Price: £120 / €139 / $TBC
Sizes: S-3XL
Weight: 184 grams - Size M
Colours: Black / Blue
Pockets: Three
I’m doing plenty of dark road rides now we are into November here in the UK. Being visible is becoming more of a consideration for me as I ride in the dark. Generally, I like to wear lighter kit that still keeps me warm.
Until it gets really cold, gilets are a good way to achieve this, a gilet paired with a base layer and or arm warmers and a jersey is a great way to keep your kit lightweight but your core warm.
The Nalini 3L Reflex Vest, or gilet, is a medium-weight piece with Stormshield fabric and a large reflective back panel. This provides good cold-weather protection while helping you stay more visible to motorists and other road users.
The gilet is priced at £120 / €139 and is made in Italy. I've been testing it long-term and am ready with my in-depth review. For our US readers, I asked Nalini about pricing and it's currently TBC for the US market.
Head to my best cycling gilets guide for more gilet options.
Design and aesthetics
The 3L Reflex gilet which is made in Italy is manufactured from a Polyester and Elastane mix, whilst the reflective back is a Polyamide and Elastane mix.
The body, sides and neck area of the gilet look solid, but hold it up to the light and you will see it’s a two-layer Stormshield mesh fabric. The physical feel is medium weight for me, by that I mean it's heavier than a thin, lightweight gilet like the MAAP Draft I recently reviewed and makes a slightly rustly sound. Stormshield is a Windtex membrane that is wind and water-resistant whilst also breathing well, it's also made in Italy.
The back panel is where the 3L Reflective fabric is used. Fabrics like this usually have some sort of coating that reflects light. A mesh column runs vertically down the middle of the back, to add some breathability.
At the rear, there are three good-sized pockets which will deal with gloves or rain jackets with no problem. They are also covered by the reflective material.
There’s a two-way YKK zipper, which allows you to open up the bottom and get rid of some heat if needed. I have found this zipper to have a bit of a habit of unzipping from the bottom if you tweak it or lightly pull it. The gilet fit isn’t super tight and doesn’t cause the unzipping. The zipper just does it at times, but I can’t say it’s caused me any issues. It seems to happen more off the bike than on it.
There’s also a nice tall, soft-lined collar which provides good protection in colder conditions. One thing on sizing, If you are a size small you will need an 'M' here, the gilet sizes up a little bit small. I'm always a small, but am wearing a Medium in the pictures.
Branding-wise, things are subtle. There’s a rubber ‘Nalini’ roundel stitched onto the front chest and a Nalini wordmark on the bottom of the middle pocket. The gilet is all black apart from the back panels which in regular light are a silvery/grey colour.
Performance
I’ll tackle the reflective element of the gilet here first. When light hits the reflective back patch it produces a reflective shimmer, but it isn’t blindingly bright. I spent a few hours on dark, unlit Worcestershire lanes recently with some clubmates and quizzed them on the gilet afterwards. Shining a light on the jersey can only give you so much of an insight.
When riding on my wheel they found the gilet was noticeable and stood out, but made the point that it’s more subtle. If you're looking for a super bright reflective piece, this isn’t it. I like the fact it isn't blinding though, it's there, but it's not OTT. Nalini does have a 'mirror' gilet which is majorly bright if that is what you are shopping for.
Reflectiveness aside, the gilet performs well in cool and colder temperatures which I think is its primary focus, though you could of course use it in spring and summer. I see it as more of an autumn/winter piece though.
It adds warmth and protection nicely on cooler days and does keep the wind at bay. Paired with a range of different weight base layers, jerseys and arm warmers it has kept me comfortable and protected. The high neck also lends a feeling of comfort and protection. The seams aren't taped or sealed, so whilst the material will deal with some water, in a heavy downpour you will get wet.
Due to the reflective back panel and breathability of the material overall I find the gilet does still get a little sweaty if you're riding a bit harder. The material keeps the wind off well, but I found the pockets especially got quite moist and were still a little wet the next day after my ride. For less intense riding it will keep you comfortable, but you can probably expect some moisture if you're pushing on; don't forget the two-way zipper is there if you need it.
Value
With an RRP of £120 / €139, it's fair to say this is a more premium gilet price-wise.
Some of the reasons for that may be the Made in Italy tag, and the Stormshield and 3L reflective fabrics used.
It's certainly a quality number and still looks brand new after over a year of use and performs well, but this could be winter jacket money. If you value a good gilet then it may be a solid buy for you.
Verdict
The 3L Reflective vest is a good gilet, that offers solid cold weather protection. If you're interested in a piece of kit that can aid visibility in the dark, it's a really nice option without being fully boil in the bag or blindingly bright.
There is something of a trade-off I think regarding the reflective material and breathability, especially if you're getting a sweat on, it hasn't been a massive problem for me and I've only really noticed when I've stopped riding at a cafe or similar.
Now the nights and mornings are darker it's a nice option to have, and I feel reassured I'm that little bit more visible to motorists from behind.
