Ale Crossover Gilet (Mens)

My word, aren't there a lot of windproof gilets out there these days? You have to do something special to stand out for the crowd. For my money, Ale has achieved this with the excellent Crossover Gilet.

In the old days you stuck a newspaper or an OS map down your shirt to keep the wind off on the descents, but in this age of GPS you have to go high-tech and in fact, the Crossover fits better in your back pocket than a copy of L'Equipe. At the size and weight of a burger, this is a gilet you can forget about until you need it.

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When you do pull it out, the great news is that it doesn't come out looking like an old bin bag. The stretch fabric is remarkably resistant to crumpling so it always looks good when you are wearing it. Another bonus is that it doesn't crackle and flap in the wind. I had one gilet that was so noisy I had to wear it under my jersey to shut it up! The Ale only fluttered on the fastest descents, when the wind got under the shoulders a little; but for the most part, the tight stretchy fit keeps everything draught-proof and snug.

To keep the weight down, Ale has dispensed with pockets. Instead, it has put in some slits in the back that allow you to access your jersey pockets underneath. These have a baffle over the top to keep the weather out. I honestly didn't find the slits any more convenient than simply pulling the back up, and once or twice I managed to drop things on the floor trying to locate the pockets, so I didn't really bother after that. 

I suppose the slits do offer a little ventilation too. That's just as well, because while the product description mentions a mesh-panel on the back, mine looked the same all over. Nor did I ever find the inside pocket which Ale claims you can easily store it in. I wonder if someone cut and pasted the wrong marketing spiel?

You get a double thickness of material at the neck and, while the zip does not have a baffle, I didn't find it scratchy when done up. The zip is weatherproof and let in no draughts.

Under the arms the fit is close without being tight, thanks to a softly elasticated hem. The waist is also elasticated and has a silicone grip all round. The cut is short enough at the front to allow a longer jersey to show below the hem, but that's only obvious off the bike.

The hems, while not flatlock, are double stitched and the Italian manufacturing quality looks good. The sizing, as usual with Italian goodies, is not generous but I found a large just right for me so don't go mad on the upsizing.

> Check out our guide to the best gilets

The Crossover Gilet comes in black and fluoro yellow, ideal for day wear, or black and white for reflectivity at night. Either way it looks purposeful and is a pleasing garment to pull on, with performance to match.

Verdict

A winning mix of Italian style, quality materials, fit and performance