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When it comes to rainwear, the lay of the land has changed rapidly in the past few years. Until recently, most jackets relied on long-lasting chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (or PFAS) to create water-resistant coatings and hydrophobic membranes. Some still do, but a growing number of brands have vowed to stop using PFAS due to well-documented health and environmental concerns.
That’s undeniably good news, but it has made buying a new rain jacket a bit confusing lately. Take Gore-Tex for example. They’re in the midst of a brand-wide switch to a PFAS-free membrane, and there are a lot of questions about the new technology. Is it as durable? As breathable? Does it wet out faster? There are also a few products disappearing altogether, like Gore’s Shakedry line. That was the company’s lightest fabric, marketed mostly to cyclists and runners. But thanks to its gossamer weight and next-level breathability, it had a lot of fans in the ultralight hiking world, too.
Shakedry is no more, but earlier this year, Gorewear—the consumer-facing side of Gore-Tex—released a new PFAS-free jacket designed to replace it, called the Concurve. We got our hands on a sample to see how it compares to its predecessor.
The Technology
Right off the bat, we have to talk about the big difference that separates these jackets: the waterproof membrane. Shakedry was one of only a few products (the others being Columbia’s OutDry and OutDry Extreme-based jackets, which are still available) on the market that had the membrane as the outer layer of the jacket.
And Shakedry’s unique construction really did make a big difference. A standard three-layer rain jacket places the membrane under a face fabric that’s been treated with a water-repellent coating. In both cases, the jacket is fully waterproof, but the Shakedry feels drier. That’s because the DWR coating on other jackets can eventually wet out, compromising the membrane’s ability to shed body heat and leaving you feeling clammy. In contrast, by putting the waterproof membrane on the outside, Shakedry doesn’t absorb water at all. Even in a heavy rain, water beads off the jacket and the membrane continues to function as it should.
Looking at the Concurve, Gorewear has reverted to a more traditional approach. It features Gore-Tex’s new PFAS-free membrane (made using expanded polyethylene, or ePE for short), but it’s sandwiched between a nylon face fabric and a lining, just like the Gore-Tex of old. That means that the Concurve relies on a DWR coating to keep the face fabric dry, which is now also PFAS-free. It also adds about an ounce of weight compared to the old Shakedry models, weighing in at 7.1 ounces in a men’s medium.
This difference in construction also results in a difference in breathability ratings. According to Gore-Tex’s own numbers, Shakedry was easily the most breathable fabric they made, with an RET rating of
The Performance
With all the technical details out of the way, how does the Concurve actually perform?
To start, it’s incredibly comfortable. The fabric has a bit of stretch to it, which is a nice change compared to most hardshells. It’s fairly snug, but loose enough to fit a few layers underneath. The hood is particularly nice. It fits low and snug (no room for a helmet) and is adjustable. There’s not much of a bill to speak of, but has an inner “headband” made of stretch mesh that keeps it from jostling around too much.
There are a few more design quirks that show attention to detail. Small magnets on the back of the hood and between the shoulders keep the hood in place when it’s down. And the main zipper has two tabs, allowing you to zip up from the bottom to access a pocket or vent some heat. I was undecided on the wrist cuffs, which are fairly snug thanks to a stretchy neoprene-like mesh. They’re definitely comfortable, but they’re not adjustable, are hard to pull over your wrists if you wear a watch, and soak up water in a hard rain.
The Concurve doesn’t have pit zips. And the two mesh-lined front hand pockets, while not so low that they’re entirely covered by a hipbelt, aren’t as high up on the torso as some jackets designed for use with a pack. Whether they’ll be accessible to you with a pack on depends on your torso length.
As for breathability? It’s no Shakedry, despite the way Gorewear is advertising this jacket. Simply put, the R7 Shakedry Trail jacket I once owned was the most breathable rain jacket I’ve ever used. The Concurve feels much like other Gore-Tex and Paclite jackets on the market. During strenuous hikes, I begin to overheat in temperatures above about 55 degrees. Due to its ho-hum breathability, the Concurve would benefit from pit zips. And as a backpacking jacket, I wonder if a slightly baggier fit would help it feel less clammy.
But its average breathability and traditional construction also means it’s a fair shake more durable than the notoriously fragile Shakedry material—mine bit the dust long ago. I haven’t noticed any damage to the face fabric or DWR from wearing a pack, which was always a concern with Shakedry. The effectiveness of the DWR on the Concurve is also a pleasant surprise. There’s been a fair amount of concern among gearheads about how well PFAS-free DWR coatings would work compared to the ones that relied on nastier, more durable chemicals. But so far, the Concurve has only wet out once, after a full day of hiking in the rain in the Boise mountains. During short showers and storms, it works as intended.
It’s No Shakedry
All told, the Concurve is a nice rain jacket, and Gore-Tex deserves a good deal of credit here. They’ve managed to fully revamp their membrane—doing away with PFAS in the process—while keeping performance on par with their three-layer jackets of old. That’s a solid achievement, and it’s a good sign that more innovation is yet to come. I’m just speculating here, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a PFAS-free version of Shakedry is on the way. Columbia’s PFAS-free Outdry fabric is proof that it’s possible (though Outdry is heavier and less breathable than Shakedry was). Based on its reputation, ultralight hikers, runners, and cyclists would line up to try a next-gen Shakedry jacket. For now, the Concurve is a good, lightweight Gore-Tex jacket, but it’s no Shakedry replacement.