Wind waistcoats for road cyclists - protection against wind and weather: 22 waistcoats put to the test

The variety of waistcoats is huge - ranging from simple wind deflectors to technically complex waistcoats with all-round protection made from various functional materials that block the wind and rain while regulating perspiration transport to the outside. The price range is correspondingly wide, from 65 euros (Bontrager) to 160 euros (Biehler).

What distinguishes the 22 waistcoats tested?

There are also big differences in cut and comfort. Although most models anticipate the bent posture on the road bike well by being cut short at the front and longer at the back, the thin material of the lightweight waistcoats tends to ride up on some. Apart from individual differences, the expensive models achieve top marks for their fit, but cheaper candidates such as the men's waistcoat from Endura or the Bontrager waistcoat for women also score highly.

Conclusion: Men will find a lightweight waistcoat with a small pack size and good weather protection for mountain pass tours that flutters tolerably at Löffler or Giro, women at Endura or Giro. The more expensive models from Biehler or Mavic are high-quality, virtually flutter-free and very versatile.

The 11 women's waistcoats in the test

• Cube: Teamline wind waistcoat Repulse
• Bontrager: Circuit Wm's Windshell cycling waistcoat
• Craft: Essence Wind Light Vest W
• Endura: FS260-Pro Adrenalin Race Vest II
• Giro: W Chrono Expert wind waistcoat
• Gonso: Sinestra
• Pearl Izumi: W Zephrr Barrier Vest
• Santini: Scudo-Vest
• Biehler: Neo Classic Windshell waistcoat
• Rapha: Women's Brevet Gilet With Pockets
• Velocio: Women's Wind Vest

The 11 men's waistcoats in the test

• Craft: Essence Wind Light Vest
• Cube: Teamline wind waistcoat Repulse
• Endura: Pro SL Lite Vest II
• Giro: M Chrono Expert wind waistcoat
• Löffler: M Bike Vest Windshell
• Pearl Izumi: Zephrr Barrier Vest
• Scott: RC Weather WB Vest
• Specialised: HyprViz Deflect Wind West
• Assos: Mille GT Spring Fall Vest
• Mavic: Mistral waistcoat
• Poc: All-Weather Vest

How TOUR tests

Cut/carrying comfort (25 %)

Equipment (25 %)

The requirements: a sufficiently long collar and a backed zip with zip garage,
windproof and waterproof zip. Signal colours make sense, although we do not devalue dark waistcoats,
if they have enough reflective material. We rate extras such as mesh inserts, access to the jersey pockets, zip pockets, gel prints on the waistband and padded collars positively.

Weather protection (25 %)

Handling (25 %)

Overall grade(100 %)

Downloads:
PDF: Wind protection: Vests for road cyclists