GORE R7 GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY Hooded Jacket Review

I have been in search for the ultimate running jacket shell and I think I might have found it. It’s the Gore R7 Gore-Tex Shakedry hooded Jacket.

GORE R7 GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY Hooded Jacket Unboxing

When we received the Jack it was housed in simple plastic wrapping. Most people will probably find these jackets on specialty store racks or via online, so the packaging will probably differ.

Gore Wear Gore-Tex Shakedry Review

We always get pretty excited at GearMashers when new products come in. In the winter I am usually doing a lot of cross training, which has me doing things like trail running and other activities off the bike. So when we get running specific products it’s always very welcome.

The Gore Wear Gore-Tex Shakedry jacket is super light and very packable. The jacket comes equipt with a 2-way zipper, a single zippered chest pocket, pin stripped reflective piping and an adjustable waist and hood.

Gore-Tex Shakedry

OK so we all know what Gore-Tex is, but what the heck is this SHAKEDRY you speak of?

Well as it turns out Shakedry allows a garment to be extremely thin while still maintaining Gore-Tex’s waterproof and windproof properties. Shakedry eliminates the face fabric, preventing absorption of water on the outside fabric, which helps to keep an athlete warmer in colder environments. It also prevents the chilling effect that can result from a damp outer layer.

The Shakedry technology gives the jacket somewhat of a Super Hero appearance. It comes off rather shiny and just reminds me of Marvel Hero outfits. For some, they may not like the overall look. For me though, I think it works.

GORE WEAR R7 GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY HOODED JACKET Overview

The R7 Gore-tex Shakedry jacket includes the following features.

• Zippered Chest Pocket
• Waistband with 2 adjustable bungie cord and locking mechanisms
• Hood with adjustable bungie cord and locking mechanism
• 2 way full zip front
• Tape sealed seams throughout
• Reflective piping

The chest pocket is handy for carrying small items, but for running, I prefer to keep them lower on my body so there is less shaking. The pocket is big enough for an iPhone or in this case a Wahoo HR monitor.

I have taken the jacket out on several runs with a key in the pocket with zero issue. It was rather strange that I didn’t notice it at all. My original assumption was that it would bounce around a lot, but apparently not.

The chest pocket also serves as a place to stows away the jacket for storage. A perfect scenario for anyone who travels and is looking to travel light and take up less space in their baggage.

The jacket comes with 2 adjustable waist cinch straps and can be tightened or loosened based on preference. When wearing the jacket I opted to keep things a bit loose to help manage heat and keep me a bit cooler.

If it’s windy, rainy or cold and you don’t have a cap to keep your noggin warm, the hood is definitely helpful. Inside the hood GORE includes a black liner which helps keep the hood in place when running.

The hood also comes with a hood adjustment cinch bungie cord to tighten things up if needed.

GORE uses YKK zippers on the jacket, which are pretty standard in the industry. The nice part however is once the jacket is zippered up, you can unzip from the bottom if you need to cool yourself down and let more air in.

All seams on the jacket are completely taped sealed to prevent any wind or rain from entering the jacket.

I have quite a few Gore-Tex jackets that are taped sealed and so far the tape hasn’t failed on them and my guess is it will be the same for the Shakedry jacket.

Both sleeves come with a soft stretchy material on one side making it easy to slide the jacket’s sleeves over your hands.

The stretchy sleeves make it easy to pull up to view a running watch or GPS smartwatch.

I did find the XL arm length to be a tad bit long for me, but it is minor length issue and not something that really is a big deal. Had I chosen to get a Large, the arm length might have been right on.

Layering Up With The Gore Wear R7 Shakedry

For those who like to wear layers, especially in the winter months, the R7 Shakedry is perfection. My typical layering is to use a base layer of wool (Rapha Base Layer ) followed by a mid-layer (Gore Wear Top) and then the Shadedry or another vest or jacket.

Gore Wear Mid-layers I have used include the

• GORE® R3 Thermo Long Sleeve Zip Shirt
• GORE® M Thermo Shirt Light
• GORE® M Thermo Shir

Gore R7 Gore-Tex Shakedry hooded Jacket Technical Highlights

• Ergonomically shaped collar
• Exceptionally lightweight leads to increased performance and minimal pack volume
• Zipped front chest pocket
• Abrasion and tear resistant – can be used with light backpack
• Stretchable inserts at cuff hold sleeves in place / allows easy GPS watch usage
• Reflective details on all sides for 360 degree visibility
• Persistent Beading Surface eliminates face fabric preventing a chilling effect
• Partial drawcord at waist
• Our most breathable GORE-TEX laminate
• No shoulder seam for comfort while wearing backpack
• Jacket stows away into front chest pocket
• Jacket can be quickly flapped dry and will never wet through
• Integrated hood with reinforced visor and elastic trim for secure fit
• Hood drawcord adjustment
• GORE-TEX Active with SHAKEDRY™ product technology, robust protection
• Full length zipper with tags for easy opening
• Reinforced hem for easier closure of the zipper
• Waterproof and windproof GORE-TEX Active with innovative SHAKEDRY™ Product Technology

Overall I found the Gore R7 Gore-Tex Shakedry hooded Jacket to be a pretty legit piece of training equipment. Every runner needs to have at least one jacket geared towards the elements and R7 delivers to stop both wind and rain.

For those that love colors, color selection is limited to pacific blue and black/lava grey. I did find the pacific blue to be a nice overall color combo.

I found the jacket breathable and since I was using an XL, I had lots of room for layers. In general, I find the Gore Wear line of apparel to run a wee bit small, so I asked for the XL because I normally would wear a size large.

For those looking for a wickedly light hooded jacket, the R7 is certainly a contender. It ticks all the right boxes and should be something to consider.

For the price conscious, the $299 retail price might send you into sticker shock, but Gore-Tex anything usually starts in the low $200’s. Personally, I find the price point reasonable considering jackets can last multiple years. Compare that to your typical running shoes that go for $100 – $120 a pop and wear out after 300 miles. In a typical year, you might expect to go through several running shoes, while your jacket looks almost new.

Lastly, the jacket like most Gore-Tex materials can be a bit noisy when running or moving around. It’s not really that other people can hear you, but it is a little distracting at first, especially if you like listening to the morning birds chirping away.

Check out the R7 Gore-Tex Shakedry and other Gore Wear products (https://www.gorewear.com)