Gore Endure waterproof jacket review

The Gore Endure waterproof jacket has been designed to be versatile across trail riding, bikepacking and casual cycling.

The jacket combines functional features with just enough relaxed styling so that it looks as good off the bike as on it.

Gore Endure details and specification

The Endure is made from Gore-Tex Paclite Plus material, which Gore claims is guaranteed to be waterproof, while maintaining good breathability.

It has a boxy cut, with room for more substantial layers in the colder months. Despite this more relaxed look, it also has the dropped tail protection required for on-the-bike use.

The hood is an over-helmet style with full adjustment and a stiffened peak.

It also features two front pockets, which are useful for everyday wear, and rubberised zip pulls that are easy to find even when wearing winter gloves. Even with all these features, the jacket packs into an internal pocket, so you never need to be without it.

Gore Endure performance

The Endure became a jacket I turned to through some incredibly varied weather that ranged from a fresh early-morning 6°C right up to 18°C in late summer. The wet-weather conditions were just as variable, from barely-there mizzle to sudden heavy downpours.

Throughout this unpredictability, the Endure has proved very versatile. Even on a three-hour ride when it rained throughout, I stayed dry.

I’ve worn the jacket with my standard Patagonia Capilene Cool Merino long-sleeve baselayer for cool, misty starts. Although it’s impossible to find a waterproof that won’t have you working up a sweat in sunshine and showers, it has been surprisingly wearable.

The straight cut is relaxed enough to look like a regular jacket off the bike. The articulated sleeves are shaped for the riding position and don’t pull up, a common issue affecting jackets with more casual styling.

That relaxed shape also leaves more room for more substantial baselayers and mid-layers, making it suited to colder days.

I found the dropped tail the perfect length for riding, while not looking too extreme off the bike, and a drawcord enables it to be snugged in for a custom fit.

The feeling of all-round protection is enhanced by the hood, which has become a firm favourite in more challenging weather. It flips generously over a mountain bike helmet, and with adjustment back and front it stays firmly in place, not intruding into your peripheral vision.

The extra detail of a stiffened peak helps keep the worst of the wet out of your eyes too.

The Endure packs conveniently into a pocket, but I’ve found it in almost constant use for everything from casual rides and popping to the shops to all-day routes. It never gets put away.

How does the Gore Endure compare to the Rab Zenith?

The Rab Zenith is also made from Gore-Tex Paclite and is a jacket designed for multi-functional outdoor use. The Endure is more bike-specific, but the Zenith is a longer cut that will afford more protection if you want to use it for walking and more exposed mountain use (the pockets, for example, work with a climbing harness).

Gore Endure bottom line

The Gore Endure is an excellent waterproof jacket that delivers breathable performance.

It's an ideal choice for riders who are looking for fully active functionality alongside casual off-the-bike styling.