Gore Bike Wear Power Windstopper Softshell Jersey

Weather, it's hard to predict. The Gore Power Windstopper Softshell Jersey, which is weather resistant and breathable, light and comfortable, is a versatile jersey that copes with a wide range of weather conditions with a great fit and attention to detail.

It's the ideal jersey for this time of year, the change of seasons, when it's too cold for a summer jersey but you don't want the bulk and warmth of a rain jacket, and want a top that can cope with a wide range of temperature fluctuations and weather variations.

The Gore Power Windstopper Softshell Jersey does all that, and extremely well. It's designed to protect you from changeable weather and keep you warm and dry in all but the heaviest downpours. There are now quite a few choices in this market of fitted and protective short sleeve jerseys, but Gore gets all the details right, and more, with its latest offering.

Buy Gore Bike Wear Power Windstopper Softshell Jersey

We've all been on rides when the weather just can't make up its mind. Rain. Sun. Wind. Hail. Rain again. Sun. Your ride mates are forever stopping to add and remove layers at the top of every hill, as indecisive as the weather, a desperate, and usually futile, attempt to find the right clothing setup for the current weather. Wearing the Gore Power Windstopper Softshell Jersey eliminates this problem, and works well in most of the weathers you're likely to deal with for much of the autumn, winter and spring.

Gore's own Windstopper fabric is excellent stuff. It's windproof and very water resistant. You can ride in a gale force wind and be cosy, get caught in short downpours and it'll keep you dry. What it's not is a waterproof jacket (for that you want Gore's latest One Active rain jacket) but it will at least keep you from getting completely soaked. And it dries quickly between showers which helps it cope with repeated cloudbursts.

It's a fitted jersey, clearly designed for performance cycling and racing, but the shape is excellent and it is snug without being tight, with just enough stretch in the fabric to allow it to move during more energetic moments. Gore has designed the jersey to be worn next to the skin, but I always wear a base layer and found it best with a lightweight base between the skin and jersey, to help pull sweat away from the skin.

I've been wearing the jersey for months, riding it on warmer late summer rides and early autumn damp mornings, and through it all it has provided a superb level of breathability that has kept significant sweat at bay. Breathability does depend to a small extent on the style and tempo of riding, your layering and whether you run holt or cold. I'm the latter so can get away with wearing it on warmer days, but it's still insulating enough when it's chilly. Durability has been good too; it's not a fragile top at all and has coped with cyclocross rides through very overgrown countryside.

The sleeves are longer than a regular short sleeve jersey, almost to the elbow, for more coverage, which does mean you can get away without armwarmers for a bit longer into the autumn. The tail is dropped and there are three regular rear pockets, the outer pockets angled for easier access. Gripper tape around the waist keeps the jersey in place and stop it riding up at the back when you're really hunched over the drops. The tall shaped collar adds extra neck protection and gives you that nicely wrapped up feeling, ideal when heading out on the morning commute.

You get a choice of black, black/yellow, blue or red and both have lots of reflective details, something Gore has always paid particular attention to. The red is a stylish top and provides good visibility on gloomy days. The top of the pockets and the front and rear waistband are trimmed with reflective tape and the vertical Windstopper logo affords a big boost in visibility.

I've been really impressed with this jersey. It's very well designed and the attention to details is second to none, besting even the popular Castelli Gabba in fit, style and, most importantly, performance. Versatile is a word that is bandied around far too often but this jersey really does adapt to a wide range of weather and temperature variations.

Providing the fit, comfort and weight of a jersey and the protection of a jacket, the Gore Power Windstopper Softshell Jersey is an excellent choice for autumn and winter weather, at home on the chaingang or daily commute. It's not cheap but for regular cyclists wanting to tackle bad weather, it's a good investment.

Verdict

Excellent breathable weather resistant jersey ideal for autumn and winter cycling