GORE C5 SHAKEDRY 1985 £319.99 > Wintrywarmth, even in the wet

THE LENGTHILY NAMED Gore C5 Shakedry 1985 Insulated Jacket (the 1985 for short) is designed to deal with wind, rain, snow and temperatures down to below 5°C. It has Gore-Tex’s Shakedry fabric on the outside and Polartec Alpha insulation on the inside. The insulation keeps you warm and gives the 1985 a padded feel that’s unlike any other rain jacket, but doesn’t add too much extra bulk to the garment.

That said, all the insulation built into the 1985 does make it more difficult than most to pack down – try and stash the jacket in a jersey pocket and you’ll be left with half of it sticking out. It also makes it a little heavier than a standard rain jacket (our medium test sample weighs 313g).

The 1985 comes in three colours: black, ‘lava grey’ with pink highlights, or ‘Viz’, which gets neon yellow panels on the cuffs and tail. They all get Gore’s ‘Form Fit’ tailoring, which means a reasonably slim torso that’s close without being restrictive, sleeves that are just the right length and a waist that isn’t too high.

The torso’s polyester lining feels soft and warm against the body, while the sleeves get a smoother, snag-free lining and snug, internal Lycra cuffs to overlap your gloves and seal out drafts. The zip finishes below a 50mm tall, microfibre-lined collar that closes with a pair of Velcro tabs.

As well as being extremely warm, the 1985 is also totally wind- and waterproof, so depending on how easily you heat up, a good long-sleeved base layer may be all you need underneath it – even on near-freezing days.

There is a downside, however, and it comes in the form of the rear pocket, which is barely big enough to contain an iPhone 6 and your house keys. Spares, snacks, tools or anything else you might want to carry have to go elsewhere, which generally means wearing a jersey for the extra pockets. The two-way zip on the front makes accessing jersey pockets easy enough but that extra layer will raise your temperature, especially if you’re doing hard efforts. Fortunately, the 1985 is very breathable and wicks sweat well enough to keep you more comfortable than a typical rain jacket would under these sorts of trying conditions.

The Shakedry fabric means any moisture or dirt collected on the jacket’s exterior can be literally be shaken off, which has a practical appeal, and it’s warm enough for long, cold winter training rides. But whichever way you look at it, it’s an expensive piece of kit.