Like this site? Help us to make it better.
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.
Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
The Ridgecrest Waterproof Cycling Gilet is a handy layer for keeping cold air out and protecting your torso from light rain and road spray, and it takes up very little space when stuffed in a rear pocket. Some roadies will provide a slimmer cut to avoid flapping, but the price is reasonable, going on cheap.
We got to know of Ridgecrest by a roundabout route. The head honcho at Cotic Bikes is a chap who goes by the name of Cy – Cy Cotic, geddit? – and Ridgecrest is a brand set up by Cy's father, Mr Cotic Snr.
> Buy now: Ridgecrest Waterproof Cycling Gilet for £44.95 from ebay
Mr Cotic Snr, also known as David Turner, used to run a clothing manufacturing company making motorcycle waterproofs, and about three years ago started making Cotic's frame bags. He's only just started to make gilets. He does everything himself – designs, material laying, cutting and sewing – so it's a small scale operation.
Some people struggle with the concept of a waterproof gilet – if you need to keep water out, putting a jacket on is going to be more effective. That's a fair point, but sometimes you just want to keep out drizzle or road spray and pulling a jacket on might be overkill. Plus, you can team up a waterproof gilet with water-repellent arm warmers, like Castelli's Nano Flex 3Gs, if you want to keep light rain out without having the additional warmth of a jacket. On top of that, a jacket is going to be bulkier in your pocket.
But I'm not here to convince you of the merits or otherwise of the genre. There are plenty of other waterproof gilets out there from the likes of Rapha, Assos and dhb, and you can make up your own mind about whether you like the idea.
Ridgecrest's Waterproof Cycling Gilet is made from polyurethane-coated polyester that does a really good job of keeping water out. The seams aren't taped, so water could leak in there, but a waterproof gilet isn't designed to keep you dry in the sort of prolonged heavy rain when that would be an issue. If the back of the gilet gets wet from road spray, even constantly over a long ride, that doesn't get inside.
The fabric is pretty soft to the touch and the outside doesn't have that cold, plasticky feel, while the inside of the collar has a cotton lining so it feels fine against your neck.
The fabric is also highly breathable, helping to stop you get sweaty on tough climbs. If you do find things starting to get humid, it's easy enough to adjust the YKK zip or to just whip the gilet off and stick it in a jersey pocket. Rolled up, it takes up about half a pocket's worth of space.
The collar sits high – I like that – and I found it close enough to stop any cold air from getting in without any discomfort. The elasticated armholes and hem do a similar job and there's the most generously sized flap behind the zip that I've ever seen.
The cut is also generous, but don't take too much notice of our pics – the mannequin that we've been using in the studio since social distancing became a thing is a medium, while the product sample we have is large.
The fabric isn't stretchy, so I get that a manufacturer has to size up to accommodate chunkier riders, but I'd have preferred a slimmer cut to avoid any flapping on windier days or at higher speeds. This isn't an aero roadie cut, it has a more relaxed mountain bike or gravel bike vibe.
In terms of length, the same is true. If you're in a low and stretched road position, the front panels tend to bunch up, but if you're in a more upright riding position, you want that coverage. The fact that the rear is cut considerably longer than the front is welcome, though, keeping spray from getting on to your lower back and – what's the physiological term? – ass.
You can't baulk at the £44.95 price (post included). That's for sizes S (36in, measured over your other clothing) to XL (45in). XXL and XXXL can be produced as one-offs for £55.95.
> Buyer’s Guide: 10 of the best cycling gilets
Check out road.cc gilet reviews and you'll see that we haven't looked at too many at this price. Most tend to be at least £20 more, some much more than that.
The race-cut dhb Aeron Lab Superlight Waterproof Gilet that we reviewed, for example, is £100. Granted, the dhb gilet is a more technical garment, it's lighter and packs down smaller so they're not particularly comparable, but it still suggests that the Ridgecrest's price is very good.
The Lusso Hex Packable Gilet we reviewed recently came in a much slimmer cut too. This one is £55 – closer to the Ridgecrest's price but still £10 more.
Overall, the Ridgecrest Waterproof gilet is a well-made garment to keep you comfortable in changeable conditions. The generous cut won't be to everyone's taste, but you can't argue with the price.
Good for keeping out cold air and light rain, with a cut more suited to mountain biking and gravel than sporty road riding
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
Make and model: Ridgecrest Waterproof Cycling Gilet
Tell us what the product is for
It's a gilet made from a waterproof and breathable polyurethane fabric.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Ridgecrest calls it a "cycle gilet - waterproof, breathable, made in England by us."
Material - PU coated polyester to EN343 grade 3, the highest level of breathability for a waterproof material.
YKK nylon maroon zip, with inner flap.
All seams top stitched with maroon thread.
20cm x 50mm reflective strip across back.
Back cut lower than hip level, bottom of zip higher than hips to avoid bunching.
Stand up collar with two layers of 100% cotton lining for max comfort and absorption.
Elastic around waist and shoulders.
Chest sizes, measured over clothing - Small 36ins - Med 39ins - Large 42ins - XL 45ins. We can make XXL (48ins) and XXXL (51 ins) for an extra £10
It's well made from very good materials.
It's not breaking down barriers in terms of tech but it helps keeps wind and rain out (although a gilet is never going to compete with a jacket for weatherproofing).
There's not a lot to go wrong, really. I've been using this gilet on and off for about three months and everything looks like it's going to last.
If you're after a slim roadie cut and a high hem at the front to avoid bunching, this isn't it. This cut is suited to more relaxed, more upright riding and/or to those who simply prefer a more generous fit.
It's as described on the chest. The cut doesn't taper towards the waist in the way you'll often see on more performance-orientated roadie clothing.
We have reviewed gilets of 90g and lower, but is weight really a consideration here? You can still roll it up and sling it in a rear pocket and have plenty of space for a mini pump and an emergency Snickers.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
It washes fine. There are no taped seams to lift over time.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
It's a pretty simple garment that does a very good job.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
The level of protection provided and the price.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
I'd prefer a slimmer cut.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
Check out road.cc gilet reviews and you'll see that we haven't looked at too many at this price. Most tend to be at least £20 more, some much more than that.
The race-cut dhb Aeron Lab Superlight Waterproof Gilet that we reviewed, for example, is £100. Granted, the dhb gilet is a more technical garment, it's lighter and packs down smaller so they're not particularly comparable, but it still suggests the Ridgecrest's price is very good.
The Lusso Hex Packable Gilet we reviewed recently came in a much slimmer cut and is £55 – closer to the Ridgecrest's price but still £10 more.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Would consider – for gravel and mountain biking more than the road.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? As above.
Use this box to explain your overall score
It's not the most technical of gilets but it does a good job and the price is really attractive.
Age: 48 Height: 190cm Weight: 80kg
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I've been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,
We’ve noticed you’re using an ad blocker. If you like road.cc, but you don’t like ads, please consider subscribing to the site to support us directly. As a subscriber you can read road.cc ad-free, from as little as £1.99.
If you don’t want to subscribe, please turn your ad blocker off. The revenue from adverts helps to fund our site.
If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Your subscription will help us to do more.
Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now pushing 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.
Scotland tends to be harsher on driving than e and w. For example, excess speed alone can result in dangerous driving convictions whereas in e and...
Terrifying, but excellent strategy. Chapeau.
The MilkIts have a little rubber seal at the bottom for stopping sealant fouling the valve.
Well I'd be pretty pissed if they were riding mine!
Good decision. We had identical teams today. I nearly dropped Ciccone, but wasn't sure. So often doing nothing is the right course of action. On...
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-61618365...
Lanterne Rouge podast said this tonight, and compared Ineos with Jumbo-Visma's defensive strategy in the 2020 Tour, while Daniel Friebe has...
I think you're right but to be honest I was enjoying winding Rendel up. It's been a slow day and it helped to pass the time 😀
Might be worth a look at Spinlister.
Even if Shimano did make a head unit, ducking the competitive pressure instead of innovating to stay ahead only makes a product sclerotic in the...
Capable gilet with great performance overall, though the zip tags need a steroid injection
It's only available in this one colour, but the performance and price make up for that
Warm, feature-rich insulated vest for long, cold days on the road or mountain bike
Lives up to the name – easy to carry, light and comfy to wear
Editorial, general: info [at] road.cc Tech, reviews: tech [at] road.cc Fantasy Cycling: game [at] road.cc Advertising, commercial: sales [at] road.cc View our media pack
Report an advert on road.cc
All material © Farrelly Atkinson (F-At) Limited, Unit 7b Green Park Station BA11JB. Tel 01225 588855. © 2008–present unless otherwise stated. Terms and conditions of use.