Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Stolen Goat Orkaan Race Tech Jersey

9
£108.00

VERDICT:

9
10
Out-Gabbas the Castelli Gabba: more aero, more comfortable and more water-resistant—really impressive
Weight: 
244g
Contact: 

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

What the road.cc scores mean

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

  • Exceptional
  • Excellent
  • Very Good
  • Good
  • Quite good
  • Average
  • Not so good
  • Poor
  • Bad
  • Appalling

Everyone and their mother is making weatherproof jerseys nowadays. It really wasn't that long ago that rain resistance was an unheard-of quantity for a jersey. In 2015 you're spoilt for choice, provided that you've got some money to spend, that is. Castelli started the ball rolling, well, it was more of a marketing juggernaut, with their wildly successful Gabba, and over the last few years it's been joined by offerings from Cafe du Cycliste, Giordana, Gore, Craft, Vermarc, Sportful and now British brand Stolen Goat with the Orkaan Race Tech jersey. And this one's a cracker.

It's hard to write a review like this without using the Gabba as a reference point, so let's do that. I'm of the opinion that the Gabba's water-resistance has sometimes been overstated. This type of jersey is absolutely not a replacement for a "proper waterproof" if you're riding at a steady pace in heavy rain. But where the Gabba really excels is the aerodynamics - it was designed for Garmin-Cervélo racers, after all. Racers' overriding priority is to go fast. If they can keep fairly dry as well it's a bonus, but the reason why they moved from lightweight waterproof jackets to this sort of top isn't because it kept them drier.

Designed with a fairly uncompromising eye on aerodynamics, the Orkaan Race Tech jersey is about the most skin-tight jersey I've tested since the Aero Race. The sizing guide on Stolen Goat's website is accurate, provided you want to cheat the wind, and there's a decent range of sizes for chests between 34in and 47in. It's not really a jersey that you'd wear down the pub after that damp 10 mile TT, but you might have figured that out already.

I'm relatively tall and skinny and the medium was a close but comfortable fit, without any loose fabric at all. (Mat in the pictures is a similar height and weight to me.) The sleeves are fashionably long, down to the crook of the elbow, and have raw-cut seamless ends like those that we liked so much in their summer jerseys. The torso is longer at the back as you'd expect, and at the front it rises slightly to the bottom of the zip.

Stolen Goat are keeping quiet about exactly what fabric is used in the Orkaan jersey, but it's pretty impressive stuff. Stretchy enough to allow for the skin-tight fit, yet still offering better protection from the rain than most of the other similar water-resistant fabrics I've tried. In my tests, I found it lets in less water than the Gabba, Castelli Nanoflex and Giordana G-Shield fabrics. Like those competitors, the seams are the area most susceptible to moisture ingress, and a little bit of water does get in here, but it's really not much.

One Saturday I waited until the forecast rain arrived - a strange inversion of the norm - before heading out for a relatively quick two hour blast wearing this jersey over a base layer. The rain was my constant companion and the main roads of my route made for no shortage of road spray too. On returning home, my torso was basically still dry. A careful inspection of the base layer showed some moisture around the shoulders where the seams of the jersey sit, and a little behind the zip, but that's about it.

Stolen Goat use the same fabric in their matching skull-cap, and head honcho Tim has made a video showing how the fabric copes with water. It's pretty impressive. I tried the same thing to check that they hadn't cheated with Neverwet spray and got the same results - you can pool water on the fabric for quite a while and it just runs off leaving the surface dry. Interestingly, if you wear it under a relatively powerful shower, the water gets through almost instantly; the extra pressure is enough to overcome the hydrophobic surface. I'd assume, therefore, that under a monsoon-style downpour you'd see the same thing. Happily, unless you live a lot closer to the equator than I do, rain generally doesn't approach the pressure of a power shower.

A close inspection of the fabric shows it's really quite different stuff to the Gore Windstopper X-Lite Plus used in the Gabba. For one thing it's fleecy on the inside, unlike a Gabba, so it feels significantly nicer against the skin if you're riding without a base layer. If you're riding in persistent enough rain to overcome the Gabba's defences, I find it can be a bit clammy (at least without a good base layer), unlike this jersey.

This fabric is really stretchy, around twice as stretchy as Gore Windstopper X-Lite Plus. It's also much more breathable. It's not a total wind-blocker but the protection is nevertheless pretty good, surprisingly so given how breathable it is. Stolen Goat reckon that you can use this between 5 and 18 degrees, which is probably about right (provided that you've got appropriate base layers and arm warmers for the colder end of that range). We've not had 18 degrees during the test period, but it's seen plenty of use for high-intensity riding like chaingangs when the temperature is down in single figures. If you're more of a potterer, it's probably not the jersey for you, and in any case you'll want more layers to stay warm.

The standard three rear pockets are made from the clever reflective material used on the Climb and Conquer jacket, meaning that night-time visibility to cars is excellent, at least from the rear. Styling is simple but nicely executed - a pair of red stripes front and rear adding some contrast. There's a version with green stripes available too. Branding is kept to a minimum, with just a small logo on the right hand pocket.

Standards of construction are good - there's a mixture of flatlock and regular seams which are mostly tidy, although I had to trim a few loose threads. There's no silicone gripper strip around the waist, but it fits so snugly that this isn't really needed. The zip is a good quality YKK cam-lock one, although without the windflap which helps keep out drafts and drips on a Gabba. The Gabba's excellent stashable bum flap is another detail I missed, not least as racers don't generally use mudguards.

As I mentioned at the top, weatherproof jerseys are still fairly expensive, typically £100-£150 for a short-sleeve. The Orkaan is towards the lower end of this price range, which is good news as I think it's one of the best performance options available.

Verdict

Out-Gabbas the Castelli Gabba: more aero, more comfortable and more water-resistant—really impressive

If you're thinking of buying this product using a cashback deal why not use the road.cc Top Cashback page and get some top cashback while helping to support your favourite independent cycling website

road.cc test report

Make and model: stolen goat Orkaan Race Tech Weatherproof SS Jersey

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Revolution is a word that is somewhat overused. But in terms of high tech cycling garments – this aero short sleeve, water repellent, wind proof, reflective, breathable jersey is a genuine candidate.

The stolen goat Orkaan Race Tech ss cycling jersey is the solution for... weather! You want to ride or race quickly, efficiently, comfortably... with style – what you don't want is to worry about the rain, wind or overheating.

Designed for temperatures ranging between 5-18 degrees the jersey is constructed from a water repellent fabric that is also wind proof. A soft, thermal, brushed lining keeps you warm but the breathable nature of the fabric means you don't overheat. This is a genuine 3 season jersey, in the UK I may even wear mine in the summer on some days!

The rear pockets feature the Pixel 100 reflective fabric for extra visibility and safety even in low light conditions. The arms have a modern raw cut, aero finish. The fabric is supportive to optimise your performance further.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
10/10

Despite being stretchier than most competitors, the Orkaan somehow manages to keep you drier; deeply impressive. The fit is a racer's dream - it's designed for going fast.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

No issues during testing, and Stolen Goat say that the water-resistance comes from fibres woven into the fabric rather than a DWR treatment applied later, so it shouldn't wear off.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
9/10

Priced lower than most competitors (with Vermarc being the only exception I could find) yet out-performs the market-leader.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well indeed.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Aero fit, cosy brushed inner, and seriously impressive water-resistance.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Not much.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 36  Height: 190cm  Weight: 78kg

I usually ride: Boardman CX team for the daily commute  My best bike is: Rose Xeon CRS

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb,

 

Jez spends his days making robots that drive cars but is happiest when on two wheels.  His roots are in mountain biking but he spends more time nowadays on the road, occasionally racing but more often just riding. 

Add new comment

35 comments

Avatar
phil72 | 8 years ago
1 like

This is hands down my favourite top right now. I have it in blue, along with the matching arm warmers and skull cap.

I'm a 42 inch chest, and going by the description, went for a 2xl, which is a good snug fit, extremely comfortable, aero and warm. Admittedly, I've only ridden in showers, but nothing penetrates this fabric. I wore it today in 4 degrees, with a short sleeve merino base layer underneath, no problems. Pockets are great, nothing sags, plenty of space for phone, tools, tubes and food etc

I think the company name is spot on and personally, anyone not willing to put this shirt on their back because of the name is, quite frankly "up their own bottom", sorry.

I also own several items of Rapha clothing btw, I'm no snob. I tend to do all/most of my buying during the sales. As it happens, I paid top dollar for this top, worth every penny. So much so I'll be buying another very soon so I'm not washing gear every day. 

I'm not stuck on one brand, but based on my Stolen Goat experience, I'll be buying again, no doubt about that. The customer service is top drawer as well. I ordered one day it arrived the very next day, you can't get better than that.

Avatar
maldin | 8 years ago
0 likes

To anyone thinking of buying this... Firstly, a caveat - I haven't bought or used this jersey! I do however own the De Muur long sleeved jersey. Same material, slightly looser (ie. non-TT!) cut, and of course long sleeves. The material is freaky! For me in any case, it is extremely breathable - so much so that I am still struggling to find the right combination of baselayer(s)/under-jerseys to prevent wind chill. The upside of that though is that forward facing areas breath really really well. The back a little less so in comparison (less wind to carry sweat away) but nothing like you'd get inside a normal waterproof/resistant top. The water resistance on the other hand is excellent. Its barely comprehensible that something you can blow through can also keep you dry standing under a household shower (and its does - I've tested it!). To convince myself further, I took a piece of tissues, held it on the inside of a stretched section of the jersey and placed the outside a few cm directly under a running tap and held it there for a while - not even a drop of dampness from what I could see. I think this short sleeved jersey would be superb on any days when you'd be wearing a normal short sleeved jersey (if it wasn't raining). (My) Jury is still out as to whether the long sleeved version is quite up to what I need (in colder conditions). Caveat - I'm built like a climber so feel the cold at the best of times.  

Avatar
sithlord | 9 years ago
0 likes

Surely this all just Bio racer stuff on a white label?

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to sithlord | 9 years ago
0 likes
sithlord wrote:

Surely this all just Bio racer stuff on a white label?

No.

Avatar
peted76 | 9 years ago
0 likes

Goodness, there are some right misery guts on this thread !

For me the Jersey looks very nice but a little odd shaped (although to be fair it could be the tester?) - I'd personally be sold if it had a longer tail, it looks a little short and what's more annoying than a wet patch of spray on your lower back.

Avatar
spincycle | 9 years ago
0 likes

Why compare with the Gabba? The Gabba is designed to be worn OVER a jersey, they are close fitting but easily removable.
As great as the SG jersey might be for an hours wet crit or cross race, I don't think id fancy my chances of putting this on mid race nor would i like to ride or race for 6 hours in sleet and snow in just this especially as its not windproof and driven rain (say like riding fast down a mountain) will come through. So where is the comparison?
This is a jersey to be worn for short wet races the Gabba is effectively a close fitting soft-shell jersey for putting on and taking off mid race-for extra protection without the flapping of a rain cape. Its a shame your reviewer doesn't know his onions.

Avatar
dave atkinson replied to spincycle | 9 years ago
1 like
spincycle wrote:

Why compare with the Gabba? The Gabba is designed to be worn OVER a jersey, they are close fitting but easily removable.
As great as the SG jersey might be for an hours wet crit or cross race, I don't think id fancy my chances of putting this on mid race nor would i like to ride or race for 6 hours in sleet and snow in just this especially as its not windproof and driven rain (say like riding fast down a mountain) will come through. So where is the comparison?
This is a jersey to be worn for short wet races the Gabba is effectively a close fitting soft-shell jersey for putting on and taking off mid race-for extra protection without the flapping of a rain cape. Its a shame your reviewer doesn't know his onions.

not according to the castelli cafe website:

Quote:

The Gabba has a form fit and 3 rear pockets while you can get a thermal base layer on under the Gabba 2 you will struggle to squeeze much more in.

Quote:

if you ride in milder wet winter conditions especially shorter higher intensity rides the Gabba is perfect you wont need a shell and you will also get dry weather use from it on cool dry days.

http://www.castellicafe.co.uk/blog/stuff-about-castelli-on-ciao-scorpion...

Avatar
pauldmorgan replied to spincycle | 7 years ago
0 likes
spincycle wrote:

Why compare with the Gabba? The Gabba is designed to be worn OVER a jersey, they are close fitting but easily removable. As great as the SG jersey might be for an hours wet crit or cross race, I don't think id fancy my chances of putting this on mid race nor would i like to ride or race for 6 hours in sleet and snow in just this especially as its not windproof and driven rain (say like riding fast down a mountain) will come through. So where is the comparison? This is a jersey to be worn for short wet races the Gabba is effectively a close fitting soft-shell jersey for putting on and taking off mid race-for extra protection without the flapping of a rain cape. Its a shame your reviewer doesn't know his onions.

For sure that's how Pros wear it (saw that yesterday at the TdY) but they have team cars to drop them in when it warms up.

I personally don't find that the Gabba packs small enough for a jersey pocket to use in the way you suggest. For me it's a jersey I wear when I know there will be showers and it's not too warm. The new Perfetto looks really interesting - lighter weight for warmer but wet days.

Avatar
belgravedave | 9 years ago
0 likes

Really like the look of the jersey and love the colour but, please do one without the stripes (which seems at complete odds with the rest of the collection) and my money is yours.

Avatar
FatTed | 9 years ago
0 likes

Think the name is just fine, perhaps in a few years if the company prospers, Stolen Goat may evoke a certain a european style or a style of their own. Stolen Girlfriend seems to do OK

Avatar
Helidoc | 9 years ago
0 likes

That is a lot of fabric options! Whatever you choose to call them its either a type of DWR, or a PU membrane, or an ePTFE membrane, or the weave, or minority things like encapsulated fibres.

There is nothing to be lost by being open, and there isn't a unique commercial advantage if your fabric maker will sell to anyone. With some companies, it may be a case that if you knew what you were really buying, you might re-evaluate the value proposition

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to Helidoc | 9 years ago
0 likes
Helidoc wrote:

That is a lot of fabric options! Whatever you choose to call them its either a type of DWR, or a PU membrane, or an ePTFE membrane, or the weave, or minority things like encapsulated fibres.

There is nothing to be lost by being open, and there isn't a unique commercial advantage if your fabric maker will sell to anyone. With some companies, it may be a case that if you knew what you were really buying, you might re-evaluate the value proposition

Why don't you just ask ?

Avatar
Helidoc | 9 years ago
0 likes

I would like some transparency over the magic water defeating material it is made of.

With Gore, Castelli, Sporful etc, you know exactly what you are getting, Windstopper. Gore-Tex, Polartec Alpha etc, but with this you don't. Is it a coating? If it is will it survive several washes? If I buy it now will it work 6 months from now?

Stolen Goat aren't unique here, most of Rapha's outerwear is suitably coy about what it is, and I see Vulpine are suitably opaque with their new Gill jacket. Outdoor wear such as Montane and Rab are totally clear about what you are buying; I disapprove of newer cycle "apparel" makers with exclusive materials, or waterproof and highly breathable membranes that they won't name.

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to Helidoc | 9 years ago
0 likes
Helidoc wrote:

I would like some transparency over the magic water defeating material it is made of.

With Gore, Castelli, Sporful etc, you know exactly what you are getting, Windstopper. Gore-Tex, Polartec Alpha etc, but with this you don't. Is it a coating? If it is will it survive several washes? If I buy it now will it work 6 months from now?

Not sure, but if I had to guess i'd say probably one of these...

http://www.bioracer.co.uk/en/technology/technological-fabrics

You could always try asking Tim from Stolen Goat if he's willing to clarify - although clearly there may be commercial confidentially issues which prevent that.

Update : This may help a tad

http://stolengoat.com/changeable-weather-needs-adaptable-kit/

"This is no spray-on treatment that fades with washing. The textile has undergone a treatment during the weaving process in which special threads are woven in that create a physical barrier from water.

Because it is woven in, rather than a coating applied on top, these features are permanent, even after repeated use and washing."

Avatar
The _Kaner | 9 years ago
0 likes

Stolen Goat...sounds like a Kasabian reference to me....whether it is or not, I don't care..I'd still buy decent quality kit (...at a decent price), irrespective of any company name...

I mean there are even underpants from a company called BawBags....try asking for a pair a' Bawbags in any shop in Glasgow...just be prepared to run....

 24

Avatar
Alf0nse | 9 years ago
0 likes

"Goat" is great, far better than the faux francais approach, see "Chappeau" or "Etape". The logo is nice. Goats are hardy, goats climb mountains in all weathers.
"Stolen Goat" is a comedy tie, it's a "Plain Lazy" t-shirt, a "Weird Fish" jacket and an "old guys rule" hat.

Avatar
G-bitch | 9 years ago
0 likes

I like to think that it's inspired by the Clutch lyric 'in the wake of the swollen goat'.

Avatar
11teeth | 9 years ago
0 likes

Great clothes, terrible name, even worse logo. Shame.

Avatar
fukawitribe | 9 years ago
1 like

Personally I think the name is grand - proper silly and a bit of a laugh - and I look forward to trying some of their stuff. I also think Sportful and Pactimo are slightly naff names but I love their stuff, and between the two of them account for most of the kit I have. Hey ho, whatever floats your boat.

Avatar
Must be Mad | 9 years ago
1 like

Not quite sure the names Rapha, Assos or Vulpine evoke 'European style/heritage' on name alone. 'Cafe du cycliste' maybe... but even that sounds more like a beverage.

As a name 'Stolen Goat' sound a bit more 'individual, off-beat and quirky' which I suspect will go down well with many cyclists.

I would'n want to go around in cloths which have 'Stolen Goat' plastered across them - but understand that this company doesn't put their name on them, just a small logo. So what's the harm?

If you judge the company by the price of their products alone, Stolen Goat appears to be 'mid market' to me - the jersey seems to be priced at a 'Sportful' level (for like on like features), and a fair bit less than Castelli's Gabba - and a long way south from where Rapha price their wares...

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
0 likes

Interesting as I think that Vulpine is a shite name, yet it hasn't stopped me from buying one of their jacket.
For me, I'll never knowingly buy Specialized and am unlikely to buy Rapha for other brand associated reasons. We all apply our own reasons for buying any particular reason for buying any given brand. There is no right or wrong. Horses for courses.

Avatar
RinseCharming | 9 years ago
0 likes

If you want people to pay top dollar for a premium product then you need to brand accordingly.

How many people would buy a Rolls Royce if the brand was actually called Rusty Donkey?

Unless they are someone's name, cycling apparel brands need to evoke either European style/heritage (e.g., Rapha, Assos, Vulpine) or abstract technology/futurism (e.g., Endura, Altura, Specialized)

Avatar
stolen goat replied to RinseCharming | 9 years ago
5 likes
RinseCharming wrote:

If you want people to pay top dollar for a premium product then you need to brand accordingly.

How many people would buy a Rolls Royce if the brand was actually called Rusty Donkey?

Unless they are someone's name, cycling apparel brands need to evoke either European style/heritage (e.g., Rapha, Assos, Vulpine) or abstract technology/futurism (e.g., Endura, Altura, Specialized)

Hello "Rinse Charming" - thanks for your feedback. Thought it only seemed fair to chime in on this one...

Firstly - we don't want people to pay "top dollar" for a premium product... we want them to pay a reasonable price for a premium product. This has been our pricing strategy from the start and hence why this jersey is some 30% less expensive than the competition.

I think that the day we all decide to follow the convention in naming a company will be a very dull day indeed. Evoking heritage is great... but essentially you are merely evoking... you have no basis as you are brand spanking new. I'd much rather be honest about our size and "newness".

Is stolen goat the best brand name in the World? I couldn't say... but I can tell you something - it's bloody good fun running a company with such a quirky title. And hopefully you'll remember us for our quality products, fair pricing and natty name rather than as the brand that pretends to be futuristic / full of heritage and charges £200 for the pleasure :-s

That said, it isn't for everybody, some folk get it, some... not so much. I can live with that if you can.

We aren't trying to offend, merely bring a little fun to the industry.
Stay Charming xx

Avatar
Joselito replied to stolen goat | 9 years ago
0 likes

If only you had called yourselves 'Purloined Hircine'.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz9W9rmMGJk

Gets me goat.

Avatar
Curly replied to RinseCharming | 9 years ago
0 likes
RinseCharming wrote:

If you want people to pay top dollar for a premium product then you need to brand accordingly.

How many people would buy a Rolls Royce if the brand was actually called Rusty Donkey?

Unless they are someone's name, cycling apparel brands need to evoke either European style/heritage (e.g., Rapha, Assos, Vulpine) or abstract technology/futurism (e.g., Endura, Altura, Specialized)

And if you want something made in the UK the Lusso range is a stand out Brand, here is a link to L/S Jacket that's just been reviewed by Pro cycling

http://www.lusso.bike/mens/jackets-gillets/jackets/aqua-repel-jacket.html

Avatar
RinseCharming | 9 years ago
0 likes

It's a bit idiotic but I will never buy a single product from this brand because of the awful name.

Really poor branding. Seems a shame when the product is top notch.

Avatar
Alex222 replied to RinseCharming | 9 years ago
0 likes

A bit idiotic?
So nowhere on the top is the name of the brand, just a small subtle logo of a goats head.

Avatar
Alf0nse | 9 years ago
0 likes

loose threads on the collar and the worst brand name ever...shame it looks good

Avatar
don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
0 likes
Quote:

Out-Gabbas the Castelli Gabba: more aero, more comfortable and more water-resistant—really impressive

and

Quote:

It's also much more breathable. It's not a total wind-blocker but the protection is nevertheless pretty good, surprisingly so given how breathable it is.

That's a fine looking jacket and will surely find a place in my wardrobe. I do, however, love my Gabba for it's wind stopping powers and in the recent icy windy weather it has been a godsend. This could be great for warmer, wetter days.
It's got go-faster stripes too.

Avatar
FatTed | 9 years ago
0 likes

The Jersey is a really tight fit.

Pages

Latest Comments