Gorewear announced their Trail Collection last Spring and a couple of our crew have been wearing some of the components during recess*. Jeff Price recently reviewed the TrailKPR Gloves. Back in May, we published a report about how much I’ve been enjoying the Lupra Jacket. Today, we’re back with a review of what I’d call the full Summer ride-pak! The Fernflow shorts, the TrailKPR Daily Shirt, and two pair of men’s hosiery round out today’s apparel showcase.
I learned a bit about Gorewear’s design philosophy at their media presentation at Sea Otter which has stuck with me. The pragmatic driving force behind their apparel is improved performance for the rider. With that as their focus, they designed their Trail Collection specifically for mountain bikers.
Mountain bike shorts have come a long way. One of the best ways that they’ve improved (for me) is in the four-way stretch materials that are used in their construction. The Fernflows are made from four-way stretch CORDURA® fabric that allows for increased freedom of movement. The fabric is also tear resistant and reinforced where needed for durability. They put an extra layer in the splash zone to protect your crack from wheel-spray. The cut at the waist is designed to stay in place comfortably, yet remain comfortable as you move in and out of the saddle.
The waist closure on this pair of shorts reminds me of a pair of dress pants with the covered hook but then instead of a button it has two snaps. There’s also a short zippered fly. There are two velcro adjusting tabs that allow for a custom fit at the waist. There are two zippered front slash pockets that are large enough for a giant smartphone. The Fernflow lives up to its groovy name. It’s a solid pair of shorts to wear over bibs or a padded liner.
The TrailKPR Daily Shirt comes in 3 colors. Our sample came in the Uniform Sand colorway. The outstanding feature of this blouse is how it feels against the skin when it’s hot and sweaty outside. The garment sort of disappears. It’s one of the best hot weather ride tops in my drawer right now.
The tailoring is made to fit right when you’re mounted on the bike with a drop in the hem at the rear of the shirt. There are also reflective details for visibility on the bike. The fit is just a bit more trim than other mtb jerseys that I’ve worn, yet still in that loose fit category. If you like a looser fit, I would size up one size from your normal jersey size. I wouldn’t mind getting one of these in each color for long hot summer days in the saddle!
The Shield Socks are made with GORE-TEX INFINIUM™. That makes them 100% windproof and yet they’re also incredibly breathable. These are great for adding a layer of warmth without adding very much bulk. I’ve worn them over thin liners and also worn them against the skin. I’m a big proponent of Infinium. i think that it’s a big step forward in breathability. I can now almost dress head to foot in clothing made with Infinium! I really don’t worry about riding in the cold any more.
The C3 Socks have distinguished themselves this spring on multiple bike trips. Sometimes when I’m camping and sleeping outside, I’ve gone a couple of days and nights in these socks. I don’t normally tolerate socks while I sleep, but I’ve slept in these. The weave is very breathable. It’s like they’re hypoallergenic or something. There are jillions of choices when it comes to bike socks. This is the first pair that I grab for riding in the summer heat. I wore them on my singlespeed just this morning!
So that’s a wrap on the Gorewear Trail Collection Field Testing for this Summer. Summittoppler Jeff has some winter Gorewear that he might share when things get blustery so stay tuned to this Fat Channel for more (from Gore)
*recess is a midwestern colloquialism for a designated recreation period in grade school.
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