Gore's C5 Trail short sleeve jersey is a quality bit of kit made from lightweight wicking material and the cut just right side for a slim but loose fit that's ideal for mountain bike use. The fit and feel go a long way to justifying the high price tag, but it's still a lot for a basic jersey.
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As you'd expect from Gore, the material the jersey is made from is of superb quality, with a really nice and silky feel against your skin. Gore says that it's an abrasion resistant material and despite not testing that properly by falling off - I know, lazy right - it's fended off scrapes and brambles well. It's survived the usual washing machine mistreatment merrily and it's excellent at wicking sweat away from your skin without getting too chilly when there's a breeze.
The cut is fairly trim without being paint-on tight, which I really like; there's enough space so that movement is unrestricted without it being pyjama-flappy when you're riding. There are no irritations from the neck, seams or hems either. As ever, styling is a hugely subjective thing but I quite like the simple pattern design, which also comes in black, orange, red and green as well as this blue.
In terms of features, there aren't many, which makes for a lightweight and simple jersey that works well with packs, but you don't get a lens wipe or little storage pocket, though there are some discreet but effective reflective accents stitched into the seam at either side of the jersey.
All in all, this is a nice jersey made from quality materials with a good cut, but the price is rather high considering the relatively simple construction.
