I’ll be straight up, the first thing that surprised me about the Shot SRG Air Vest was the weight. Or lack of it. You pick it up and think, “oh yeah, that’s light”, then you put it on and realise it’s actually lighter than you expect again. That’s probably the biggest initial win for it, because anything you wear all day on a bike needs to disappear as much as possible.
Putting it on is easier than you’d think too. It’s a slip-over-the-head setup, so once it’s on, it’s on, you can’t take it off without pulling your helmet off first. That’s not a drama, just something you need to know.
In terms of bulk, if you run it on its own, it’s great. It doesn’t feel bulky, restrictive, or awkward. Where you do notice it is if you add a hydration pack. Once you stack a backpack on top, it definitely starts to feel more noticeable around the shoulders.
Heat is the big talking point, and I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It gets hot. The heat really builds right down the centre of your back, below the neck and along the spine. The mesh on the sides is excellent, honestly, no complaints there, but that central spine area gets hot. And that’s where all the tech and plastic sit, so there’s nowhere for the heat to go. I have only tested it in conditions over 35 degrees though so I expected this.
I’ve worn this vest for roughly 4000km, including a 2900km trip right through the middle of summer. We’re talking proper heat, 42 degrees out west. And weirdly, it wasn’t much worse than just wearing a jacket. You’re hot either way. The vest doesn’t magically cool you, but it doesn’t make it unbearable either. You just accept that you’re sweating.
Comfort-wise, aside from the backpack issue, it’s actually very good. What impressed me most is how well it fits different body types. We’ve had it on me, my brother Turtle, who’s a big unit with a massive back, and smaller guys like Mille Mendhem who are built like jockeys. The mesh stretches and adapts really well. It doesn’t dig into your stomach, doesn’t sit awkwardly when you sit down, and it doesn’t ride up or choke you. You forget about it once you’re riding, which is what you want.
There are some downsides you need to know about though. The subscription cost is one. It’s just part of owning this kind of tech, but it’s there. Another one is the on/off button placement, it’s right between your shoulder blades. That means if you forget to turn it on, you’re taking your helmet off and pulling the whole vest off again. Unless you’ve got someone with you, there’s no quick fix.
Sizes: XS–2XL (size up for best fit)
RRP: $799.90 + subscription
WEBSITE: www.linkint.com.au
