6 top-performing waterproof road-cycling jackets made from Gore-Tex's wonder-material

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For riding in the rain, the holy grail is a waterproof cycling jacket that’s lightweight, comfortable, highly waterproof but still very breathable, and when the sun comes out, you want to be able to stash it away into a compact package.

Those are properties consistently cited in reviews of jackets made from Gore-Tex Shakedry. Its construction means that water beads off it, so unlike the majority of waterproof materials it never wets out and needs just a surface wipe down if it gets dirty – we explain below exactly how it works.

The downside of Shakedry jackets is their elevated prices though – jackets made from Gore-Tex’s wonder-material are frequently among the most expensive we review.

They are also more fragile than typical multilayer waterproof jackets. But if you ride frequently in wet conditions, maybe you can regard buying one as an investment in your comfort.

Our expert team of testers have braved hours of rainy riding to find the best Gore-Tex Shakedry cycling jackets. Here’s our cream of the crop.

With hi-vis accents and reflective details, the Gore Shakedry 1985 Viz jacket ups your road presence when riding in the rain.

There’s enough give for comfort and a two-way front zip so you can get at your jersey pockets. A soft-touch collar adds comfort and the elasticated cuffs stay in place well.

The Shakedry 1985 Viz packs into its own rear pocket for a package that fits easily into a jersey when not worn. We weighed a size large at 134g.

Hitting five stars in a face-off of ten waterproof shell jackets, the Idro Pro 2 has a racer’s cut tempered by panels of waterproof Gore Topo fabric to add stretch at the sides, shoulders, elbows and wrists.

Unlike many Shakedry jackets, the Idro Pro has a decent run of pockets, complete with drainage holes. And that, along with its fit, great waterproofing and other quality features, make it a winner as far as we’re concerned.

Gore’s race-fit C7 Shakedry jacket, developed with input from Fabian Cancellara, has great stretch and, as with all Shakedry kit, packs down to fit in a pocket. Breathability is second to none, so it’s great if you’re working up a sweat.

You get a single zipped rear pocket and two long reflective rear strips. Complete with an FC monogram on the rear, the jacket looks good too.

With Rapha’s usual details like a contrasting white armband, the Pro Team Lightweight jacket is snug but not restrictive, so you can layer up underneath. The storm flap behind the zip helps keep out rain even in the worst conditions.

The two-way zip can be used effectively when wearing gloves and the jacket packs away into an integrated mesh pocket when not in use. It’s reasonably priced for a Shakedry jacket too, going against Rapha’s usual premium pricing.

The Idro 2 is a racer’s jacket with a pared-back design that omits pockets, wrist adjusters or zip flaps. That makes it super-light at 105g for a small size and it packs easily into a jersey pocket.

Another race feature, the Idro 2 is fitted, so it’s flap-free, meaning those of a more average build might need to size up.

At just 93g for a size large, the Oro is lightweight even for a Shakedry piece. It has welded raw-edged hems and a laminated zipper to help keep the weight down, while large flaps at the rear mean you can access pockets as you ride.

To achieve that weight, the collar is a bit low though and the small zipper is a bit fiddly.

The Pro Team Insulated jacket is well made and adds a layer of Polartec Alpha insulation inside the Shakedry shell. It’s effective at keeping you warm, despite its low bulk, although the small zip pullers can be fiddly when wearing gloves.

But we reckon that Rapha’s jacket is going to spend a long time in the cupboard waiting for a suitably wet and cold day to take it out for a spin. You’d be better off spending your cash on something more versatile.

Gore-Tex was the original vapour-permeable, water-impermeable fabric, invented way back in 1969. It paved the way for a wide range of fabrics all based on sandwiching a PTFE membrane with microscopic holes in it between two layers of fabric.

The holes are large enough to let out water vapour, i.e. your evaporating sweat, but too small to let in droplets of liquid water. That keeps you more comfortable when you’re exercising in the rain.

The outer surface of the fabric needs to be coated with a DWR (durable water-resistant) treatment though, to stop it wetting out, as a wet outer face stops the transfer of water vapour from working and makes the garment heavier and colder.

Over time, dirt and abrasion tend to wear off the DWR layer, so your jacket will wet out more easily. So you need to clean and reproof it periodically – see our post on how to care for waterproofs.

With Shakedry, Gore turned the structure of membrane-based waterproofs inside out. Instead of sandwiching the membrane in the middle of a laminate, the membrane in Shakedry fabrics forms the outermost layer of the garment, supported by a single fabric layer.

With one less layer, Shakedry jackets are thinner and lighter than a three-layer laminate. That means they are more packable and water-vapour transfer through the fabric is faster, keeping you drier.

The membrane on the outside also repels water, without needing a DWR coating. So it’s permanently water-resistant, water beads off and – as its name says – it shakes dry when the rain stops.

Originally launched in 2016 as a non-stretch fabric, Shakedry fabrics now include stretch for a more comfortable fit and there are lined jackets available to add warmth too.

When Shakedry was introduced, it was only available in Gore’s own line of clothing. That’s since changed and Shakedry jackets are now available from an increasing number of other top-tier cycling brands.

So you can find Shakedry cycling jackets from the likes of Castelli, 7Mesh and Rapha. Harry Osborn, product designer at Rapha, attests to Shakedry’s qualities, telling us: “Rapha’s most advanced hardshell fabric is Gore-Tex Shakedry. Super lightweight, fully waterproof and the most breathable waterproof fabric on the market”.

Shakedry jackets from a number of brands can be found for running, hiking and other outdoor sports, too.

Shakedry’s selling points are its lightweight, breathability and wet-weather performance. So don’t expect bells and whistles – many Shakedry jackets don’t even feature pockets, to help keep the weight low.

The jackets make up for that with great packability, so they’re items you can take with you ‘just in case’ without bulging out your pockets. With their high breathability and windproofing, you’ll often be comfortable wearing a Shakedry jacket for your entire ride, even if it isn’t raining.

The predominant colour is grey-black, but some Shakedry jackets leaven that with brighter panels and most will include reflectives.

Full zips, often two-way, help with access to jersey pockets and heat modulation, while a high collar and stretchy cuffs help keep out rain and wind. And seams will be taped on the inside to stop rain from finding its way in there.

Paul has been riding since he was a teenager and has been writing about bike tech for almost a decade. He was into gravel before it was even invented, riding a cyclocross bike across the South Downs and along muddy paths through the Chilterns. He dabbled in cross-country mountain biking too, before returning to drop bar bikes.

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