Gorewear Endure jacket test – The best waterproof cycling jacket?

Video summary

Our opinion in brief

How do I use the Gorewear Endure jacket?

The Gore Endure jacket has been designed for cyclists (road bikes, mountain bikes, bikepacking…) who ride in all weathers, are fed up with getting wet, and are looking for a good-quality, fairly compact piece of equipment. Whether in the rain, in the wind or simply for protection from the cold, it offers good versatility and shelter while still being breathable.

It’s an ideal jacket for long outings or bike trips where the weather is uncertain. After many disappointments with rain jackets, I spent a long time looking for a bike jacket that was really waterproof, asked several opinions, ended up investing in this one (yes, it’s a budget) and have never regretted my purchase!

Features

• Material: 100% polyester
• Weight: 254g according to our scale (women’s model, size S)
• Colors: Yellow, Purple, Grey, Orange, Khaki, Black

Our complete test of the Gore Endure Women’s Jacket

Design

The Gorewear Endure jacket has a fairly loose, straight cut that I find practical for putting different layers underneath. In terms of looks, it resembles a classic rain jacket, without being cycling-typical, so it’s easy to wear off the bike. Personally, I like it! For the color, I opted for Gorewear’s famous fluorescent yellow, which is very visible, but there are also other colors that look better “in real life” 😛

However, the jacket has been designed specifically for cycling:

• The jacket is longer at the back , so your back is well covered. A real pleasure!
• The sleeves have been adapted for comfort when the elbows are bent.
• The hood is large enough to slip over a bicycle helmet. Sometimes this doesn’t do much good, as the wind can still get in, but in many cases I found it practical and comfortable. It can also be tightened for easy adjustment, even without a helmet.
• The cuffs are elasticated and have a Velcro fastening for a perfect fit, so nothing can slip through!
• The bottom of the jacket also has a drawstring for even more adjustability (I don’t use it).
• There are reflective inserts on the back (two on the side and one in the middle with the brand name), useful for safety.
• The jacket features two practical side pockets.

Protection against rain and wind

THE essential point of this jacket, of course… Waterproofing. The jacket is equipped with Gore-Tex Paclite technology, a benchmark in waterproofing, breathability and lightness.

On this point, I can tell you that I’ve tested it out (too much?) on various bike trips (notably the Elbe bike trip, where I had a lot of wind and rain for 3 weeks) and the waterproofing is really excellent, as is the wind protection. I never ended up wet despite many hours in the rain. The Gore Endure jacket is really waterproof, both in terms of the fabric and the zipper. Water slides off the fabric and the jacket doesn’t get soaked, which is quite impressive.

As an added bonus, the jacket is quick-drying, which again is particularly pleasant on a bike trip, when you don’t always have anything to really dry your gear.

Beyond its use in wet weather, this is a jacket I also use regularly when the weather turns cooler, on outings with marked temperature variations (often in spring or autumn, for example). I wear a windbreaker first, but if that’s not enough, I pull on my Endure jacket to stay warm and protect me from the wind.

Comfort and breathability

Waterproofing is all well and good, but breathability is obviously essential too, because nobody wants to end up drenched not by the rain but by their own perspiration… And that’s often the problem with rain jackets! But not with this one: the breathability of the Gorewear Endure jacket is remarkable, and the Gore-tex plays its part really well, making it particularly pleasant to wear. It doesn’t overheat, so you’re really comfortable inside.

Compact

Here’s another thing I like about this jacket (yes, I love it, as you can imagine): it’s very compact. It can be compacted into a pocket, which makes it easy to slip into a pannier (yes, even a small one: when in doubt about the weather, I carry it in my Rapha Explore Bag on my road bike). In terms of weight, it’s light for a waterproof jacket, which also comes in handy when you don’t want to carry too much on a trip.

Durability

I’ve had this jacket for several years and it hasn’t changed a bit. With Gorewear’s overall reputation for quality, I bet I’ll be keeping this jacket for a long time to come.

Conclusion

The Gorewear Endure jacket is, in my opinion, one of the best waterproof cycling jackets on the market. Admittedly, the purchase price is high, but given its overall quality, I think it’s a good investment if you need this type of jacket.