GOREWEAR

C5 GORE-TEX Shakedry 1985 Jacket - Men's

One of the greatest revolutions in cycling clothing was the release of Gore Bike Wear's Giro jacket, over 30 years ago. It completely changed our perception of cold and wet weather cycling gear. Soon, days spent blocking out the rain with unbreathable rain capes having us almost as soaked underneath from sweat were gone. In the years since other clothing companies have upped their game in an attempt to provide garments that offered protection and comfort mimicking that of Gore making our rides more palatable. Gore hasn't rested on their laurels and has continually refined their interpretation of the best-wet weather jacket, enter the C5 Gore-Tex Shakedry 1985 Jacket. Here is a piece of kit that works so well, you might even begin to look forward to inclement weather so you can break it out.

Gore crafts this jacket out of the lightest weight and most breathable material available known as Shakedry fabric technology. With most weather-proof fabrics, the face fabric material is porous, for breathability, with a weather-blocking inner membrane encapsulated between an inner liner and DWR-treated outer fabric. This design has worked quite well but it isn't the lightest weight or least bulky option. Plus, as the DWR treatment eventually wears off, the outer layer begins to soak up water leaving you soggy and hampering breathability.

Shakedry, on the other hand, is a super lightweight, paper thin, single-layer fabric that breathes extremely well and wards off both wind and rain. The Shakedry name is aptly noted since you can literally shake it dry. So if you are seeking cover at a country store after the heavens have already opened up or have been steadily climbing 3000-feet into the heavens and the fog has been sitting low and heavy, a quick shake removes water beads from the surface and with it, the potential of chill from cold droplets of precipitation.

Shakedry's lightweight feel and the material itself doesn't feel that far removed from a paper-like material. Gore does recommend that this jacket's reserved for road use applications only. It is plenty robust enough for road use but abrasion from hydration packs, sharp branches, and the increased likelihood of crashing while riding off-road damaging the material might prove to be perhaps the only Achilles' heel we could find with this jacket.

Available in Storm Blue and Black, the Shakedry creates a powerful silhouette that looks both purposeful and highly technical. Good looks are indeed criteria that we deem important in our riding gear and part of our decision making, but what really gets us excited is when a product exceeds our expectations on how well it does its job. Gore claims that it is guaranteed to keep you dry which gives us the confidence to forge ahead under ominous clouds rather than speed home with our tail between our legs if the horizon doesn't look favorable.

We can't stress just how awesome the single-layer construction is on the Shakedry jacket. It's light and also makes it exceptionally packable, easily fitting into a jersey pocket. A traditional three-layer membrane jersey or jacket is bulky enough that we'll often roll the dice and forgo bringing one in hopes that the weatherman is wrong. The Shakedry is so light and easy to carry, there is no excuse for not taking it with you if it's looking questionable. The jacket's zippered front stow pocket also doubles as a carrying pouch, so you can tuck it away without the worries of an errant sleeve wrapping itself into your rear wheel.

The GTX Shakedry Jacket's fit is classic Gore, with a slim cut that doesn't leave much excess material to flap in the wind hindering your forward progress. The fit allows for excellent coverage while on the bike and doesn't limit your range of motion in any way. Gore sweats every detail so you don't have to and even goes so far as to craft a fully customizable collar that lets you dial in the perfect balance of protection and comfort.

One last piece of tech that solidifies Gore's reputation as the wet weather clothing maestros is the two-way front zipper that allows quick access to jersey pockets without having to fully unzip or take the jacket off. Unzipping from the bottom while the top stays secure also allows for excellent ventilation while keeping your shoulders, chest, and back free from rainfall.