Chapeau! Blue Echelon Gilet

The Chapeau! Blue Echelon Gilet is an innovative, well made and good looking vest that keeps the worst of the weather out. Chapeau! has clearly thought about how to make this as good as possible and done a superb job – though you have to pay accordingly.

A good place to start is with its ability to keep out the wind and rain, which it does really well. The material used – a four-way stretch polyester and polyurethane blend – is thin, which I was initially worried about, given that thin normally means flimsy. I needn't have been: it's hardwearing as well as very protective.

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In part this is due to the taped seams throughout, including a taped zip. It isn't 100 per cent waterproof – but then again, if you're out riding in torrential downpours you're unlikely to only take a gilet... That said, I used it extensively in light to medium rain and had no issues with rain getting through to my torso, although Chapeau! is clear that it is showerproof rather than fully waterproof.

Fit on the gilet is slim but certainly not racer cut, which meant I could easily wear it over the top of a jersey with full pockets. There isn't material flapping about on a descent, but it's not as restrictive as something closer fitting, helped by the amount of stretch in the fabric.

It's the fabric that really makes this gilet. I've mentioned its wind and waterproofing abilities, and then there's the stretch, but it's also very 'crushable'. It can be packed away into its own sewn-in bag and fits easily into a jersey pocket. This bag is a nice touch too, because when it doesn't have the gilet in, it acts as another rear pocket, complementing the valuables pocket on the chest.

In terms of style, I think Chapeau has managed to create one of the best looking gilets out there (it's available in red, too). I like the very simple but effective use of the reflective materials and the extra little touches: at the back, the two blocks of reflective lines and small logo running from the neck downwards; at the front, the small logo on the chest and reflective piping around the opening to the chest pocket.

There are other little details that I really like about this gilet, too, such as the patterns on the inside of the fabric. They aren't necessary but show the level of detail in the design. There are other bits and pieces too, such as the zip garage at the neck and, it seems odd to say this, the hook for hanging it up. It's something that's missing on several gilets I've worn in the past couple of years and it's a bit of a bugbear.

> Check out our guide to the best cycling gilets

And so we come to price. With an RRP of £109.99 it certainly isn't cheap (though it is 15 quid cheaper than Rapha's). If you can afford it, and you're looking for a high performance and high quality gilet, you won't be disappointed.

I've been really impressed with it. I have tried to find some elements to fault, but have really struggled. The only niggle I could find was that when you pack the gilet away the zip can get caught on the material, but this is a very minor element to what is a top class piece of kit.

Verdict

Well made and good looking gilet with impressive performance in changeable weather