The high visibility gilet. Undoubtedly practical and safe,
almost invariably nasty… until now. Vulpine.cc
have decided that not only do we need
to be seen on a bike, but that we should also want to be seen. The Cotton
Visibility Gilet not only catches the eye of drivers, it also will catch the
eye of the discerning cyclist.
Quality
Vulpine obviously believe you should enjoy the shopping
experience. Not content with a simple polythene bag, the gilet arrives packaged
in a matching musette. Matching means lime green - the high visibility part.
It’s a bright colour, one that features more subtly in many Vulpine products -
doing for green what Rapha has done for pink. The quality of the gilet is
instantly obvious, with well finished seams and subtle logos. Constructed from
Epic cotton - a fabric made by applying a silicone treatment before weaving, the
gilet is water and wind resistant, but highly breathable. The cotton gives the
gilet a nice soft feel – this is not a cheap, rustly, plastic mac. The back
features a large mesh section to increase the breathability further. There are
3 rear pockets – a practical touch rarely seen on outerwear that certainly
beats having to ferret around trying to get things out of the back of a jersey.
Scotchlite trims on the pockets, shoulder seams and zip complete the high
visibility package.
Extra touches
In use the gilet is very comfortable due to the stretch in
the fabric. During a drizzly commute it proved its water resistant credentials
and kept my body dry. On a chilly morning ride out to a rural café, it proved
to be the perfect extra layer over a jersey combined with arm warmers. The fit
is snug, if not skin tight, with a long back suiting taller riders – I would
consider sizing down if you want a more sleek appearance. One of the joys of
this gilet is the little extra touches that you discover as you use it – I hadn’t
noticed the hidden red storm flap folded away at the back, until my riding
buddy pointed it out to me. The collar is secured by neat magnetic fixings that
can be opened one-handed on the road. The brightness of the green is a bit
startling at first (which I suppose is the point) but I soon got used to it and
started to appreciate standing out more on my commutes.
Conclusion
To be honest, a high visibility gilet would not have been at
the top of my shopping list. However, after receiving this Vulpine offering,
I’ve hardly ridden without it – the quality literally shines through. It’s a
little bit more bulky when packed down compared to some of the lighter weight
options out there, but this gilet is such a pleasure to wear, you probably won’t
want to stuff it in a pocket.
Score 4.5/5
For:
Excellent quality and comfort, looks great.
Does exactly what it says on the tin – very visible!
Against:
Not as light or packable as some.
If you’re not keen on green, it might not be for you.
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