I wish more vests had pockets

[FastforaSlowGuy]

There is a shortage of good, race-cut, pocket-bearing vests on the market. Lots and lots of pocketless models, some of which are very nice. But when you're working hard in a paceline, running out of gas and desperately need a gel, the last thing you want to do is try to dig around under your vest to find your jersey pocket. With the looser-fitting varieties, this isn't a huge deal. But a close-fitting race cut vest can wear like a second skin (like it should when you're folded over and trying to hide from the wind). Sneaking your hand between a skin-like vest and a skin-like jersey ain't easy, especially if said hand is adorned by a glove.

New England is vest country. Fleece vests, down vests, sweater vests ... it just works here. Lots of cool days, but not freezing, make the vest an eminently practical bit of kit, and, dare I say, attractive to boot. My go-to vest for daily driving is my Hi-Viz gilet from Rapha, because it has pockets and because I can always elicit some eye rolls from my wife when I ask if she's seen my "gilet." I've got a Capo vest with great pockets, but the euro-bold styling looks horrible with 95% of my jerseys. Then I've got a smattering of club and team vests, but I feel like you can only wear those if you go full-team-kit.

The Fawesome vest from Castelli looks downright rad - Gabba for my core, but then you see the back view, and the no pockets bit is a deal killer.

I understand pockets add some bulk, and probably make it slightly harder to stuff a vest in your jersey. But frankly that seems like a cop-out.

[AngryScientist]

the rapha gillet is one of the best pieces of kit i own. and has pockets.

[Lewis Moon]

I think most light weight gilets (SP?) are meant to be folded and carried in your jersey pocket so they shouldn't have any extra material. That being said, I hate having to fish under my wind gilet to get something out of my jersey pocket.
I'll wear Rapha when someone gives it to me. I just can't bring myself to pay an order of magnitude more $$ for an incremental increase in utility.

[thirdgenbird]

Funny, I just got done packing for a trip to the twin cities and debated over jacket choice. I went with the pocketless one that fits in my jersey if needed. I can see where you are coming from though. if I knew the other jacket would stay on the whole ride, I would have packed the one with pockets.

[FlashUNC]

I've seen several vests/emergency rain jackets with the zippered opening in the rear to get to the pockets. Doesn't that accomplish the same thing?

[sandyrs]

The Tenspeed Hero "Brown University" vest (meant to match the Brown kit they did, which is why I bought one since I'm a recent alum and had the jersey) has turned out to be one of my favorite and most versatile pieces of clothing. It's windproof, has three full size pockets, and the turquoise stands out nicely in low visibility. I would highly recommend it, or any of their other vests.

http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0185/7100/products/J1A4943_grande.jpg?v=1395604835

http://store.tenspeedhero.com/collections/vests-gilets/products/brown-university-cycling-team-vest

[R2D2]

My Gore vest has both zipper pockets and some mesh pockets. And enough insulation to be useful.
I like it!

[joosttx]

the rapha gillet is one of the best pieces of kit i own. and has pockets.

Second this. Plenty of pockets and an awesome product

[teleguy57]

Subscribed. I had this very thought the last couple of times I was heading out the door and passed on my Craft gillet as the mesh back is pocketless.

I have a Rapha winter cap I love (got it on sale) but am hoping for other pocketed gillet options.

[Lionel]

The vest with pockets are not meant to be taken out during a ride, so it has to be cold enough that you know you will keep it on to stuff things into the pockets. My favorite one is the Assos G.falkenZahn, it works great and has pockets.

[lhuerta]

...double-ended zippers, IME, are more essential then pockets.

[shovelhd]

The only vest I own is part of a Verge Team kit, so race cut and no pockets. It has a double pull zipper. Getting stuff in and out of a jersey pocket is as easy as unzipping the bottom pull. I can do this in full race mode. I see no need for vest pockets.

[katematt]

+1 on the Rapha Gillet with pockets and light enough to not have to come off. Some arm warmers and yours good to go.

[FastforaSlowGuy]

The problem with the Rapha gilet isn't functional (love it, use it), it's that it's not built as race kit. I have some Verge stuff with double zippers, and it's okay, but "reach back grab gel" is inarguably simpler than "unzip, reach back grab gel, rezip". And it's not like I strip layers in the middle of a 30 mile road race, so I'd happily sacrifice a bit of "stuffability" for some better usability.

[cinema]

I recently received a custom vest made out of neoshell from lou at foxwear. It cost me $100 and has super high tech fabric and as many pockets as i asked for (one internal chest pocket and rear jersey-style pockets and he can add more. I thought it was a steal.

(I'll admit I was lax with my measurements and it doesn't have a race cut but it's still highly functional. you have to be really accurate ordering custom over the internet, and lou hemmed it for me so that it wasn't so big.)

[old fat man]

...double-ended zippers, IME, are more essential then pockets.

I got the best of both worlds with a Louise Garneau vest. I think I bought it from Comp Cyclist, though I can't find the exact one there anymore.

It is a race cut (snug for my 6'1" and 175lb body), has a mesh back, some reflective piping, two way zippers and two nice pockets in the back. It's black, so it doesn't offend, there is no bunching or flapping on the shoulders (I'm looking at you Castelli and Campy!), and it was stupid cheap, like $35 I think. I wore it this morning riding in central CT with temps in the low to upper 50's.

I'll try to find the name of it.

[Waldo]

Here's a reasonably priced Voler vest with pockets: http://www.voler.com/browse/product/li/1010E91

[carpediemracing]

Our Verge vests were made with pockets in the back (http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2012/11/equipment-verge-wind-vest-primo.html), 3 normal pockets. I bought a newer one that has a separate "phone" pocket (I use it for keys). With Verge you can pretty much do anything you want, so my understanding is that these are jersey pockets sewn into the vests using vest material. Low additional cost, only a few bucks.

I use this vest pretty much every training ride where it's under 70-75 deg F. Between about 50-55 deg F and 70-75 deg F I wear the vest unzipped so that it flaps and attracts attention. I think I did that when it was 80 or 85 deg F and it was simply too hot. Anyway motion attracts attention better than color hence my reason for doing this. I race in the vest regularly because it's a neat, trim way of getting wind protection for my torso. Temps need to be in the 50s and below before I use the vest.

Note my DroidX was too big for the phone pocket. The zippered top is nice because I don't have to worry about losing my keys when I'm digging through a different pocket for a gel or whatever.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xJEy9kCfK4A/UJiONiYiHzI/AAAAAAAAEiE/CUxKEdcOG24/s800/DSC_0601.JPG

Verge also makes a jacket (http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2012/11/equipment-verge-primo-jacket.html) where the sleeves zip off. I've only used the vest function a couple times but it was perfect for those times. Generally speaking I'll use the wind vest plus a bulkier LS jersey instead of the insulated vest. At 40-45 degrees, my limit for the wind vest + thick LS jersey + SS jersey + LS base layer, I switch to the full jacket.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ORMMSRo8vrk/UJh71FWg3rI/AAAAAAAAEek/vm3lUXkwGU0/s800/DSC_0587.JPG

Disclaimer/note: I paid whatever full price was for the above pieces. I had no say in what company we used for the team kits (for 2015 it's a mix of Craft and Verge). However Verge has been a long time supporter of the Bethel Spring Series, and I'm acquaintances with one of their higher ups since the company was founded.

[Vientomas]

http://www.boure.com/5100.html

[EDS]

Hincapie: http://www.hincapie.com/products/menswear/jackets_vests/R711M13/

LG (no pockets but access to jersey pockets): http://www.louisgarneau.com/us-en/product/827718/3828075/Cycling_JacketsVests/COURSE_SPEEDZONE_CYCLING_VEST

Giordana: http://www.gitabike.com/cgi-bin/shop/giordana_loadhome.cgi?user_id=id&file=giordana.html

[krhea]

I recently received a custom vest made out of neoshell from lou at foxwear. It cost me $100 and has super high tech fabric and as many pockets as i asked for (one internal chest pocket and rear jersey-style pockets and he can add more. I thought it was a steal.

(I'll admit I was lax with my measurements and it doesn't have a race cut but it's still highly functional. you have to be really accurate ordering custom over the internet, and lou hemmed it for me so that it wasn't so big.)

Do you pics of the vest. I've been on the cusp of a foxwear purchase for a couple seasons now and can't pull the trigger.

[ceolwulf]

I got the best of both worlds with a Louise Garneau vest. I think I bought it from Comp Cyclist, though I can't find the exact one there anymore.



It is a race cut (snug for my 6'1" and 175lb body), has a mesh back, some reflective piping, two way zippers and two nice pockets in the back. It's black, so it doesn't offend, there is no bunching or flapping on the shoulders (I'm looking at you Castelli and Campy!), and it was stupid cheap, like $35 I think. I wore it this morning riding in central CT with temps in the low to upper 50's.



I'll try to find the name of it.


Exact one I have. It's excellent.

http://www.louisgarneau.com/ca-en/product/827718/1028067/Cycling_JacketsVests/NOVA_CYCLING_VEST#second

[velomonkey]

I don't like a single item I have from Voler - except the vest.

Shielded from the wind on the front - mesh on the back. I live in NE and use it a ton. The zipper is nice and big so you can zip up or down while on the bike at a high speed. Double zip is key too - I keep stuff in my jersey pockets and just unzip from the bottom if I need to get or put anything away.

I like the rapha stuff, but the side zip just never took with me.

[jr59]

I recently received a custom vest made out of neoshell from lou at foxwear. It cost me $100 and has super high tech fabric and as many pockets as i asked for (one internal chest pocket and rear jersey-style pockets and he can add more. I thought it was a steal.

(I'll admit I was lax with my measurements and it doesn't have a race cut but it's still highly functional. you have to be really accurate ordering custom over the internet, and lou hemmed it for me so that it wasn't so big.)

Have you talked to Lou about taking it in? Normally he's the easiest person in the world to deal with

[cinema]

Do you pics of the vest. I've been on the cusp of a foxwear purchase for a couple seasons now and can't pull the trigger.

http://i58.tinypic.com/1pxwlf.jpg

I told him I would use it casually so I wanted a cut that I could wear the the bar, movies, etc because I bike everywhere. Wore it this morning on my commute. I rarely go all kitted out if ever (note the hairy ape legs in above image) and if i did it would still fit fine, like a 'club fit'. If you ask him for a race cut and give accurate measurements and we he will make it that way. I hate wearing windbreakers or rain jackets so this neoshell vest was a custom one of a kind thing i asked for so I could have something in between. It blocks wind, breathes and if it starts to rain i'm covered where it matters. it has jersey style pockets in the back.

Have you talked to Lou about taking it in? Normally he's the easiest person in the world to deal with

Yes he hemmed it for me and sent me a free headband that covers my ears. great guy. the arm holes are still a bit wide for my taste but i am tiny 5'9 120lbs nothing fits me. I gave him incorrect measurements they were off by like 3-4 inches the first time and he made it proper in the end.

[Miles]

The Capo custom thermal vests have very nice pockets in my experience. One of the best pieces of cool weather clothing I own.

[djg21]

There is a shortage of good, race-cut, pocket-bearing vests on the market. Lots and lots of pocketless models, some of which are very nice. But when you're working hard in a paceline, running out of gas and desperately need a gel, the last thing you want to do is try to dig around under your vest to find your jersey pocket. With the looser-fitting varieties, this isn't a huge deal. But a close-fitting race cut vest can wear like a second skin (like it should when you're folded over and trying to hide from the wind). Sneaking your hand between a skin-like vest and a skin-like jersey ain't easy, especially if said hand is adorned by a glove.

New England is vest country. Fleece vests, down vests, sweater vests ... it just works here. Lots of cool days, but not freezing, make the vest an eminently practical bit of kit, and, dare I say, attractive to boot. My go-to vest for daily driving is my Hi-Viz gilet from Rapha, because it has pockets and because I can always elicit some eye rolls from my wife when I ask if she's seen my "gilet." I've got a Capo vest with great pockets, but the euro-bold styling looks horrible with 95% of my jerseys. Then I've got a smattering of club and team vests, but I feel like you can only wear those if you go full-team-kit.

The Fawesome vest from Castelli looks downright rad - Gabba for my core, but then you see the back view, and the no pockets bit is a deal killer.

I understand pockets add some bulk, and probably make it slightly harder to stuff a vest in your jersey. But frankly that seems like a cop-out.


I have one of these, which has pockets: http://www.endurasport.com/products/?ProductID=29

[Peter P.]

It never would have occurred to me that vests would pose such problems and it just goes to show you how you really don't discover a product's shortcomings until you put it to long term use. It's also interesting how many varieties of vests are out there.

1. No pockets mean more packability, but less convenient storage.

2. Pockets give you storage at the expense of packability.

I never would have considered the addition of pockets impairing stuffing the vest in a jersey pocket, but it's certainly vaild, just like I never would have thought how difficult it would be to gain jersey pocket access with a vest on, in the heat of a race.

3. Double pull zippers are one solution.

4. A zipper across the back to allow access to jersey pockets is another ingenious solution.

You could bring your existing jersey to any local tailor or seamstress and they could easily retrofit your existing vest with #3 or #4.

I see no reason FastforaSlowGuy couldn't get a single pocket sewn on his existing vest. I added a zippered pocket to a cycling jacket (https://www.flickr.com/photos/53479013@N00/sets/72157648816471752/) and it wasn't that big a deal.

Lycra or similar material is available from any fabric store or Seattle Fabrics.

[teleguy57]

Hincapie: http://www.hincapie.com/products/menswear/jackets_vests/R711M13/

LG (no pockets but access to jersey pockets): http://www.louisgarneau.com/us-en/product/827718/3828075/Cycling_JacketsVests/COURSE_SPEEDZONE_CYCLING_VEST

Giordana: http://www.gitabike.com/cgi-bin/shop/giordana_loadhome.cgi?user_id=id&file=giordana.html

Hmm, that LG Course looks fairly interesting.

[cash05458]

I have a Gabba jacket...the arms come off via zippers (tho only going to short sleeve...not technically a vest I guess...) and has 3 pockets with rain drain holes in them...my fave piece of kit now...

[jasonlee]

If I am ever in that much of a hurry that I can't reach into a pocket, I just tape gels to the top tube.

http://cdn1.coresites.mpora.com/outsidetimes/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/DSCF1166-e1359648744344.jpg (not my setup)

[teleguy57]

I've been noodling on this Louis (not Louise:)) Garneau vest with the open back to access pockets:

http://www.louisgarneau.com/img/3828075_Speedzone_Vest_Hole_LRG.jpg

I don't see why I couldn't cut an opening in the mesh back of my Craft vest, sew a tape binding over the cut edge, and make it work like this. Think I'll give it a go.

[mvrider]

Here's what I've observed in my collection of vests:

Ultra-light, stuffable, windbreaker type vests
These generally do not have pockets.

Soft-shell, stretchy, insulating vests
I have ones from Capo Forma, Campagnolo and others in various thicknesses, and they all have pockets. The Capo Padrone are medium weight but still fit in my jersey pocket if folded carefully.

In addition, and I know this is a splurge, my latest vest acquisition is the stretchy vest from Q36.5 (http://www.abovecategorycycling.com/shop/mens/vests/q36-5-vest-l1-essential-black.html). If you look closely at the back, there are slits in the back that allow access to the jersey's back pockets. For the OP's purpose of reaching gels during a group ride, it still would not be as easy as pockets on the vest, but it is a nice clean design that saves weight and preserves functionality. In addition, if you do take off the vest, you don't have to transfer the vest's pocket contents to the jersey pockets. The material is thin and stretchy, but blocks a good amount of wind. Very comfy.

http://www.q36-5.com/q36-5/collection/v2/big/big_5bbe6ca7502b994bbeb5f3da64473540.jpg

[wallymann]

IMO vest should be vests, jerseys should have pockets. in fact, i cut or otherwise neatly remove pockets from vests that are so equipped.

totally agree with the utility of double-ended zippers on any sort of cycling jacket/vest.

[ginsued]

Castelli makes a vest like the Fawsome but with pockets called the Isterico. It probably won't be very packable but can always stuff it under your jersey. Should be pretty tight fitting as it is Castelli.

There is a shortage of good, race-cut, pocket-bearing vests on the market. Lots and lots of pocketless models, some of which are very nice. But when you're working hard in a paceline, running out of gas and desperately need a gel, the last thing you want to do is try to dig around under your vest to find your jersey pocket. With the looser-fitting varieties, this isn't a huge deal. But a close-fitting race cut vest can wear like a second skin (like it should when you're folded over and trying to hide from the wind). Sneaking your hand between a skin-like vest and a skin-like jersey ain't easy, especially if said hand is adorned by a glove.

New England is vest country. Fleece vests, down vests, sweater vests ... it just works here. Lots of cool days, but not freezing, make the vest an eminently practical bit of kit, and, dare I say, attractive to boot. My go-to vest for daily driving is my Hi-Viz gilet from Rapha, because it has pockets and because I can always elicit some eye rolls from my wife when I ask if she's seen my "gilet." I've got a Capo vest with great pockets, but the euro-bold styling looks horrible with 95% of my jerseys. Then I've got a smattering of club and team vests, but I feel like you can only wear those if you go full-team-kit.

The Fawesome vest from Castelli looks downright rad - Gabba for my core, but then you see the back view, and the no pockets bit is a deal killer.

I understand pockets add some bulk, and probably make it slightly harder to stuff a vest in your jersey. But frankly that seems like a cop-out.

[jimoots]

+1 on the Rapha gilet having pockets and being a nice piece of kit.

[druptight]

Castelli makes a vest like the Fawsome but with pockets called the Isterico. It probably won't be very packable but can always stuff it under your jersey. Should be pretty tight fitting as it is Castelli.

I recently acquired the Fawesome, and wish it had pockets....

[holliscx]

You're contradicting yourself: a race vest is for putting on and taking off in a flash, plus packing small in your jersey pocket. Most vests are cut so you can reach into your jersey pockets. Vest pockets are redundant unless touring.

[dem]

I just got a "Sportful Ultralight WS Vest" (goretex windstopper front, mesh sides/back)

Race fit, small enough to still pack into a jersey pocket without a struggle and has rear pockets.

http://www.retto.co.uk/admin/files/images/r901600307-14_g1.jpg

http://www.retto.co.uk/admin/files/images/r901600307-14_g2.jpg

[Charles M]

Buy the Camelback...

http://www.buysourceone.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/CAME60436.jpg

Then make it as pockety as you want...

http://www.morningstardefense.com/4-tactical-vest.jpg

[BSUdude]

I don't like a single item I have from Voler - except the vest.

Shielded from the wind on the front - mesh on the back. I live in NE and use it a ton. The zipper is nice and big so you can zip up or down while on the bike at a high speed. Double zip is key too - I keep stuff in my jersey pockets and just unzip from the bottom if I need to get or put anything away.

I like the rapha stuff, but the side zip just never took with me.

I have a Voler vest as a piece of team kit. I love it for all the aforementioned reasons. It also has 3 full pockets in back. However if it is actually raining or on the cooler side of vest weather sometimes I'll use my PI vest. It only has one rear pocket and no double zip, but it has a solid back so keeps my backside dryer. Annoyingly flaps in the wind though on decents or windy days. Haven't had this problem with the Voler vest--it is more of a race cut.

I would never buy a vest w/o any pockets.