My (almost) favourite item: The Troy Lee Design Skyline Pro Vest has a snag

BIKE testers get to put a wide variety of products through their paces, whether they’re wheels, rucksacks or gloves. It’s only by comparing them that you can tell whether a product really ranks amongst the best. BIKE editor Laurin uses the Troy Lee Designs Skyline Pro Vest for quite some time now. He rates it very highly and would even call it his favourite piece, were it not for that one snag.

The Skyline Pro Vest is available in two colours: Mono Army (pictured) and Carbon (black). The US manufacturer is asking a whopping 145 euros for the vest. The size MD fit very well on someone 1.78 metres tall with medium-width shoulders.

Why a waistcoat rather than a jacket?

Quite simply, because vests leave the armpits exposed, so you don’t sweat as much. The torso, on the other hand, is insulated and protects against the cold. What’s more, as they use less fabric, they take up less space when packed and are lighter.

Lightweight, airy, compact when packed

Vests are ideal for any time of year. You just need to vary the thickness of the insulation. The Skyline Pro Vest Mono Army from Troy Lee Designs is a very thin and lightweight vest designed for cool summer evenings. ​The 4-way stretch outer shell features insulation in the chest area for warmth, whilst the mesh back panel provides ventilation.

Brilliant: The vest weighs just 160 grams and can be tucked away in the back pocket with ease. Its pack size – no bigger than a fist – is another of the vest’s key features. But the Troy Lee clothing designers have thought even further ahead. They’ve sewn a strap with a buckle onto the vest. This means the vest can, in theory, be lashed down somewhere on the bike. I’ve never actually done that myself, but I find the idea exciting.

Skyline Pro Vest fit.

The Skyline Pro Vest is available in 5 sizes. The MD (Medium) fits very well on someone who is 1.78 m tall with medium-width shoulders. The vest is neither too tight nor too loose – a comfortable, medium fit. The stretch fabric provides extra comfort. Another plus: when fully zipped up, the neck is fully covered, protecting against the wind.

Favourite waistcoat? Almost. There’s one drawback.

Now here’s the catch. Actually, there are two. (a) The recommended retail price of 145 euros is completely over the top. And (b) The waistcoat has no zipped side pockets – nor any pockets without a zip. There’s nothing there. There’s just the back pocket, though you’d be reluctant to put your keys and mobile in it, because the contents of the pocket press uncomfortably against your lower back and because it isn’t secured with a zip.

Of course, the vest is designed to be lightweight, but it would have been nice to have at least one zipped pocket – and that certainly wouldn’t have made the vest unbearably heavy.

In a nutshell

• Sizes: SM, MD, S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Ride Fit
• Outer fabric made from nylon-spandex with 4-way stretch and a mesh insert at the back
• PRIMALOFT® GOLD recycled insulation on the chest
• Rear storage bag with TLD Frame Strap
• Can be stowed away using the TLD Frame Strap
• 2-way YKK main zip
• Reflective heat transfers
• ​Material: Front: 80% polyamide, 20% elastane, Back: 85% polyamide, 15% elastane, Inner lining: 100% polyamide, Lining: 100% polyester
• Weight: 160 grams (medium)
• Colours: Army Mono (photo), carbon
• Price: 145 euros >> Available here at a reduced price

A very lightweight summer vest. Perfect for cool summer mornings or breezy evenings out on a mountain bike or gravel bike. Also great: its compact pack size and cut. On the downside, though: the reason why this vest is only a ‘near-favourite’ in my wardrobe is the lack of zipped pockets on the sides.
Laurin Lehner, BIKE tester