Gore Fusion Cosmo Windstopper Jacket

In days of yore (alright, the ‘90s), fabric technology was just beginning to cotton on (ha – see what I did there?) to the fact that quite a lot of people wanted to do strenuous exercise in the rain, drizzle, fog, cold and/or wind that comprises 85% of the British climate, but they didn’t have a great selection of clothes to choose from. Pretty much all of the waterproof clothing at the time was quite cumbersome. Even lighter windproof jackets were typically non-stretchy, billowy things that went over the top of your jersey, or unbelievably warm toasty jerseys with enormously limited breathability. They were seemingly tailored exclusively to riding across the arctic tundra into a headwind while cultivating a startling selection of beard-cicles.

Into this abyss, step forward the softshell – specifically in this case Gore’s Windstopper. To the uninitiated (if any of you actually exist) Gore’s Windstopper softshell is – er – exactly that. It’s a windproof laminated fabric which is supposed to be as comfortable as a regular mid-layer, while at the same time being windproof and breathable. It’s also water-resistant: like many other wind-resistant fabrics, it’s treated with a DWR coating to increase water beading on the surface and stop it wetting out. It’s also practically waterproof, but the seams aren’t taped so it can’t be referred to as such.

The Fusion Cosmo is lined with a fleecy fabric to keep you warm when things turn inclement (which, this being the UK, they do on a regular basis), and it’s bestowed with four pockets; two in the traditional hand warmer position, one traditional cyclist pocket at the back, and one ‘Napoleon’ pocket, should you fancy doing impressions of a dayglo nightclub emperor. This last also has a little glasses-wipe cloth inside it, which is a nice touch.

The pockets are lined with mesh (bad luck if you fancy carrying rice) so they double as cooling vents, although there are also a couple of vents rather generously apportioned just in front of the arms. The zips have large red toggles, which are easy to use with gloves, and by and large the zips, pockets and vents can all be opened or closed one-handed – although the pockets occasionally need a bit of a tug.

The Fusion Cosmo also has a very bright, fluorescent yellow drop tail, which is handily held out of the way with poppers if you wish your arse to be a little more discreet. The majority of the jacket seams are flat-locked, which is a handy thing if you want to wear it without a base layer. This, it turns out, is a good thing, as this jacket gives every impression of being somewhat toasty. In fact, it’s immediately obvious after putting this jacket on that it’s very warm indeed. Generally, if you generally run hot, and if the weather is in double figures, you might find the Cosmo a little too warm – but as soon as the thermometer drops it’s excellent.

The fit is relatively close, so there’s not much bunching up at the front when you’re leaned over the bars, the sleeves are nice and long (that’s the great thing about Gore clothing – by and large it’s cut rather well for lanky people like me) and the long (neon) cuffs have thumb holes, so if you feel the need you can prevent any unpleasant draughts.

On the bike, the side pockets are mostly hidden (apart from the zip tags), but they’re relatively easy to open and close. However, the pockets themselves are somewhat fiddly to access. The Napoleon pocket across the front is much easier for this. I don’t think I’ve ever used the rear pocket; I normally run a pack. Loads of manufacturers design ‘MTB specific’ clothing such as this, and still include rear pockets. Granted, it’s designed well enough that I didn’t feel it rubbing around with a pack on, but it feels a little superfluous.

The vents are placed largely under the shoulder straps too – but in fairness with the packs I wear they do seem to offer some benefit. You’ve got to stop and remove your pack to adjust them though. I do appreciate that a backpack is a fairly hopeless thing to design around if you’re trying to keep a jacket cool, but it’d be nice if there was some concession to wearing one. But Gore are far from alone in this, and if you’re a rider who perhaps doesn’t ride for long, or comes from a roadie background, stuffing a tube and some spares in that back pocket, I suppose you might be thankful for it.

Anyway, back on the bike. After a few miles, the warmth of this jacket is such that I’m very glad of the venting, even without a base layer. The nicely conspicuous drop-tail does an acceptable job of keeping your bum dry (well, drier) in the wet, although it’s never going to beat a decent pair of waterproof shorts, and the Fusion Cosmo kept me acceptably dry through some pretty unpleasant weather events short of total downpours. It’s well cut, there are reflective bits and pieces here and there which increase visibility at night, and if you really can’t stand the colours, there’s a version available in black.

Overall: It’s perhaps not the most subtle jacket available, but if you ride in the cold and damp – that’s most of us then – then this is a fine jacket to have in your wardrobe.

http://vimeo.com/121787045

Review Info

Barney Marsh

Barney Marsh takes the word ‘career’ literally, veering wildly across the road of his life, as thoroughly in control as a goldfish on the dashboard of a motorhome. He’s been, with varying degrees of success, a scientist, teacher, shop assistant, binman and, for one memorable day, a hospital laundry worker. These days, he’s a dad, husband, guitarist, and writer, also with varying degrees of success. He sometimes takes photographs. Some of them are acceptable. Occasionally he rides bikes to cast the rest of his life into sharp relief. Or just to ride through puddles. Sometimes he writes about them. Bikes, not puddles. He is a writer of rongs, a stealer of souls and a polisher of turds. He isn’t nearly as clever or as funny as he thinks he is.

More posts from Barney