Review: Women’s Gore Curve Swimsuit

The Gore Curve Women’s Jersey is super comfortable, with two extra wide back pockets for carrying a rain jacket or windbreaker, making it ideal for all day summer outings in changing conditions.

The fabric of the Gore Curve, a blend of 92% polyester and 8% elastane, is slightly stretchy, soft enough and very comfortable to wear for long rides at a brisk pace.

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Gore describes it as a “slim fit,” which he says is his closest fit, “designed to be worn close to the body, to improve moisture management, thermal efficiency or aerodynamics.” . Although it follows your figure well, it is not a tight fit; in fact, I would say the fit is very relaxed compared to the fit of racing-oriented brands like Assos and Santini.

The sleeves of the Curve are made from the same blend and extend halfway between my shoulder and my elbow. They’re long enough to be easily paired with cuffs, but not so uncomfortable on a hot summer day.

There are no silicone darts tucked inside these sleeve hems, but they are well formed and stay in place well enough. While the hem stitching is not as comfortable as the raw finish, it is barely noticeable when going out.

The drooping tail covers your back as you lean forward in a tucked-up position, and there are tiny dots of silicone on the 3mm wide elastic rear hem to keep the jersey in place. They are not the most grippy, but perfect for walks at a regular pace.

The Curve’s pocket design works best for longer endurance rides when you need to pack diapers for changing conditions, rather than short, lively rides, in my experience.

There are only two pockets, instead of the traditional three pocket layout. Sometimes in smaller womens jerseys having three pockets is impractical as each is too narrow to hold your riding essentials, while in these there is plenty of room to store a diaper. quite voluminous like a rain jacket or a windbreaker.

However, I found that – with the relaxed fit of the jersey and the slim dart at the back hem – during hard efforts in the saddle, my phone (tucked away in Velopac’s slim case) didn’t feel as secure. security as I would have liked. those large pockets.

If it’s not raining and your phone doesn’t need to be protected in a waterproof case, there is a reasonably sized zippered pocket to store your valuables. It is roughly suitable for large smartphones, such as my Xiaomi Pocophone F1, and it is a safer home during intervals (except when it’s raining).

In terms of performance, although a full-length ‘semi-lock’ zipper facilitates airflow, there are no perforations or mesh sections on this jersey. It’s comfortable on the trips down to the low threshold, but after that I would have liked a little more breathability.

The subtle geometric graphics make this jersey a little different from the others, without making it impossible to pair with the rest of your cycling wardrobe.

Choose between the more vibrant Scuba Blue and Hibiscus Pink shades, or the more subdued White and Graystone options. But just a warning, the Graystone I tested has a slight navy blue edge which is not so evident from the product images.

With a suggested retail price of £ 89.99, the Curve is reasonably priced compared to similar models from Rapha and Pactimo, although there are cheaper options.

It doesn’t quite share the same attention to detail as the equally relaxed Rapha Classic Jersey II, which Tass found soft and comfortable. It’s also a more eco-friendly option as it incorporates 64% recycled polyester, and when it comes to functionality, it comes with a locking drawstring at the back hem for a secure fit, plush band soft on the collar for comfort, as well as a well-crafted design. pockets with cable passage and expandable buckle for a mini pump. But that will cost you another £ 20 or so.

Pactimo’s Summit Aero SS jersey also costs a bit more than the Curve, at £ 100, and it’s also made from recycled polyester. We did not test the women’s jersey, but the men’s jersey turned out to be a very comfortable jersey.

> Read more women’s cycling jerseys reviews on road.cc

The La Passione Duo jersey has a tighter fit that is as comfortable as the Curve. It’s also more breathable and costs £ 10 less, but lacks a zippered pocket for valuables.

Overall, the Gore Curve is a very well-made and comfortable casual jersey. The wider pockets are handy for endurance rides, but know that when combined with the fitted fit and delicate back hem, they mean the jersey doesn’t go well on lively interval rides if you use pockets for storing valuables.

Verdict

Very comfortable and relaxed top with large practical pockets for long summer walks