People who ride whatever the weather must be aware of the joy of anything made from Gore Windstopper softshell by now – even if it’s only by hearsay. Windproof and water resistant, it’s a regular in technical garments, but this is a first – a casual hoodie designed to be worn on and off the trail.
As we would expect from Gore that doesn’t mean details are skimped on – surprisingly for such a simple top, it includes abrasion resistant binding at hem and cuff, reflective trim, a zip port/flap and flatlocked seams.
Even though the cut is looser rather than ‘bike geek’ close, the rear hem still drops reassuringly lower than most – this hints at its real use, but doesn’t look so odd as to stop you wearing it with jeans. The raglan sleeve cut and generous sleeve length don’t restrict movement or comfort, either.
It’s not a cheap option, but you’re paying for a really excellent fabric and top quality construction. The fact it won’t leave you wanting on the bike but has wider application means you’ll wear and wear it. In fact, we’re still wearing it now!
This article was originally published in What Mountain Bike magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
