7mesh’s range-topping Guardian Apex jacket is loaded with waterproof tech, but its performance is limited by the same issues any MTB jacket will encounter.
Testing shows that, no matter how much you spend, all waterproofs eventually suffer the same plight of no longer keeping the water out.
Unfortunately, despite the Guardian’s £500 price tag, its Gore-Tex ePE shell succumbs to many of the same problems as cheaper garments if not cared for.
As the DWR coating starts to degrade over time, the jacket wets out, which reduces the efficient release of perspiration vapour from the inside. This causes the interior to become as wet as the exterior, even if the jacket’s membrane isn’t leaking.
Regular care – such as washing and re-proofing – helps maintain elements of its performance, but doing so doesn’t unlock extra functionality. If you’re sweating and the jacket is soaking wet or covered in mud, it still won’t breathe.
While 7mesh is still a cycling brand, the Guardian Apex is clearly aimed at more than just mountain biking. Its fit and features make it a good generalist option.
In the MTB world, however, some may struggle to justify the cost when balanced with the potential for ripping, tearing, damaging or degrading something so expensive.
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7mesh Guardian Apex jacket specifications
Made from Gore-Tex’s latest ePE shell – which stands for expanded polyethylene – the Guardian is PFAS- and PFC-free.
Along with removing these harmful forever chemicals from the jacket’s make-up, Gore-Tex claims the ePE membrane’s lighter and thinner construction reduces its carbon footprint; less material is required for the same functionality.
It’s also claimed to be durably waterproof, helping reduce waste by lasting a long time.
The rest of the jacket’s materials are Bluesign and Oeko-Tex 100 certified, and contain ‘recycled material’, according to 7mesh.
Unsurprisingly, the jacket itself is full of features.
It’s claimed to have 360 degrees of articulation to help keep your range of movement unrestricted.
The hood’s pull-cord system has a criss-cross pattern, giving plenty of adjustment, so it can be worn over a helmet. It can also be folded down and stowed at the rear of the jacket, extending collar coverage.
Two external zipped pockets – one per side – give plenty of storage. Plus, there’s an internal pocket that doubles up as a storage bag with elastic loops to attach it to your bike.
The generously sized cuffs have adjustable hook-and-loop tabs that should make adjustment easy.
There are two forward-facing under-arm zipped vents to help expel heat and take in cool air. It’s got an adjustable lower hem thanks to a pull cord and a two-way front zip.
My medium test jacket weighed 310g, which is relatively light for such a feature-rich, packable waterproof.
7mesh Guardian Apex jacket performance
After getting my hands on the Guardian jacket in spring, I tested it through some of the wettest autumn and winter conditions I’ve ever experienced.
7mesh Guardian Apex jacket fit and feel
The Guardian Apex has a generous fit, sizing up larger than models from other brands. The size-medium jacket feels closer to a large, giving plenty of space for layering and articulation.
That’s great news for people who are going to use this as a multi-sport jacket, but if you’re only riding in it, the larger, flappier material isn’t ideal. Mountain bikers will potentially want to go down one size.
This brings its own problems. As a 178cm tall and 79kg man, I need a size-small to get a snug fit, and with only an extra-small left at the bottom of the size range, some smaller people may struggle to get the Guardian Apex to fit as well as they'd like.
The arm length is generous – even as someone with longer-than average arms – which means cuff-glove overlap, and that crucial waterproof seal, is maintained even when you’re in the riding position.
Likewise, the front and rear hems are a good length to provide coverage whether you’re standing and walking or hunched forwards in the riding position.
The hood has plenty of space to fit over a helmet, while allowing for neck articulation.
Without a helmet on, rather than cinching the draw cords – which I found hard to ‘undo’ once they were pulled tight – to stop it from sagging over my eyes, I simply folded the peak back on itself.
This gave the hood the best chance of not covering my eyes, although it looks a little odd.
7mesh Guardian Apex jacket breathability and waterproofing
During the test period, the Guardian Apex proved to be totally waterproof in torrential Scottish rain, even once its exterior had wetted out.
That’s riding in consistently pouring conditions for two to three hours, on an ebike, taking care not to get sweaty. Provided you aren’t doing a sweaty activity, the Guardian Apex’s performance is commendable.
However, introduce perspiration and heat caused by exercise and the interior of the jacket quickly gets as wet as the outside. This is an inherent problem with all waterproofs; if the outside is wet, moisture from the inside cannot ‘escape’, and it’s no different with this jacket.
Reduce your effort and things balance out, with moisture able to escape at a reasonable rate.
The pit zips help, although they’re not the biggest, and the two-way zip can be opened for more airflow without impacting the coat’s protection.
Once the inside of the jacket has got sweaty or wet when wearing short sleeves, its interior feels clammy and cold, like other hardshells. My advice – wear a thin long-sleeve baselayer if this is something you dislike.
7mesh Guardian Apex jacket durability and longevity
The DWR coating proved to be fairly robust, but after several weeks of consistent use, the beading became patchier across the shoulders, chest and arms.
While performance didn’t appear to be reduced, caring for your jacket to keep it at its best is essential. That means washing it with the correct detergent and re-proofing it to keep the DWR beading up surface water.
In terms of rips or damage, I didn’t suffer any mishaps with the jacket.
7mesh Guardian Apex jacket other features
The jacket packs down nicely into its own inner pocket, making for a small and compact parcel to carry. The attachment straps make it easy to attach to your bike’s frame or bar, but the jacket’s inside pocket interior (which is the exterior of the bag) gets even more covered in mud when stowed like this.
On my test sample, the zipper’s opening tore as I was stuffing the jacket through it. 7mesh has assured me the production version of the jacket has been reinforced to prevent this happening.
Its pockets are generous. They’re big enough for a spare pair of gloves and some MTB glasses, but not so large that spare goggles fit in them comfortably without deforming the jacket.
There are no internal dividers to keep items stowed away from one another, likely in a bid to keep weight down.
7mesh Guardian Apex jacket bottom line
The Guardian Apex is a luxuriously priced jacket that prioritises packability, light weight and a multi-sport fit. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing – spending all that cash means you’re going to want to use it as much as you can.
Despite the cost and Gore-Tex’s latest ePE material, it still falls foul of the same issues as all waterproofs; once the outside is wet and you’re sweaty, moisture struggles to escape and you get wet.
Add in the cost – and fear of doing damage when you’re on your bike – and I think many are going to struggle to justify buying the Guardian Apex when there’s very little extra performance over a jacket that’s half or even a quarter of the price.
This is a true heart-over-head purchase.
