Gorewear Swiftride Jacket Mens

The Gorewear Swiftride Jacket Mens is described by Gore as ‘an adaptable windproof and waterproof jacket with a fit suitable for all cycling styles, any type of bike, or even casual hangouts between rides’. And I’m pleased to report that those are sentiments I’d agree with, with very few compromises. Yes, I’d have liked a breast pocket but otherwise I’ve been impressed by the jacket’s blend of excellent weather resistance, breathability and low weight. This makes it a bit of a shame that the Gorewear brand isn’t going to be around much longer.

Specification

The Swiftride is made from Gorewear’s ePE Gore-Tex laminate with a polyester knit face, both of which are recycled fabrics. This material has a 28,000mm waterproof rating, which is very high. The sandwiching of a membrane between two fabrics provides very effective waterproofing, but it does rely on the fabrics being clean to keep the outer layer impervious to rain and wind, while allowing your heat to escape. The main fabric is a recycled blend of 78% polyester and 22% nylon.

Gorewear promises that the fabric has a ‘great next-to-skin feel’, which makes it a practical choice during a wet spring or summer when chances are we’re wearing a short-sleeve jersey.

It also says that as the jacket is light, waterproof and breathable, it means there’s less bulk, so accordingly we can wear less beneath it and there’s improved air resistance as well.

Other features include a full-length, two-way Vislon zipper with generously sized tags, which helps to give you easy access to jersey pockets.

The Swiftride only has a hip pocket, which is great for parking your hands and for carrying small bits and bobs, though personally I’d have preferred a breast pocket.

Gore describes the cut as ‘regular’, which is more relaxed than a race garment’s cut, and will look more flattering when you’re off the bike, adding to its versatility. That said, I’m not sure you can say the same about our test jacket’s neon yellow colour, which pretty much screams ‘cyclist’! The ‘Lab Red’, ‘Lab Graphite’ (that’s grey to you and me) and Black options are a little less shouty.

While the fabric does feel suitably rugged, it is a little thinner and noticeably lighter than that used for polyester commuter tops.

Its Velcro cuffs and adjustable, pull-cord waist deliver a tunable, practical and flattering fit that will suit a lot of different riders and types of riding.

After all, the very last thing you want is a garment billowing on a blustery day, or water coming in through the cuffs.

Sizing and fit

The slightly relaxed fit allows you to use the Swiftride as part of a layering system, without it feeling baggy when you’re wearing a summer-weight jersey.

I’m 1.81m tall, weigh 70kg and tested the large, which proved to be perfect for me. I chose this size as I’m broader across the shoulders and shorter in the torso than my height and build might suggest.

I have found Gore’s size guide accurate, which greatly reduces the guesswork if you’re making an online purchase.

Weather resistance

The jacket’s resistance to the elements is superb, which is nothing less than I’d expect from Gore-Tex given both the fabric’s reputation and my personal experience of testing it. And the wildly fluctuating late autumn and early winter weather proved perfect for testing the Swiftride.

The jacket survived the sort of torrential rain that called for booties and waterproof socks, keeping the elements firmly outside. The material kept out the blustery wind too, just as efficiently.

And while after three hours of riding the DWR coatings on my bib longs had been completely thwarted, my upper body – protected by the jacket – remained bone dry.

Coupled with waterproof gloves, the cuffs are similarly effective at protecting you from the elements. And the sensibly proportioned two-way zipper tag meant there was no faffing about when I was accessing my jersey pockets mid-ride.

The collar? Nope, no rain got through there, either.

And one of the most pleasing aspects of the jacket is just how well the rain slithered off. Brown, scuzzy water just slipped away without trace, which is just as well considering how obvious it would look on our neon yellow jacket.

Breathability

The Swiftride’s wicking and moisture management proved equally impressive.

This was especially noticeable when the temperature was heading into the mid-teens, when I’d be sweating if I was wearing a jacket with a 10,000mm breathability rating.

Weight is also a factor here. For example, Altura’s justly popular Night Vision Storm is just shy of 500g for a large, which is around 190g heavier than the Gorewear.

Factors such as the jersey and base layer you pair this with will also play a part, of course, and a long-sleeve race jersey costing £250 proved the best companion, but even the more wallet-friendly Altura didn’t leave me feeling damp at a steady 20mph for two hours, which is impressive.

I wasn’t surprised that it worked very well with long-sleeve merino blends such as this Galibier.

Rucksacks, even cycling specific-models, countered this slightly especially after 90 minutes, but it’s still a tangible improvement over polyester jackets rated at 15,000mm for breathability.

It’s more packable than a traditional polyester garments too, thanks to the ‘packing pocket’, though it might he a bit of a squeeze in some jersey pockets, so I tended to use a seatpack or rack bag.

Durability and care

This is another area where the jacket has excelled.

I wore it for long, steady road rides and muckier trail outings and so far it has shrugged off the effects of muck, water and foliage without issue.

More impressive still was when I had to tackle a rear flat at the end of a very soggy ride, including having to negotiate a chain with an oily lube.

Usually in this situation there’s some spatter, and grime will usually make its presence felt along the cuff hem after time. But several weeks down the line and this remains conspicuous by its absence.

Care isn’t necessarily more complex than with a more traditional polyester garment, but you do need to keep the sandwich system clean for it to perform at its best.

So, don’t leave it scrunched up following a wet ride – unfold it and leave it to air naturally.

To wash, it’s the familiar 30°C with minimal detergent, before using the tumble dryer to rejuvenate the material’s properties.

Over time, you will also need to pop in some wash-in proofing agent, such as Granger’s or Nikwax. I tend to do this every ten weeks or so, or six weeks if it’s seeing a lot of trail action.

Value

At £209 this is quite an investment, though the price isn’t outlandish given the jacket’s spec and its overall performance.

The Lusso Perform HardRain Jacket is a 3-layer design available in three colours that costs £180, and Lusso claims that it’s fully waterproof. Its waterproofing and breathability figures are lower at 15,000mm, but those numbers are still pretty high.

The Showers Pass Elite III is £249. It’s made from its Porlite fabric – a waterproof, PFAS-free breathable membrane – and features generous pockets, water-resistant zippers and will fit into your rear jersey pocket. Stu was very impressed with its EcoLyte Elite – though not the £245 price.

Mike rated the £250 Santini Adapt Multi – Jacket very highly indeed for its waterproofing, even in atrocious conditions.

Spend more still and you’ve got the likes of the 7Mesh Copilot, which is made from Gore-Tex Paclite Plus thiugh it now costs £300. Hollis was really impressed with the performance of an earlier version back in 2021.

For more options at a wide range of prices, check out our best waterproof jackets buyer’s guide and our best cycling jackets buyer’s guide.

Conclusion

I’ve been really impressed by the Gorewear Swift Ride’s weather-cheating properties and its breathability, to the point where it’s become my go-to jacket for poor conditions. It’s light, works well with different riding kit and though I’ve learned to live without it, I did miss a breast pocket. There’s no getting away from the price, though.

Verdict

Expensive but impressive waterproof and breathable jacket for most types of riding

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