Bontrager Specter Windshell Vest

A gilet is a really versatile piece of kit in the four-season-rider's wardrobe, and the Specter Windshell Vest from Bontrager's mid-range line is certainly clever. It keeps you warm, keeps you cool and even keeps your core dry. All that comes at a price, mind you.

Its name comes from the material used in the front panels, Profila Windshell. It's a very tightly knitted fabric that literally blocks the wind, stopping it from hitting your body even at speed. It works surprisingly well, and is most noticeable when the wind is on the chilly side; you warm up instantly.

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Thanks to the close knit of the material, water doesn't tend to get through either, so as an added bonus you get a degree of water repellency. It's nothing too outstanding, but it'll keep drizzle off your core, and if you're riding in fog or mist you won't find it seeping through to the layers below.

Even with a sleeveless top you can still get that 'boil in the bag' feeling, but to stop that here the rear is made from Profila Cool, which is pretty much what you'd expect to find on a summer jersey. You can see the ventilation holes, which allow excess body heat to be transferred out into the atmosphere, and it does a good job. It can take quite a lot of effort to overwhelm the Specter and even if you do you can just drop the zip a few inches to let a bit of breeze blow through.

Both materials are very thin, which keeps the gilet lightweight and highly packable so you can stow it in a jersey pocket. With a racer's cut, it's designed to sit close, but both fabrics have plenty of elasticity in them so it's not constricting in any way. An elastic hem with added silicone dots does a good job of keeping the gilet in position as you move around on the bike.

You get a dropped tail to cover your rear when in the saddle, plus the usual three pockets across the bottom of your back. These are elasticated across the top to keep your contents secure, with the bottoms tucked under before being stitched; this means as you fill the pockets they have room to bulk out without stretching the material or causing them to sag. The left also has a hole for internal headphone routing.

Overall, the Specter Windshell is a great piece of kit that can easily be used year-round. It's well made and because it has rear pockets you could even wear it with just a long-sleeve baselayer.

> Check out our guide to the best cycling gilets here

At £70 it's quite pricey, especially when you take into account that there isn't much to it. Yes, the material choices are spot on, but there are also others on the market that do a very similar job for half the price – have a look at some examples here. 

Lastly, it's really nice to see some bright colours being used on a piece of clothing that is likely to see a lot of murky days, although it comes in black too. Bah.

Verdict

Clever gilet with impressive temperature control and well-designed pockets