7Mesh Oro Jacket

The 7Mesh Oro jacket might be expensive but it keeps the rain out, it's super-lightweight and it takes up an incredibly small amount of space in a jersey pocket. To give you fair warning, in a little while I'm going to describe the Gore Active fabric from which it's made as a 'game changer'. Yup. Prepare yourself.

Last year, Dave reviewed the Gore Bike Wear One Active Bike Jacket which is also made from Gore Active (the clue's in the name) and he described it as 'far and away the best lightweight waterproof jacket I've ever tested.'

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I'll follow suit: the Oro is easily the best lightweight waterproof that I've ever tested, and the Gore Active fabric takes a lot of the credit for that.

Traditional Gore-Tex fabrics are three layer. You have a face fabric, usually treated with a durable water repellent (DWR), the Gore-Tex membrane, and then the lining. In between them are layers of glue.

Gore says that its Active technology eliminates the need for a face fabric so it can be used to produce the lightest and most breathable Gore-Tex products available. You know the outer layer of most waterproof jackets? The bit that's usually coloured? That's the bit that's missing from the 7Mesh Oro.

This is a two-ply construction with the Gore-Tex membrane sitting outermost. That's why the outside of this jacket looks so unusual. The lightweight lining that sits on the inside is integrated with the Gore-Tex membrane without the need for a glue layer (which affects breathability).

What's the point to all this?

'Gore-Tex Active products durably protect against wind and rain and reduce sweat accumulation in high aerobic activities,' says Gore. 'Uniquely designed, the technology eliminates the face fabric, preventing absorption of water in order to maintain comfort in high aerobic activities. Garments will retain these attributes during use, wearers will not experience the chilling effect that can result from a wetted out face fabric, and the garment drys out fast. The excellent balance of protection and comfort allows the wearer to leave the garment on – rain or shine.'

And do you know what? It's true. We're used to manufacturer's exaggeration, hyperbole and downright BS, but this is straight up truth.

I've worn the Oro in the rain a whole load of times over the past few months, most memorably on a ride in Italy where a couple of cyclists had to get bussed home for fear of getting hypothermia (really), and the results have been superb. If anyone's in danger of getting hypothermia it's usually me, but rain hasn't once got through the fabric or through the internally taped seams. You almost expect water to get in because the jacket is so lightweight, but it doesn't.

I guess you could say that a polythene bag is lightweight and keeps water out but one of the most impressive features of the Gore-Tex Active fabric is its level of breathability. Gore says that's down to the lack of that face fabric and layers of glue. You really notice the breathability when it stops raining. I usually whip a waterproof off as soon as the rain lets up so that I don't get too sweaty in there. Here, though, I've been able to keep it on and say comfortable, even when the temperature is up to about 14°C. I've started carrying the Oro rather than a windproof even on days when it's not likely to rain because it's waaaaay more breathable than I expected. It's a revelation as far as breathability is concerned, and if you do want to take it off when the rain stops, a quick shake and it's almost completely dry.

The other thing you need to know about the fabric is just how light it is. This jacket hit the road.cc Scales of Truth at 93g which, in a stunning deviation from the norm, is exactly the manufacturer's claimed weight. That's crazy light. Admittedly, saving 100g, 200g or whatever on a waterproof probably isn't going to get you to the café stop a whole lot quicker but it does mean there's less weight dragging your rear pockets out of shape when the jacket is tucked away... and it really does tuck away. Folded up into its own stuff pocket, the Oro is about as large as a couple of Snickers bars.

So, there you go: Gore-Tex Active is a game changer (I did warn you).

> Buyer's Guide: 11 of the best packable windproofs

Any negatives about it? Well, the lack of a face fabric does leave the membrane more exposed to damage. Our review jacket is still in perfect nick but I guess you could catch it on foliage overhanging the road or on a multi-tool in your pocket so it would pay to be careful. It's not going to tear as soon as it's within sight of a bramble but my impression is that it's not the toughest material in the world.

So far I've concentrated on the fabric but the jacket itself is also top notch. For a start there's the cut; it's slim and I like that. Both the body and the sleeves sit close so they don't flap as soon as you hit a descent (don't get me started on jackets that flap) and the collar is close-fitting too. There's no stretch in the fabric so you need to be doubly sure that you buy the right size. Thankfully, 7Mesh has a size chart on its website. The chest actually feels tight on me when I'm standing upright, but as soon as I'm on the bike with my arms reaching forward, it's spot on.

The tail is slightly dropped although there are other jackets out there that offer more protection from road spray back there. The full-length front zip is reverse coil and water resistant with a puller that's easy to grab even with gloved fingers. There are no pockets aside from that stuff pocket I mentioned (on a 93g jacket? You're having a laugh), but you do get two vents on the back that allow you to reach through to your jersey pockets. The raw edge hem is reflective, although it doesn't look reflective in daylight, and the chest and back logos are reflective too.

You can tell that I like this jacket, then! I'm pretty sure I've never written 1,000 words on a waterproof before. If you're after something that's going to stand up to years of abuse, perhaps this isn't the option for you. But if you want a minimalist, lightweight waterproof with loads of breathability, this is superb.

Verdict

Stunning performance from a super-lightweight waterproof that offers superb breathability