Giordana Men's SilverLine Thermal Vest

The SilverLine Thermal Vest is built to block wind across the chest and keep your core warm without adding the bulk of a full jacket. The three-layer membrane does the wind and cold work, and the breathable side panels give you somewhere to shed heat when the pace goes up.

What stands out in the details is the full zipper with a pull tab. A vest is something you tend to adjust a lot: zipped for the first cold miles, opened on the climbs. A zipper that is easy to grab with gloves on makes that practical. The fleece-lined collar and the reflective accents at the waist, shoulder and rear pocket round out what is a sensible winter training layer.

The tradeoff is that a vest leaves your arms to fend for themselves. If the forecast is truly cold, you will need a long-sleeve base layer and probably a jacket to go with it, and the membrane front will not breathe as freely as open fabric. It also is not a rain layer; Giordana describes it as protection against wind and cold, and we would not expect it to handle a downpour.

It suits riders who want a thin, low-drag layer for fall, winter and spring rides and who like the option of adding or removing it quickly. The Orange and Cobalt Blue options are the pick if you want to be seen.