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review
Gilets
RH+ Acquaria Pocket Vest RH+ Acquaria Pocket Vest RH+ Acquaria Pocket Vest
RH Plus AcquariaPocket Vest

RH+ Acquaria Pocket Vest

8
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Jul 31, 2013

0
£55.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Highly versatile windproof gilet that offers top performance and looks.
Weight: 
97g
Contact: 
www.veroli.co.uk
How we test

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One of the most versatile pieces of a cyclist's wardrobe is a decent gilet and as the RH+ Acquaria from RH+ is so lightweight and packable it's a proper three season item of clothing.

It's made of a single layer coated fabric called Airdry which is intended for mild and windy conditions and is designed to be worn between 14°C and 22°C.

With a mesh back it's highly breathable and wicks sweat away quite impressively for this kind of fabric.

Reflective piping all around is a welcome addition for a garment that is likely to be worn around dusk and dawn. There is also a central red stripe up the rear which is a bit of an attention grabber.

RH+ say it's a Regular fit, which is their way of saying it's close-fitting without being a whippets-only race cut. It gives you plenty of room to move without having any excess fabric blowing about in the wind. The neck is nice and high as well which also stops drafts from whipping down your spine.

When it's not needed the Acquaria folds into its own pocket which gives it a tiny pack size. It's a no brainer to grab before going out for a ride. It weighs absolutely nothing as well so you don't even know its there. The arm holes are deeper than usual which makes getting on and off while in the saddle fuss free too.

Layered up with jersey, arm warmers and base layer it'll easily cope down to temperatures in the high single figures so it'll see you through spring, summer and autumn.

Priced a tenner cheaper than the full jacket at £55 the bang for buck is impressive with good looks, performance and fit. Available in black or white and the size range goes from S – 3XL so there should be something there for virtually everybod. These are Italian sizes though, so you might have to go up one from your norm.

Overall the Acquaria Pocket Vest ticks all the boxes that a gilet should and at a very competitive price. Its small pack size is one of its main attributes as you don't need to leave something else at home so that you can put it in your jersey pocket. The finish quality is very good and the material seems up to shrugging off most scuffs and knocks with ease as it still looks brand new after two to three months use and being stuffed in a pocket.

Verdict

Highly versatile windproof gilet that offers top performance and looks.

road.cc test report

Make and model: RH+ AcquariaPocket Vest

Size tested: Large, white

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?

Its a windproof gilet that folds down into a very small package. Ideal for inclement weather and cool starts/finishes to a ride.

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

Air dry fabric is a very breathable windproof material

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 weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

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

great, its easy to put on and off while in the saddle

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

the versatility

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

some more colour options would be nice

Did you enjoy using the product? yes

Would you consider buying the product? yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? yes

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 34  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: Ribble Winter Trainer for commuting, Genesis Flyer  My best bike is: Sarto Rovigo

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,

 

RH+ Acquaria Pocket Vest
Stu Kerton

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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