A light cycling vest and arm warmers have long been must-haves听for riding through the variable temperatures and shorter daylight hours of the shoulder season. But toting along听such essentials听also means听that when I鈥檓 fully free of layers, riding in just a jersey and shorts, my pockets are stuffed; arm warmers, in particular, are bulky. If I can help it, I like to avoid looking and feeling like I鈥檓 carrying grapefruits home in my pockets, so I鈥檓 constantly playing the game of 鈥淒o I really need this?鈥 when I鈥檓 heading out the door.听
The 听($149)听has ended that pondering. It may have even听have killed the cycling vest for me.
Velocio is known for its innovative use of high-end, luxe-feeling technical fabrics. In addition, this 83-gram jacket features a smart construction:听superfine mesh side and underarm panels serve听up excellent breathability and minimizes听heft,听while听silky, mini-ripstop nylon听on the front and back provides windproofing and insulation. Just to play out our citrus analogy, the Ultralight packs down to the size of an organic blood orange (which is to clarify that it鈥檚 smaller than your run-of-the-mill GMO听navel orange)鈥攅quivalent in rolled-up bulk to my favorite road-cycling vest. But for the same amount of fruit in my pocket, with the Ultralight I also get听sleeves that offer听extra warmth and versatility.听I听pick the jacket almost every time.
The Ultralight comes in men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 versions听and cuts a slim, flattering silhouette in both. All the requisite, thoughtful details are there.听A听light silicone gripper keeps the elastic waistband in place, a听soft lining on the inside of the collar and a zipper garage eliminate听rough edges when you鈥檙e zipped up, and a smooth-running YKK zipper with a rubber pull make听it easy to remove and add layers while听on the bike. A DWR treatment on the nylon translates into light water resistance in showers and misty conditions, though the mesh obviously means this isn鈥檛 your jacket for riding in听real weather. A couple times听I鈥檝e been concerned about tearing the 眉berlight mesh when听tugging the sleeves over gloved hands听while riding鈥攕hedding clothing听on the bike听tends to be a more urgent affair than getting dressed in my house鈥攂ut it鈥檚 held up, and Velocio says that in the听year and a half since the garment鈥檚 debut, the company has received no returns or complaints for that reason.
As we move later into the season, the听Ultralight is showing its versatility.听If I expect听colder temperatures or plan on doing a long, chilly descent, I鈥檒l layer it over arm warmers or a thermal jersey for the insulating effect of a heavier cycling jacket. And it鈥檚 so low-profile and lightweight when packed down that taking it along on all those dash-out-the-door post-work rides, when the sun is dropping below the mountains, becomes a no-brainer.听
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