Gore Bike Wear Oxygen Gore-Tex Active Shell Jacket

First point: There is an older version of this jacket, Gore Bike Wear Men's Oxygen Jacket that uses Gore-Tex Paclite which is less breathable than this version; many places are selling the older jacket for the same price as the newer jacket.

The Gore Bike Wear Oxygen Jacket GT AS is a simple, no-frills road cycling jacket. It's a lightweight, packable, waterproof jacket that's designed with the minimalist in mind. It's great for competitive cycling and adequate for some types of commuting. I would not recommend it for cruising or mountain biking.

There's very little to the jacket in terms of "features". It's pretty much a simple, waterproof shell with elastic cuffs and waist. It packs down into a very small package and includes a small "bag" to carry it in. The jacket has a long "tail" to cover your buttocks against that inevitable road spray.

Gore has made a few changes since the previous version of this jacket:

* Nicer material along the collar where it touches the chin

* Zippers on the wrists to allow for ventilation or easier on-off

* Silicone grippers on the tail

* Upgrade to Active Shell from Paclite

Would still like to see at least one pocket and side/pit vents.

The Oxygen is a form fitting jacket and may not work everyone. This jacket is intended to fit very close to the skin and leave minimal excess fabric to improve aerodynamics. It doesn't leave a lot of room for thick layers, regular street clothes, or certain physiques. The arms are formed to fit comfortably while on a road bike (see the pictures); the chest/arms can be too tight and uncomfortable when you stand up straight. This is by design, though may limit its usefulness off the bike or when riding in a completely upright position. It is also designed with a "cyclist's figure" in mind, sometimes called a "race" or "euro" fit--take precise measurements of your chest and waist and assume the size chart is accurate.

Active Shell is a newer Gore-Tex membrane that claims to be as breathable as Windstopper (windproof, not-waterproof) while being windproof, waterproof, and lightweight. For the most part, Active Shell lives up to its claims, being nearly as breathable as Windstopper in cool to cold weather. Gore-Tex fabrics generally perform differently depending on the weather and humidity; the colder and wetter it is outside the jacket, the better it "breaths". And by "breaths", I mean it allows water vapor to escape. It is not "wicking" like a jersey so sweat must evaporate before it will pass through the fabric. There's very little air permeability in the material so your sweat might not evaporate very quickly. Imagine working out with no wind or fans.

In warmer, dry weather (65F+), the jacket seems to lose some of its breathability, performing more like it's older cousins. I have not tried the jacket in warm rain--but I imagine it may become more soggy on the inside than most people would prefer. In cooler weather (<50F), the jacket breathes extremely well in wet or dry weather and is comparable to competing materials such as eVent or NeoShell.

This jacket is nearly 100% windproof and doesn't require you to layer heavily. I can comfortably wear just a jersey under this jacket in 45F weather with nothing else. Colder than that, the jacket's fabric doesn't provide enough insulation for me to stay comfortable without more layers. Unlike eVent or NeoShell, there's only a slight amount of air penetrating the jacket which helps improve evaporation without causing windchill. NeoShell and eVent allows a significant amount of air to pass through the fabric which makes them uncomfortably cold for; however, the same air permeability adds to their breathability and can make a huge difference for someone who sweats heavily or prefers circulating air to accelerate evaporation.

In cooler weather, the Oxygen GT AS works well in both dry and wet weather that you don't need a second windproof jacket. With the lack of zip-off arms (less common on waterproof jackets), I still wouldn't recommend this jacket as an all-condition jacket. It packs down very small (and comes with a carrying case) so it is easy to take off and stow once the weather warms up or improves--often times negating the need for zip-off arms.

The Gore Bike Wear Oxygen GT AS is a great jacket for road cycling--but has limited utility for anything else. I would love to have at least one pocket since reaching underneath it to access jersey pockets can be difficult. It's comparable in price to other waterproof jackets and offers similar performance.

If you're looking for a slim, aerodynamic cycling jacket that is 99% windproof, the Oxygen will meet your needs. If you need a looser fit, consider the Gore Bike Wear Men's Fusion GT As Jacket. If you prefer to have more air/wind coming through the jacket, take a look at eVent or NeoShell jackets.