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review

Primal Trimotif Men’s Wind Vest

8
£45.00

VERDICT:

8
10
A well-made and effective gilet for a good price, with room for winter layers
Weight: 
132g

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The Primal Trimotif Men's Wind Vest is an effective, well-made and sturdy solution for riding in the wind. It's priced well and looks particularly good with the other Trimotif kit, though the fit is more casual than the racier jersey, and the looks won't be for everyone.

  • Pros: Tall and comfy collar, good length, room for multiple layers, effective, visible
  • Cons: More relaxed fit than the matching jersey, doesn't scrunch down well

While it's a bit bulky and loose for serious racers, this gilet is perfect for everyone else – although if you plan to use it in summer only, over the matching short-sleeved jersey, you could try sizing down for a more aero fit. It's a little odd given the jersey's skinny race cut, but the upside is room for a winter layer or two beneath the gilet.

> Buy this online here

It wasn't loose enough to do any serious flapping, and I particularly appreciated its effective windproofing and the high, soft-lined microfleece collar with its snug but unrestrictive fit. The zip gets a substantial windflap behind to stop leaks, and the full length retroreflective strip on it is a nice touch... even if it's invisible with the zip done up.

Primal Trimotif Men's Wind Vest - riding.jpg

The zip itself is a large metal two-way job from YKK, and is easy to use in gloves, if not – like every two-way zip ever – that easy to engage. It's nice to have the option to keep the wind off your chest while letting your belly hang out in the breeze, though.

Primal Trimotif Men's Wind Vest - chest.jpg

The Altero fabric is substantial enough to withstand plenty of use and even small crashes, as is the impressive stitching. All seams are flatlocked bar the collar, which is overlocked, and nothing rubs. The elastic hem is sealed in a stitched-on tape and works well to keep the rear in place, while the three pockets are capacious and secure.

Primal Trimotif Men's Wind Vest - pockets 2.jpg

The downside is that the whole thing just doesn't like to scrunch or fold small in pockets. You don't really feel its 132g weight, but you can feel the bulk as it pads out whatever space it can. It pays you back in protection against unexpected winds and drizzle, however, and it's usefully visible when the skies turn grey.

> Buyer's Guide: 8 of the best cycling gilets

You're not short of options for windproof gilets, and with a great many at £90+ (and most of the cheaper ones intended as packable layers), the Trimotif's £45 tag looks good. There are competitors, though, among them the Lusso Skylon, a lighter (105g) and cheaper (£39.99) option, and the  Shimano Compact Wind Vest, also lighter (by 37g) and, if bright colours aren't your bag, baby, much blacker. It's only £10 more.

For extra visibility you could consider the Hump Flare gilet, which matches the Primal for abilities, adds subtler coloured panels and reflectives to the black, and offers the chance to ride around with the word HUMP printed on you in capital letters.

Conclusion

Overall, Primal's Trimotiv wind vest is a really well-made, stylish and capable option that should serve you well for a long time.

Verdict

A well-made and effective gilet for a good price, with room for winter layers

road.cc test report

Make and model: Primal Trimotif Men's Wind Vest

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

"The Wind Vest is perfect for unpredictable weather," says Primal. "Wind and water-resistant, with lightweight Altero fabric and a 2-way YKK zipper, it allows you to create additional airflow while keeping cold air off your chest."

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

Primal list these features:

* 2 Way Exposed YKK Zipper

* 3 Rear Cargo Pockets

* Altero Fabric

* Microfleece Lined Collar

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Very neat flatlocked seams, sturdy fabrics and an obvious attention to detail all impress.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Does what you want without fuss.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Design, build and fabric choice all bode very well.

Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

Good length and nice tall collar give all the coverage you could want, while there's nothing to sag or flap.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

A tiny bit loose over just a jersey, but it's good to have room for more layers (and allow for any winter expansion on the rider's part...).

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
8/10

Good if slightly casual fit all over, and a lovely soft collar too.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

A very handy bit of kit for not much money.

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

Washes without issue.

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

Two-way zip can be awkward to engage (as they tend to be), but gives versatile heat management.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Pretty much everything.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Very well – it's at the cheaper end.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Price, build, fit... it's all very good! A score of eight is an easy choice.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 47  Height: 183cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Vitus Zenium SL VR Disc  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: A few times a week  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, mountain biking

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