Gore Visibility Lady Windstopper Active Shell Vest

The Gore Visibility Lady Windstopper Active Shell Vest is a bit of a mouthful, but it does what its name suggests it should very well: visibility is excellent, during the day and at night, and no cold chills get through to your body. It is expensive – you can buy a gilet for a lot less – but here you are getting a very well made garment that'll appeal to safety-conscious commuters and road riders.

As visibility is its remit, the vest only comes in neon yellow, which gives you pretty much 360-degree visibility to other road users. This extends to night-time thanks to the 11 good-sized reflective Scotchlite inserts and piping.

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Its other remit is to afford wind protection and to this end it is constructed from Gore's Windstopper Active Shell fabric. This is Gore's most lightweight material designed to offer total windproofing, maximum breathability and water resistance.

I found the vest very comfortable to wear, thanks to the full mesh lining that prevents clamminess, the microfibre-lined tall collar that zips up nice and snug for cool morning commutes, and the elasticated armholes.

On warmer days (there have been a few this summer!) the large mesh insert on the back goes a long way to helping the breathable fabric with extra ventilation before I've had to resort to unzipping/removing. Once removed, it fits easily into a jersey pocket.

While Gore doesn't advertise this gilet as being water-resistant, in showers the rain just beads on the surface, and a good shake when you take it off leaves it virtually dry.

Two 'stealth' zipped hand pockets are very useful – you can't actually see the zip when they're done up, it just looks like a seam. The zip pulls are quite tiddly, though, so quite a fiddle to operate with full-finger gloves. The pockets are big enough to accommodate keys, smartphone, wallet and the like.

The main zip has a storm flap behind it to keep out draughts, and its zip pull is long enough to easily use with gloves. There is reflective piping both sides of the zip for extra visibility in the dark.

The Windstopper Active Shell Vest is in Gore's most relaxed 'comfort fit' (slim and tight fit are the other two). The armholes and neck are snug, but I found it quite generous around the torso and, personally, would prefer it more tailored for a more flattering fit. Also, because it's looser around the torso than the bust, more curvaceous or bigger-bosomed women might not get on so well with the cut either.

As for length, I thought it could have been a little longer at the back to protect your derrière from road spray in inclement weather.

Finally, the price. Yes, £100 is a lot to drop on a gilet, but you are paying for German 'engineering' (Gore's description) with quality materials and excellent attention to detail. You can find significantly cheaper designs, though many sport fewer features and don't offer the same levels of visibility (check out our reviews here); if you're a fan of Gore clothing and you can afford it (and the cut suits you), you won't be disappointed. 

Verdict

Well-featured high-vis windproof gilet, but take note that it has a more relaxed fit than some