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Gore Fade Jersey Men’s

7
£89.99

VERDICT:

7
10
Good all-round performance in UK summer conditions from Gore's mid-range top
Well made
Sensible fit
Comfortable to wear
Material holds sweat more than some I've tried
Weight: 
142g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Gore's Fade jersey is a good quality summer top that's well constructed and nicely designed. It's a fairly straightforward jersey and performance is good, but it doesn't really stand out, for good reasons or bad.

The Fade jersey is a 92% polyester, 8% elastane mix, and while the large size was certainly a bit roomier than the Gore Race jersey I've recently tested, it's still very much a sporty fit with no extra material flapping about. According to Gore's own size guide I'm either an L or an XL depending on which bit of me you measure, so I'd expect the L to feel snug, and it does, though it's certainly not uncomfortable.

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It's a pretty traditional jersey, all told. The sleeves are mid-length, with no silicone gripper at the hem. You get a full length zip with a wind baffle behind, and a gripper on the bottom hem around the full circumference of the jersey. There are three rear pockets with the tops of the outer two slightly angled for easier access, and a small, non-waterproof zip pocket for keys or a bank card. The ombre design is printed, and available in four colours (this white, grey, red and navy). There are reflective logos and tabs on the pockets for extra visibility.

2021 Gore Fade Jersey Mens - zip pocket.jpg

Gore describes this as a jersey designed for warm weather, and at 142g it's reasonably light. The material isn't windproof but it's better than some jersey fabrics at taking the edge off the wind, so I found it comfortable without a baselayer in normal UK summer conditions (15° to 20°C).

2021 Gore Fade Jersey Mens - chest logo.jpg

When working hard I didn't feel that the material wicked sweat quite as effectively as other summer jerseys I've tried; maybe the slightly tighter weave that blocks the air a bit better also holds onto the moisture a bit more as well. I only really noticed that when the temperature was up in the mid-20s, though, so in a British summer it's not going to be a major issue. If you're off riding abroad in the summer heat you might want something a bit more open weave.

2021 Gore Fade Jersey Mens - back.jpg

I found the YKK locking zip easy to use with one hand, and the pockets are pretty easy to access and big enough to swallow the usual stuff you'll throw in them: a phone pouch, a lightweight gilet or jacket, some gels or a banana. They're a pouch construction to improve capacity, so they don't lie quite flat against the back when they're empty, but I never noticed them flapping about.

2021 Gore Fade Jersey Mens - pockets.jpg

Value and conclusion

In terms of value, if you're looking at the big brands then it's a similar offering to something like the Castelli Prologo at about the same price. But like Stu said in that review, you can buy cheaper jerseys like the Lusso Dash and the Endura Asym for considerably less.

> Buyer’s Guide: 30 of the best summer cycling jerseys

If you like the design, though, it's a good choice that performs well, and you can have shorts to match too.

Verdict

Good all-round performance in UK summer conditions from Gore's mid-range top

road.cc test report

Make and model: Gore Fade Jersey Men's

Size tested: Large

Tell us what the product is for

Gore says, 'Style and performance meet in this on trend lightweight cycling jersey with eye-catching graphics.'

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Gore lists:

PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

Designed for warm weather

Engineered for Cycling

Weight: 142 grams

Product Details

Tight fit jersey with contemporary road style

Elastic grip on bottom hem

3-gusseted back pockets

Pouch construction on lower pockets

Secure zip pocket on rear for keys or valuables

Zip with semi-lock slider

Graphic print on sleeves

Reflective details

Form fit

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
7/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for fit:
 
8/10
Rate the product for sizing:
 
7/10

About on point, I'd expect an L to be snug and it was, but a good fit.

Rate the product for weight:
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort:
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

On a par with some other big brands given the construction and performance, but undercut by some smaller players.

How easy is the product to care for? How did it respond to being washed?

Wash at 30°C, comes up fresh with no issues.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

It's a good summer weight jersey.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Nice design, comfortable, good fit.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

A bit sweaty in the heat for a summer jersey.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

On a par with the Castelli Prologo; Endura and Lusso have similar tops for £15-£20 less.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Maybe

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Maybe

Use this box to explain your overall score

It's a good top, and for UK conditions it's about the right weight. You can get similar performance elsewhere for less, though.

Overall rating: 7/10

About the tester

Age: 49  Height: 189cm  Weight: 92kg

I usually ride: whatever I'm testing...  My best bike is: Kinesis Tripster ATR, Merida Scultura, Dward Design fixed

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, time trialling, cyclo cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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