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I just ran over my Morvelo gilet with an office chair, destroying the zip. Sigh. It's probably my most used bit of clothing, so I need to replace it.
Use: Riding (road, MTB, commuting, you name it) and running.
Requirements: Proper lightweight just-about-windproof kinda jobbie. I run warm so I don't need much insulation (and I have a chunky softshell one for when I do). The kind of thing that fits into a pocked smooshed up. Not fussed about pockets or anything.
Cheaper the better. But actually I wear it loads, so could possibly justify spending more than my usual 75p and a packet of Haribo. Maybe.
Any suggestions?
I also run warm etc, just got a Gore Spirit gilet for ~£50 in the sales, Seems great, nice and bright yellow to help reduce SMIDSY hopefully... keeps the wind off enough to make a difference.
It's a bit heavier, bulkier than a montane featherlite gilet mind, which I'd also recommend if you're more after "did they make this from clingfilm?!" levels of bulk.
SMIDSY - Sorry mate I didn't see you (just to save other people googling another random use of acronym)
Worth repairing? I've used Scottish Mountain Gear in the past - https://www.scottishmountaingear.com/repair-service/clothing-repairs
get a new zip fitted?
I have a light weight pink Rapha one with reflective stripes.
Hits all your criteria except cheap. Might be one in the sales or second hand
Alternatively put a new zip in. Fiddly sewing a zip. I've done a couple of my jackets and a gilet. Doesn't look neat, but most the jackets are covered in mud instead of on a cat walk.
I imagine you could get a second hand sewing machine for the price of a fancy gilet. Mine is a gift from a mate and is from the 1960's. It mostly works.
Rapha have a few in their sale - prices vary by colour.
Galibier seems to be my default these days.
got a cheap Regatta one from Sports Pursuit for about a tenner I think does the job fine
Find a local seamstress, or somewhere that can do clothing repair and alterations. I’ve got a Fox Racing gilet I bought in Chamonix around ‘97, which I wore, and still wear, but it was designed for cycling - it had no front pockets but had a pocket across the lower back, which I put up with for years, until I discovered a small business close to where I worked who did clothing repair and alterations. They put front hand-warmer pockets in with the pockets made from some offcuts of quality wool cloth used for suits. Absolutely perfect, it’s one of my most worn items, the pockets fit my fairly large hands and there’s never been an issue with the stitching in the ten or more years since I had it altered.
If it’s fleece, then it should be a piece of piss to get it fixed, but pretty much everything should be fixable just by snipping the stitching.
montane featherlite gilet here
Hm, I never really thought about repairs - it's such thin, syntheticy material. Might have to look into it, though I've had it a long while and it's definitely shrunk in that time (can't be me getting bigger, right?).
I've got a sportful one that I've had for ages, even lost it once when it fell out of my pocket on my commute, luckily it was fluo yellow so I found it the next day in a puddle and it had been run over a few times, still works though.
I've also got an endura packagilet which is probably slightly better quality, packs down smaller, but I bought that when I was a full on roadie doing 200+ miles a week, so its completely useless to me now.
Both cheap and thin and would recommend. I love a gilet, has to be very cold for me to break out a jacket.
I have a light weight pink Rapha one with reflective stripes.
Same here, ticks all your boxes, very good bit of kit
Hm, I never really thought about repairs – it’s such thin, syntheticy material.
My Fox one isn’t particularly thick, it’s a bit like a PolarTec 100 fleece, not a thick chunky one, because it was designed for a lightweight cycling top, and that had handwarmer pockets sewn in. It’s 30 years old, and I’m still wearing it right through the year, either just over a tee shirt or under a jacket - I honestly wouldn’t be without it!
Bought my first one just before Christmas. I'm a bit chunky so the usual suspects didn't fit. Got a Madison one from balfes. It's allegedly waterproof for what it's worth and it's been great.