ABOUT THE 7MESH GUARDIAN COLLECTION
Guardian represents the pinnacle of 7mesh outerwear. Designed to provide multidisciplinary protection against the elements, this premium waterproof apparel features fits and materials that aim to offer peak performance no matter the sport or conditions. Built with the GORE-TEX ePE membrane to offer weatherproofing without compromising breathability, the 7mesh Guardian Apex and Guardian Air are said to “represent the peak of everything they’ve learned in a lifetime of outdoor innovation”.
About GORE-TEX ePE
The 7mesh Guardian collection utilizes the GORE-TEX ePE PFAS-Free waterproof membrane across all of the garments. The latest generation of top-tier GORE-TEX membranes is absent of PFAS for environmental consciousness – that’s to say, the membrane does not have intentionally added per- and polyfluorinated substances, which are considered to leach into the environment. Without these substances, it is more difficult to produce a waterproof and breathable membrane, but GORE-TEX still guarantees waterproofing for the life of the garment.
The GORE-TEX ePE (expanded polyethylene) membrane allows the 7mesh Guardian collection to achieve 28,000mm water column rating for waterproofing, with a light, thin and strong structure. It’s claimed to be very breathable – a claim that held true on-trail – yet windproof to avoid the loss of body temperature when undesirable.
The DWR finish on these garments is effective and long-lasting when it is clean. It is recommended that the garments are washed and tumble-dried regularly to keep the membrane clear of obstruction and the DWR activated for ultimate water repellency.
ABOUT THE 7MESH GUARDIAN APEX JACKET
Guardian Apex is the halo product of the 7mesh outerwear range, with jacket and pant offerings to provide the ultimate in weather protection for backcountry activities.
The 7mesh Guardian Apex jacket is made with the GORE-TEX ePE membrane, giving 28,000mm+ waterproofing without sacrificing breathability. This is given a 40D High-Tenacity 100% Nylon outer for durability, and a size medium weighs 310g. On the inside, a C-Knit (circular knit) backer made from recycled materials is in place to give comfort against the skin while ensuring breathability. These fabrics are given the Bluesign and Oeko-Tex 100 eco-friendly certifications, giving them eco-friendly credentials. An articulated design aims to provide stellar freedom of movement, avoiding the need for material elasticity.
The Guardian Apex Jacket features their CrossPull Hood system, which gives a consistent and secure way to tailor the hood to sit comfortably on a helmet or the user’s head. When the hood isn’t desired, it can be rolled down and kept tidy with the Stowaway Snap. Around the waist, hem pull cords are in place for easy cinching down to keep out the elements. The adjustable cuffs are designed to be effective with or without gloves, while avoiding snagging with their hidden profile.
The 7mesh Guardian Apex jacket features two zippered hand pockets, positioned to function effectively when climbing with a harness. Inside the jacket, a zipped chest pocket provides storage and facilitates the StashSystem. StashSystem packs the jacket small, with integrated elastic straps to allow for attachment to a bike frame or handlebars. Under the armpits, forward-facing zippered vents are in place to quickly release heat. Throughout the jacket, weathersealed YKK Vislon zippers are in place to resist water intrusion, with the front featuring a 2-way zipper for versatility.
7mesh offers the Guardian Apex jacket in three colors: red/orange Supernova, Lake Blue tested, or Black. It is available in a Men’s or Women’s cut, in sizes XS-XXL. Retail price is a handsome $600 / £500 / €550.
ABOUT THE 7MESH GUARDIAN AIR JACKET
The 7mesh Guardian Air Jacket is a more minimalistic and lighter-weight alternative to the Guardian Apex, offering improved packability. It retains the same GORE-TEX ePE waterproof membrane with 28,000mm+ waterproof rating, but uses a 15D face fabric to reduce the weight to 200g for size medium. On the inside, the same circular knit (C-knit) backer is in place to provide comfort and breathability. These materials are all PFC and PFAS-free, with Bluesign and Oeko-Tex 100 certification and some recycled content.
The same CrossPull Hood and Stowaway Snap are in place to give adaptable coverage with or without a helmet. The cuffs are still adjustable with a sleek no-snag design, and the hem features the same pull cord system to tailor the fit. The StashSystem is in place to stow the Guardian Air Jacket when not required, with easy mounting to a bike or bag thanks to the integrated elastic straps.
7mesh removed the zippered hand pockets and underarm vents from the Guardian Air jacket to deliver a more minimalistic design. It benefits from a deep internal storage sleeve, capable of storing a medium-length baguette. The front zipper is the same YKK Vislon weather-resistant model, with a two-way design.
Men and Women are given dedicated fits for the 7mesh Guardian Air jacket, with both available in sizes XS to XXL. There are two color options: Deep Sea (tested), or Graphite, with a retail price of $500 / £400 / €450.
ABOUT THE 7MESH GUARDIAN APEX PANT
Aiming to be the perfect pairing to the Guardian Apex or Guardian Air Jackets, the 7mesh Guardian Apex Pant combines the GORE-TEX ePE waterproofing with a multi-disciplinary design to offer protection against the elements no matter what the adventure involves. The articulated patterning used in the Guardian Apex Pant aims to provide freedom of movement for pedaling without compromising comfort off the bike. The fit is regular, with enough space in the knee area to use a slim knee pad without restriction.
The GORE-TEX ePE membrane is combined with two different materials: a lighter 40D High-Tenacity Nylon with C-Knit recycled backer for the bulk of the pant; with a combination of 92% 70D Nylon and 8% elastane with tricot backer in the high-wear saddle and instep areas. This delivers 28,000mm+ waterproofing without sacrificing durability and flexibility, delivering a 245g pant in size medium. The PCF and PFAS-free materials are given Bluesign and Oeko-Tex 100 certifications to indicate their eco-friendly credentials.
Built into the waist of the 7mesh Guardian Apex Pant is a “no-flip” belt, with low-profile locking adjusters to dial in the fit and keep the pants secure. The front is given a button and a zippered fly, giving easy access. The ankles feature a unique dual-zipper setup, which allows the cuff to be tailored for either a slim fit (perfect for mountain biking) or a wider setup to accommodate boots when hiking or skiing.
On the right leg is a single zippered pocket, with a rear-loading design for reduced pedaling restriction when a phone is inside. This is designed to function as a stash pocket for times when portability is desired.
A men’s and women’s cut is offered in the 7mesh Guardian Apex Pant, with sizes XS-XXL. Available in black only, they retail for $400 / £350 / €450.
7MESH WARRANTY AND CRASH & REPAIR
To support a long life of adventure, 7mesh offers a warranty against defects in materials and manufacturing for the lifetime of the product. Going above and beyond this, their Crash & Repair program will repair an item free of charge within the first 90 days of ownership, and offers reasonable repair pricing for the lifetime of the product.
Q+A WITH IAN MARTIN, CO-FOUNDER OF 7MESH
I had some questions for 7mesh, hoping to dive a little deeper into the origins of the collection and learn more about the GORE-TEX ePE and how best to utilize and maintain these items. After all, they represent a serious investment – money that my bike journalist wages wouldn’t likely support – so I would want to be certain that I was doing everything to keep them performing their best.
The Loam Wolf (TLW): Why did 7mesh make the Guardian collection? Who’s it targeted at?
Ian Martin – 7mesh: The Guardian Collection is best-in-class outerwear inspired by motion. It is designed from the ground up, re-engineering every detail to make it the lightest, most packable GORE-TEX outerwear in the world. After spending the last 12 years refining our outerwear at 7mesh and decades prior working at Arc’teryx, we saw an opportunity to refine and improve our work for a wider group of people who want more from their outerwear. We primarily target riders, climbers, skiers, and hikers looking for outerwear that can do it all without compromise.
TLW: Why did you choose the GORE-TEX ePE material?
7mesh: GORE-TEX has always had an unbelievable guarantee to be “durably waterproof.” Most people don’t really know what this means, but it means that they guarantee the garment will stay waterproof for the life of the garment. This was much easier with PFAS chemicals in use. Now, with PFAS chemicals being removed from the supply chain, this is more important than ever.
Generally speaking, people relate PFAS chemicals to DWRs, but this is only one element of what they did for waterproof-breathable garments. The most important thing they did was stop sufficient contamination of the membrane from oils in the environment, as well as in your laundry detergent. If a garment becomes contaminated, it basically will leak. We have seen almost all PFAS-free waterproof-breathable garments in the market fail our basic waterproof testing after being contaminated, except GORE-TEX.
Gore has done the research, tested the fabrics, and has continued to offer a best-in-class material that we can use proudly at 7mesh. People think GORE-TEX is all marketing, but I can assure you it is not. It has a good reputation because it is the best, not because they tell us it is the best.
TLW: I live in an environment where there is a considerable amount of mud. Should I be washing and drying the Guardian items after every ride? How many washes is the DWR likely to keep working for?
7mesh: You want to keep your garment clean, but it is not recommended to wash it after every ride. I would suggest you rinse or hose off mud, then wash as needed. DWRs in the post-PFAS world just don’t work the same, and there is no replacement for fluorinated chemistry. So it is important to wash the garments frequently, making sure to double rinse, then make sure you put them in the dryer for a bit to reactivate the DWR. The Gore DWR is the best in the industry, but no PFAS-free DWR will be the same as the predecessor — it is just impossible. We need to think about how to vent garments differently and get them as close to the body as possible so we can breathe as well as we did prior without the use of forever chemicals.
TLW: What are you most proud about with the Guardian collection?
The Guardian Collection is our team’s collective combined experiences from our work in the early days of Arc’teryx and our past 12 years working on cycling garments at 7mesh. Our work on fast-moving garments for the past 12 years has informed us, and we have utilized our expert craftsmanship to redesign every element of how outerwear is designed and constructed: the cuffs, our hem, our backflap, the cross-pull hood, and a completely new way of articulating a garment and introducing stretch into static fabrics for mobility. Change is incremental for the most part, but if you make changes to all the incremental parts, they add up to the creation of something special. That is innovation. That is what we have set out to do with Guardian: to elevate the current state of outerwear.
TESTING THE 7MESH GUARDIAN COLLECTION IN THE DIRT
With such a significant price tag, I had to ensure that the 7mesh Guardian jackets and pants not only performed well initially, but also continued to perform well over the long haul. The Scottish winter provided an extreme testing ground for the Guardian Apex and Air Jacket and Apex Pant, and I was thankful to have 7mesh’s finest waterproofs in my kit bag. Having these excellent garments on test helped to encourage me to get out there on some days where I would have struggled to find the courage otherwise. Could they possibly stand up to the abuse of hard charging on enduro trails through the Scottish Winter though?
Does The GORE-TEX ePE Membrane Keep You Dry and Comfortable?
In short, the GORE-TEX ePE membrane performed incredibly well, and lived up to its self-proclaimed infallability when it came to protection against rain.
Water eventually found its way through the zip, up the cuffs, and through the neck opening on the most miserable of rainy and windy days, but it really had to try. All three of the items in the 7mesh Guardian collection were truly stellar in their weather protection throughout the test, and after around 25 rides in the pants and 20 in each jacket, with 6-8 wash cycles each, they didn’t seem to be degrading in pure waterproofing ability.
The DWR continued to return to near-new levels of effectiveness after each wash and dry cycle. It was notably hampered by the effects of dirt and grime that inevitably found their way onto the jacket, so aside from a couple of dry ground, wet weather rides, they became progressively less water-repellent and breathable over the duration of the rides following the previous wash. This was sadly unavoidable, and a difficult reality of riding in such a muddy environment. They never ceased to prevent water getting in, but as they approached saturation on the outer layer, the resulting drop in breathability led to a humid microclimate inside.
Thankfully, the wash and dry cycle was not difficult to perform with a washing machine and tumble dryer, and the 7mesh Guardian jackets and pants held up amicably through their wash cycles.
The moral here? It pays to look after your GORE-TEX ePE-equipped apparel with regular washing and drying when being used for muddy mountain biking.
How Did The 7mesh Guardian Apex Jacket Perform?
The full-featured, heavier-weight jacket in the 7mesh Guardian collection was an incredible bit of kit for general outdoor activities in inclement weather. The cut in the size large tested was fairly generous for my 189cm / 6’2” and 98kg / 215lbs weight. This allowed for a mid-weight layer to be fitted beneath, even though I would typically sit on the cusp of an XL. There was no concern with excessive extra material for me, and I appreciated the cut’s versatility, but those looking for a slimmer fit may wish to size down. Much to my relief, the sleeve length was perfect, giving secure coverage for even the most dynamic moves on the bike.
The 40D material with GORE-TEX ePE struck a stellar balance of heat retention and breathability, feeling extremely comfortable in less strenuous use. As a bonus, this material ran quietly for a waterproof shell, only giving a slight noise when walking. On warmer days, the side vents were demanded to help to vent heat, but there was an absence of the overly stuffy, humid feeling that makes you sweat immediately. Regardless, compared to the Guardian Air jacket, the comfortable temperature for using the Apex was slightly lower when pushing hard, even with its vents deployed.
The hood of the 7mesh Guardian Apex Jacket could be a little bigger to offer the best protection when worn over a helmet, but it struck a reasonable balance. The CrossPull function worked well, and though it looked a little fragile, it proved to stand up well. Managing the excess of a helmet-capable hood when off-the-bike was no mean feat, so it was impressive that 7mesh’s solution was so effective. When the hood wasn’t required and the Stowaway Snap was used, the high collar that resulted looked good and felt comfortable. The external pockets were usefully sized, and while they’re located a little higher than some, they proved to work well.
Off the bike, the 7mesh Guardian Apex Jacket was exceptional. From the versatile cut that didn’t scream “bike jacket” to its comfort and weatherproofing, it almost felt a shame to get it muddy. I didn’t hit the snow with this jacket, but I had no doubts that it would have continued to offer the same stellar performance with some warmer layers stuffed underneath.
How Did The 7mesh Guardian Apex Pant Perform?
Waterproof pants are arguably more difficult to execute well than a jacket, since they were susceptible to the increased abuse of a muddy bike saddle and were often the first thing to hit the ground in a crash. Your legs have a wide range of motion, and it isn’t a case of just creating more room inside, as excess material would become a nuisance.
The mobility that 7mesh managed to introduce into their truly waterproof pant was very impressive. Add to that its comfort in use, and what proved to be suitable durability for mountain biking in abusive conditions, and you are left with an incredible piece of gear.
Are they going to tear in a crash in sharp terrain? Most definitely. Do they make you sweat more than a non-waterproof riding pant? Yes. But when the rain was coming down, and the puddles were firing off my tires onto my shins, I was left laughing smugly in the 7mesh Guardian Apex Pant. Their waterproofing was truly impressive and greatly improved my comfort levels on the wet days in the saddle. While water still found its way through the butt panel after hours of being squeezed through by a saddle, or worked its way down the top of the waistband, the comfort they sustained was remarkable.
The adjustable waistband was much appreciated to tailor their fit. However on occasional rowdy moments, it would slip through and release the tension slightly. Granted, my waist could easily fit the size Large but I opted to test the XL to ensure suitable room for movement and gain the extra 0.5” inseam length, so the belt was working double time to keep them situated. The length was just enough for my long legs, but I would have been showing considerable ankle if I lost the 0.5” by sizing down.
The single pocket was sensibly designed, locating the item around the side of your thigh rather than the front, thus ensuring unimpeded motion. Being able to stash the pants in this pocket for easier travel was nice, but I didn’t make use of it often. If the ride had the chance of being wet enough to call for these pants, I wore them from the outset. I’d have loved to see a second small pocket option added for further versatility, but it wasn’t a great inconvenience.
Given the level of abuse the 7mesh Guardian Apex Pants sustained during the test period, I was truly amazed by how well they held up. Not only did they resist encounters with foliage, a few pedal strikes, and a constant barrage of mud, but I also avoided hitting the ground in a way that compromised them. That said, I feel that it would be inevitable that I would damage them if I bought a pair, so the 7mesh Crash & Repair program would likely be put to work.
How Did The 7mesh Guardian Air Jacket Perform?
Though the Guardian Apex Jacket performed excellently, the warmer and wetter days benefited from the lighter offering of the 7mesh Guardian Air. During high-effort activities, it was incredible to have the waterproofing and breathability of the GORE-TEX ePE with the minimal insulation from the thin material of the Guardian Air Jacket. With this light jacket and the breathability on tap, there was seldom the desire for extra venting, with enough heat evacuated by unzipping the front to keep me comfortable during hard efforts in the saddle.
The thin material of the Guardian Air Jacket had less structure than that of the Apex, so it felt baggier in motion, even though the cut was the same. With the same amount of room inside, you could still squeeze in a reasonable thickness of insulation below, boosting the versatility of the Guardian Air for colder days.
On the days where the conditions were frequently changing, it packed small enough, weighed little enough, and mounted to the bike easily enough, that I felt compelled to take it “just in case”.
The internal pocket setup was effective for smaller items, but would flap around when packed with anything with weight. A car key or some snacks was no problem, but a phone or chunky multi-tool could become uncomfortable on the descents. As with the Guardian Apex Jacket, the hood could have offered more coverage for larger helmets. But for the adventures with no helmet required, the Crosspull and Stowaway Snap functioned as intended and managed the hood effectively.
The 7mesh Guardian Air Jacket’s durability was my largest concern, having destroyed lightweight shell jackets in the past. Much to my relief, it proved to be durable through brushes with trees, and thankfully, there were no big crashes to properly test its abrasion resistance. Ultimately, the level of weather protection on offer from this lightweight and packable – yet suitably tough – jacket was exceptional. Flying under the radar until it was required, the Guardian Air could serve equally well as an effective storm shell or a versatile outer layer for all adventures.
The Wolf’s Last Word
Is The 7mesh Guardian Collection Worth The Price?
The 7mesh Guardian Apex Jacket and Pant and Guardian Air Jacket were exceptional, and only a couple of small details away from being perfect. That said, they are extremely expensive, so my recommendation to purchase the finest 7mesh waterproofs comes with some significant caveats.
Firstly, you’ve got to look after them. Protect them from abuse wherever possible, and give them the regular cleaning and tumble drying that they need to keep the membrane clear and working its best. If you’re going to leave the 7mesh Guardian items muddy for ride after ride, or have a habit of crashing and tearing your clothing frequently, they may not represent the most intelligent investment.
Secondly, think about your use case and whether they make sense for you. If you’re looking to stay dry during a muddy shuttle day, there are cheaper and tougher alternatives that probably make more sense.
If you’re looking to go all day on bike, snow, or foot in inclement weather, and want some exceptionally well-performing waterproof gear to keep you comfortable, the 7mesh Guardian collection may be worth your investment. 
Guardian Apex Jacket: $600 / £500 / €550
Guardian Apex Pant: $400 / £400 / €450
Guardian Air Jacket: $500 / £350 / €400
Website: 7mesh.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
Robert’s habitat is the Tweed Valley, Scotland, which is renowned for its root-littered enduro mountain bike trails. Robert has been developing his bike handling skills for the last 16 years. Since he was a pup, he’s been riding everything from BMX through to enduro and downhill bikes. Combining a playful style with occasional speed-focused aggression, he favors supportive bikes, and does his best to push them hard.
Rank: European Tech Editor
Size: 6’2” / 189cm | 220lbs / 100kg
Social: @robert_johnston
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