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review
Gilets
Sportful Ultra Light WS Vest Sportful Ultra Light WS Vest
Sportful Ultra Light WS Vest

Sportful Ultra Light WS Vest

8
by David Arthur @davearthur
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published May 31, 2013

0
£86.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Simple, lightweight, good quality gilet for adding weather beating versatility to your cycling wardrobe
Weight: 
92g
Contact: 
www.c3products.com
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Gilets are really useful in the UK spring and autumn and the Sportful Ultra Light WS Vest is a very smart example that ticks the boxes well. It blocks wind with a Windstopper front panel and shoulders, and stops over-heating with a very breathable back panel. Three pockets boost its usefulness on the bike and it packs up very small.

Head out on the road bike at this time of year and the weather can be extremely unpredictable, so it pays to have versatility in your clothing so you can adapt quickly. A gilet is ideal when it comes to adding versatility. They provide an extra layer of insulation and protection from the wind over your torso, and can be carried in a pocket when the weather cheers up. I'm a big fan and reckon that every UK dwelling cyclist should have one.

This Sportful Ultra Light WS Vest is made from a lightweight and very thin Gore-Tex Windstopper 3L fabric, used solely on the chest panels and the shoulders. Elsewhere an Aeroflow 3D fabric is used to reduce the weight and boost ventilation. I used it in a range of conditions and it provides excellent protection from the elements and even copes well in light passing showers. On warmer days it's breathable enough to stop you overheating.

Fit is good and on the slim side, and there's little flapping or bunching up when in the drops. The high collar lets you snug the full-length zip right up to the neck when heading out on chilly morning rides or commutes.

It's at the higher end of what I would expect to pay for a gilet (though you can pay a lot more) but it's a good quality product made from top-end materials and a fit and function that justifies the outlay. You'll get a lot of use out of it through the year as well

Verdict

Simple, lightweight, good quality gilet for adding weather beating versatility to your cycling wardrobe

road.cc test report

Make and model: Sportful Ultra Light WS Vest

Size tested: medium, black

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?

A versatile light weight wind vest made from Gore Windstopper 3L fabric

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Ultra light weight wind protection with aerodynamic race fit

Ultra packable takes up minimum pocket space when stowed away

Windstopper's lightest weight fabric

Stretch poly mesh on back for great fit and excellent breathability

3 external pockets

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Usual quality construction from Sportful. That's useful in a hard-working garment like a gilet, it will get a lot of use

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

The Windstopper front panels do a great job of keeping the chill at bay, the fit is excellent and it packs up very small when not needed. Three pockets boost usefulness

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Yes, it's very durable

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

It's pretty light, and rolls up small

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

Very comfortable, the fit is good and it stops you getting caught out in bad weather

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

It's a little on the pricey side, but works well to justify the price tag with excellent design, fit and ultimately peformance

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It does exactly what a gilet should do, offer you extra versatility to deal with unpredictable bad weather

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Keeps the wind at bay

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180  Weight: 67

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, mtb,

 

Sportful Ultra Light WS Vest
Sportful
David Arthur @davearthur

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes. 

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