An excellent lightweight layer to take the chill off, but works best with a T-shirt rather than a jersey
Pros
+
Superlight and packable
+
Easy to use stuff sack
+
Cut well for use with baggies
Cons
-
Flappy when used with a jersey
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The Rapha Explore Lightweight Gilet sits in the brand's 'Explore' range of products, which to my mind is just a slightly more mucky-minded subset of its Brevet collection. There are Gore-Tex smocks, down jackets and this featherweight gilet, designed to provide a bit of extra protection from the elements without adding any unnecessary bulk.
I’m always curious to see not only how products perform, but whether they match the marketing; in this case, the Explore Lightweight Gilet is photographed as a noticeably baggy garment, and worn over a t-shirt for a maximum #GravGrav casual vibe.
With this in mind, and despite it being a ‘regular’ fit I went up a size for this review to see how it fared for big days out. A medium, my size for Rapha jackets, fit me just like the man with the cool tattoos, the tan and the moustache in Rapha's marketing pictures, so a medium it was to be.
Does it deserve to go into our list of the best cycling gilets? In a bid to find out, I’ve used it for around 650km, including a lot of use on a French bike tour alongside the Rapha Brevet jersey, both with a jersey and just as a windproof layer over a T-shirt. Read on to see what I thought.
At 2.5 on the biscuit scale, it's definitely not going to worry the weight weenies (Image credit: Will Jones)
Design and aesthetics
The main selling point of the Explore Lightweight Gilet is its size and packability, so it makes sense to start there. It is a very lightweight bit of kit; at 54.4g, or two and a half chocolate digestives, it’s not going to worry anyone, even the most ardent toothbrush-sawing expeditionists. The whole thing is constructed from a gossamer-thin 25gsm ripstop nylon, double-layered at the collar and the contrast lower hem but otherwise a single thickness throughout.
In order to mirror the motifs of other items from both the Explore and Brevet collections, but without adding any bulk (save for a few feet of cotton thread), four seams have been run across the chest to insinuate the addition of stripes. It’s a well-thought-out touch and helps break up what is otherwise a slightly monolithic garment.
The cut is much more suited to use with a T-shirt (Image credit: Will Jones)
The collar is tall, but not elasticated. To aid the fit, and keep some of the wind out the bottom hem has a thin elastic cord that can be cinched in using friction grippers rather than the traditional bulky toggle to fit with the spartan aesthetics. There is also a single pocket over the left hip, but this is more a stuff sack, to be honest. The underarms are elastic too it’s worth noting, but I wasn’t anywhere near troubling the diameter of the arm holes. The fit, regular as it is, is noticeably more boxy than other gilets and wind jackets I’ve used. It’s longer in the front, with only a slight tail drop, and with straight sides too.
One other novel touch: The ubiquitous Rapha Easter egg label with some grandiose piece of cycling lore is printed on sturdy plasticised fabric and is removable for use as a tyre boot. I removed it immediately for fear of it annoying me and promptly stored it away somewhere safe (I completely lost it).
All things considered, I think it’s a good looking piece of kit, especially in the cheery dark sunshine yellow. The more casual fit certainly helps it looks a little more approachable when walking into a café and blearily trying to order a coffee five minutes after they've opened.
It could stuff smaller, but it doesn't need to (Image credit: Will Jones)
Performance
The first thing I want to address is the fit: If you’re used to gilets that are cut primarily for racing then this is going to be a bit of a departure for you, even if you opt for your jersey size rather than your jacket size (more on that later). The longer front bunches up when in the drops, which isn’t ideal when you’re aiming for speed.
In a medium I did find it a bit flappy, particularly on high-speed descents where the shoulders would make a proper racket. This was definitely worse when wearing it with a jersey, as the air could separate the two items thanks to differing fits. With a t-shirt, where the whole system is baggy, the flapping noise was less of an issue.
Without wishing to pre-empt my conclusion I don’t think this is an ideal gilet for use with a jersey. There are other superlight options out there that will fit better. The single-ended zip meant I struggled to access the contents of my jersey on the move, which was frustrating at times and occasionally forced a stop, a problem that would be exacerbated in a smaller size if anything.
The ease of stuffage/unstuffage was a delight (Image credit: Will Jones)
As a layer to throw on over a t-shirt however it was marvellous. No issues with access, it matched the fit and form of the underlayer, and the flapping was reduced to acceptable levels (if you’re out riding in baggies then you can’t really complain about flapping fabric).
The nylon, thin to the point of translucency, does provide a surprising amount of protection from the elements. Wind chill is greatly reduced, not to nothing, but enough to be of value. When the mercury rises it can be a bit sweaty, but the same can be said of most windbreaker garments. When it gets chilly having the elasticated hem does make a noticeable difference to the temperature, though it’s too fiddly a mechanism to do up one handed, so you either need to stop or be confident enough riding no handed.
The party piece of this gilet is the weight and packability. The integrated stuff sack is probably my favourite thing of all, not because it exists (there are tonnes of garments out there with stuff sacks), but because its size isn't aspirational. Unlike other garments, even ones from Rapha (Pro Team Shakedry jacket I’m looking at you!) where stuffing away is an ordeal of such drudgery I often just dont bother, the Explore Lightweight Gilet can be stuffed away in seconds to something the size of a respectable lemon. If you’re confident enough you could probably do it while riding. Yes, it could be stuffed smaller, but if it’s going into a bag anyway it’ll get squashed further in-situ so there isn’t a pressing need for it to.
Great for touring if you've not got a super aero setup, but not brilliant if you're wearing a jersey (Image credit: Will Jones)
Verdict
This isn’t a good option for wearing over a jersey; it’s too flappy and you can’t get into your pockets, and it’s too long in the front if you ride in an aero position - for this try the Rapha Brevet Gilet instead. It is however excellent for use over baggies, where traditional gilets are left wanting as they fit too closely and are cut too short.
If you’re into riding gravel in a t-shirt but want an emergency layer for a cool descent, or a hilltop lunch when it gets windy that you can cram into a frame bag with ease then look no further. Likewise if you want to pack a little extra layer for your bike tour that’s going to take up very little room but can take the edge off a cool morning then it’s an excellent choice.
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Testing scorecard and notes
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Design and aesthetics
Good colours, subtle details, but could do with an elasticated collar and double zip
7/10
Thermal management
Keeps the wind off and the heat in, but the thin material isn't as effective as others
8/10
Packability
It packs up extremely small, and crucially does so extremely easily
10/10
Comfort and fit
For use with a T-shirt, as marketed, it's good, if a little flappy still at speed. Very comfy though.
Will joined the Cyclingnews team as a reviews writer in 2022, having previously written for Cyclist, BikeRadar and Advntr. He’s tried his hand at most cycling disciplines, from the standard mix of road, gravel, and mountain bike, to the more unusual like bike polo and tracklocross. He’s made his own bike frames, covered tech news from the biggest races on the planet, and published countless premium galleries thanks to his excellent photographic eye. Also, given he doesn’t ever ride indoors he’s become a real expert on foul-weather riding gear. His collection of bikes is a real smorgasbord, with everything from vintage-style steel tourers through to superlight flat bar hill climb machines.
