Gore Lupra Jacket Women’s

The Gore Lupra women's jacket is excellent, a classic realisation of the company's design know-how, appreciation of functionality, and use of superior technical fabrics. Though it wouldn't make it into our selection of the best waterproof cycling jackets, or the best windproof cycling jackets, as a versatile outer you can use on the bike and off, it's near-perfect – off-roaders, gravel riders, bikepackers, tourers and commuters will all appreciate its protection, packability and subtle styling, though some might want another (brighter) colour option or more reflectives.

Coming from Gore's Trail collection, this jacket could quite easily have gone to the testers at our sister site off.road.cc. Luckily for me, it didn't. I guess 'trail' could be debated until the cows come home, so testing on a variety of terrains seems appropriate and, given I live in the UK, a variety of conditions get thrown in for free.

And in changeable weather, this jacket shines. Think autumn and spring when we can easily get four seasons in one day.

Strategically placed panels of Gore-Tex Infinium offer great protection against wind and rain without hugely compromising breathability. Intense uphill efforts might see you heating up and reaching for the easy-to-use zipper to get some ventilation if the ambient temperature is on the warm side, and in recent milder-than-average conditions I've occasionally resorted to taking the jacket off completely in between showers. But temperatures in the high teens aren't so average for November.

The lower back has a thinner panel to help prevent build-up of heat/moisture, and the shoulders, chest and head get extra waterproofing, along with taped seams in the hood and shoulder for further protection.

The Lupra protects very well from chilly winds and moderate showers. Prolonged, heavy rain will eventually penetrate the shell but I rarely found myself in this situation; this isn't a jacket for long training rides – the hood is the giveaway to that.

The hood is a super design with plenty of functional features. I'd say it's not so different from MAAP's unisex Roam Jacket's. There are bungee cords at either side to help anchor it, plus one at the rear to shorten it. Elasticated sides and a reinforced peak with a grippy silicone underside finish it off.

In my opinion, there could be a couple more centimetres' depth to it; it was at full stretch on some of the helmets I own and, given it's got a cord to adjust this depth, it's a shame not to have excess there. I've combined it with Cannondale's Junction helmet in the photo; if you have a bulky lid you might be left a touch short.

The hood's not detachable but you can at least use the adjusting bungees to minimise it when you aren't using it. I never had issues with it blowing down, and my vision was in no way inhibited – not easy to achieve with a hood that offers good coverage.

The fact that it adjusts means the Lupra doubles up well as an off-the-bike jacket (the hood can be made very small for a no-helmet fit), increasing its overall appeal if you aren't 'all about the bike'.

Fit & sizing

The material boasts four-way stretch, which improves comfort on and off the bike, and the elbows are shaped for a cycling position. Gore's sizing takes into account layers under the Lupra. I've been testing a small, and there's ample room for a baselayer and jersey without the jacket feeling in any way overstretched.

It's well proportioned, with plenty of sleeve length and a good drop at the rear. I genuinely wouldn't change a single thing in terms of fit around the shoulders, chest, torso or arms. Even if your proportions don't match the jackets perfectly, the fabric's stretch will ensure full freedom of movement on the bike.

The lower hem is adjustable via two bungees. Each cord stretches from the front zipper to the edge of the rear drop (rather than right around), allowing the drop to sit flush to your derrière and protect it well from spray.

Pockets

Gore has opted for just two front zipped pockets on the Lupra, another toning-down on the cycling theme and extra off-the-bike convenience.

They sit higher than on many jackets so are well out of the way if you decide to use a rucksack or Camelbak with waist straps. This might not be everyone's preference, but it's a nice feature and certainly doesn't make access any more awkward than with conventionally low pockets.

I can just get a cased 6.2-inch smartphone in one; anything larger wouldn't fit.

Other stuff...

If you're not one for riding round with a jacket flapping around when the rain stops and you need extra ventilation, it's good to know that the Lupra is a breeze to get off. The cuff design is simple and convenient; I've been able to pull it off over thin, full-fingered gloves, and it also sits comfortably over the cuffs of the the latter while you are wearing it.

The jacket weighs a mere 258g, impressive for the protection it offers, and packs down well. It's not rear-pocket packable, unless you have something like Cafe du Cycliste's Irma Audax Jersey, but stuffing it into bike-specific baggage is no problem.

My only gripe with the jacket from a commuting/touring perspective is the minimal reflective detailing. There are flashes on the sleeves, not so dissimilar to Rapha's arm bands, but not much more. With just a single bright colour on offer, this might put off those who like their kit to stand out. It comes in three colours: this 'Utility Green', yellow (‘Uniform Sand’), and black.

Value and conclusion

I'd say that the Lupra boasts the quality construction and functionality of any decent premium brand jacket, more so in some cases, so justifies its £179.99 price tag.

Pas Normal Studios offers a similar jacket for a tenner less, the Escapism Stow Away, but there's no Gore-Tex to be seen. And 7mesh's Skypilot Jacket, which Anna reviewed earlier in the year, is an eye-watering £300 and doesn't sound like it offers much more than the Lupra.

> Read more road.cc reviews of women’s cycling clothing

Overall, if you are looking for a versatile jacket to handle the changeable weather on a commute, a multi-day adventure, or simply out on the trails, the Lupra is brilliant. It may be a rather 'stripped-back' design but there are no compromises where quality and performance are concerned. It functional and versatile, so should serve you well across a multitude of disciplines and works well off the bike, too.

Verdict

Excellent jacket for a variety of riding – practical and well made – there's very little to fault here