Gore Gillet

I had always been sceptical about the usefulness of a gillet, to me they looked naff and couldn’t possibly serve any useful function. However, a few of our gang have been using them for a number of years and raved about them, usually to my deaf ears.

Towards the end of 2008 I was given an old gillet by a retired roadie who lives near me, despite it being yellow and having being made long before the phrase ‘technical fabric’ had entered the language I put it in my Camelbak. The moment I first used it I realised what a great piece of kit a gillet is – all my doubts and cynicism just evaporated. It was very effective at cutting the wind but it was a boil-in-the-bag garment, I was convinced of the  idea so took the plunge on a modern one, I chose the Gore item because it was in a sale at a shop in town.

The Gore gillet is a world away from my first freebie, I got the XL size which is slightly baggy on me so I don’t look like an overstuffed sausage. The front, sides and across the shoulders is ‘Windstopper’ material that together with the elasticated hem and arm holes keep out all wind and drafts. The back panel is mesh and despite me thinking this would let the drafts in it does not, it just helps with regulating body temperature. It has kept me dry in light showers but I wouldn’t claim it to be waterproof and it packs/scrunches up very small. I now carry this in my bag on almost every ride whatever the weather.  I can honestly say that it is one piece of kit (together with Buffs and merino base layers) that I will use until it falls apart and then I’ll get another.

Don’t think about it just get one!