• Specification

• Price: £85.00
• Sizes: XS-XXXL
• Size tested: M
• Colours: black; red; fluoro
• Website: Sportful

The Fiandre Light Vest is made from two fabrics; you’ll find a ‘WindShield 3L’ fabric on the front and Sportful’s own ‘NoRain Light’ fabric on the rear. As the name suggests, the former is windproof, while the latter is an open weave fabric to help heat escape.

Both fabrics are water resistant, thanks to the windproof membrane on the front and a water repellent treatment on the rear, but let’s not overplay the effectiveness if you’re caught out in prolonged rain. It’s still a gilet, after all, and you’ll want a jacket if you’re expecting heavy rain but the Fiandre Light Vest is certainly useful on a damp morning or if caught out in a shower, when water will clearly bead up on the front and rear. As a result, it works well to keep your core warm and dry. Same goes if you’re heading out on a damp summer’s ride, when the air temperature is warm so a gilet may be all you want to keep the rain off. However, the water resistant fabric does mean breathability does begin to suffer a little when working hard in milder temperatures.

The build quality is excellent, too, and you’ll also find a storm flap over the front zipper, as well as reflective details on the front and rear, with three well-sized stripes just above the tail.

Conclusion

All that makes for an excellent gilet if you want a single piece to use year-round, primarily working to protect you from the wind but also throwing an element of water resistance into the mix. There’s no escaping it’s pricey for a gilet at £85, but it remains competitive against other high-end rivals.

Pros

• Versatile; windproof and water resistant
• Excellent fit
• Attention to detail

Cons

• Added versatility comes at a cost
• Breathability suffers when working hard in milder temperatures