Lusso Essential Thermal Gilet

The Lusso Essential Thermal Gilet combines stylishly dimpled Windtex panels with a fleecy, four-way-stretch rear to provide excellent core warmth on bitter days. It's breathable, easy to ventilate with the high-necked zip and is windproof. Yes, it's bulky if you try to pack it, but on cold days – early morning commutes perhaps – it performs so well you won't want to.

• Pros: Comfy, very effective, doesn't restrict movement, stylish
• Cons: Sizes up small, bulky if packed, brighter colours would be good

Gilets are invaluable on cold rides where you're already wearing several layers, and have reached the point where another set of sleeves is going to leave you bulked out and restricted. Most gilets are thin and merely for wind protection, though – there's a lot less choice if you want proper insulation as well.

> Buy this online here

This Lusso is one of the more affordable options we've tested recently and, while it's still a fair chunk of change at £90, its no-nonsense build will easily earn its keep through multiple winters.

The only issue is sizing. My recommended size (Medium) gave a skin-tight fit over a single thin baselayer, despite a) me being an inch inside the maximum recommended chest size and b) it being extremely unlikely that anyone would wear it over a single thin layer. Over normal winter layers/a jacket, I could barely get it closed, while its shoulders reached nowhere near mine. (It's not me in the photos, by the way.)

Sizing up to Large gave me a snug fit over winter layers, and leaves nothing to flap over one thin one either. It seems the sizing is technically accurate, but doesn't take into account what you're going to wear this with. Be aware when ordering.

Issue fixed and the fit was excellent. The high neck gives good wind protection, while the relatively stiff, thick Windtex fabric makes it easy to fish the zip out of its garage and make adjustments to temperature (no need to bite the collar, which is nice). It's showerproof too, which is one up on the excellent but more expensive Endura Pro SL PrimaLoft gilet, and makes it more usable.

The three pockets on the rear are fleecy inside for an extra layer of warmth across your lower back, while the whole rear panel is very breathable – I never got clammy in this despite being bundled up on some long, chilly climbs. The zipped, side-entry pocket on the right is a welcome touch, and stretches easily to accept phones.

The hem, logos and grey bars are all highly retroreflective, but while this gilet is a decent blend of cyclist-favourite black and still-cafe-friendly high-vis touches, it would be good to see options in brighter colours. Maybe I imagine more close passes when my torso is all-but blacked out, but maybe not...

The competition is expensive, making this gilet good value by default. The Endura Pro SL mentioned above is excellent but £115, while Rapha's similarly light and packable Pro Team Insulated Gilet is £140 (currently discounted to £112). Both of these and even the less aero, 'adventure'-orientated Sportful Giara Thermal Gilet (also £115) are lighter than the Lusso, though, if weight matters more than price.

> Buyer's Guide: 9 of the best cycling gilets

Lusso takes Italian fabrics (and arguably style) but designs and makes its gear in Britain – specifically, Manchester. The Essential Thermal Gilet shows it has a good grip on the UK climate and its challenges, and this is an excellent, versatile bit of kit whenever temperatures fall far below 10°C. It's a bit much for warm spring days, but invaluable for winter.

Verdict

Neither light nor easily packable, this gilet is one to leave on: warm, well made and fantastically useful