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review

Lusso Essential Thermal Gilet

8
£90.00

VERDICT:

8
10
Neither light nor easily packable, this gilet is one to leave on: warm, well made and fantastically useful
Weight: 
261g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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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.

Lusso Essential Thermal Gilet - riding.jpg

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.)

Lusso Essential Thermal Gilet - shoulders.jpg

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.

Lusso Essential Thermal Gilet - hem.jpg

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.

Lusso Essential Thermal Gilet - chest.jpg

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.

Lusso Essential Thermal Gilet - pockets.jpg

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...

Lusso Essential Thermal Gilet - tail.jpg

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

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Lusso Essential Thermal Gilet

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Lusso says: "The Lusso Essential Thermal Gilet is designed to be used on the coldest of days, keeping your core warm and temperature regulated."

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

Lusso list these features:

-Windproof

-Breathable

-Thermal

-High Neck

-3 Rear Pockets ( 1 Zipped )

-360° Reflective

-Italian Fabrics

-Designed & Made in Manchester

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Strong stitching and chunky fabrics.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Very warm and genuinely useful on very cold days.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Tough build gives no cause for concern.

Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10

Once I had the appropriate size (see below), the fit was spot on.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
3/10

The Essential Gilet comes up small. The size chart says I should fit a Medium (with an inch to spare), but over a few winter layers it was a struggle to even zip up. Sizing up gave a comfy, slim fit over a jacket.

Rate the product for weight:
 
5/10

At 261g in Medium it's 100g heavier than some, and bulky too – it's not a gilet to take on and off.

Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

Nothing restrictive or flappy, with a good high neck and great fabric providing strong protection and warmth.

Rate the product for value:
 
7/10

It's expensive, but as one of the cheapest thermal options – with a tough build that should perform for years – value is still pretty good.

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

Took cold washes without issue.

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

Provides vital warmth without excessive bulk to make colder rides far more manageable – I found it invaluable.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Lots of warmth for little bulk (once on), and temperature's easy to regulate with the zip.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Sizing was out, and a brighter colour option would be welcome.

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

It's at least £25 cheaper than the serious competition.

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

True, this doesn't pack smaller than two fists and it's almost 100g heavier than some, but it's also cheaper and easier to care for. It does a great job of adding warmth without bulk to genuinely cold rides, which is exactly what it should do. The only issue is sizing, and that's a one-time problem and easily solved – hence the solid high score.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 45  Height: 183cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: GT GTR Series 3  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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