GORE Spinshift Jacket Review: The New Flagship Cycling Shell

Introduction

Riding in the UK means one thing above all: rain, and plenty of it. The practical response is to accept it and buy a jacket that genuinely works. For years the ShakeDry fabric did exactly that, keeping water out while staying breathable enough to avoid the boil in the bag feeling that ruins a long ride. That fabric is no longer manufactured, retired over growing environmental concerns about the chemicals used in waterproof materials, and the Spinshift is the jacket that now sits at the top of the range in its place.

The Spinshift is not a direct replacement, and it is worth being clear about that. It is a three-layer jacket built around an expanded polyethylene membrane that avoids those chemicals, with recycled fabrics used in the outer layers and a reduced carbon footprint as a result. It retails at £250, which is a lot of money for a jacket, though less than the £300 or more the ShakeDry commanded.

This is a look at what the jacket is actually like to ride in, based on roughly six weeks of use in near-constant rain, including gravel and mountain bike rides through woods and mud, and about half a dozen trips through the washing machine.

Who This Jacket Is For

The Spinshift is for riders who want a single shell that covers cold, windy, damp mornings as well as proper rain. It is a rain jacket first and foremost, but it does enough as a windproof that it can replace two garments in a kit bag for those early starts where the weather might turn either way. You put it on until you warm up, then take it off when conditions improve.

It also suits riders who care about weight and packability. The fabric feels nearly as thin as the ShakeDry it follows, packs down about as small, and feels lighter than most other waterproof jackets. That matters if you want to carry a shell in a jersey pocket rather than commit to wearing one all day.

Where expectations should be managed is performance. The original ShakeDry was a genuine game changer when it arrived. The Spinshift is a very good jacket rather than a revolution, and racing cyclists looking for the same leap forward will not find it here.

Waterproofing and Breathability

Keeping rain out is the first job, and the Spinshift does it well. Across every ride in all conditions, it kept the wearer dry and the layers underneath stayed bone dry. The waterproofing is not in question.

Breathability is the harder part, especially in a climate where temperature and humidity swing through a ride. The old boil in the bag problem, where you end up wetter from sweat on the inside than from rain on the outside, is what separated the ShakeDry from the pack. The new fabric works almost as well on that front. It does not quite reach the same level, but it comes close enough to make the jacket genuinely versatile rather than something you tolerate.

The fabric itself has a smoother, slipperier finish than the older material, and it still crinkles the way waterproof shells do. In the hand it feels close to the weight of the fabric it follows, which is a strong result for a three-layer construction.

Fit, Sizing and On-Bike Feel

The shape of the jacket on the bike is very good. There is a nice length in the arms, a tapered cut through the torso and sleeves, and no excess fabric flapping about to create drag. For riders who care about an efficient position, it behaves like a performance garment rather than a loose outer layer.

Sizing is the one thing to think about carefully. A size medium felt much more like a small, which suggests the sizing runs on the small side. If you are between sizes, or you want room for a thicker base layer underneath, it is worth going up.

Get the size right and the fit is excellent. The jacket sits close without restricting movement, and the cut stays tidy even when you are working hard on the bike.

Durability and Day-to-Day Wear

Durability was a real concern with the ShakeDry, which was delicate enough to put some riders off. Early signs for the Spinshift are good. After roughly six weeks of use on gravel and mountain bikes, including plenty of mud and dirt, and about half a dozen machine washes, it has held up well and feels like it will prove tougher than the jacket it follows.

It is worth remembering that care goes a long way. An original ShakeDry from 2016 is still going strong despite faded logos, which suggests that looking after a waterproof jacket properly is what determines how long it lasts.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The price is the first consideration. At £250 it is a serious purchase, even though it undercuts the fabric it replaces. Discounts may well appear in time, as they tend to on cycling outerwear.

Sizing is the second. With a medium fitting closer to a small, ordering the wrong size is the most likely way to be disappointed. Packability and low weight are genuine strengths here, so the jacket works well as an emergency layer that lives in a pocket.

Breathability is the third. It is very good, but it is not quite at the level of the original ShakeDry. Riders who already own that older jacket and ride hard in mild, damp conditions should weigh that difference carefully.

How It Compares to the Original ShakeDry

The ShakeDry was a two-layer construction with the membrane on the outside, which is how it ended up so light, so packable and so breathable, and also why it was delicate. It was super waterproof, highly breathable and very expensive, and it came in a single now iconic colourway.

The Spinshift is a three-layer build, with two poly layers sandwiching the membrane in the middle. That construction, plus recycled outer fabrics, is where the environmental gains come from. The jacket is also available in a number of colours, including a bright yellow that plenty of riders will appreciate for visibility.

If you already own a ShakeDry, keep it and look after it. It still has the edge on breathability. But it is no longer made, and the Spinshift is the direction the fabric technology has moved in.

Buying Advice

If you are in the market for a new cycling jacket, the Spinshift is an easy recommendation. It uses one of the best waterproof fabrics you can buy right now, it keeps you dry, it breathes well enough to avoid overheating, and it is built to a standard that should outlast the delicate jacket it follows.

Buy your normal size only if you like a close fit. Given how the medium measured, sizing up is the safer choice for most riders, particularly if you plan to layer underneath in winter.

There is also a broader point in its favour. Moving to a fabric without the chemicals that are being phased out is a sensible step, and it means this jacket should stay relevant as regulations tighten.

Conclusion

The Spinshift is not the ShakeDry, and it does not pretend to be. What it offers is a three-layer shell that keeps rain out, breathes well enough for real riding, packs small, and feels tougher than the jacket it replaces, all at a lower price and without the chemicals that ended the previous fabric. Riders who want one dependable jacket for wet, changeable conditions will find a lot to like here, as long as they get the sizing right.