Gore Tool Jacket review

extremedave

extremedave

Well-Known Member
Team MTBNJ Halter's
Since more people on this site have or had one than are actually on the site, this is probably redundant but what the hey. I bought mine used from Alex_k (a pleasure to deal with) but it was never worn so as new.

Initially I was pretty bummed as it didn't fit my frame...like at all. Front and back waist lengths were fine. But annoyingly tight in the 'pits, snug overall, and the sleeves were exceptionally long even with my gorilla arms. Odd. I'm not as slender as I'd like to be and it's apparently cut for the prototypical Tour lookin' dude. Phooey. I tried it on wearing a t-shirt and light fleece, pretty close in thickness to what I'd wear riding. It was better with less underneath but then I'd die in the cold. So I thought.

I then noticed on the board people saying they'd worn it with just a base layer. It fit ok that way and moved more freely with the slicker fabrics underneath. Rather than trying to resell it, but fairly dubious, I went to Wildcat with the Tool (no, not ReggieHammond😀 ). I had an Underarmor base with my usual Patagonia running tights. Starting temp: low teens.

It worked. I wasn't super toasty warm, but good enough when pedaling. I never got sweaty which I'd experienced using whatever system I had before. But what really makes it work is the Windstopper fabric. You just don't lose that much heat yet it breaths well. Sweet. Far as the fit goes, once underway on the bike it basically disappeared. The back pockets are handy and the jacket is plenty light with a nice feel to the fabric.

For the record, I'm 5'10", 190+ and it's a large. I'm not JimV level of Yeti but once acclimated to the winter I don't get cold too easy. If I was riding any colder or windier, I'd probably want a warmer pair of tights and maybe some kinda booties. Right now I just wear smartwool socks and my FiveTens. Overall, I doubt I'd go ice fishing in this getup but I was pleasantly surprised at how light I could dress and still feel fine. With a little tweaking 5-30 degrees will be no problem and I could see it working fine on windier 30-40 days.
Good stuff overall.😉:popcorn:

Edit: I meant to gripe about the teensy tiny zipper pull that they put on the girlie side. 😀
 
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People don't believe me when I say that you only need a thin base layer with the tool jacket.

If you wear more than that you will overheat every time.
 
Jay made me buy one, it's insane how warm it is, yet I never seem to overheat in it either. I only ever wear a tech T under it of walmart quality. On super cold days I close the armpit zippers.
 
This was the first winter using the Tool jacket, and so far all I have worn is a short sleeve jersey underneath and it's pretty awesome that it's so warm!
Not so much for stopping and discussing the weather or the latest news from Wall Street, whatever....
Moving is where this jacket goes to work... I'm so used to layering up and overheating immediately, not with this jacket. It's nice to be able to move as well.
Highly recommended
 
I just got mine yesterday from Competitive Cyclist and can't wait to use it. It looks great. It was very coincidental that there was a review of this jacket on the day mine came.

The only weird thing is the front zipper, which zippers on the opposite side of any zipper I've ever had. The zipper hardware is backward.

I'll follow up on this post after I use the jacket for the first time.
 
Biker Dude said:
The only weird thing is the front zipper, which zippers on the opposite side of any zipper I've ever had. The zipper hardware is backward.

I'll follow up on this post after I use the jacket for the first time.
Click to expand...

I think the euros all put the zips on the wrong side. This is 'merica, dammit!!

Everyone else said it but yeah, it works darn well when you're, you know, riding. When I first tried it on it was around 7-8 degrees and I went out back to play with the dogs. My first thought was "no friggin way" is this as warm as everyone says. As Sean said, instead of being warm at first and a sweat ball later it keeps you warm enough but not overheated. Neat stuff.
 
I finally got to wear my new Tool jacket yesterday at Allaire and I can tell everyone out there that it did exactly what it was supposed to. It kept my body very warm but not overheated (I did sweat in it but that has more to do with me then the jacket), it was extremely comfortable and it looks really sharp.

I do wish that it had side pockets to put my hands in if I wanted to wear the jacket out or doing something other then a physical activity. However, my main goal was to have something that would keep me warm that I didn't need 3 or more layers under and this jacket is it. I wore only a base layer, a t-shirt over the base layer (to soak up some of the sweat) and that was it.

I highly recommend this.
 
Biker Dude said:
I finally got to wear my new Tool jacket yesterday at Allaire and I can tell everyone out there that it did exactly what it was supposed to. It kept my body very warm but not overheated (I did sweat in it but that has more to do with me then the jacket), it was extremely comfortable and it looks really sharp.

I do wish that it had side pockets to put my hands in if I wanted to wear the jacket out or doing something other then a physical activity. However, my main goal was to have something that would keep me warm that I didn't need 3 or more layers under and this jacket is it. I wore only a base layer, a t-shirt over the base layer (to soak up some of the sweat) and that was it.

I highly recommend this.
Click to expand...

Ditch the t-shirt. It is only acting as a sponge.
 
jdog said:
Ditch the t-shirt. It is only acting as a sponge.
Click to expand...

Yeah, you said it - assuming that is a cotton t-shirt. I agree with no cotton, just as one would not want to wear any cotton when skiing or snowboarding, snow shoveling, etc.
Cotton = deadly in cold weather.
 
Depending on the jacket fabric i.e. if it is highly "breathable," much of the heat vapor might pass thru before becoming sweat.
 
You should find that although you may have felt warmer with the cotton shirt in the beginning of the ride, without the wet cotton layer, you will not feel chilled later in your ride when the cotton would be wet. And with the wet cotton, it is worse if you stop to take a break, because you will cool down a bit.

Good luck!
 
More pertinent to this thread I picked up a Gore jacket of some type (Phantom?) last week from jdog and am loving it. Not as heavy as the Tool - the sleeves are removable but it's really warm with just a thin base layer underneath. Sure beats the tent-like camo rain gear I was wearing before.
 
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