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Submitted by
Piers Newland
a weekend warrior
from West Yorkshire England
Date Reviewed: March 9, 1998 | | Bottom Line: |
This is prety much a copy of a letter that I sent to W L Gore about this jacket.
Don't waste your money on it.
I have been a frequent cyclist for 9 years. I ride to and from work every day. I ride off-road 3 or 4 times a
week. I ride throughout the year in all weather conditions and at night.
The jacket was bought for me as a birthday present in November 1996. I have been using it reluctantly ever
since. I admire its striking yellow and black colour scheme and the sizing is quite acceptable. It is also styled
pleasantly for off the bike walks about town.
However, as far as being a functional cycling jacket it fails miserably. If it had not been a present from my wife
it would have ended up in the bin. When she is not looking I use un- proofed pertex garments, including a
home made special, to protect me from the elements. I returned it to the shop where I bought it, they tested it
and pronounced it satisfactory as far as being water proof was concerned.
These are the failings of the jacket.
1. I become uncomfortably moist, or even soaked , when ever I wear it. This is regardless of the severity or
duration of my efforts, precipitation (or the lack of it), the ambient temperature, or ventilation of the jacket. I
wear appropriate base and mid layers that have been designed to work with breathable fabrics. I dress
appropriately for the ambient temperatures. I do not wear back packs which would impair the alleged
breathability of the jacket or interfere with the movement of air within it. In rain, particularly if it is heavy, the
situation becomes worse. This is a threat to my safety in exposed situations where pausing to eat or deal with
mechanical problems leaves me chilled as the moisture within the jacket cools. A better fabric is required.
2. The front zip some times jams with fabric when being undone. This is inconvenient off the bike but a real
annoyance whilst riding. The under arm ventilation zips always jam when being undone whilst riding. I am not
ham fisted , this is a design fault related to the gauge of fabric used around the zips and the zip fastener
selected. A stiffer fabric is needed in this area.
3. The waist draw cord is positioned too high on the torso. This allows cold air easy access to my stomach,
kidneys and lower back. It also works against effective ventilation of the chest area because the enclosed air
space is so limited. If the waist draw cord was 150 to 200 mm lower the situation would be improved and the
jacket would hang more comfortably.
The draw cord grippers are well positioned and well designed
4. Ventilation of the jacket for temperature control is not effective due to the positioning of the side vents on
the underside of the arms rather than along the sides of the torso. The under arm position allows cold air to
cool the blood in the arms, particularly in the brachial artery, and so chill the hands which need to be kept
warm. The positioning of the arms during cycling and walking also restricts the flow of air in to the chest
space. A more effective solution is to cool the torso which is the second main area of heat generation during
cycling. To do other manufacturers run zippered vents down the side of the garment from the arm pit. This
allows cooling air to circulate more effectively and does not cause localised chilling.
5. The front storm flap is difficult to close on the bike and it is also fairly ineffective. This is due to the
misguided use of press studs as fasteners. A continuous strip of Velcro would be much more effective as a
fastening medium and at keeping out draughts and rain. It is a method of closure that I have employed on my
home made special for the past 6 years, I do not even bother with the zip except in gales.
6. The under arm vent storm flaps are so over engineered that the effectiveness of the vents is severely
compromised. One flap over the zip would be sufficient in this relatively protected area.
7. The heavier weight fabric on the arms is a good idea but being black it makes hand signals all but
impossible to see in the dark.
8. The retro-reflective piping on the arms is incorrectly positioned if it is intended to highlight hand signals
either from the front or rear. This is a particularly serious oversight considering the colour of the rear of the
arms.
9. The partial elastication of the wrist cuffs is an ill-conceived feature. A simple Velcro closure is sufficient to
seal the sleeves against adverse weather. The elastic keeps the sleeve closed at all times and so prevents air
from passing up the sleeve and in to the chest space to ventilate the jacket and cool the rider.
10. The tail flap is well designed and the use of press studs in this area is better than Velcro.
11. The rear pockets are also well made although I do not use them.
12. The map pocket is reasonably well executed though the opening is rather too small for easy stowing of
English Ordinance Survey Landranger maps. | Overall Rating: |
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