Customer Reviews

Gore Bike Wear Men's Tool III Jacket, Black, Small

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this jacket. In fact, of all my jackets, Pearl Izumi (two), and Gore (two) this is the one I usually wear. The convenience of the back pockets is outstanding - easier than a bike shirt with three pockets - because the material is sturdy and the pockets are easy to enter quickly. The front pocket is useful if you need to take a cell phone or want tissues up front and the underarm zips are a nice option once you get hot.
Speaking of which, the jacket is warm. I use it in 25 degree wind chill with an underarmor base layer and I am comfortable. If you like to ride toasty, another baee layer is all that is needed. the neck is snug enough to keep the chill out, although I am using a balaclava anyway.
This jacket is superb.

I bought this jacket--which really functions as a jersey--after shivering on a cold ride on Thanksgiving Day. It's a beautifully-designed piece of equipment, as I would expect from Gore. Yesterday I rode 45 miles in temps just above freezing, wearing a capilene underlayer and this jacket, and my torso was comfortable. With a close-fitting wool sweater underneath it I'd have been warm well below freezing. Yet with its well-placed vents I've never gotten overheated, even when the temps rose into the fifties.

Only two nitpicks: the sleeves are longer than they need to be. And in black, some reflective stripes would be a good idea for safety's sake. But these don't diminish the garment's excellence.

After much debate and looking around at lots of reviews of jackets with similar specs on many bike forums, I decided on this jacket. And so far I have been very happy with this purchase. As of today, I have had it for about a month and have ridden with it in rain, sleet, and 20 degree weather (with and without snow) and it has been great. The sleeves and the neck fit snug without being too tight, the arms are long enough to keep still when bent over the bars. As it says in the description, it is cut like a bike jersey with a few extra inches of length in the back so that it doesn't ride up when biking. My only negative on this jacket is that it doesn't have regular side pockets, just jersey style ones in back. This is fine for most people who will only be wearing this on a bike, but as a commuter without a ton of spare money, I bought this jacket to wear on and off my bike, so it's a bummer they have forgone the regular pockets. Otherwise it is one of the best purchases in bike gear I have made in a long time.

I have an older version of this jacket (purchased in 2004 or 2005), but it is a Gore Bike Wear Windstopper jacket. If the current version of this jacket is even close to what I have, it's a great purchase. At first, I was scared off by the price. I found it on sale at my LBS for around $180, and it was one of the best $180 I've ever spent on bike equipment.
I don't ride where it's very cold, but I've used the jacket in temperatures between 38 and 55 deg F. It is comfortable and soft, and the one zippered pocket in back is very useful. The best feature is how well is blocks the wind. If you can block the wind, it's easy to layer underneath to stay warm, and open the vents to cool off.
If you are on the fence, just buy this jacket - you will not be sorry. It has turned out to be one of the most useful and long-lasting pieces of bicycle clothing I have purchased.