Article by Sam Winebaum
Gorewear Deep of 2025 Winter Outerwear Reviews
Gorewear Windstopper Hybrid Lightweight Puffy ($230) & Berber Windstopper Fleece ($170)
Introduction
Gorewear has traditionally been associated with sleek design highly functional cycling and running apparel within outwear shells and pants of course using waterproof breathable Gore-Tex, more breathable yet still very water resistant Gore-Tex Active, and more wind stopping and yet less but still adequately water resistant Windstopper fabrics.
In recent years Gore has gone yet lighter, far less membrane plasticky in feel yet still using Gore. Here we have two highly insulated jackets with Windstopper by Gore-Labs technology incorporated with their key characteristic their total wind proofing.
I tested both jackets this late fall and early winter in conditions ranging from the mid 40’s to below freezing for runs and walks about town. In almost all situations there was strong wind blowing at least part of the time.
In a more extreme test, the jackets were also used by Paul Johnson during his Antartrica FKT along with the Gore-Tex Concurve Jacket which we reviewed earlier this year and the just tested and reviewed Concurve Thermo Tights (RTR Review)
Photos by Richard Ducker and Lucas Abreu ©️Runbuk / Antarctic Ice Ultra
A caveat. I tend to run warm and it is extremely rare that I run in such highly insulated pieces. Yes, occasionally if temps are close to zero F in feel, so this test was a new and revealing experience.
One product performed extremely well in these almost conditions on the run, the other not as well. Both performed extremely well outside of running.
All test samples are in my usual size medium. I am 5’9” and weigh 160 lbs.
Gorewear Windstopper Hybrid Lightweight Puffy ($230)
The Hybrid Puffy is essentially a full on any weather, highly insulated jacket for deep of winter adventures of all types: running, snowshoeing, hiking, skiing of all types, and around town more casually.
It is packed with 170-gram PrimaLoft® Gold insulation with Cross Core™ Technology. This insulation is arrayed in an accordion-like structure and includes Aerogel fibers (95% air) and is said to boost warmth by 52% compared to regular PrimaLoft Gold insulation. PrimaLoft Gold is, unlike down less moisture absorbing and remains warm when wet.
Of course, it also includes Windstopper by Gore-Tex Labs technology. The Windstopper is on the outside face fabric and I can say it is super effective in cutting the wind while not being so close to the skin to have me overheating. I ran with the jacket in just below freezing temperatures with a medium base layer in strong winds with Feels Like temperature of 15 F and was protected and perfectly warm and also very well temperature regulated on an uptempo run, only occasionally having to unzip.
The Hybrid Puffy is the lighter of the two jackets but at 23.9 oz it is not lightweight and not a jacket that you can stuff away into a smaller run type pack and pull out at the summit or when chills rise. In comparison my Ibex Wool-Aire puffy weighs 12 oz and is easily stuffable into its chest pocket.
It is a jacket you put on and keep on for your adventure. But not to worry, its performance over a broad range of temperatures and conditions will have you leaving it on for the duration.
The fit is generous and drapes the body well and is quite a contrast to the cycling type fit of most older Gorewear apparel. The styling is modern and sleek with less of the big puffy look, something I like.
There is plenty of room underneath for additional layers and what I really liked was plenty of non-stick room and smooth lining for air circulation on the go to prevent overheating. Of course need it locked down, the dual lower drawcords at the hem and the hood will have you nice and snug as a bug in a rug!
It has 5 gigantic pockets.
The outside two are zipped and are fleece lined on the side towards the body.
Inside we have a giant drop in pocket behind one of the zip pockets as well as a top of chest zip pocket.
The adjustable Windstopper lined and insulated hood has draw cords on either side of the interior of the hood.
I did not think I would ever regularly run in a “puffy” but now I will! And Nordic ski too! The Hybrid Puffy is warm yet I never overheated and has notably good wind protection. Great on the go during activities in cold conditions, it is also the ideal “coat” to throw on before and after a workout in winter and keeps on warming and serving for all your other winter activities.
Berber Windstopper Fleece ($170)
The Berber Windstopper Fleece is quite different in looks and uses than the Puffy. Its deep retro looking pile fleece is reinforced at the elbows, neck and pockets with rugged Cordura fabric. With a much more outdoors and military look it stands in contrast to the Puffy on many levels.
This is the jacket for shoveling snow and piling firewood and can serve as a super warm layer under an alpine Gore-Tex ski shell for the coldest days. The fit is again very generous. If you decide to layer with the excellent Concurve Jacket from Gorewear, I think one should consider sizing up in the Concurve.
This super rugged jacket has strategic Cordura fabric at the elbows, collar and at the pockets, There are 5 pockets: 2 zip front drop in backed by 2 fleece lined hand warmer pockets and an internal zip pocket.
The interior is mostly lined with a soft brushed light fleece, very comfortable against the skin but which in high output activities tends to get warm and wet at the top of the back. The Windstopper layer is bonded to the rear of this inner lining.
Strangely, the sleeves are lined with what I assume is the Windstopper fabric (shiny above) with no backing and in warmer conditions, on the go, they get quite wet, sticky and overly warm.
I ran with the Berber in similar conditions to the Puffy and found it overly warm and as outlined above it got considerably wetter with sweat, and especially on the upper sleeves which have that slick lining.
The Berber could definitely use pit zips to help regulate temperature. I also think that as the Windstopper is on the inside close to the skin and as it has a fleecy backing the thick outer pile has a harder time dissipating moisture than the Puffy leading to more chill next to the skin as my inner merino light base layer got soaked,.
The Berber is cool looking, very reasonably priced at $170 and is a great choice for non high output activities and as more of a lifestyle piece but for me, between the two for running and other active winter pursuits where you work up a good sweat, the Puffy is the clear winner.
Shop for Gorewear Outerwear
Hybrid Puffy SHOP HERE
Berber Fleece SHOP HERE
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
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