Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

review

Nopinz Pro-1 Men’s Gilet

7
£74.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Well made and effective against cold winds, though fiddly zip and sweaty pockets can niggle
Aerodynamic yet comfortable fit
Reflective detailing
Good protection
Small zip tab
Pocket area can get sweaty
Weight: 
162g
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.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

The Nopinz Pro-1 Gilet is designed to offer protection in changeable conditions without hindering performance. The fit is excellent and the windproofing is good, but the pockets on the rear and the fiddly zip means it's best put on and left on.

At 162g the Nopinz gilet is midweight, and near the top end of what you can comfortably fit in your pockets. The front panel is windproof and capable of keeping road spray at bay, while the collar and arm holes are well shaped to offer maximum protection without feeling restrictive.

> Buy this online here

Sizing is 'race fit,' and Nopinz recommends sizing up for layering. This is something you should definitely listen to; over a thin jersey you can probably get away with your usual size, but over an insulated winter jersey a size up will be necessary. I'm right on the cusp between small and medium in Nopinz sizing, and tested the medium; a small would simply be too small. Even the medium felt a little tight over the top of heavily laden pockets.

It's a fairly stretchy material which conforms to the body well, leaving no spare fabric to flap noisily or slow you down.

2021 Nopinz Pro-1 Gilet - Men - sleeve.jpg

The back and side panels are made from a more breathable fabric Nopinz calls 'Chrono,' and this prevents too much sweatiness.

2021 Nopinz Pro-1 Gilet - Men - shoulders.jpg

My lower back, however, would get soggy during climbing efforts due to the extra pocket material – an issue the women's version shares. On the other hand, on damp rides I was thankful for this extra material keeping road spray at bay.

2021 Nopinz Pro-1 Gilet - Men - pockets.jpg

Whether or not you think a gilet should have pockets will come down to personal preference; obviously if you use them you've got some rearranging to do if you want to take the layer off.

The three pockets here are decently sized, and kept their contents secure even off road. The outer ones are tapered to allow easier entry, and getting food out of them whilst riding wasn't a problem, even in gloves.

The YKK zip is a different matter, though – it has a very small tab which is hard to locate whilst wearing gloves, and can catch on the garage at the bottom.

2021 Nopinz Pro-1 Gilet - Men - hem.jpg

This makes gilet removal a two-handed affair, though it is easily packable once off.

> 19 best cycling gilets – get to know this wardrobe essential

Across the top of the pockets and around the arm holes there's a large reflective strip to aid visibility, but unfortunately this rather visible orange colour appears to have disappeared from the website since we got it – the options at the time of writing were either dark grey or black.

Value

At £74.99, the Nopinz gilet is priced competitively. It's cheaper than Rapha's mid weight Men's Classic Gilet at £100, if slightly more expensive than the also-similar Stolen Goat Palace Bodyline gilet at £65.

Overall

The Pro-1 is fine as an emergency packable, but arguably better as a layer for the entire ride given its awkward zip and the inclusion of pockets. It's comfortable and pretty aerodynamic too, and offers great protection from the wind – just be careful with the sizing.

Verdict

Well made and effective against cold winds, though fiddly zip and sweaty pockets can niggle

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: Nopinz Pro-1 Men's Gilet

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for

Nopinz says: "For serious road riding in cooler or changing temperatures, layering with a gilet is the only way to go. Our gilets provide additional warmth and waterproofing via a Windstopper front panel. Around the back, our breathable Chrono fabric wicks moisture and keeps things dry. Water-resistant pockets help keep your stuff dry and reflective binding around the arms and pockets provide the finishing touch."

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

Nopinz lists:

Water-resistant and windproof front.

Highly breathable Chrono back and side panels.

Three rear pockets for storage.

Reflective detailing to shoulders and pocket.

YKK zipper.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10

Very good other than the sweaty lower back when on, and the zip getting caught on the garage at the bottom when taking it off.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
6/10

It comes up quite small even for a race fit item; if you're between sizes or want to wear it over thicker layers, size up.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

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

No issues.

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

It offers great wind protection and keeps out road spray, though obviously the perforated back obviously doesn't if it rains.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The fit - it doesn't flap at all.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The zip getting caught at the bottom.

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

As mentioned in the review, it's priced fairly. Lighter gilets can be found for less, but for the quality the price is as good or better than the 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

The fit is excellent, the material choices are good and it offers decent protection for the price and weight. However, the zip tab is too small and frequently catches – awkward while riding – and the pockets can leave your lower back sweaty. With such details sorted this would score higher.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 23  Height: 6ft  Weight: 74kg

I usually ride: Specialized venge pro 2019  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb,

Jamie has been riding bikes since a tender age but really caught the bug for racing and reviewing whilst studying towards a master's in Mechanical engineering at Swansea University. Having graduated, he decided he really quite liked working with bikes and is now a full-time addition to the road.cc team. When not writing about tech news or working on the Youtube channel, you can still find him racing local crits trying to cling on to his cat 2 licence...and missing every break going...

Latest Comments