Norrona fjørå Goretex Pro: Rain jacket & rain trousers for biking in bad weather

The summer was long and dry, so I had to wait for my gravel tour through France I had to wait for a heavy thunderstorm to be able to test the Norrøna rain suit for the first time. However, at over 20 degrees, it was a humid affair and an extremely tough test for the breathability of the rain jacket. So at least the short rain shorts were used - Technically the same as the long version of the fjørå Goretex Pro rain trousers.

But now it's really autumn in Bavaria. The bike, the rain suit and I were out and about in serious conditions. With success: I'll tell you this much, even a cool 8 degrees and pouring rain can be great fun!

The Norrøna Fjørå Goretex Pro rain jacket in a practical test

The Fjørå rain jacket cuts a fine figure even in the city. It has a slim and long cut, and its elegant black simply looks good. But a hard shell for 650 euros must be able to do much more. And the Goretex Pro jacket in any case. With the 3-layer Goretex laminate, the rain jacket is waterproof up to 28,000 mm water column according to the manufacturer - but at the same time also very to extremely breathable.

The breathability of functional clothing is often indicated by the water vapour transmission resistance, Resistance of Evaporation of a Textile (RET), according to Hohenstein. Values from 1 to 5 mean "extremely breathable" (15,000 g/m²/24h and above), 6 to 13 "very breathable" (10,000 g/m²/24h). Norrøna specifies an RET value of 6, which is right on the borderline. In city mode, the jacket is actually very comfortable and not very sweaty. In full speed mode at 10 degrees outside temperature, the body moisture condenses a little, but compared to other rain jackets, the Goretex Pro equipment pays off.

>> More information on laminate and function in rain jackets can be found in our article Stay dry: What mountain bikers need to know about rain jackets

Norrøna rain jacket with many good features

But the cycling rain jacket also has a few features to offer in terms of equipment. Starting with the hood, which can be easily adjusted with a drawstring and should fit perfectly over most helmets. The collar has a fluffy coating and is very comfortable to wear. There are plenty of zips on the Fjørå bike jacket:

#1 - smooth-running main zip in the centre

#2 - zip running from bottom to top for ventilation next to the main zip

#3 - external, waterproof chest pocket with zip, sufficient for a large smartphone, sunglasses etc.

#4 - inside breast pocket with zip as a mesh insert (i.e. exposed to moisture inside) for small items such as a debit card or a key

#5 + 6 - Underarm ventilation with zip

All zips are cleverly positioned and also work with one hand. The large ventilation opening on the chest in particular, together with the two zips under the arms, ensures a good draught.

A very special feature are the extensions on the sleeves, which extend over the top of the hand and can be attached to the hand with an elasticated fabric band. They are very comfortable in the rain and cold wind - a good idea. However, you can get caught in the sleeve when putting them on or they can push together and form a lump in the sleeve, which you first have to tidy up. So it's a trade-off, similar to the cover on the SQlab gloves that we described in summer.

A second point to be aware of with Goretex Pro is that the fabric tends to be stiff and stiff. You can't sneak quietly into the rain jacket. The crackling of the jacket can also be annoying when biking. For me, however, function is absolutely paramount.

Conclusion on the Norrøna fjørå Goretex Pro rain jacket

A lot of money for a cycling rain jacket - but it's worth it, because in our experience Norrøna sells durable products and the fjørå Goretex Pro is a 3-layer hardshell that stays absolutely waterproof, is very well ventilated and also looks good. With its timeless black, at least you won't get tired of it after two years because the colours no longer seem contemporary. The fabric is stiff and crackles, but is robust and highly functional. - Marc Strucken, BIKE editor

Technical data & details of the Norrøna fjørå rain jacket

• Price: 649 Euro >> available here
• Weight: 424 grams in size L
• Front chest ventilation with water-repellent zip
• Asymmetric cuffs with Velcro adjustment
• Asymmetric longer back cut
• Reflective stripes on the back
• Chest pockets with zip
• Glasses cloth in inside pocket
• Inner pocket on the chest
• Reflective logo
• Hood suitable for freeride helmet with adjustment strap

Ecological footprint

• More than 50 per cent of synthetic fibres are recycled
• Oeko-Tex certified fabric
• Bluesign certified fabric
• Open factory list

The Norrøna fjørå Goretex Pro cycling rain trousers

From a technical point of view, Norrøna's cycling rain trousers are made from the same Goretex Pro material as the rain jacket. With all the advantages, such as waterproofness and breathability, but also the crackling and rustling - which can be a bit annoying when pedalling in the saddle. However, when riding downhill, the fabric hardly flutters because it is stiff enough. The rain trousers are reinforced in the seat area and at the ankles to prevent these particularly stressed areas from prematurely chafing.

Like the jacket, the rain trousers also offer a huge number of pockets. Pockets on both sides, one of which has an insert for your phone. The large pockets are also really huge and keep tight. There are large zip openings at the back of the thigh for ventilation and the leg can be opened quite wide from the bottom upwards for putting on and taking off shoes.

Velcro fasteners can be used to tighten the leg cuffs - around the shoe leg, for example. The waistband also has Velcro adjusters to adjust the trousers to the waist. The silicone strip on the inside keeps the trousers in place, although they do slip down due to gravity on really wet jerseys.

Conclusion on the Norrøna fjørå Goretex Pro rain trousers

The trousers are cut quite wide at the legs, so if you want to be aerodynamic through the monsoon, you'll have to look elsewhere. On the other hand, the Norrøna fjørå rain trousers give you enough freedom of movement for long moves in the saddle. I was also impressed by the non-damp feel of the trousers on strenuous uphills. Water and dirt don't penetrate anywhere, even when the tyres are being hit hard. Just under 600 euros for rain trousers, which are probably used much less frequently than a jacket, is high. But here, too, what counts for me is the durability, which is evident even after a few washes. We will provide updates here if one of the products does break down. - Marc Strucken, BIKE editor

Technical data & details: Norrøna fjørå rain trousers (long)

• Price: 599 Euro
• Weight: 376 grams in size L
• Adjustable ankle width with Velcro
• Adjustable waist size
• Leg zips for easy donning and doffing
• Mobile phone pocket inside the right thigh pocket
• Reflective logos and stripes on the back of the calves
• Reinforcing fabric on the inside of the ankles and in the seat area
• Ventilation opening on the sides with zip

Ecological footprint

• More than 50 per cent of synthetic fibres are recycled
• Oeko-Tex certified fabric
• Bluesign certified fabric
• Open factory list

The short fjørå Goretex Pro rain trousers by Norrøna in practice

The short version of the fjørå Goretex Pro rain trousers also impresses with the same technical features as the long version: ventilation at the back, but here with mesh backing, large pockets on the side, small pocket at the front. The seat area of the short rain trousers is also reinforced. The cut at the leg ends is important here. The rain shorts are asymmetrically cut slightly longer at the front, i.e. they go well over the knee as they are quite long overall. On the one hand, this is good protection against rain and wind, but on the other hand it takes some getting used to if you usually wear shorter shorts over your bibs.

The fjørå Goretex Pro rain shorts also rustle and crackle when pedalling. The bigger drawback, however, is the price of 400 euros for a pair of shorts that, in winter, will get your calves wet and freeze, so you'll need a "proper" pair of rain shorts. The use for the short autumn transition period is then limited.

Technical data & details: Norrøna fjørå rain trousers (short)

• Price: 399 Euro
• Weight: 272 grams in size L
• Adjustable waist
• Mobile phone pocket on the inside of the right thigh pocket
• Reflective stripes and logo lettering
• Reinforced seat area
• Side ventilation with mesh inserts
• Tool bag
• Two thigh pockets

Ecological footprint

• More than 50 per cent of synthetic fibres are recycled
• Oeko-Tex certified fabric
• Bluesign certified fabric
• Open factory list