7mesh Revelation Jacket

Cy Whitling reviews the 7mesh 7day collection for Blister Gear Review.
7mesh Revelation jacket

7mesh Revelation Jacket

Size: Large

Stated Features:

  • DR-Snap Removable Under Helmet Hood
  • Watertight Zippered Hand Pockets
  • Watertight Zippered Side Vents/Jersey Access
  • Watertight Zippered Forearm Intake Vents
  • SmoothLock Hem & Hood Adjustment
  • Adjustable Velcro Cuffs
  • Soft Brushed Collar and Chin Guard
  • 8mm Seam Tape
  • Reflective Details

MSRP: $450

Reviewer: 6’, 180 lbs.

Test Location: Driggs & Moscow, ID; Teton Pass & Grand Targhee, WY

Test Duration: 15 rides

Intro

7mesh is a bike apparel company based out of Squamish, BC. The native name for the area is Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, hence the “7mesh”.

7mesh makes high end, performance-focused cycling apparel, and they offer two main collections:

Their 7hour collection consists of pieces tailored to a very specific use, designed to be as efficient and functional as possible while riding over the course of a day (7 hours).

Their 7day collection is aimed at less specific functionality, and more at well-rounded performance. The example they explained to me me was a week long trip where you could see any range of conditions and need to be prepared for anything.

Since I don’t put that much priority on short term, very specialized performance (especially in mountain biking—I’m not really one for shaving my legs and claiming my times on Strava) I opted to check out an outfit from their 7day collection. This review looks at their Revelation Jacket, the first bike jacket licensed to use Gore Pro, and we’ll be posting reviews of the Glidepath shorts and Strategy Jacket soon.

7mesh Revelation Jacket

In the world of mountain biking rain jackets, there are a lot of cheap, flashy, and rather disposable options. There’s a lot of talk about new patterns and cuts, and not so much about how the jackets actually perform, to the point where one company at Interbike was stumped when I asked them what the waterproofing rating of their flagship rain coat was. (Granted, waterproof ratings are a can of worms, but it’s the first time we’ve spoken to a company and they didn’t have a number to state.)

Cy Whitling reviews the 7mesh 7day collection for Blister Gear Review.
Cy Whitling in the 7mesh Revelation jacket and Glidepath short, Driggs, ID.

7mesh’s Revelation Jacket is the first piece of bike apparel licensed to use Gore Pro fabric, and is rated at 28k. If you want to learn more about waterproof laminates and how they work, check out our Outerwear 101 piece. But the short answer is that this coat repels moisture and breathes very well. In addition to the fact that Gore Pro is a very good material, being licensed by Gore to use the material also means the garment has to meet a set of standards for quality, build, and design set by Gore. The Revelation is the first piece of bike clothing to meet those standards.

Now I know plenty of people (myself included) tend to just reach for an uninsulated ski shell when the riding starts to get wet. So why pony up for a bike-specific shell? It really all comes down to the fit and details.

Fit

At 6’ and ~180lbs, I fit pretty squarely into Large tops from most brands. The Revelation Jacket is no exception. The hem sits right below my waist, while the slightly dropped tail extends a little down my rear. The sleeves are long enough that I never end up with exposed wrists, even when hunched over the back tire. The overall fit is very slim. I could fit a thin puffy underneath, but really, if it’s that cold, I’d probably rather not be riding, and it works much better with the Strategy jacket layered underneath.

Cy Whitling reviews the 7mesh 7day collection for Blister Gear Review.
Cy Whitling in the 7mesh Revelation jacket and Glidepath short, Driggs, ID.

The hem of the Revelation Jacket is adjustable with an elastic cord, as is the removeable hood. I didn’t find myself using either of these adjustments, though—the standard slim fit works perfectly for my body.

The collar zips up tighter to the throat than most ski jackets; you’re not going to be sinking your chin into it to warm your face, but it does stay out of your way when pedaling.

The hood attaches with three buttons, and is very slim cut as well, so it’s designed to go under a helmet. This is actually a huge bonus. I hate wearing a hood over my helmet; it’s loud and it reduces my peripheral vision. While I also don’t love wearing a hood under my helmet, it is definitely more practical, especially in heavy downpours. The hood is adjustable with a simple pull cord in the back.

Overall the fit of the Revelation Jacket is perfect for me. It’s much slimmer than I’d be looking for in a ski shell, but for a riding jacket, it does a great job of keeping excess material from bunching up and getting in the way.

NEXT: Features and Performance, Bottom Line

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