Price: $164.99
Sizes: XS-XL (women’s); XS-2XL (men’s)
Colors: Black or Pacific Blue (women’s); Black or Pumpkin (men’s)
Materials: Elastane 3%, Polyester 97%
Insulation: PrimaLoft GOLD (front) PermaLoft Silver Active (back)
Availability: Online and retail
How obtained: Company sample
RBR advertiser: No
Packable, Warm, and Stylish
Keeping your core warm on chilly rides without overheating can be challenging. Endura’s PRO SL PrimaLoft vest is the perfect option. The packable vest uses windproof PrimaLoft GOLD fill on the front for insulation where it’s needed. Then use PrimaLoft Silver Active on the back to allow for breathability. Basically, it blocks the wind in the front while letting heat and moisture escape the back. The PrimaLoft Silver Active also has a bit of stretch to the fabric for added comfort and mobility.
Endura added a higher collar with a zipper garage to avoid chafing at the neck or chin and a drop tail hem for added coverage and warmth. Other nice features of the vest include three rear pockets and a zipped security pocket. Many vests I’ve reviewed in the past did not have rear pockets, requiring you to lift the back of the vest to reach an item in your jersey pocket.
The front uses a two-way zipper, letting you ventilate from the top or bottom. Unfortunately, I often found myself not threading the zipper pin through both pull tabs, causing the teeth not to align and the zipper to get stuck. Possibly a slighter heavier gauge zipper could solve the problem I experienced.
There are two reflective details for added visibility in low-light situations. These include placements are on the back of the neck and rear pocket.
The vest is available in men’s and women’s versions in extended sizes yet limited colors.
Bottom Line
Endura’s PRO SL PrimaLoft vest is a nice piece of cycling apparel to add to your arsenal for cold rides. It’s lightweight and very packable yet keeps your core warm. With a warm core, blood flows to the extremities translating to more time outside and longer rides in comfort.
Sheri Rosenbaum regularly contributes articles and reviews products for RBR. She’s an avid recreational roadie who lives in the Chicago area and a major advocate for women’s cycling, serving on the board of directors and volunteering with the Dare2tri Paratriathlon Club. Click to read Sheri’s full bio or visit her web site sunflowersandpedals.com.
$165 for a vest???
And people talk about gas & food prices going up?
Cycling inflation is a disgrace!!!!!!!!!!!!