fit inside a jersey or jacket pocket. You can wear it for the first hour or two of the ride until you or the air temperature warms up, then whip it off and stash it away. It provides adaptability to meet changing conditions.

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If you don't take the gilet off – because, let's face it, it has been bloomin' cold recently – you get three large rear pockets plus one zipped, so plenty of cargo capacity for any typical ride.

I've been using this gilet a lot recently and it's a great addition to your wardrobe, providing more usefulness at this time of year than most typical lightweight and windproof-only gilets.

When this gilet was first on sale it was priced at £140, which is a lot of money, but it's currently discounted to £80, which makes it a bit easier to justify. It's currently only available in limited sizes, but next season will return in new colours, we're told.

Verdict

Warm, breathable and packable gilet