Crotchety is fine if you are nearing or have reached retirement age, so I am approaching full swing on that score.
Although irritated by the absence of lab test information on Gore fabrics in general, I can offer a more detailed opinion about the Goretex Active material/jacket than my earlier post provided, all based on my own experience with a variety of fabrics while biking, hiking and skiing off the grid. I sweat pretty hard,so I'm particularly critical about fabric breathability.
My Gore "Active" Scorecard:
- Waterproofness: "Excellent", a good as Goretex Pac-Lite and Pro Shell, far better than any softshell
- Breathability: "Quite Good", better than Pro Shell, Pac-Lite, Schoeller C-Change, Marmot Precip. Not as good as Schoeller softshell (which is hard to beat)
- Packability: "Very Good", as good as Pac-Lite, not as packable as Precip
- Abrasion Resistance/Durability: "Quite Good", not as good as Pro Shell, as good as my Shower's Pass pant material, much better than Precip. I took a hard fall on pavement and the material was roughed up but did not tear.
- Flexibilty/Feel: "Excellent", better than any other hardshell I've tried, and almost softshell-like
My ideal commuting wet-weather jacket in all seasons would be a Shower's Pass design (pit zips, etc) with the Gore Active fabric.
Originally Posted by
pdlamb
Excuse me if I start sounding crotchety, but this kind of focus on the breathability of a jacket's fabric reminds me of the endless debate on which material makes a better bicycle. After a manufacturer gets through waving a material specification around, there's still the matter of designing and building the darn thing. Some jackets feel like sheets of rubber, or plastic wrap, against your body. In a cool (not cold) light shower, the rider gets to choose whether they're going to get soaked from rain or from sweat. Euch. Some manufacturers take a nice fabric, add thoughtful features like two-way zippers, adjustable sleeve cuffs, pit vents, etc., and make a jacket that's comfortable to wear and which seems to minimize rider dampness at the end of the ride. Or perhaps the design goal is something that will block the wind on a brisk ride in low humidity to prevent evaporative cooling leading to hypothermia. It seems difficult to meet both design goals with a single jacket, unfortunately.
For the record, I think the best bike frame material is the one a knowledgeable and skilled designer uses to make a great bike.