7Mesh is a small and relatively new high-end clothing company based in Squamish, British Columbia, on Canada's wet west coast. Almost all its key staff come from Arc'teryx, a techy outdoor clothing company — think the Assos of climbing, hiking and skiing — and as such bring a wealth of fabric-tech knowledge to the company's lines of road, mountain and crossover gear.
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Being relative outsiders to the cycling apparel world seems to have given the company freedom to design things differently. 7Mesh sent a sample of pieces to our Colorado offices and here are some initial thoughts on the clothing.
Corsa Softshell Jersey £170 / $225
Is this a jersey or a jacket? Well, it’s a little of both. Using Gore WindStopper material with four-way stretch, the Corsa feels like a stretchy jacket with a tight road cut — and a long drop tail.
There is a soft, brushed interior around the collar, but otherwise the Corsa feels like a slick jacket on the inside. It's fairly light — 264g in medium — and breathes decently for a water-deflecting piece. I've worn it on a few spirited group rides and didn't feel like I was boiling over.
The two giant pockets are a little confusing. For a winter jersey, large cargo makes sense as you might end up cramming a jacket, gloves or other bulky items in the pockets. But for a shell-like jersey, I'm not sure what bulky thing you'd be wearing over the top that you might want so much storage for. Also, the side-cut pockets billow when descending in a tuck.
G2 Jersey £85 / $140
The G2 captures the best of 7Mesh that I've seen thus far. First off, it's made with high-stretch wicking fabric that has no Lycra in it. Instead of using elastane/Lycra, 7Mesh uses textured fibers.
How many times have you heard or read the phrase "laterally stiff yet vertically compliant"? This is the opposite. The jersey is made to expand out with your body, but not sag vertically when you load the pockets.
The fabric-specific patterning is cut for the riding position; there are no seams over the shoulder for instance. Like most excellent fitted jerseys, it binds a tiny bit at the chest when standing up, then shifts perfectly into place when you climb on the bike.
There are five pockets with what 7Mesh calls pockets guards, little flaps that help keep the contents of your pockets in your pockets. As someone who recently had an iPhone jettison from a center pocket during a tucked descent, I really appreciate this feature! The same goes for the zippered side pockets that sit on top of the standard outer pockets.
The main zipper is not the YKK with the open/locked quality that many have. (Flip a YKK zipper up, and you can yank a jersey open by pulling on the material; flip it down and the zipper won't move in this way.) But there is a little pull tab so it's easy enough to grab it.
Strategy Jacket £180 / $250
This jacket features Gore WindStopper with gridded fleece over the chest, shoulders and stomach, then a thinner fleece elsewhere. It has a center standard pocket and two zippered, angled pockets.
The fit is a little baggy and could certainly work well on the mountain bike.
Highline Jersey £130 / $200
The Highline jersey is a super-light, race-fit jersey made with 78% nylon, 22% elastane.
The yarn is processed with DWR, which 7Mesh says both repels rain and also helps keep the jersey drier from sweat.
There are five pockets, extended sleeves with svelte hems and reflective elements on the race-cut jersey.
