The Nalini 3L Reflex Vest is a good autumn and winter option that will add warmth and protection. The reflective material works well and adds visibility but breathability does suffer slightly as a result
Pros
+
Good protection on windy and colder rides
+
Comfortable and good-looking with a nice cut
Cons
-
Gets a bit sweaty at higher intensities
-
The two-way zipper can pop open on occasion
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Nalini 3L Reflex vest
Price: £120 / €139 / $TBC
Sizes: S-3XL
Weight: 184 grams - Size M
Colours: Black / Blue
Pockets: Three
I’m doing plenty of dark road rides now we are into November here in the UK. Being visible is becoming more of a consideration for me as I ride in the dark. Generally, I like to wear lighter kit that still keeps me warm.
Until it gets really cold, gilets are a good way to achieve this, a gilet paired with a base layer and or arm warmers and a jersey is a great way to keep your kit lightweight but your core warm.
The Nalini 3L Reflex Vest, or gilet, is a medium-weight piece with Stormshield fabric and a large reflective back panel. This provides good cold-weather protection while helping you stay more visible to motorists and other road users.
The gilet is priced at £120 / €139 and is made in Italy. I've been testing it long-term and am ready with my in-depth review. For our US readers, I asked Nalini about pricing and it's currently TBC for the US market.
Here's is reflective back section, broken up by a middle back strip for breathability(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
The back panel is reflective, but not eye poppingly so (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski )
Design and aesthetics
The 3L Reflex gilet which is made in Italy is manufactured from a Polyester and Elastane mix, whilst the reflective back is a Polyamide and Elastane mix.
The body, sides and neck area of the gilet look solid, but hold it up to the light and you will see it’s a two-layer Stormshield mesh fabric. The physical feel is medium weight for me, by that I mean it's heavier than a thin, lightweight gilet like the MAAP Draft I recently reviewed and makes a slightly rustly sound. Stormshield is a Windtex membrane that is wind and water-resistant whilst also breathing well, it's also made in Italy.
The back panel is where the 3L Reflective fabric is used. Fabrics like this usually have some sort of coating that reflects light. A mesh column runs vertically down the middle of the back, to add some breathability.
At the rear, there are three good-sized pockets which will deal with gloves or rain jackets with no problem. They are also covered by the reflective material.
There’s a two-way YKK zipper, which allows you to open up the bottom and get rid of some heat if needed. I have found this zipper to have a bit of a habit of unzipping from the bottom if you tweak it or lightly pull it. The gilet fit isn’t super tight and doesn’t cause the unzipping. The zipper just does it at times, but I can’t say it’s caused me any issues. It seems to happen more off the bike than on it.
There’s also a nice tall, soft-lined collar which provides good protection in colder conditions. One thing on sizing, If you are a size small you will need an 'M' here, the gilet sizes up a little bit small. I'm always a small, but am wearing a Medium in the pictures.
Branding-wise, things are subtle. There’s a rubber ‘Nalini’ roundel stitched onto the front chest and a Nalini wordmark on the bottom of the middle pocket. The gilet is all black apart from the back panels which in regular light are a silvery/grey colour.
Image 1 of 4
My colleague Will Jones will not approve of this line on the zipper guard(Image credit: Future)
A simple Nalini wordmark on the rear of the back pocket (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
This is the back panel, the reflective material is broken by a mesh strip (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
The zipper has a habit of sneaking open by a few teeth on my test piece, it's more of an issue when getting ready and hasn't caused major problems(Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
Performance
I’ll tackle the reflective element of the gilet here first. When light hits the reflective back patch it produces a reflective shimmer, but it isn’t blindingly bright. I spent a few hours on dark, unlit Worcestershire lanes recently with some clubmates and quizzed them on the gilet afterwards. Shining a light on the jersey can only give you so much of an insight.
When riding on my wheel they found the gilet was noticeable and stood out, but made the point that it’s more subtle. If you're looking for a super bright reflective piece, this isn’t it. I like the fact it isn't blinding though, it's there, but it's not OTT. Nalini does have a 'mirror' gilet which is majorly bright if that is what you are shopping for.
Reflectiveness aside, the gilet performs well in cool and colder temperatures which I think is its primary focus, though you could of course use it in spring and summer. I see it as more of an autumn/winter piece though.
It adds warmth and protection nicely on cooler days and does keep the wind at bay. Paired with a range of different weight base layers, jerseys and arm warmers it has kept me comfortable and protected. The high neck also lends a feeling of comfort and protection. The seams aren't taped or sealed, so whilst the material will deal with some water, in a heavy downpour you will get wet.
Due to the reflective back panel and breathability of the material overall I find the gilet does still get a little sweaty if you're riding a bit harder. The material keeps the wind off well, but I found the pockets especially got quite moist and were still a little wet the next day after my ride. For less intense riding it will keep you comfortable, but you can probably expect some moisture if you're pushing on; don't forget the two-way zipper is there if you need it.
The back panel and pockets are covered in 3L reflective material (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
Value
With an RRP of £120 / €139, it's fair to say this is a more premium gilet price-wise.
Some of the reasons for that may be the Made in Italy tag, and the Stormshield and 3L reflective fabrics used.
It's certainly a quality number and still looks brand new after over a year of use and performs well, but this could be winter jacket money. If you value a good gilet then it may be a solid buy for you.
The Stormshield fabric provides good protection from the elements (Image credit: Tom Wieckowski)
Verdict
The 3L Reflective vest is a good gilet, that offers solid cold weather protection. If you're interested in a piece of kit that can aid visibility in the dark, it's a really nice option without being fully boil in the bag or blindingly bright.
There is something of a trade-off I think regarding the reflective material and breathability, especially if you're getting a sweat on, it hasn't been a massive problem for me and I've only really noticed when I've stopped riding at a cafe or similar.
Now the nights and mornings are darker it's a nice option to have, and I feel reassured I'm that little bit more visible to motorists from behind.
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Design and aesthetics
An understated stylish design, and a nice option if you wan'y something to add visibility that doesn't go over the top
8/10
Thermal management
Strong, provides good warmth and protection down into single digits, depending on what you are wearing. You may get sweaty wearing it if riding harder which could cause some riders issues
7/10
Packability
Good, packs down well and fits into a jersey pocket nicely
8/10
Comfort and fit
Comfortable to wear and with a nice fit that isn't too flappy, the neck feels a little tight, but this fades away on the bike
8/10
Value
A bit more of a premium price, a good buy if you value a good gilet, but you could go for a hardshell jacket also, There aren't so many subtle reflective pieces out there so this is a nice option
Tom joined the Cyclingnews team in late 2022 as a tech writer. Despite having a degree in English Literature he has spent his entire working life in the cycling industry in one form or another. He has over 10 years of experience as a qualified mechanic, with the last five years before joining Cyclingnews being spent running an independent workshop. This means he is just as happy tinkering away in the garage as he is out on the road bike, and he isn’t afraid to pull a bike apart or get hands-on with it when testing to really see what it’s made of.
He has ridden and raced bikes from an early age up to a national level on the road and track, and has ridden and competed in most disciplines. He has a keen eye for pro-team tech and enjoys spotting new or interesting components in the wild. During his time at Cyclingnews, Tom has already interviewed some of the sport's biggest names including Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogačar and Alberto Contador. He's also covered various launches from brands such as Pinarello, Ridley, Specialized and more, tackled the Roubaix Challenge sportive aboard his own rim-brake Cannondale SuperSix Evo, tested over 20 aero helmets in the wind tunnel, and has created helpful in-depth buying advice relating to countless categories from torque wrenches to winter clothing.
