Endura MT500 Spray Gilet review

The MT500 Spray Gilet lives in two of Endura’s families – the MT500 line is its higher-end MTB clothing range, while the Spray moniker signifies the type and style of construction – highly versatile items designed to be worn when some weather protection is required.

Endura pairs waterproof panels with stretchy, breathable fabrics to ensure the Spray Gilet works in a range of conditions.

As advertised, I found the MT500 Spray Gilet a versatile piece of clothing, which when paired with other gear, was useful in a wide range of riding conditions.

Endura MT500 Spray Gilet specification and performance

The shoulder and lower back panels of this mountain bike gilet are built from a fully waterproof fabric, ensuring that when it’s raining your torso stays relatively dry, and when you’re splashing through muck, your lower back is protected.

While full waterproofs aren’t always the most breathable, pairing them with main body panels constructed from a four-way stretch, DWR-coated, but ultimately not waterproof fabric, ensures the gilet doesn’t get sweaty, whether the conditions are wet or dry.

When you're putting in efforts, the laser-cut perforations on the back panel help warm air exit, while the two pockets on the front can be opened to offer additional ventilation.

The stretch fabric isn’t as thin as those found on some other cycling gilets, which adds a feeling of durability.

Those stretch panels help keep the gilet from billowing out, while the XS-XXL sizing range ensures there should be an item to fit most riders.

If you’re broader in the chest, though, I would recommend sizing up, because I found it a touch restrictive here, with my moderately broad build.

At the same time, the cut felt a little boxy in the area around the top of the shoulders.

It’s all in the detail

As we’ve come to expect from Endura, the MT500 Spray Gilet has a number of nice finishing touches.

The inside of the neck has a soft finish and pulls up high. The zip garage at the top ensures the chunky, grit-resistant zipper doesn’t catch on your neck.

At the back, the spray protection worked well, but I’d like an even longer lower hem to catch more spray. The elasticated hem does, at least, stay put relatively well.

The two hand pockets are well-placed. They’re easy to access and the pocket liner doesn’t drop items right down to the lower hem. This means heavier possessions such as phones are held away from your thighs, which is a bonus in my eyes.

While the pocket zips get string tags to help open them when you're wearing thicker winter gloves, the main zipper doesn’t. This feels like a slight oversight.

While I personally do all I can to avoid wearing a cycling backpack, those who do may appreciate the silicone grippers running over the shoulder.

Endura MT500 Spray Gilet bottom line

I’m a fan of garments that blend proper waterproof fabrics with stretchier, more breathable ones in the right place.

While this winter has been a wet one, it’s not often that I’m riding in non-stop rain. Therefore, versatile items such as this make a lot of sense.

The finish and features of this gilet are all good, though I’d like a couple of adjustments to the fit to make it work better for me.