Hardshell Jackets
Product 2019
Woman, Man
We have already said how great Gore® Wear products are. We tested the R7 Partial Infinium and C7 Shakedry jackets.
Now, it’s the Gore® R7 Gore Tex Shakedry jacket’s turn to go under the microscope.
The field testing over many months (summer, autumn, winter) passed successfully. Designed for trail running, we also used it biking where its waterproofness works wonders if it rains. Positive points for biking: the hood adjustment is very low down at the neck and so doesn’t create a double thickness at the level of the helmet. It is also compressible and slips inside your jersey pocket, at a weight of 175g it’s light. Last but not least, you can wear the hood under the helmet, to conserve heat and protect against humidity, and it doesn’t obstruct the field of vision.
The jacket is also recommended for trekking, fast hiking and for most outdoor sports.
Its main quality is its waterproofness. Water runs over the material without soaking in. It is one of the most waterproof jackets, if not the most effective in the rain. Its black/gray look and shiny fabric, almost looks like it’s laminated, surprising at first glance. But in the rain, you are totally protected. The protection is of course also against the wind. We noticed two points, however: why didn’t they use a waterproof central zip? Maybe so as not to stiffen the neck region and make it slide more easily. The other point concerns the stretchy comfort fabric found at the cuffs. It lets you wear a large GPS watch without hassle, putting on and taking off the jacket more easily, but this fabric holds moisture.
For all the rest, it was faultless. The workmanship is almost done with surgical precision. Seams, collages, assemblies are perfectly executed. The central zip slides really well and the waist adjustments are minimalist but effective.
The very snug-body fit is designed for endurance sports where thick insulating layers aren’t worn. The stretchy fabric moves with the body without overstretching. Over time, the jacket doesn’t sag.
The collar height is perfect for running. It doesn’t get in the way or rub the chin.
Its breathability is less obvious. If you are doing hard physical effort, it doesn’t fully evacuate perspiration and you end up wet. Like all jackets on the market, you must play with the zip opening for ventilation and underlayers. We’re not entirely sure, but this Gore® R7 Gore Tex Shakedry seemed slightly more breathable than its competitors. The threshold for the onset of sweating at the back seems to be lower.
As is often the case with Gore®-Tex, the fabric makes a characteristic little rustling noise. It’s tough and suitable for trail running, hiking, etc. but beware of sharp objects that can pierce the jacket.
At night, we really appreciated the reflective strips that are very visible to motorists.
In the end, what can we really complain about this jacket? Its ridiculously long name? Lack of colors? The Gore® R7 Gore Tex Shakedry Trail Hooded Jacket is really a great waterproof, lightweight, comfortable, and well-designed jacket. It proives a superb combination between lightness and performance. It really is a must have. It fully deserves the Test4outside.com FIRST Award.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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