Gore C7 Gore-Tex ShakeDry Stretch Jacket

The Gore C7 Gore-Tex ShakeDry Stretch Jacket provides total rain protection with incredible breathability. The stretch panels help to give a perfect fit that lasts through machine washing and tumble drying.

• Pros: Total waterproofing combined with excellent breathability and a great fit
• Cons: Price

This jacket is packed with tech features. The Gore ShakeDry fabric that made the last iteration so good is still present, and it works really well in heavy rain. Put simply, nothing gets through.

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Added to this latest edition, which we first looked at in May, is Gore's new Stretch technology. It was developed with the military for use with body armour and is also windproof and completely waterproof.

These Stretch panels require extra stitching but these have all been taped internally. This stops any water ingress, but also gives a very clean look. The taped seam joints have an additional piece of tape for extra durability. 

There's a rear pocket accessed via a zipper with an overhang of Gore-Tex material. It's the only non-taped bit of the jacket, but I've noticed no water ingress. The pocket is large enough for a couple of bars and a gel and it's a better place to store food when you know it's going to be raining all ride, as you don't need to pull the hem up to access food.

I've been wearing the jacket since May, and I've had plenty of unpleasant weather to test it in. In fact, my first ride in this jacket, at the Wiggle Ups & Downs Sportive, gave the perfect conditions for testing. It was 8°C, damp and windy, and the rain and road spray mix quickly covered the jacket. With a decent pace to our ride, this is where I usually find myself boiling in my rain jacket bag. The absence of that damp feeling was very welcome.

Back on home roads, I headed out for some chaingang rides that take in a few Mendip hills. The jacket continued to perform perfectly, even when climbing.

> Buyer's Guide: 20 of the best waterproof cycling jackets

After a more prolonged break than I'd anticipated, with not a cloud in the sky, more recently we've had wet weather along with relatively warm temperatures of 17-20°C. The only time that I felt too warm was when I mistakenly wore a winter jacket underneath: at 17°C with high humidity, this caused a lot of sweat buildup so I went for the jacket only on the next ride and the problem was solved. With just a breathable jersey underneath, I was dry and comfortable, showing that the C7 will breathe really well, if you let it...

The fit is designed to be close, with the stretch panels allowing total freedom of movement. I'd usually take a small for the closest fit, but I've found this medium a great option for layering underneath the jacket. If you're intending to wear this in cooler conditions, probably over a few layers, it's a sensible option for most of us to go for a larger size. If you're going for the racer's aero fit, go for your normal jersey size.

The sleeves are well proportioned with good length. At the start of the test period I used these with my Shimano winter gloves with no issues around the cuffs.

The collar is also nicely cut with good height. The fit here is close but doesn't irritate, and there is space underneath for a jacket or jersey that also has a high collar.

The hem is cut higher at the front with a tail that is long enough. On the bike, it's the perfect fit and everything is held nicely in place by the gripper section. One of the main reasons the Stretch fabric was added was to aid the fit over full pockets, and they work as planned. You can still pull the jacket up to access your jersey pockets, although as with other jackets, I find the two-handed method works best.

While the ShakeDry feature lets you remove excess water (by shaking, as it happens), washing is needed for bacteria and mud residue. When I saw the washing instructions I must say I was concerned: wash at 40°C and tumble dry. Reading this, I was convinced the jacket would disintegrate, or at least lose its shape. My concerns are unfounded; the jacket is still performing perfectly, making it one of the easiest bits of kit to care for that I've come across.

This jacket is pretty much perfect; the only thing it is currently lacking is strength in the fabric at the shoulders for carrying a backpack, but commuters fear not, Gore hasn't forgotten you and is working hard on a version that will work with a rucksack. It will then, surely, be the ultimate all-round jacket.

If you're considering this jacket then the price is probably the only drawback. Even at £275, this is still cheaper than the Assos rS.sturmPrinz EVO jacket. It's not an unjustifiable price but that doesn't change the fact that you're paying a premium. Thankfully, the performance is also premium so at least you get what you pay for.

> Essential wet weather cycle clothing and gear

This jacket represents a solid investment for UK conditions. You can race in it, and warmer weather isn't a problem. When worn in the heaviest rain, it didn't flinch and has kept me perfectly dry. If you regularly ride through poor weather, this is well worth the money.

Verdict

Great fit from a totally waterproof jacket that breathes brilliantly – worth the cash