Do I need a gilet?

[Needtosoundoffandbreathe]

Going away soon and will need to take layers for fluctuating weather for some of the time. Is it worth getting a gilet, something lightweight-ish but warm? If so, any recommendations?

I just bought this one from Boden. It's padded and I love it. Perfect layering item.

https://www.boden.com/products/printed-quilted-gilet-leopard

Confirms what I am thinking about layering, thank you. However, animal print is not my thing and the Boden one is out of stock and not available in a different colour way by the looks of things? Will see what else they have.

Out of stock already? It must be popular. Its not for everyone I agree but I'm having a moment 😊

I love the Uniqlo Puffertech gilet. I've worn it a lot under smart wool coats & dog walking. I especially love the button tabs that convert it to a v neck so it can be worn invisably.

Yes! Always 😂. I’m country through and through and of course love my schoffel… however rydale ones are brilliant and about £150 less. I do have a very lovely Holland cooper one too.

I second a gilet from Uniqlo, they are very light and warm and come with a built in pack-away bag but do size up:
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E469863-000/00?colorDisplayCode=10&sizeDisplayCode=003

I also recommend their thermals:
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E469742-000/00?colorDisplayCode=38&sizeDisplayCode=003
They are incredibly soft and thin yet warm.

I have this scarf and it's amazingly light and warm:
https://www.uniqlo.com/uk/en/products/E459732-000/00?colorDisplayCode=69

Don't forget warm socks, well lined gloves and a hat are excellent in keeping you warm without taking up much packing space.

Thanks everyone and particularly for the Uniqlo recommendations. I forget about them and hate their website! I can visit a Uniqlo next weekend.

Mine is unique too. Can't do without one.

Don't your arms get cold? Gilet's confuse me.

Love gilets and leopard but that looks Fred Flintstone

They are very good when you are driving I have found, no arm pulling

They confuse me too ,, my arms would be cold

My arms don't feel cold with a gilet because I only wear one when the temperature isn't so low that I need an actual coat, at 10-14c I'd wear a gilet with a jumper and at 15-18c long sleeve top or shirt. The gilet warms up my core and that's enough to keep me overall warm. I love having my arms free. Having said that, we all feel the cold differently so if they don't work for you, that's also understandable.

I’m not sure. I bought a North Face one from Vinted a couple of weeks ago. I like it and I’ve worn it most days since for dog walking but it’s not going to be long before the temperature drops and I’ll want something more substantial. They have a very limited time window imo. Basically the last weeks of spring and the early weeks of Autumn.

Of course. Everyone needs a gilet. I have 4 and love them all. They are great for in between weather and layering.

Sorry, I went off on a tangent. To answer your question more specifically, it might be good for your trip but a rain jacket would probably do the same and be more practical. Depends how light you’re travelling.

Fairfax & Favour. I got a lovely navy one with a detachable fur collar recently. I find a lot of hikers can be shapeless but this has hit a lovely nipped in waist.

Noooooo, mine are out about 10 months of the year! Through winter they go under my coat. Vest top, shirt, gilet, coat.

A gilet is the most essential thing you can buy right now IMO (took me years to realise this). I now have a lightly padded traditional one from an outdoorsy shop and a wool blend M&S one.

Both look nice on their own, but I also love that they can be worn under coats that are normally too lightweight for the really cold months, so they’ve now doubled my choice of outerwear too.

Uniqlo here too, good in Spring and Autumn and then under coat if needed in Winter.

I also bought one for DH to wear wfh because his study is cold! He was sceptical of the no arms thing but couldn't believe the difference having a warm core made (and his arms free for typing).

Nobody needs a gilet.......unless you suffer with some obscure disease that causes extremely hot arms🤔😂

Gilets are purely decorative as far as I'm concerned. Buy something with arms if it's insulation you're after. Take tops you can tuck into whatever you're wearing on your bottom half and actually tuck them in to avoid the unwanted trickle ventilation cooling that happens even if an untucked top is long enough to cover your waistband.

I have half a dozen in different colours and wear them a lot. Layered over thin jumpers and under big coats or just over a thick jumper. Think most are from Primark, not very thick but do the trick (couple from New Look?).

They are great for horse riding and stable care where you want your body warm but your arms free.

I also wear vest style ones over a long sleeve top in winter and under a coat or jacket.

I was going to say this. They are brilliant. They are very warm and roll up into a small bag when not needed.