The Gore Oxygen Windstopper Jersey does indeed stop the wind. Whether the various design and fabric choices are to your liking is another matter…
Gore’s Windstopper fabric can be found in many garments. It’s claimed to ‘protect from wind and weather’ while providing for ‘maximum breathability’. In addition, Gore says your ‘heart rate is up to eight beats per minute lower with WINDSTOPPER clothing than with less breathable fabrics’. I asked Gore about this rather startling claim and was advised this came from “Gore Windstopper Physiology Research dating from 10 years back (study with the University of Edinburgh) which isn’t valid anymore. Legally it was valid back then, but since then the products have changed (also includes the material, where it’s been made, the Quality standards) it no longer is for today”. Take nothing at face value… marginal gains are all well and good, but not when they’re based on outdated research.
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All that said, yes, it stops the wind – dead. On quick rides without a shell or gilet, the sensation was akin to a hand pressing against your chest, vacuum-packing the jersey to you. If you aren’t wearing a baselayer this could lead to a feeling of clamminess depending on your sweat.
The design’s a bit different to the norm – in front there are two small angled pockets for gels or whatnot, which curve around almost halfway between your side and navel.
The garment is pretty much all Windstopper apart from a kite-shaped section on the back, running between the armpits and down through the middle pocket.
Under the arms is a light mesh, and the sleeves themselves are finished with a double-layer gripper that fails to grip anything. This was most notable when paired with the Gore Universal Windstopper armwarmers (review to come), which likewise didn’t grip much. This results in wind getting in where you’d expect none to be, given both garments are called ‘Windstopper’.
Other design features are generously deep triple pockets, but whoever decided to put the valuables pocket zip in the middle of the pocket needs talking to – it makes for adding or removing a decent-sized phone in a waterproof case very tricky. There’s simply no reason not to put the zip at the top or side.
Your riding companions will be under no illusion that it’s a WINDSTOPPER jersey, thanks to the very large letters down each arm and smaller on the left shoulderblade. These, and some extra bits down the arm/back join, and a flap over the rear pocket zip are highly reflective, which is a night-time plus.
The main zip has a windproof flap but no garage for the very small pull – the size of which is an oversight on a garment you’ll be venting pretty often if my experience is anything to go by. The silicone grip-strip around the rear hem keeps things in place, while the almost total lack of flatlock stitching on a garment with so many panels is a bit of a scratchy let-down for those who don’t wear baselayers.
Being a 37in chest/33in waist, I’m right on the medium-large Gore sizing cusp. On test was a medium, but that was definitely not tight on me so size smaller than you would normally. I felt the collar was quite low, again a strange design choice for a garment whose raison d’etre is to keep you warm. Gore says this is a ‘tight’ fit, ‘very athletic and close to the body’. Maybe it’s my exposure to Italian brands and racier UK brands such as Hoy-Vulpine, but if this is tight and athletic then I’m Chris Froome.
During a two-hour spot of bridleway bashing in an overcast 14-17°C, I had to unzip to keep cool. This was over the top of a 150gsm merino base, and as I usually run cold and wasn’t really fanging it that day (under 80% max heart rate), it was a surprise to be so warm. To the extent that I felt a little sweaty down my back.
> Read our buyer’s guide to summer cycling jerseys
On a reasonably quick ride, the Gore wetted out quickly in a light shower, and took half an hour to dry again in good sun and wind. Wind molecules are larger than water molecules (who knew?) so the Windstopper membrane lets water in. On this ride I wore the excellent Lusso Dryline baselayer and didn’t feel overheated in the Gore even during a PR attack of the steepest hill around, the aptly named ‘Killer Hill’ replete with 20% midriff bookended by 15%+ knees and shoulders.
So what’s the verdict? For £120, the Oxygen Windstopper is probably on the expensive side for what it does, and the design choices are, in some respects, slightly strange – the rear pocket zip and loose fit, for example. The obvious comparison in windproof, fast-riding tops for me was the Endura FS260-Pro SL Classics Jersey, which excels at everything for only a tenner more, but you get arm warmers thrown in. Perhaps time for Gore to reinvent what is a popular jersey, given that the competition has upped its game.
Verdict
Well made jersey that might work for you – but understand the fit and features
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Gore Oxygen Windstopper Softshell 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?
It’s for people who want to ride fast in cooler, possibly drizzly weather, and who don’t get too hot on a bike.
Gore says: “Innovative short sleeve jersey made from selected materials for maximum breathability and next-to-skin comfort. Stretchy WINDSTOPPER® fabric inserts on shoulder, breast, upper abdomen and in the kidney area protect from wind and weather. Storage space in pockets that won’t sag.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
FEATURES
2 side mesh pockets
Small secure zip pocket on back
Highly functional material mix
Reflective print on shoulders
Reflective insert on back
Partially elastic gripper on hem
Full length zip with semi-lock slider
Mesh inserts for better ventilation
Zip-underflap
Ergonomically shaped collar
Reflective logo on front and back
Reflective logo on sleeve
3-compartment patch pockets on back
AWARDS
MATERIALS
SHELL OUTSIDE: 87% POLYESTER, 13% ELASTANE, WINDSTOPPER®MEMBRANE, SHELL INSIDE: 100% POLYESTER, STRETCH FABRIC: 95% POLYAMIDE, 5% ELASTANE, MESH: 100% POLYESTER
Very well put together; no flatlocked seams.
Good, but can’t help feeling it’s no longer as amazing as it perhaps once was.
Loose-ish, especially around the arms.
Sized up big, fortunately the arms are long so going smaller should be OK, unless the shoulders get tight.
Pretty light.
The cut and low collar left me feeling less-than-pro. And the sleeve gaps let in the breeze when I didn’t want it let in.
How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?
Very well – even after muddy cyclo-cross rides.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Let me put it this way – it’s not on my Go-To list for cooler rides. It’s not *bad* per se, just Could Do Better.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Nothing stands out.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
The fit, the arm gaps, the silly zipped pocket.
Did you enjoy using the product? It didn’t annoy me much…
Would you consider buying the product? Not at RRP.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Not at RRP.
Use this box to explain your score
While the Windstopper fabric itself did a very good job of keeping wind out while also breathing, overall the design choices and features let the package down. Could do better, certainly for the money.
About the tester
Age: 43 Height: 183cm Weight: 72kg
I usually ride: Merida Ride 5000 Disc My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: Over 20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Expert
I regularly do the following types of riding: cyclo-cross, club rides, general fitness riding, mountain biking, Dutch bike pootling
3 thoughts on “Gore Oxygen Windstopper Softshell Jersey”
I’ve got one of these and
I’ve got one of these and find it to be excellent.
I agree about the sizing – I’m nornally a large in Italian brands but got a medium in this which gives a lovely snug fit.
Where the jersey excels is those typical British rides which start off cool first thing and then warm up later on. The jersey is great for covering a wide temperature range in my view although I wouldn’t wear it on the hottest days. The windstopper fabric will also repel a bit of drizzle. With some arm warmers this jersey is spot on for morning or evening rides from Spring to Autumn.
I’d probably agree that at full price these are a bit pricey, but shop around and they can be had for much less. I got mine for £25 on Ebay, brand new with tags. Must be the best cycling bargain I’ve ever had!
I have a couple of these
I have a couple of these jerseys and find them excellent. Fit is good for me (small in Castelli and this Gore jersey). The small side pockets hold gels perfectly. Temperature for me is about 8-13 degC. I use for conditions between a Gabba and a mid weight summer jersey.
I would award a 4.5 star. The long sleeve version is equally as good but for marginally cooler and damper weather.
Only worn it once and I’m
It’s 4.5 stars for me.Fantastic. Bought 2. They dont appear to be in Gore’s new line up SS 2018. They’ve changed the names of all their stuff to ‘C7’ for example but it is fairly clear what jerseys are from the last range. They’ve kept the Power WS S/S and the Oxygen Classic S/S. What lets these down is the lack of mesh or fleece material on the back and armpits. The Castelli Gabba doesn’t use these materials either (although I believe the later Gabbas have the armpits now in a non windstopper material) but the Perfeto is closet to this Oxygen Jersey. Difference being the whole of the back is un fleeced nanoflex. This Oxygen is partially lycra on the back, mesh panels under the arms and down the neck but these areas aren’t covered with DWR like the bits of WS are that cover the rest of the back- so this isn’t as water resistant as the Perfetto. What it excells in is heat management. Those days when you would go summer S/S jerey or S/S baselayer with a gilet and arm warmers but it’s a bit cold on the shoulders. This jersey fits the bill- but you can cut out the summer jersey/baselayer and just wear it on its own or with a base layer vest. Great fit too. Slightly shorter sleeves than expected, not Gabba/Perfetto length. They also ride up so that’s why I give it 4.5 stars. But this is closer to a jersey in my opinion whereas the Gabba/Classic/Power SS seem a little more towards a S/S jacket-softshell in their completely WS material over the entirety, especially the back, and longer arms and longer tail. And yes the neck isn’t as high as the others. But what is a real decider with any WS jersey whether short sleeve or long or Gortex Jacket is the need for some type of venting on the back. You don’t want to open the front zip and have a ballooning/kite effect. Had this with a Gabbaess Nalini Nanodry Short Sleeve soft shell- horrid effect. So in the range mentioned above I whittled it down to the Perfetto and the Oxygen and decided on the Oxygen. Fitted better too. Works between 5-18°C.
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