Review: Gore Wear H5 Gore-Tex Shakedry Jacket

Four years ago, Gore-Tex introducedShakedry, a new permanently beading waterproof-breathable membranethat eliminated the need for a DWR-treated face fabric and purportedly wouldnt wet out.Three months later, the North Face was first to market with the material, launching its now discontinuedHyperair Jacket.

At the time, I speculated that we were on the cusp of a category revolution.Columbia had released a heavier but technologically similar fabric, OutDry Extreme. And I thought it was only a matter of time until Gore-affiliated brands embraced Shakedry andAsian mills reverse-engineered both itand OutDry Extreme, leading to additional distribution and innovation.

But that didnt happen. Todayits shockingly difficult to find Shakedry productsshell pants are simply nonexistent, andjackets are available from just a few brands.

As far as I know, the Gore Wear H5 Gore-Tex Shakedry Hooded Jacket ($380, eightounces) is the only backpacking-worthy shell currentlyconstructed from the material. Its madeof a new, heavier Shakedry variant that can better withstand abrasion from heavy packs and brush.

Sois theH5Shakedrya game changer? Im cautiously optimistic that it representsa step up in waterproof-breathable performance. (But take note that this is not one of mylong-term reviewsI had good weather on most of my 2019 trips.)

This year I took it into the field for about 45 days, but it was tested only during five days of persistent rain in West Virginia, one soggy day in Alaskas Brooks Range, and one afternoon of torrential rains in Yosemite National Park.Ive noticed no change in performance from when it was new, which is more than you can say about most waterproof-breathable jackets after being touched with oily hands and shoved into a pack for sixweeks.

The H5 Shakedry is best suited for hiking and backpacking in the Mountain West, where it (usually) does not rain often or for longand where precipitationis generally accompanied by cooler temperatures.

While its breathability is very good for a waterproof-breathable garment, direct venting features, like torso and pit zips and mesh-backed front pockets, would be appreciated in warmer and more humid climates, like the Appalachians and Alaska. To use Gore Wears nomenclature, this would ostensiblybe an H7 Shakedryjacket.

But there is no H7 Shakedry (yet or ever?), and Id still pick the H5 Shakedry in such conditions if my other option was made of a traditional waterproof-breathable laminatefor methe benefits of a permanently beading surface outweigh the H5 Shakedrys minimalist design. (Although in really wet conditions, Id consider supplementing it with a lightweight umbrella, which proved to be a powerful combination in West Virginia.)

The H5 Shakedry could serve double duty for running and bikingit weighs only eight ounces, packs down small, and has an athletic cut. But if hiking is not your primary activity, you might want to look at other Shakedry shells that are lighter, softer, and more activity specific.

Key Product Specs

• Gore-Tex Active fabric with Shakedry technology
• Two-way front zipper
• Two large zippered front pockets, both of which can serve as a stuffsack
• A hat-compatible hood with a drawcord adjustment and stiffened brim
• Partially elasticized wrist cuffs
• 8.2 ounces(232 grams) in size large
• $380 MSRP
• More information

Other H5 and Shakedry Jackets

The H5 Shakedry is not to be confused with other H5 products from Gore Wear:

• H5 Gore-Tex Active, which is made of a more traditional 2.5-layer laminate
• H5 Gore-Tex Shakedry Insulated, which has a Polartec Alpha lining
• H5 Gore WindstopperJacket, which is not waterproof

Among other Shakedry shells, the H5 is unique for its fabric weight. As far as I know, all other Shakedry jackets (listed below)use the original variant that is lighter but less durable, making it more appropriate for trail running, biking, and day hiking.

• Arcteryx Norvan SL Hoodie ($300, 4.2 ounces)
• Gore Wear R7 Gore-Tex Shakedry ($300, 4.1 ounces)
• Montbell Peak Dry Shell ($300, 6.6 ounces)
• Salomon S-Lab Motionfit 360 Jacket ($375, 5.8 ounces)

And while thru-hikers have used H5, it seems limited to very lightweight packs and clothing used on well-maintained trails.

Its worth noting that cycling-specific Shakedry shells are made by Gore Wear and Rapha. These models lack hoods.

Fit and Sizing

If you dont read this section, youll get the wrong size, guaranteed. The H5 Shakedry has a form fit, which Gore Wear describes as: Not skin tight, but also not excessively baggy, Form Fit garments provide a sporting silhouette without being body hugging. If you normally fall halfway between two sizes we recommend taking the larger one.

Based on my experience, Gore Wear is being too conservative with its sizing recommendation, especially for the U.S. market. Myrecommendation is simpler: buy one size up.

Normally, Im a slim-fit medium. Small tops fit me in the chest and shoulders, but the sleeves are too short. Standard-size mediums are oversizeon mybody.

My H5 Shakedry is a large, and its the right size for me. It has an athletic cut, and a midlayer fits nicely underneath. I can add a lightweight puffy jacket, too, but its at the expense of some loft and agility.

Shakedry Fabric

The most unique feature of the H5 Shakedry is its fabric: Gore-Tex Active with Shakedrytechnology. Unlike other waterproof-breathable fabrics (including standard Active), the polytetrofluoroethylene-Teflon membrane is on the outside. Its not sandwiched inside a laminate or protected by a DWR-treated face fabric.

The original Active with Shakedryas used in the aforementioned Hyperair and Norvanis insufficiently durable for backpacking, per Gores usage guidelines. The H5 Shakedry uses a new, heavier Shakedry variant that can better withstand abrasion. Mine seemed unaffectedby a 40-pound guide pack or bushwhacking through alder and willow.

Gore claims that Active with Shakedry will not wet out. So far this has been my experience, and Ive enjoyed the benefits. The jacket:

• Dries quickly, even without shaking it, because water evaporates or falls off it
• Does not gain weight during storms
• Remains more comfortable in cold temperatures, because body heat is no longer being sucked away by a saturated face fabric
• Is less likely to wet through, because the relative humidity outside the jacket stays less than the humidity inside

I cant yet attest to the H5 Shakedrys long-term performance. But Im encouraged by the experience of Garret Workman, who used the North FaceHyperair on a 100-day thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail and reported recently that its still performing well after three years.

According to Gore, Active with Shakedry is one of the most breathable Gore-Texlaminates available. Youd be right to read that with a grain of saltGore has been the King of Hype for decadesand has made many such hyperbolic statements before. Ive not seen moisture vapor transmission rate test results for the H5, but Montbell cites an off-the-charts rating of 80,000 grams per square meter in a day for its Peak Dry Jacket.

But Gore might be right. Its fabrics are constantly improving, and the Shakedry technology eliminates an entire layer from the laminate. Anecdotally, its difficult for me to say: testing temperatures were cool,my output was submax,and I run cooler than average, so Im usually the last to complain about lackluster breathability.

Features

The Shakedry fabric sets the H5 apart. The remainder of the jacket is well designedbut more ordinary.

The water-resistant, two-way front zipper can be opened from the bottom, in order to vent the torso andsit down without stressing the fabric or the zipper.

The front pockets are convenientand mostly useful, even while wearing a backpack with a hipbelt. But theyre not a venting option, as is suggested by the product specs. The backer fabric is,at best, water-resistant, and it could be waterproof-breathableits difficult to tell. To vent in any meaningful way, the liner fabric would have to be mesh.

The hat-compatible hood fits well, has a semistiff double-layer brim,and has one drawcord adjustment to help keep it out of your eyes. Still,every hood Ive ever used performs better when paired with a ball cap or visor.

The waist drawcord and draft collar improvefit and comfort when running and day hiking without a pack. But a hipbelt will do the same thing.

The partially elasticized wrist cuffs are consistent with the H5 Shakedrys minimalist design, but theyre my chief complaint about the jacket. Looser cuffs with hook-and-loop adjustment flaps would be better: theyd offer more airflow, could be more easily shingled with rain mitts, and wouldnt hinder access to a wristwatch.

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