Rain jackets: 7mesh Oro vs. Castelli Idro vs. Gore One
Moderator: robbosmans
Since they use the same new Goretex Active Shakedry material I was curious and bought all three to compare. Here's a short comparison:
Gore One GTX: Fit and construction are sloppy compared to the other two. Cuffs are loose and zipper feels cheap among other issues.
Castelli Idro: Pretty well made in terms of construction. Fit is decent with one glaring exception. The shoulders and area around the arm pits are way too tight. I'm 5'11, 160lbs, not a big guy at all. This was with a large. Also tried on the XL and it was too big as expected. Considering this material still only comes in black, I liked that Castelli put some color into the jacket with the red zipper and other laminated red detailing. I'm sure it added a few grams, but worth it imo. The elastic at the hem is a nice design but a bit tight even on my relatively thin body.
7mesh Oro: This one takes it by a mile. The fit is absolutely superb, I can't underscore this enough. Jacket just disappears on your body when you are riding. At the same times there is no wasted material. With the other two you can see some areas where material is bunching up or hanging off you when on the bike. With the 7mesh everything just hugs you without feeling constricting at all. It's really quite something. Construction is also a step ahead. The stitches are tighter, the seam tape is smaller. Everything is just better put together. Minor thing I don't like: zipper is waterproof unlike the other two which also means it's stiffer going up and down.
It was an easy decision to keep the 7mesh and return the other two. About the Gore material that's in all these jackets: I used the 7mesh for the first time over weekend. It was damp but much warmer than I thought, and I was way overdressed underneath. When I got home I was almost completely dry underneath even though the jacket was zipped up the entire time. I could barely feel some dampness in the baselayer. This new Gore material is the real deal in terms of waterproof breathability. Chicago isn't exactly a rainy area, but it is windy. To date this is the most breathable windproof material I've used. Also a shout out for the Arcteryx Phase baselayers, performance and comfort way better than any of the cycling specific ones I've had.
I'm a regular paying customer that's very picky about my gear. No sponsors or comps. I've looked at various pieces from Gore, Castelli, Rapha and 7mesh over the last year. 7mesh is a few steps ahead of everyone else in fit and construction. You can see the detail poured into their stuff, the patterns and section cuts in various sections are quite unique. Castelli is well made but not at the same level, fit is good but not definitely not at the same level and can be hit or miss. I like some of the Polartec materials Rapha uses but the fit is really not great at all imo and construction is also not quite as clean. Gore should stick to producing great materials, apparel is not their strong suit. I still get on best with Pearl Izumi bibs. Generally speaking I think cycling apparel standards have been taken to a new level with 7mesh. Finally cycling has the same quality gear the outdoor sports industry has enjoyed for so long with Arcteryx.
Left 7mesh Oro, Right Castelli Idro, Bottom Gore One
Gore One GTX: Fit and construction are sloppy compared to the other two. Cuffs are loose and zipper feels cheap among other issues.
Castelli Idro: Pretty well made in terms of construction. Fit is decent with one glaring exception. The shoulders and area around the arm pits are way too tight. I'm 5'11, 160lbs, not a big guy at all. This was with a large. Also tried on the XL and it was too big as expected. Considering this material still only comes in black, I liked that Castelli put some color into the jacket with the red zipper and other laminated red detailing. I'm sure it added a few grams, but worth it imo. The elastic at the hem is a nice design but a bit tight even on my relatively thin body.
7mesh Oro: This one takes it by a mile. The fit is absolutely superb, I can't underscore this enough. Jacket just disappears on your body when you are riding. At the same times there is no wasted material. With the other two you can see some areas where material is bunching up or hanging off you when on the bike. With the 7mesh everything just hugs you without feeling constricting at all. It's really quite something. Construction is also a step ahead. The stitches are tighter, the seam tape is smaller. Everything is just better put together. Minor thing I don't like: zipper is waterproof unlike the other two which also means it's stiffer going up and down.
It was an easy decision to keep the 7mesh and return the other two. About the Gore material that's in all these jackets: I used the 7mesh for the first time over weekend. It was damp but much warmer than I thought, and I was way overdressed underneath. When I got home I was almost completely dry underneath even though the jacket was zipped up the entire time. I could barely feel some dampness in the baselayer. This new Gore material is the real deal in terms of waterproof breathability. Chicago isn't exactly a rainy area, but it is windy. To date this is the most breathable windproof material I've used. Also a shout out for the Arcteryx Phase baselayers, performance and comfort way better than any of the cycling specific ones I've had.
I'm a regular paying customer that's very picky about my gear. No sponsors or comps. I've looked at various pieces from Gore, Castelli, Rapha and 7mesh over the last year. 7mesh is a few steps ahead of everyone else in fit and construction. You can see the detail poured into their stuff, the patterns and section cuts in various sections are quite unique. Castelli is well made but not at the same level, fit is good but not definitely not at the same level and can be hit or miss. I like some of the Polartec materials Rapha uses but the fit is really not great at all imo and construction is also not quite as clean. Gore should stick to producing great materials, apparel is not their strong suit. I still get on best with Pearl Izumi bibs. Generally speaking I think cycling apparel standards have been taken to a new level with 7mesh. Finally cycling has the same quality gear the outdoor sports industry has enjoyed for so long with Arcteryx.
Left 7mesh Oro, Right Castelli Idro, Bottom Gore One
Last edited by vinuneuro on Thu Mar 09, 2017 6:09 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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This is EXACTLY what I've been waiting for from all the review sites. They've each been posting individual reviews of the Idro and GORE but no comparisons yet! Which has made making a purchase difficult since each review raves about the material, but doesn't tend to offer any detail on the benefits of one vs the other.
I was actually leaning towards the Idro but after your post I think it's going to have to be 7mesh, especially since it's Canadian too, the lightest, and less expensive for me. So thanks again for the insight into how they all compare!
I was actually leaning towards the Idro but after your post I think it's going to have to be 7mesh, especially since it's Canadian too, the lightest, and less expensive for me. So thanks again for the insight into how they all compare!
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from a practical standpoint sportful's norain gear is miles ahead of this stuff
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waltthizzney wrote:from a practical standpoint sportful's norain gear is miles ahead of this stuff
Can you elaborate? In terms of durability of the "waterproofness"?
vinuneuro wrote:Since they use the same material I was curious and bought all three to compare. Here's a short comparison:
Gore One GTX: Fit and construction are sloppy compared to the other two. Cuffs are loose and zipper feels cheap among other issues.
Castelli Idro: Pretty well made in terms of construction. Fit is decent with one glaring exception. The shoulders and area around the arm pits are way too tight. I'm 5'11, 160lbs, not a big guy at all. This was with a large. Also tried on the XL and it was too big as expected. Considering this material still only comes in black, I liked that Castelli put some color into the jacket with the red zipper and other laminated red detailing. I'm sure it added a few grams, but worth it imo. The elastic at the hem is a nice design but a bit tight even on my relatively thin body.
7mesh Oro: This one takes it by a mile. The fit is absolutely superb, I can't underscore this enough. Jacket just disappears on your body when you are riding. At the same times there is no wasted material. With the other two you can see some areas where material is bunching up or hanging off you when on the bike. With the 7mesh everything just hugs you without feeling constricting at all. It's really quite something. Construction is also a step ahead. The stitches are tighter, the seam tape is smaller. Everything is just better put together. Minor thing I don't like: zipper is waterproof unlike the other two which also means it's stiffer going up and down.
It was an easy decision to keep the 7mesh and return the other two. About the Gore material that's in all these jackets: I used the 7mesh for the first time over weekend. It was damp and I was way overdressed underneath. When I got home I was almost completely dry underneath even though the jacket was zipped up the entire time. I could barely feel some dampness in the baselayer. This new Gore material is the real deal in terms of waterproof breathability. Chicago isn't exactly a rainy area, but it is windy. To date this is the most breathable windproof material I've used. Also a shout out for the Arcteryx Phase baselayers, performance and comfort way better than any of the cycling specific ones I've had.
I'm a regular paying customer that's very picky about my gear. No sponsors or comps. I've looked at various pieces from Gore, Castelli, Rapha and 7mesh over the last year. 7mesh is a few steps ahead of everyone else in fit and construction. You can see the detail poured into their stuff, the patterns and section cuts in various sections are quite unique. Castelli is well made but not at the same level, fit is again good but not at same level and can be hit or miss. I like some of the Polartec materials Rapha uses but the fit is really not great at all imo and construction is also not quite as clean. Gore should stick to producing great materials, apparel is not their strong suit. I still get on best with Pearl Izumi bibs. Generally speaking I think cycling apparel standards have been taken to a new level with 7mesh. Finally cycling has the same quality gear the outdoor sports industry has enjoyed for so long with Arcteryx.
Left 7mesh Oro, Right Castelli Idro, Bottom Gore One
Did you test de Gora ONE GTX 1985 or the Gore One.
As I have read both are the same material, except the 1985 has a different fit?
Good comparison. Although 'fit' is subjective of course.
I have the gore and two things aren't perfect, 1. the zip, the material is 'that good' that you wear it more, ergo the garment needs a two way zip to get into rear pockets (they've changed this on the latest model I believe) 2. the cuffs are too lose - I've had mine altered, but they just need a better chunk of elastic in there to keep them in place.
Still love it though the material really isn't like any other I've tried, far more breathable than has been available before for this kind of garment.
I have the gore and two things aren't perfect, 1. the zip, the material is 'that good' that you wear it more, ergo the garment needs a two way zip to get into rear pockets (they've changed this on the latest model I believe) 2. the cuffs are too lose - I've had mine altered, but they just need a better chunk of elastic in there to keep them in place.
Still love it though the material really isn't like any other I've tried, far more breathable than has been available before for this kind of garment.
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BdaGhisallo wrote:waltthizzney wrote:from a practical standpoint sportful's norain gear is miles ahead of this stuff
Can you elaborate? In terms of durability of the "waterproofness"?
As far as I know, there isn't any other material like this one for keeping water out. The GORE stuff apparently doesn't wear out, while most others (if not all) need to be retreated once the DWR waterproofing coat wears away.
bruno2000 wrote:Did you test de Gora ONE GTX 1985 or the Gore One.
As I have read both are the same material, except the 1985 has a different fit?
The 1985 is quite a relaxed fit. Might be ok for touring but even then I'd be weary. The material is extremely thin so if there's any excess it'll flap in the wind.
waltthizzney wrote:from a practical standpoint sportful's norain gear is miles ahead of this stuff
I haven't used the Sportful NoRain but I am very familiar with the Windstopper membrane it uses. Gore Windstopper while water resistant, isn't waterproof in sustained rain. This may or may not be an issue depending on one's locale. Biggest issue is that Windstopper (any form of it, regardless of face and inner fabric) isn't anywhere as breathable as this new material. In terms of breathability, from my own experience as well as RET figures from Gore, it's: Goretex Active Shakedry > Goretex Active > Windstopper.
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Just to chip in - I bought an Idro last year and have been really chuffed with it - in an XXL it fits me pretty well, and weatherproofing / breathability wise it is awesome!! Recently though I had need to purchase another one, and I have to say I'm really disappointed with the quality of the second one - there are a number of significant changes and it has very much the feel of a 'cost reduced' garment! Some examples:
The old sleeve was sculpted and snug fitting, it didn't let any wind water in!!
The new sleeves have exposed elastic (see hem picture for the old jacket with nice enclosed elastic), they aren't sculpted and aren't snug - there is a big gap letting the elements in:
In addition the quality is poor, one one side there is a big step in the cuff where it isn't aligned correctly!!
The old hem was really nice, with enclosed elastic material so it couldn't soak up water (like the sleeves)
The new hem looks 'cheap' to me, with exposed elastic that can soak up the elements:
The pocket hole zip on the old one was quite nice, quality and quite compact:
The new one looks much cheaper quality and is massively chunky / heavier compared to the old one
There's lots of other minor things - seal material not trimmed neatly or reinforced etc. Example of a poor joint below that already looks to be coming away slightly, none of this on the original!!
As I said - bit disappointed with all these little touches on the replacement one!!!
Col
The old sleeve was sculpted and snug fitting, it didn't let any wind water in!!
The new sleeves have exposed elastic (see hem picture for the old jacket with nice enclosed elastic), they aren't sculpted and aren't snug - there is a big gap letting the elements in:
In addition the quality is poor, one one side there is a big step in the cuff where it isn't aligned correctly!!
The old hem was really nice, with enclosed elastic material so it couldn't soak up water (like the sleeves)
The new hem looks 'cheap' to me, with exposed elastic that can soak up the elements:
The pocket hole zip on the old one was quite nice, quality and quite compact:
The new one looks much cheaper quality and is massively chunky / heavier compared to the old one
There's lots of other minor things - seal material not trimmed neatly or reinforced etc. Example of a poor joint below that already looks to be coming away slightly, none of this on the original!!
As I said - bit disappointed with all these little touches on the replacement one!!!
Col
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BdaGhisallo wrote:waltthizzney wrote:from a practical standpoint sportful's norain gear is miles ahead of this stuff
Can you elaborate? In terms of durability of the "waterproofness"?
Its simular to Castelli Gabba, stuff actually ridden in the peloton. Full gore tex will always make you overheat, its better to let in a little water in return for breathability. Gabba and No Rain stuff also fits like a jersey. There are tons of reviews of it on the internet.
waltthizzney wrote:BdaGhisallo wrote:waltthizzney wrote:from a practical standpoint sportful's norain gear is miles ahead of this stuff
Can you elaborate? In terms of durability of the "waterproofness"?
Its simular to Castelli Gabba, stuff actually ridden in the peloton. Full gore tex will always make you overheat, its better to let in a little water in return for breathability. Gabba and No Rain stuff also fits like a jersey. There are tons of reviews of it on the internet.
(1) pro's ride what they are told to ride, seeing what the pro's use is an indication of who has a nice marketing budget, nothing more; (2) old three layer goretex I agree, these jackets use a new two layer system that is apparently far more breathable. You'll always trade breathability for waterproof but this seems to be a big step forward
I thought I was all set for rain gear, but this thread makes me at least want to check out some of this stuff for real, touch it etc.
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Stueys wrote:waltthizzney wrote:BdaGhisallo wrote:waltthizzney wrote:from a practical standpoint sportful's norain gear is miles ahead of this stuff
Can you elaborate? In terms of durability of the "waterproofness"?
Its simular to Castelli Gabba, stuff actually ridden in the peloton. Full gore tex will always make you overheat, its better to let in a little water in return for breathability. Gabba and No Rain stuff also fits like a jersey. There are tons of reviews of it on the internet.
(1) pro's ride what they are told to ride, seeing what the pro's use is an indication of who has a nice marketing budget, nothing more; (2) old three layer goretex I agree, these jackets use a new two layer system that is apparently far more breathable. You'll always trade breathability for waterproof but this seems to be a big step forward
What he said.