![]() Why would someone put up with such a stripped down product? Well, firstly, the R7 Shakedry flat out ridiculously disappears into a corner of a seatpack or into a jersey pocket. If the fact that the jacket is missing one or some combination of those features is a dealbreaker for you, sure, that would make sense. Finally, at US$300, it lacks a wallet-friendly price. Nor is the fabric robust enough to withstand the straps of wearing a pack or, presumably, the belt of a waist pack if worn over the jacket. Soft fleece backing at the top of the zipper, adjustable waist drawcord, a reversible zipper pull to close the stowaway pocket, a hood drawcord? Four “nopes.” Nor does it meaningfully stretch other than at the elastic hem, wrist, and hood openings. Let me say up front what is missing from the R7. Its Shakedry technology and minimalist design push the limit of packability and feathery weight, and I flat out love it for those reasons. It was developed with comprehensive rain and wind protection-but little else-as a goal. Gore brags that their R7 Shakedry Hooded Jacket is the lightest and most breathable Gore-Tex Active product available. I can report that I remain absolutely impressed by these jackets and think they compete with any outerwear out there. Then again, there’s the more essential question as to whether Gore’s jackets are in the mix for you at all, as they’re all notably expensive. If you have a clear sense of your priorities for a jacket, I feel as if choosing between them would be pretty clear, as the main dimensions of comparison are robustness and features. I tested these in the various conditions I normally encounter, including day-long rainy day mountain bike and dirt road rides, week-long bikepacking trips, and chilly weather evening runs. To my mind, Gore leads the pack on both those fronts. But each of the three Gore jackets performs admirably in hours-long downpours, and all three were as breathable as any outerwear I’ve worn. We’re still waiting for that gear utopia. “Breathable” and “waterproof” don’t mean what you think they mean if you assume that you will never ever sweat in your jacket or that it will never become so wet that the fabric no longer wholly keeps the water out. These three pieces are significantly different from one another even if, of course, they share the DNA of Gore’s breathable waterproof technology backed by taped seams. ![]() What matters is whether a jacket is effective, packable, and lightweight, not what the person in the catalog is pictured doing. Still, I was perfectly happy to try them out. Gore sent us three of their jackets to test, but only one of them-the C5 Hooded Trail Jacket-was designed for cycling, specifically mountain biking. All of that is to say that bikepackers care about whether a piece of gear works (or, ahem, whether it’s fashionable) rather than what it was designed for. Or, best of all, with stuff that everyone just ordinarily has or can get very cheaply, like a flannel shirt or merino socks. Sure, most of us ride with at least some items that were conceived especially for cycling, but we all also likely ride with gear for hiking, running, or climbing. I wouldn’t be surprised if bikepacking as a product category drives designers nuts. ![]()
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