Gore Bike Wear Element Windstopper Soft Shell Lady jacket.

First published in Singletrack magazine issue 95

Ultra warm and ideal for damp, wintery, cold days, the Gore Element jacket takes UK conditions well. First tested on an autumnal ride, I quickly learned that you don’t need too many layers underneath – it does a really good job of keeping you warm. I’m pretty much guaranteed to be wearing one more layer of clothing than many of my riding buddies but no need with the Element jacket – with two thin layers of merino underneath, I was toasty warm on frosty night rides.

The fabric has a nice stretch to it and the cut is a fairly snug fit. Medium feels right on me, and I’m usually a small. Besides having arms of a decent length, it also has elasticated cuffs that you can pull down over your hands and a matching elasticated dropped hem. There’s a little reflective detailing, which is helpful on night rides and if the fact that the majority of the jacket is black bothers you.

Worn on a weekend with lots of rain showers and standing water around, it did a good job of keeping me warm and dry in all but heavy downpours. However its warmness is also where it lets itself down. Ventilation is provided by unzipping the front (which I found to be a bit snaggy), but it’s such a warm jacket it would definitely benefit from pit zips, especially as it’s not the sort of item you want to keep removing and putting back on again. It’s the kind of jacket you are likely to be wearing for the duration of a ride, as it doesn’t pack down small like a waterproof would for stuffing in your pack.

Overall:

Get your layers right for this jacket and it will provide warmth and dryness for the duration of most cold weather rides.

Review Info