7mesh Guardian Collection and the Guardian Air Jacket: GORE-TEX ePE in Action

Earlier this year, California and New York banned the manufacturing and distribution of textiles and garments containing PFAS, chemicals commonly found in waterproof-breathable garments. The change in regulations has a massive ripple effect on all corners of the outdoor gear and apparel world. One of the most prominent is its impact on waterproof-breathable apparel, and more specifically, products that rely on GORE-TEX membranes and durable water repellent (DWR) coatings. For those who missed it, I wrote a detailed article on these changes and what they mean for the waterproof apparel we love.

In 2022, GORE-TEX launched expanded Polyethylene (ePE) as a new complementary material platform to serve as the basis for its membrane technologies. Gore applied more than 40 years of material and science knowledge to manipulate (expand it and make it more durable) PE to create ePE. The result is a light, thin, strong, waterproof-breathable membrane made without intentionally added PFAS. The ePE membrane is Bluesign and OXEO-TEX 100-certified, has a reduced carbon footprint compared to previous membranes, and utilizes laminates made from recycled and solution-dyed textiles. The minimum hydrostatic head (HH) rating, or waterproof rating, is 28,000mm, which is comparable to GORE-TEX Paclite Plus and GORE-TEX Active and is considered to be very waterproof.

Introducing the 7mesh Guardian Collection

Last winter, 7mesh reached out to discuss the next generation of their waterproof-breathable apparel. Although 7mesh is perhaps best known for their technical cycling apparel, the new 7mesh Guardian Collection is a slight departure and is designed with more than just cycling in mind. According to the folks at 7mesh, their customers were already using their waterproof jackets and pants for other sports, so they leaned into this to design multifunctional outerwear designed for cycling, running, hiking, ski touring, and more. If you know anything about Squamish, British Columbia, where 7mesh is based, it’s a town full of multi-sport athletes, so the new approach seems fitting.

• 
• 

At the heart of the Guardian Collection is the GORE-TEX ePE fabric. There are three garments within the collection—two jackets and a pair of pants—and all are fully waterproof, designed with high-output activities in mind, and offer improved freedom of movement compared to their previous waterproof garments. The Guardian Air Jacket is the lighter and more minimal jacket of the two, based around a featherweight and super packable 15-denier outer fabric. The Guardian Apex Jacket has more durable 40-denier face fabric, underarm vents, and weighs about 100 grams more. And lastly, the Guardian Apex Pant has a new articulated cut that’s better suited to multiple activities, and there’s an abrasion-resistant seat area for cyclists. The pants weigh about 250 grams, have hem zips for easy on/off over boots, and feature an integrated belt and fly. The entire collection is available in men’s and women’s sizing.

• Guardian Apex Jacket: $600 USD ($750 CAD)
• Guardian Apex Pants: $400 USD ($550 CAD)
• Guardian Air Jacket: $500 USD ($600 CAD)

I had a chance to take an early look at the 7mesh Guardian Air Jacket, my first experience using GORE-TEX ePE, to see how it stands up against the well-loved 7mesh Copilot jacket.

7Mesh Guardian Air Jacket Review

The Guardian Air Jacket takes full advantage of ePE’s incredibly thin and lightweight design. Compared to traditional ePTFE, which is what all of 7mesh’s rain gear was made with before the Guardian Collection, ePE allowed 7mesh to create a jacket that was lighter, more packable, and just as durable. The Guardian Air is designed for users who prioritize weight and packability, and for most bikepackers, this likely rings true.

• 
• 

What sets the Guardian Air apart from the Guardian Apex Jacket is its lightweight 15-denier outer fabric, which is the lightest commercially available ePE fabric currently available. To save weight, it’s stripped of most of its features, including vents and extra pockets, but it does have an integrated stash pocket that the jacket can pack into, which doubles as a zippered security pocket and dump sleeve for gloves or other small items. The jacket has velcro cuffs that can be used with or without gloves, and the scratchy side is a unique material that doesn’t snag on other fabrics. The hood uses 7mesh’s “cross pull” design, with two collar pulls to tighten the hood, and the ability to loosen it by simply pulling on the hood itself. The hood can also roll down out of the way, thanks to an integrated snap on the hood and collar of the jacket. Lastly, 7mesh used a two-way zipper that not only acts as a functional way to dump excess heat but can be useful in off-the-bike situations, such as climbing and skiing.

As someone who has practically lived in my 7mesh Copilot jacket for the last few winters, one of the most noticeable changes was the updated fit. In order to accommodate a wider range of activities, the Guardian Air Jacket has a much roomier fit and loses the dropped rear hem. The size large jacket I’ve been testing fits more like a technical multi-use rain jacket with room for additional layers than the more slim fit of the Copilot jacket, and that’s exactly what 7mesh was going for. For folks looking for that slimmer fit, sizing down shouldn’t be out of the question.

• 
• 

The fabric itself is quite different than non-ePE jackets I’ve used. Its 15-denier face fabric is wildly thin and feels more like a wind jacket than a rain jacket. The fabric isn’t translucent, but it’s close, with light finding its way through the fabric any place without two layers. The ripstop grid pattern is also visible, which makes it feel more technical than jackets that are a solid color, which won’t be for everyone. The ePE/ripstop nylon construction isn’t as soft or stretchy as the Copilots’ GORE-TEX Paclite Plus, but the interior feels pretty comparable.

As luck would have it, I got to test the 7mesh Guardian Air Jacket out on two particularly wet overnighters earlier this spring. One of the main advantages of PFAS DWR coatings is that they’re resistant to oil contamination, which is what causes water to bead so elegantly off of waterproof apparel. Without these coatings, the Guardian Air Jacket doesn’t bead rain as visibly, but it did keep me dry in multiple hours of wet-weather riding. As I shared in my article on PFAS, users will have to be more conscious of contamination from things like chain lube and even more innocent-seeming things like petting a dog and then rubbing your hands with the oil from their fur on the jacket. Both the Apex and Air jackets use 7mesh’s StashSystem, which allows them to be tucked into their integrated pockets and then clipped onto a handlebar or pack while not in use.

• 
• 
• 

Currently, there’s no breathability rating for ePE garments, but GORE-TEX claims it is comparable to other standard GORE-TEX fabrics, with specific ratings depending on the garment’s construction. The new ePE membrane itself is said to be “very breathable” and comparable to previous waterproof membranes. While riding a loading bikepacking bike in the rain, I’d say I agree with these statements, and didn’t find myself overheating any faster or slower than the 15,000g/m² breathability rating of my 7mesh Copilot jacket. I found myself using the two-way zipper to increase ventilation, and while I would have liked proper underarm vents at times, I don’t think it’s a deal breaker for a jacket designed to be lightweight and packable.

There’s no question that the Guardian Air Jacket is packable, and it’s easy to stuff into the integrated pocket, but it’s actually slightly less packable than my Copilot Jacket, which was somewhat surprising to discover. It is, however, a touch lighter. My size large Guardian Air weighed in at 211 grams, and the Copilot weighs 275 grams. All things considered, if you already own a good waterproof jacket, it’s probably worth investing some time into maintaining it, rather than forking out the cash for a new ePE jacket. Speaking of price, it’s an expensive jacket at $500 USD ($600 CAD), which is double the price of the 7mesh Copilot jacket. It’s hard to justify a price jump, considering ePE jackets require more care for them to function properly, and users already seem to have a hard time maintaining waterproof garments as it is.

• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

• Material: GORE-TEX ePE, 15d Face Fabric
• Weight: 211 grams (size large)
• Place of Manufacture: China
• Price: $500 USD
• Manufacturer’s Details: 7mesh.com

Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...