Gore C7 Women Gore-Tex Shakedry Viz Jacket

Light, packable, windproof, completely waterproof and with superb breathability, Gore's C7 Women's Gore-Tex Shakedry Viz jacket works brilliantly on the bike, whether it's raining or not. It's not cheap, but with such impressive performance it really will earn its keep.

• Pros: Waterproof, breathable, superlight, windproof
• Cons: Expensive (but worth it), not stretchy

We've reviewed various jackets made with Gore's wonder fabric (incuding the men's Shakedry Viz), and it really is in a class of its own. The jackets are expensive, but if you consider that they can act as both a waterproof and a windproof, packable but protective enough for the wettest days, and light enough to take the place of an emergency showerproof in your pocket, it's all manner of garments in one.

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David Arthur has said it's the one piece of cycling kit he couldn't ride without, and I'd agree. On cool, dry days its windproofing keeps you warm, and if the sun comes out you won't overheat and get sweaty. It's thin, not insulated, but wear the right layers underneath and you'll be fine. The fabric has a pleasant feel against the skin, too, a kind of smooth, warm silkiness.

If the temperature rises, it's small and light enough that you can take it off, roll it into its rear pocket and stuff it in a jersey pocket. And if (when) the heavens open, on it goes and out stays the rain.

Last year, I tested the more relaxed-fit C5 Shakedry jacket, and you get the same superb performance here but with some improvements. I really liked the slightly more relaxed cut of the C5 ('form' fit in Gore parlance, as opposed to C7/slim and C3/active), but now I've tried the C7, that's where my money'd go.

Although I had given the C5 what I'd thought was a thorough testing, it wasn't until I was wearing it in a mid-sportive monsoon that I discovered some shortcomings in the design. I hadn't fully considered how the length (not very long), combined with no gripper at the hem and overfull jersey pockets would leave you under-covered at the rear in torrential rain.

The C7 cut provides much better protection. It's longer (once you get the right size) and though it doesn't have gripper, the hem has some elastication to keep it wrapped around full jersey pockets and to stop rain/spray getting up underneath.

A note on sizing: Gore suggests sizing up if you fall between two. Slim fit garments have 'a tighter fit that hugs close to the body...If unsure you may want to take a larger size of these products than you would usually buy.' After consulting the chart (I'm an L in the hips, an XL in the chest, and we won't talk about the waist…), I sized up to an XL (in the pics I'm modelling a medium; below is a pic of me in the XL). It's comfortably roomy, and I suspect I could have got away with a large, so I'd just say stick to your usual size.

That said, there is no stretch in the fabric, so if you do like to carry lots in your jersey pockets it's something to bear in mind. I also prefer a slightly relaxed fit to skintight aero. (Roll on the Stretch version for women...)

As with the C5, the fit works better on the bike than off – it's quite tight across the chest until you're leant forward in a riding position, and the sleeves are pretty long but just about perfect when you're stretched forward, with a simple elasticated section to hold the cuffs around gloves/wrists.

The orange 'Viz' sections on the sleeves are as waterproof as the rest of the jacket, though they don't 'shake dry' as quickly. They do resemble big gauntlets somewhat, but I like the idea of being seen by other road users and they are pretty bright.

The logos at the rear are reflective, too, and the main blue fabric is an improvement on the dull brown of the C5, which Gore describes as black. There's also 'lava grey' in this C7 fit, along with black/fluoro.

The single rear zipped pocket will take an iPhone 6 with a bit of room to spare, though the zip isn't the easiest to move up and down. There's also a strap for wrapping round the jacket once it's bundled inside.

Although you can't really argue that £239.99 for a light, packable cycling jacket is a bargain, the Gore is worth the money for its performance. You can pay a lot less to keep dry – Sportful's Hot Pack NoRain Jacket is £130 and does a great job of keeping out rain but isn't as breathable; dhb's Aeron Lab Ultralight Waterproof is £150, currently reduced to £120 (Stu tested the men's version last year), and Lusso's Aqua Repel V2 is £134.99. But for top notch waterproofing and breathability, for riding whatever the weather, the Gore Shakedry Viz is nigh-on faultless.

> Buyer's Guide: 10 of the best packable jackets

The only limitation continues to be its potential fragility: don't wear this jacket it if you're carrying a backpack, and be aware of what's poking out of your jersey pockets that it might rub against.

Verdict

Superb performance, whether as a windproof or rainproof, and tucks away easily in a pocket when not required