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review

Condor Professional Gilet

7
£39.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Ideal gilet for those iffy weather days, but check the fit
Weight: 
78g

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The Condor Professional Gilet is aimed at racers and those who like to ride at a high effort, thanks to its minimalistic design and its ability to let as much heat as possible escape. You'll need to check the fit, though. I don't normally have a problem with clothing, but this was oddly restricting in places.

There is virtually nothing to the Professional Gilet: you get a windproof membrane at the front and upper back, with the rest being a large mesh panel for breathability.

> Find your nearest dealer here

> Buy this online here

This means the Condor is one of the lightest we've tested at just 78g, making it barely noticeable scrunched up in your back pocket. This is where it is likely to find itself most of the time, as it's one of those garments you'll get out for a chilly descent or a section riding into an icy headwind. It doesn't give much more protection from the elements other than that.

As far as windproofing goes, it's pretty impressive. The parts of your body protected by the front of the gilet do feel noticeably warmer, especially when you are travelling at speed, and the high neck stops any draughts whipping in over the top.

Condor Professional Gilet V2 - collar.jpg

This windproof fabric travels over the shoulders and covers your upper back too, as these parts can still be in the line of fire from windchill.

Condor Professional Gilet V2 - shoulders.jpg

If you are smashing it along or happen to hit a hill and overheat, the rear mesh allows a huge amount of body heat to escape. The Condor never made me feel clammy, even when really working hard on some off-road ascents.

Condor Professional Gilet V2 - mesh back.jpg

You don't actually get any pockets, but to allow you access to those on the rear of your jersey there are two openings, one either side, for you to get your hands in. They are positioned well, although with a close fit when you're on the bike it can be a struggle to get a gloved hand in.

The cut isn't quite as racy as I expected, with the sizing around the chest and arms coming up a bit small. At 96.5cm I am right at the bottom end of this medium's size range, but it felt quite restrictive across the chest and the arm holes were tight. Going up a size would have made the already generous lower half too big and flappy in the wind.

Condor Professional Gilet V2 - riding.jpg

I also found the tail wasn't very dropped compared to the front, which seems odd for such a race-intended garment where you find yourself very stretched out on the bike.

> Buyer's Guide: The best cycling gilets

In terms of value, the Condor is pretty good, matching up well against the same priced BTwin and a tenner cheaper than the very similarly styled but heavier dhb Aeron, but the Professional Gilet is let down by that sizing oddity.

If it fits you, though, it's a great emergency or race day gilet.

Verdict

Ideal gilet for those iffy weather days, but check the fit

road.cc test report

Make and model: Condor Professional Gilet V2

Size tested: Medium, Black

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Condor says: "Block the breeze. The Condor Professional Gilet beats whipping winds in gusty lanes, and if conditions change you can pack it down small and slot it into your rear jersey pocket. Weighing a mere 75g, our vest can be easily carried on long rides. The rear mesh panels ventilate your core and control moisture build up. Reflective detailing on the back provides added visibility."

The Condor is very much an emergency style gilet that you'd chuck on for a descent or something, rather than one you'd plan on wearing for the entire ride.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Lightweight

Easy access to jersey and jacket pockets through discrete openings

Packable fabric

Windbreaker fabric

Reflective print on the back

Rear mesh panel for moisture control

Silicone gripper

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
6/10

Fit where it touched – see below.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
6/10

I'm right at the lower level for medium, although it felt very restrictive around the arm holes and chest. It fit fine around the stomach and waist though.

Rate the product for weight:
 
9/10

One of the lightest we've tested.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
6/10

Felt restrictive.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Price-wise it's on par with similar ones we've tested.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

It came clean every time.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

As a windbreak it does a good job.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

How light it is.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The restrictive fit.

Did you enjoy using the product? No

Would you consider buying the product? No, it doesn't fit me right.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, but try before you buy.

Use this box to explain your score

The Condor Gilet is good at what it does, a lightweight emergency pocket stuffer or race gilet, but the fit is just a little odd.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 38  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: Kinesis Aithien

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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