Rab is an outdoor brand that is very well known for making excellent down sleeping bags and mountaineering clothing, as well as walking gear for less extreme adventures. With the Cinder collection, it has turned its technical expertise to the gravel clothing market. The range encompasses pretty much everything from waterproofs to cargo bib shorts, as well as base layers and jerseys, with some fabrics borrowed from its outdoor products and other pieces designed from scratch.
The Men’s Cinder Windveil Biking Vest is a lightweight gilet that offers a bit of wind protection while remaining easily packable.
Design details
Rab has a long-standing relationship with Pertex and uses its fabrics in many of its outdoor products. The Cinder Windveil Biking Vest employs Pertex Quantum Air as the main wind-resistant material across the front, sides, shoulders, and lower back. The upper back is made from Motiv Aero, the same highly breathable, stretchy material used in the Cinder Biking Jersey.
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Rab has used Pertex Quantum Air fabrics
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
At the back is a large, horizontally zipped pocket that doubles as a stuff sack for the gilet; it’s big enough that the vest takes up only about half the space when packed away, leaving plenty of room for a pair of arm warmers or a beanie.
Large zipped rear doubles as a stuff bag
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
The YKK zipper is not double-ended, unfortunately, so the gilet can’t be undone from the bottom for jersey pocket access or venting, although the zip is matched to the gilet’s colour and there is a zip guard to protect the chin from irritation. An elasticated section with a cord lock across the rear hem lets you snug it up around the waist while the front stays flat. Silicone CNDR branding on the inside of the hem helps to prevent the gilet from riding up.
The collar is a decent height and is lined with Motiv Aero fabric for comfort against the skin and a bit of structure, whilst the armholes are Lycra-bound.
Colours for men are Light Khaki, Tempest Blue and Tuscan Red, with sizes from S to XL. It is also available in a women’s fit in sizes 8 to 16, in Green Slate, Plum, Tempest Blue, and Tuscan Red.
Rab gives the weight of a size medium as 92g; my small weighed 84g.
Using the waist draw cord is a two handed operation
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
Performance
As with the Cinder Biking Jersey, the gilet sizing is very odd. The medium that was initially sent was simply gigantic, so it was rapidly switched for a size small – perhaps I should have noticed that the 6’3” model on the Rab website was wearing a slightly baggy size medium, rather than going by Rab’s size guide. The small fit better, but my days of a 30-inch waist are long gone, so ignore Rab’s suggestions fit-wise.
The on-bike fit was mixed.
The very long back certainly gave good coverage and was in no danger of riding up, although this had nothing to do with the silicon gripper, as this was never in contact with anything – strangely, the channel for the elastic hem cord was very deep, so naturally, when tightened, the cord migrated to the top, leaving a small tutu-like flap above my bum. The gripper is on the underside of this flap, so it has no chance of doing its job. I also think the cord lock should have been captive, allowing the waist to be cinched one-handed while riding, instead of being a two-handed operation. Tugging the very end of the cord kind of achieves this, but it leaves a very long tail and causes the cord lock to jam with the tab that’s meant to hold the cord.
Cinching in the hem causes a very unsightly flap
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
I also really missed the ability to undo the zip from the bottom to access my jersey pockets; a small thing that makes a huge difference whilst riding.
The waist fit was reasonable (for a gravel-type product), but there was plenty of excess fabric around the upper stomach and chest, especially when leaning forward. Even in size small, the armholes were excessively large, gaping open enough to let plenty of cool air in. Perhaps more barrel-chested riders than me might find the fit better – perhaps I shouldn’t have skipped chest day at the gym.
The collar was a high point, both literally and figuratively. It was nice and tall, with the Motiv Aero fabric doing a good job of providing structure and a pleasant feel against the skin.
Unsurprisingly, the Pertex fabrics were very good: extremely light, breathable, and pleasant to wear. The Quantum Air was softer and quieter than many wind-resistant materials, but given the gilet’s overall poor fit, it still flapped a lot at speed.
I didn’t have much call for the large rear pocket, but it worked well as a stuff sack for the gilet and was certainly easy to use, given its size.
Overly large arm holes and excessive chest fabric caused the gilet to gape open
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
Value
I have to admit that I am surprised and disappointed that a brand with the heritage and expertise of Rab has produced this vest. There are glimmers of hope, like the fabric choice and the collar, but overall, it is simply not a very good cycling gilet.
The sizing, huge armholes, and excess fabric when in a riding position are poor, and while £70 is a reasonable price for what the Cinder Windveil Biking Vest offers on paper, the execution means that it can’t be recommended when there are a plethora of better options on the market at both higher and lower price points.
Tech specs
- Price: £70 / $90
- Weight: 84g (medium)
- Pockets: One
- Colours: Light Khaki, Tempest Blue and Tuscan Red
- Sizes: S to XL.
