Gore has discounted its Torrent waterproof jacket by up to 50 per cent – and given this is the best waterproof jacket I’ve tested in years, it’s well worth considering if you want a top-level waterproof for rainy weather.
Of course, the annual Black Friday sales bonanza is racing towards us and judging by the daily marketing emails I’m getting, I could easily be fooled into thinking it was already here.
I’m feeling the fatigue – but don’t stop reading just yet if that sounds like you too, because I can assure you, this little featurette comes from a good place.
A deal discovered by accident
I only stumbled across the half-price deal on Gore's website when researching the latest PFC/PFAS-free Spinshift waterproof.
Knowing that the Torrent jacket was the best of all the waterproof jackets I tested in 2023 (scoring 4.5/5 stars at the time), incorporating older-generation technology generally regarded as superior to the latest fabrics brought about by forthcoming PFC bans, the discount immediately piqued my interest.
Truth be told, if the current price of £115 for the Fireball colourway (or £137.99 for the purple, green or black options) had been the original retail price, I’d have marched right up to technical editor-in-chief Rob Weaver and demanded that he sub my first 5-star review immediately.
A quick Google reveals the Torrent jacket is discounted by other well-known retailers.
At the time of writing, the best price I’ve found is Sigma Sports’ £108 deal on a black jacket, while Amazon also has stock at £137.99 – although the size and colour availability varies (while prices inevitably shift as retailers scramble for your business).
That usually means the product is not long for this world, because retailers seek to sell it before new products arrive. Remember, though, in this instance, new doesn’t actually mean better.
Enough of the sell-babble, though.
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The best fabric, used by the brand that made it
You can read my in-depth review of the Torrent jacket to see why I rate it so highly.
But if you don’t have time, my review boiled down to Gore’s expert use of its own fabric and the fact it polished the jacket off with every creature comfort I could reasonably expect.
It has a slim cut but isn’t restrictive. The seams are taped internally, the collar is tall and lined, and the waist hem is suitably grippy. The wrist cuffs are nicely tapered.
Cycling Plus’ former editor Matt Baird tells me a zip garage (the little foldover at the neck in which a closed zip can nestle) is a necessity for any jacket he buys. I don’t mind if it’s there or not, personally, but there is one if you agree with him.
I do care about the zipped pocket on the back, though. I want fast access to my chosen valuables (usually keys, although my iPhone 13 Mini will slide in there, as will an energy bar) while leaving them protected from the rain. Bingo.
But the main fabric is excellent – it's a standard-setter that's waterproof and breathable when the conditions allow.
You won’t be able to buy these fabrics forever. So when a deal like this crops up in one of the best executions I’ve come across, I highly recommend you sit up and take note!
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