Addnature Tests: Outfit from GORE with SHAKEDRY Jacket
When she's not off discovering the world, Laura takes care of our email newsletters. She researches new topics, coordinates our messages and picks images. She’s also responsible for all our trainees and interns.
I mainly go on holiday to get to know the surroundings, discover new places and to get different impressions of the area. While I do enjoy exploring cities, I also like to get out into nature. I prefer to holiday on foot rather than by car or train because you see so much more – and you also reach places that you wouldn't necessarily see with conventional means of transport. I tested the outfit during my Taiwan vacation. I was there during the rainy season, where, surprise, surprise, it rains a lot, but it’s also very warm. I needed clothes (especially a rain jacket) that were light, breathable, rainproof and offered a small pack size. We’d also planned a number of mountain hikes, so our clothing had to be comfortable and uncomplicated, as well as designed with freedom of movement in mind.
First impressions - everything sits right
My first impressions of the jacket were very good. It was very thin and light, the fabric felt comfortable and the workmanship was very high quality. I was sceptical about the colour at first, but in the flesh it actually looks really cool and suited me. The fit was very good! I checked the size chart when I placed my order and decided on a 36. I usually wear 34 or 36, but 36 was the right choice this time. The jacket fits tightly, but I can still wear a t-shirt or top under it without any problems. Trying the trousers on for the first time went well. I was a little concerned that they might be too tight. When trying it on, however, everything fit wonderfully, the trousers are stretchy, so they adapted well to my body shape and were very comfortable. I used the size table here too and the 34 fit well. The fabric felt pleasant and high quality, the cut is sporty. With the socks, I was between sizes and opted for the larger size. Once they were on, I realised that the smaller size would have been enough. The socks sit nicely tight around the foot but the shaft height is somewhat surprisingly higher than it appears on the product pictures. The visor could be a little tighter as the headband is almost too wide for my head. What’s clever is that the visor is open at the top, so that I can continue to wear my hair in a braid.
Practical test - humid rainy weather
I wore different combinations of the outfit the whole holiday. Two hikes made special demands on the material: the first I did without the jacket and the socks because of the heat. At dusk, we hiked up Elephant Mountain (Xiangshan). A 1.5 km long trail leads you up the mountain and through the forest. You have to climb over 500 steps, but you can also rest at different viewing platforms; with their wonderful views of the capital, Taipei. The ascent took approx. 20 minutes in warm and humid temperatures of 35 degrees. There was a cool wind blowing at the top, so the visor was worth its weight in gold for protecting my ears. On the second hike we walked along a 5 km long trail through woods, meadows and fields. It was a bit cooler (about 28 degrees) and rained the entire time.
Conclusion - good rain protection with sensational breathability
The fit of the jacket, trousers and socks was excellent, but the visor was a bit too big for me. The jacket and the trousers especially impressed me. The jacket kept my upper body protected from the rain and proved super breathable even in warm temperatures. Unlike many other rain jackets it didn't feel like a plastic bag. The wide, snug-fitting cuffs on the sleeves were really very comfortable and didn’t dig in at all. In addition, the jacket was very light and offered protection from shivers in heavily air-conditioned buildings. I’m also enthusiastic about the pants and socks. Both were super comfortable and dried very quickly, which I was especially thankful of when it came to the socks. The socks also protected my feet from friction and blisters on rainy days. But it’s worth noting that on dry and warm days (over 30 degrees) they were a bit too warm. The same applies to the visor: at 30 degrees, it’s definitely too warm. But it’s perfect for windy weather and wearing with braided hairstyles. This outfit is ideally suitable for sports activities on warm and rainy days. You’re well-protected from rain and its breathability is sensational. In addition to this, everything dried very quickly.