With the autumn light fading and cold rides creeping into the calendar, the gilet becomes one of the most-used layers for any rider not yet reaching for a winter jacket. The MAAP Draft Team Vest takes that role seriously – a lightweight, packable wind gilet that’s now been through long-term testing in a range of conditions. At £120, it sits firmly in the premium bracket, but there’s more here than just good looks.
Fit, finish and feel
Weighing just 89 grams, the Draft Team Vest is impressively light and folds down small enough to disappear into a jersey pocket. It uses a ripstop nylon fabric with elastane, giving it strength and stretch. The tight weave is subtle in hand, but clearly does the job – after more than a year of testing, the fabric has shown no snags or wear, and the logos haven’t cracked or peeled either.
The back panel is a transparent mesh, breathable and comfortable on faster rides. There are also micro-perforations around the side panels and shoulders to further aid airflow, something you really notice on long climbs or harder efforts. There’s no insulation – this isn’t a vest for cold starts or slow rides – but it does a brilliant job cutting wind while letting heat escape. The fit is race-cut with a snug hem and elastic armholes, sitting clean with zero flap at speed.
A two-way YKK cam-lock zip is well chosen. The top-end feel is there, and the ability to unzip from the bottom mid-ride makes pocket access easy – important, as there are no storage options on the vest itself. The lack of any pockets does make it slightly less practical for longer training days or casual use, but it keeps the weight down and contributes to the clean look.
Real-world use
The Draft Team Vest is best in dry, breezy conditions between 14 and 20°C. In those settings, it’s a top-tier piece: you throw it on for the café stop, the early roll-out, the descent after a climb, and it just works. Even when temperatures dip into single digits, you can make it viable with the right layering underneath, particularly on tempo rides. It’s less effective when the tempo drops – this isn’t a warming layer you can sit around in after a coffee stop.
Without rear pockets, you’ll rely on your jersey for snacks and tools, and though the double zip helps, it’s still a compromise. A small zipped pocket or stash panel would go a long way to making this more versatile. That said, for a fast-paced club ride or race warm-up, it’s a non-issue.
Durability and value
The build quality is excellent. The logos have lasted well, the seams are still clean, and the fabric still feels supple after plenty of washes. The colour range is extensive (with 10 in total), and the navy test version still looks sharp after all that time. At £120 it’s certainly expensive, especially for a gilet with no pockets or insulation. But if your priority is a high-performance, stylish, and durable wind vest that disappears when not in use, the MAAP Draft Team Vest holds up well.
Verdict
A sleek, wind-cutting gilet with impressive long-term durability and one of the best fits on the market. It isn’t the warmest or the most versatile, but for fast, fair-weather riding, or hard efforts in shoulder seasons, it performs exactly as you’d want. A premium option, but one that earns its place.
