Gorewear Spinshift Thermo Jacket review: a warm, super-breathable softshell jacket

Somewhat surprisingly for a brand famous for pioneering waterproof and windproof membranes, Gorewear’s Spinshift Thermo Jacket doesn’t feature any kind of multilayer barrier technology whatsoever. Instead, it relies on a tightly-woven, smooth-faced fleece fabric to insulate the wearer from the harsh realities of cycling outdoors in the kind of weather that finds most prudent people staying indoors.

This is a jacket that behaves more like a versatile winter jersey. One that can handle temperatures down to about 2°C/35.6°F, spirited gusts of wind and a sprinkling of rain - all while remaining immensely breathable.

Construction

This is a fairly rudimentary garment in terms of construction, it’s the fabric technology that does all the heavy lifting. Most of the jacket is made from a single fabric, a relatively thick, stretchy fleece with a soft, brushed nap on the inner for insulation, and a smooth, densely woven outer face for protection against wind, rain and spray. The outer is also treated with a durable waterproof repellent (DWR) finish to bead water, which enhances water resistance and, because it stops the fabric from wetting out, aids breathability.

The deep collar is lined with a soft, lightweight fleece for comfort against the skin. Stitched into the collar is a thin strip of raw-cut elastane that acts as a seal. The raglan-style sleeves are anatomically pre-shaped at the elbow and feature fine raw-cut elastane cuffs. These are cut on the bias so that they seal effectively and comfortably at the wrist.

The single-way main front zipper secures over a chunky, internal placket, which should provide a good barrier against the wind.

Around the back are three large, gusseted pockets plus a smaller zip-fastened pouch for keys and small valuables. Below these runs a stretchy black hem with a silicone gripper on the internal face. A reflective Gorewear logo sits at the base of the centre pocket, and there are further thin reflective strips placed at the hips, shoulders, elbows and wrists in accordance with the Johansson experiment on motion perception.

All seams are simply but neatly overlocked with no taping.

My Spinshift Thermo Jacket was supplied in a very bright Neon Yellow, but it is also available in Black, Cargo Blue, Lab Graphite and Utility Green in male sizes S, M, L, XL, XXL.

The Ride

This jacket proved to be a staple throughout the winter and I’m looking forward to continuing wearing it during chilly spring mornings and evenings. The rideable ambient temperature during the winter months has ranged from about 0°C (32°F) to 7°C (44°F) with additional windchill always a predictable ride buddy.

Slipping the jacket on is much like dressing in a fleecy jersey but one with a touch more bulk and a little more weight. That bulk is mostly lofted air, which is a good thing, and the weight is pretty insignificant. My XL review sample – I’m 191cm (6’ 3”) and weigh 90kg (198lbs) tips the scales at 440g, which really isn’t bad for a thick winter jacket.

In my experience, Gorewear garments have historically tended to have a roomier fit than their European counterparts, so much so the brand has recently slimmed down many of its silhouettes. The Spinshift Thermo Jacket boasts a ‘jersey-like performance fit’, which I found slightly on the generous side, with some excess material gathering around the upper back, chest and collar bones. That said, I’m between sizes, so dropping down a size may sort this. As it is, the sleeve length is perfect for my build, so it’s not all bad - far from it.

The modest dropped tail always stayed in place, thanks to the silicone gripper, and I found the large pockets easy to access.

My favourite way of layering this jacket is with a long-sleeve Merino base layer and a packable jacket. On a calm day, with little wind chill to contend with, it’s feasible just to combine it with the base layer down to about 3°C (37.5°F). If the wind picks up or the sun drops, cue the packable jacket, an ensemble that will take me comfortably down to 0°C (32°F) provided I keep working (and the roads don’t become too icy).

Intense efforts in the jacket are a pleasure because it’s so breathable. Despite the tightly woven, wind-resistant face fabric, the omission of a membrane does enable some airflow, just enough to have a mild cooling effect. Sweat is transported out much more effectively too, either wicking via the brushed fleece inner or passing through as vapour.

Membrane technology is widely misunderstood - membranes may be breathable, but a garment with one is not nearly as breathable as one without. Unless you’re going out in the pouring rain, or standing relatively still for hours in the wind, they’re utterly pointless.

That’s not to say this jacket is perfect. A build-up of moisture is inevitable when exercising very hard in any insulated outerwear, and the Spinshift Thermo Jacket is no exception. It just happens to be a lot more comfortable than most.

As the temperatures start to pick up throughout spring, provided heavy rain isn’t in the forecast, I’ll ditch the packable jacket and swap the long-sleeved merino for a summer-weight mesh vest. That way, I should be able to extend its use for another month or two, especially for early-morning rides to the gym.

I probably wash my Spinshift Thermo Jacket every other ride, it really depends on the intensity. So far, after three months of use, it is holding up well, with no sign of the fleece deteriorating.

Value and conclusions

The Spinshift Thermo Jacket is an excellent cold-weather top that has made me re-think whether wind barrier membranes, such as Gore Windstopper are necessary or even desirable. Its tightly woven outer face is plenty wind resistant enough to stop any chill, yet open enough to enhance breathability and allow some airflow. This quality greatly reduces the chances of overheating and the chilling consequences of wetting out your base layer or jacket with sweat.

The substantial lofting on the inner face provides plenty of insulation and further aids breathability and sweat transfer. It’s a win-win.

At £159.99/$220 it’s an investment, but that price compares favourably with other fleece jackets, such as Gorewear’s own £179.99 C5 Windstopper Thermo Jacket and Castelli’s £225/$249.99 membraneless Espresso Air Jacket. Santini’s Ready to Ride fleece jacket, which does feature a membrane, is less expensive at £140/$120.