In a field of not just good but very good jackets, the Power Trail nudges ahead because, having worn everything else, we found ourselves coming back to it. Simply put, it just feels right. The cut is immaculate. Underarm fit seems to be the hardest thing to get right on a bike jacket, but this is perfect – raise your arms and the body of the jacket stays put. The shape of the arms means they articulate with yours in the riding position. With a semi-fitted cut, there’s enough room to add layers but it doesn’t feel baggy if you don’t.
Gore’s construction quality is always high, but the detailing here is also impressive. The hood is designed to go under rather than over a helmet, with a stretch inner band and narrow turn-back on the outer that channels water down and away from your face. Once we tried it, we were converted to the under-lid design, which felt better than even the best-cut over-helmet alternatives. The zip pulls have been improved and made longer and the one chest pocket is generously sized, making both easy to use.
The three-layer Gore-Tex Active Shell fabric feels durable and robust but is still highly breathable – so much so that we’ve found ourselves using this jacket on rain-free days to take off windchill, rather than turning to our usual choice of a softshell or windproof shell. All in all, the Power Trail offers the perfect combination of fit, fabric and waterproof on-thebike performance.
Weight 311g
Price $345