7Mesh Revelation Jacket

The 7mesh Revelation Jacket is an exceptionally good cycle-specific jacket made from superb Gore-Tex Pro fabric but – wow – it's expensive.

This is the first product from Canada-based 7mesh, although the guys behind the brand have been in the outdoor clothing industry for years. The Revelation comes with a little 'Launch Edition' crest on the right sleeve.

Speaking of firsts, the Revelation is the first cycling jacket made from Gore-Tex Pro three-layer fabric (many are made from other Gore-Tex fabrics) which is waterproof, windproof and surprisingly breathable. This really is a high-end material – Gore's best. It's tough too. This jacket thinks nothing of getting scrunched up in a rear pocket with a bunch of other ride essentials and it'll brush off the odd scrape without any trouble.

You know how some waterproofs can feel fine until you get on the bike, and then they feel tight around the shoulders and you get acres of spare fabric bunching up at the front? This one isn't like that. The cut is designed especially for cycling so it's slim to avoid flapping and it sits right without any restriction when you're bent forward with your arms reaching out to the handlebars. If anything, I found the chest just a little tight when off the bike, but it was really comfortable as soon as I got into the saddle.

Obviously, the fit will be affected by what you're wearing underneath. I've worn this over a long sleeve base layer and a thick windproof jersey lately and I've found it perfectly comfortable while riding.

The rear of the Revelation is cut longer than the front but not by loads (about 5.5cm on our medium sample when laid out flat). That meant that I didn't get as much butt coverage as you get with some cycling jackets to protect from road spray although, on the plus side, you can wear it off the bike without looking too freaky. Zipped side pockets are handy off the bike too.

I found the arms plenty long enough to keep my wrists covered when reaching out to the bars – hurrah! some brands still get that wrong. The neck sits high and close to stop the weather from getting in there. The inside of the collar is brushed so it's comfortable next to your skin and a little fold-over chinguard stops the zip from scratching.

The Revelation keeps water out superbly. I've ridden in the rain lots lately and it has kept my upper half dry throughout. Gore-Tex Pro really is an excellent fabric and 7mesh have used it really well with super-neat seam taping throughout. Several washes down the line and the 8mm micro tape is showing no signs of lifting or bubbling. I'd be massively surprised if it started leaking any time soon.

To let out sweat and hot air you get a full-length front zip, 30cm side vents with water resistant zips (you can open them from either the top or the bottom, and you can use them to access your jersey pockets too), and 11cm vents on the forearms, again using water resistant zips. You also get hook and loop adjustable wrists and a one-hand adjustable drawcord around the waist.

All of that, combined with the breathability of the fabric, means you can let lots of moist air escape. I've been using the Revelation over the winter so I can't comment on the performance in hot weather, but I've managed to stay reasonably sweat-free inside when I've put it on with all of the vents open. The arm zips in particular are very effective at keeping you cool and overall it's one of the most impressive waterproofs I've ever used in terms of its ability to let humid air out – perhaps the best.

One unusual feature for a cycle-specific waterproof is the removable hood. It's cleverly engineered using very little fabric so that you can wear it underneath a helmet without much of an effect on fit. It works well but I'm not a big hood wearer so I put it to one side most of the time.

At 282g, the Revelation is light for a jacket that provides this level of protection and features so many zips (there are seven). You can roll it up and slot it into a jersey pocket easily enough.

The only sticking point is the price. Gore-Tex Pro is expensive stuff. All Gore-Tex Pro jackets that we know of are at least £240 and, as I mentioned, this is the only cycle-specific one available so far. The bottom line is that this is a great jacket but it's going to cost you. Lots.

Verdict

Exceptionally good cycle-specific waterproof with superb breathability, but it's going to cost you lots