The benefits are significant, according to both Gore and 7Mesh. First up, Gore say it’s the most breathable waterproof fabric out there, as you haven’t got the face fabric stopping moisture from escaping, and, going back to our original point, it’s lighter, too. By the way, 7Mesh put the claimed weight of the Oro at 93g for a size medium and, as we said at the top, our small sample came in 1g under that.

The low weight is helped by the fact there’s no face fabric to get wetted out in particularly damp conditions, which in turn can create a chilling effect. Most riders will have had a ‘waterproof’ jacket which, even if it doesn’t let any rain all the way through to the body, feels heavy and damp to touch in a downpour. As an aside, the Oro’s low weight means it’s extremely compact. Roll the jacket up and it’ll slip into just half a jersey pocket.

The Oro was simply superb. Not one drop of water permeated the fabric, instead immediately beading up on the surface and either remaining there or leaping off with a quick wipe or shake of the jacket. As first rides go, it was a tough test and the Oro passed with flying colours and then some. Add in a close, race-cut fit, generous dropped tail and close cuffs, and 7Mesh look to have got the details right, too.

We’ll need more time in the Oro to assess breathability, durability (particularly with the lack of a face fabric) and performance in varying conditions – but it’s off to a very good start.

Website: 7Mesh

Something for the weekend showcases our pick of the latest tech to arrive at RoadCyclingUK. You can see more here.