Cycle clothing has gotten much better in the last couple of decades, and one company doing than most to make combatting bad weather more tolerable is Gore Bike Wear.
It pioneered the waterproof jacket and last year took it to a new level with the stunning One Active fabric. Instead of the typical three layers, this new fabric uses two layers and Gore has ditched the DWR treatment for a new permanent beading surface.
- Buyer’s guide: The best waterproof cycling jackets
This means the jacket is much lighter so it packs down very small, no bigger than an inner tube - it can fit in a jersey pocket with space to spare.
But the big benefit is that not only is it 100% waterproof and windproof, but it’s highly breathable. Breathability has long been the Achilles heel of all waterproof jackets, but this new fabric is the best yet. It’s possible to wear it for many hours without overheating or getting wet.
The new fabric first debuted last year and it has now expanded the range with the One 1985 GTX Shakedry jacket (£230) and the One Lady GTX Shakedry Bike Jacket (£220).
- Review: Gore Bike Wear One Active Bike Jacket
The former is a tribute to the year, 1985, that Gore-Tex created its first ever bike jacket called the Giro, while Shakedry refers to the ability to literally shake the jacket dry when it’s been rained on.
This jacket gets a few more features than the minimalist one I reviewed last year bit it’s still very light. It’s a close fit but not as race fit as the original, and there’s a 2-way front zipper so you can get extra ventilation when you need it. There’s a back pocket which doubles as a storage bag when the jacket isn’t been used. And there’s a healthy number of reflective logos and details to help you stand out at night.
The One Lady GTX Shakedry Bike Jacket is one of two women’s jackets using this new fabric (there’s a running jacket as well). It’s available in six sizes from XS to XXL and has a female-specific cut and shape, with a dropped tail and tall collar. There’s one rear zipped pocket.
Reviews coming soon. More info at www.goreapparel.co.uk/gore-bike-wear/
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4 comments
^ agree, but I understand that the colour (or lack of it) is due to the nature of the fabric; coloured versions should follow.
I can forgive that it'll cost an arm and a leg because it's cutting edge garment tech, and more of an indication of what can really be done, budget be damned.
I just wish Gore offered it in some other color better for visibility in the craptastic weather it will most likely be deployed in. It gets everything else right, but that unfortunate color choice feels like a conscious shooting of the foot into irrelevance.
Just my two cents
The colour is a limitation of the fabric technology, but they are working on colours because obviously they want to be able to offer it in red and yellow like the rest of the range. It does have large reflective logos which are more important than a bright colour for riding in the dark
Good to know, thanks! At least they're looking into it. Cheers.