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Gore Power Windstopper long sleeve jersey

9
£149.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Brilliantly performing three-season jersey that gives very good protection against wind and rain
Weight: 
258g

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Gore Bike Wear offers a somewhat bewildering choice of jerseys and jackets, but if you're after a lightweight, slim fitting top that offers wind and rain protection with excellent breathability for three-season use, the Power Gore Windstopper Long Sleeve Jersey is a top pick.

Made from Gore's iconic Windstopper fabric, the Power jersey is ideal at dealing with the constantly changing weather conditions of spring, summer and autumn. Wear it over a lightweight baselayer and it can cope with a really wide band of temperatures, from nudging zero up to high teens. That versatility makes it easy to dress for virtually any ride, so you can spend less time making tricky clothing decision and more time pressing the pedals.

> Find your nearest dealer here

Windstopper probably needs no introduction. It's a softshell material that Gore developed years ago and it's windproof and water resistant. It gave us the iconic Castelli Gabba and a hundred clones. It's a fab material for a cycling top for British cyclists, and pretty much meets most of our needs to perfection.

Gore Power Windstopper long sleeve jersey - back detail.jpg

It performs brilliantly in the wind and cold. That makes it hard to choose a conventional long-sleeve jersey with no wind protection over the Gore if you live somewhere where it's perennially windy. As well as being insulating when it's cold, it's breathable when it's warm – it's not a hot summer jersey, but I've been happy to wear it well into the high teens.

Gore Power Windstopper long sleeve jersey - riding.jpg

As for rain protection, it's just fine in light to medium showers, adequate enough that you don't need to pull on a waterproof jacket and can keep on pedalling. Prolonged heavy rain will eventually overwhelm it, but that's pushing it beyond its design remit, and that's really the time to consider popping a waterproof jacket on. There's ample space in the pockets to carry one.

Gore Power Windstopper long sleeve jersey - pockets 2.jpg

Gore has opted for a slim fit and I found the small size a perfect shape: snug where it needs to be but not at all restrictive. It's quite a racy-feeling top. I like that.

Gore Power Windstopper long sleeve jersey - back.jpg

The sleeves are the ideal length too – I often find sleeves too short on small size tops but Gore has got them just right. They taper to a narrowing cuff which wraps around the wrist to the right degree.

Gore Power Windstopper long sleeve jersey - cuff.jpg

There's a tall collar for when you need to hunker down against the cold, and the front full-length zipper is slightly concealed to add further protection.

Gore Power Windstopper long sleeve jersey - chest.jpg

An indication of its bad weather suitability is the dropped tail, which is ideal when your rear wheel is kicking up spray or mud from the road. It wraps around your bum and offers good protection, a nice extra layer to have when it's mucky. The waistband is elasticated and sticky so it doesn't ride up, and even if you load up the three pockets there's no sagging. The reflective lining on both pockets and waistband, as well as the logos, is a useful touch.

Gore Power Windstopper long sleeve jersey - pockets.jpg

The look is low-key and Gore offers a choice of colours. While the branding is understated, the large Windstopper logo on the back did attract a few negative comments. I can't say it bothered me that much, partly 'cos I couldn't see it when riding and partly because it's reflective, and more visibility in the dark is a good thing.

> Buyer's Guide: 12 wet weather racing jerseys

I've been putting this jersey through lots of use over the past few months, and it has become my go-to jersey when the weather forecast looks a bit iffy or it's not clear what the dark grey clouds are going to do. It makes it easy to dress for such rides as it provides protection from the cold, wind and light to medium showers, but is sufficiently breathable to cope with higher temperatures. The fit, comfort and attention to detail is great and marks out a quality product.

Verdict

Brilliantly performing three-season jersey that gives very good protection against wind and rain

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road.cc test report

Make and model: Gore Power Windstopper long sleeve jersey

Size tested: Small

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?

Gore says: "This windproof and breathable jersey with GORE® WINDSTOPPER® material prevents overheating and protects ambitious cyclists from the weather. The soft and elastic ergonomic road bike design has a modified collar and a 3-part back pocket."

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Gore lists these features:

versatile, all year GORE® WINDSTOPPER® Product: windproof, water repellent and highly breathable

Reflective logo on front

Large, reflective logo on back

Reflective tape at back pockets

Reflective tape at hem

Gripper elastic on bottom hem

Elastic hem

Close fit collar

Reinforced hem for easier closure of the zipper

Front zip

Minimized seams for less chafing

3-compartment back pocket, slightly tapered on side for easy access

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10

Excellent three-season performance, keeps you protected from the wind and rain, insulates when it's cold, and breathes when it's warm.

Rate the product for durability:
 
9/10

I've hammered this jersey, logging hundreds of miles, and it was my choice for the Dirty Reiver 200km gravel race. Durability through it all has been perfect.

Rate the product for fit:
 
9/10

Slim fit as advertised but it's well shaped, the pockets are easy to access, and the arms are a good length.

Rate the product for sizing:
 
8/10

The size small was just fine.

Rate the product for weight:
 
8/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
9/10

Wear it over a short sleeve baselayer and it's very comfortable for any sort of ride, from commuting to training and long sportives.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

For a jersey that offers so much versatility and ideal suitability for UK conditions, the performance to pound ratio is very good.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Very easy to care for.

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

Looks after you in any weather and is ideal for spring and autumn rides, cooler summer days and warmer winter rides.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

It makes dressing for the UK's unpredictable weather a doddle.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

I'd like a zipper pocket, and some people expressed concerns over the large Windstopper logo on the back panel.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your score

Gore is a master at fabric development and the Windstopper is harnessed well in this great-fitting long-sleeve jersey. Pricey perhaps, but you'll get a heck of a lot of use out of it.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 31  Height: 180cm  Weight: 67kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, mountain biking

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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5 comments

Avatar
lbalc | 5 years ago
0 likes

Like the idea of some mesh inserts like on the Oxygen L/S jersey. Cools you down more and stops the ballooning/parachute effect when you open the front zip. This doesn't have that- would put me off buying it.

Avatar
Mungecrundle | 6 years ago
0 likes

I have what I would guess to be an older model of this Gore Winstopper softshell. Excellent piece of kit that still looks good and I wear it most days where the weather is anything other than shirt sleeves in the sun.

When things get really cold I add some base layers, when it gets really wet I add a waterproof outer layer, in between it offers excellent breathability (I sweat like a horse on crack), fits superbly (athletic) and has a number of well designed features such as the pockets, bum flap, sleeve length and the sleeves even unzip if you just want a gillet.

Avatar
Jack Osbourne snr | 6 years ago
0 likes

My apologies, I used the word "waterproof" wholly incorrectly. It is of course only water-resistant. 

The discussions you refer to though are not referring to cycle clothing nor comparing it with backpacking/hiking clothing... 

I sweat profusely and from personal experience have found Gore Windstopper cycling kit to breath very well indeed.

Conversely, I have had outdoor clothing with great "numbers" that was as comfortable as wearing a bin bag in a sauna.

Maybe Windstopper just works better with a headwind.

 

 

Avatar
Kadenz | 6 years ago
0 likes

It sounds great.

But why have Gore chosen to spoil the otherwise great look of the jersey by adding those black patches?

 

 

Avatar
matthewn5 replied to Kadenz | 6 years ago
1 like
Kadenz wrote:

It sounds great.

But why have Gore chosen to spoil the otherwise great look of the jersey by adding those black patches?

To appeal to the Star Trek niche market?

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