Flash Gordon

Interstellar garb for storming wide open spaces or darting through rush hour traffic. Gordon repels rain and blocks out nasty winds but remains highly breathable thanks to its lightweight 3 layer HydroFoil™ Plus fabric. Zipping off the yoke and sleeves converts it into a hi-visibility waterproof vest... great in warmer conditions when you want maximum cooling but only need partial protection from the elements. Sometimes less is more.

+Features

• Lightweight 3 layer HydroFoil™ fabric - highly water resistant, extremely breathable and totally windproof.
• Zip off yoke and sleeves.
• Full-length front zip with internal wind flap.
• Thumb loops keep your wrists under wraps.
• WhaleTail™ cut keeps all of your back covered all of the time.
• Hazard!™ reflective trim explodes with brightness under headlights.
• Zipped rear pocket to store sleeves.
• Turns into itself to form a tidy package that you can stash in your backpack.
• Waterproofness: 23,000 mm hydrostatic head with durable water-repellent finish.
• Breathability: 33,000 gm per sqm per 24hrs.
• Designed & made by us in Aotearoa | New Zealand.

+Tech

  Weight: 290 gm

+HydroFoil™

Specifically developed for high aerobic activities, HydroFoil™ Plus combines a lightweight ripstop nylon shell with a composite membrane that is completely waterproof, totally windproof and extremely breathable. The outer fabric is the latest new-generation Pertex® Shield+ membrane. It is more than twice as breathable as most other quality waterproof-breathable fabrics, and has a small amount of stretch allowing a closer fit. The outer fabric is treated with a durable water repellent finish that encourages rain to bead up and roll off, while there is a lightweight tricot mesh on the inside for greater durability and improved moisture dispersion.

• Composition: 100% nylon with PU laminate.
• Waterproofness: 23,000mm hydrostatic head with durable water-repellent finish on face fabric.
• Breathability: 33,000gm per sq.m per 24hr.

+Hazard!™

Night travel is a spooky experience. Many Ground Effect garments feature our Hazard!™ reflective logo and piping to help remind traffic that we're on the road too.

+WhaleTail™

Ground Effect tops are cut with extra length in the back... and in the sleeves too. So when you stretch out in search of the perfect downhill position, neither your shirttail or sleeves will ride-up to expose your back or wrists to the elements.

+More than Kiwi Made

Ground Effect clothing is crafted right here in New Zealand. Has been ever since we started back in 1994. Manufacturing locally works for us. We operate a quick-response system - holding minimal stock of any one item, but churning out a few more quick-smart when the pile gets low. The upshot is that we are seldom caught with our shelves empty, so orders get despatched the same day you place them.

+Compare

	anti-Cyclone	Storm Trooper	Flash Gordon	Rivet
Fabric	HydroFoil™ Plus	HydroFoil™ Plus	HydroFoil™ Plus	HydroFoil™ Plus
Tape Sealed	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Venting	Chest & arms	Front zip	Zip-off sleeves	Front zip
Hood	Yes	Yes	No	No
Pocket	Rear doubles as bumbag	Rear doubles as bumbag	Rear turns into stuff sack	Chest
Weight	380 gm	340 gm	290 gm	260 gm
Sizes	S - XL	S - XXL	S - XL	S - XL

+Video

+FAQ

+Which jacket is best for me?

• All our rain jackets are shells, ie. they have no insulation. Your shell is the primary defence against wind and rain - and is good insurance to take on any ride at any time of the year. They are high performance jackets made from HydroFoil™ Plus fabric, providing effective protection in serious weather but still relatively light and low bulk to carry.
• The anti-Cyclone, Storm Trooper, Antidote and She Shell are tape-sealed and have hoods for maximum protection from the elements. They are most suited for multi-day mountain bike trips in the backcountry, commuting or touring when you're likely to encounter rain for more than a few hours.
• Zipping off the yoke and sleeves of the Flash Gordon lets you quickly change between jacket and vest mode. The hi-visibility vest delivers a decent shot of weather protection - all with substantially more breathability than the full jacket.
• The Rivet and Rivulet are tape sealed but have no hood. Compact and light when stashed away, but completely waterproof when the heavens open. Perfect for lightweight touring and bikepacking.

+How waterproof is it?

• The challenge is for a jacket to keep you as dry as possible. With all shell fabrics this involves a trade-off between waterproofness and breathability.
• Our HydroFoil™ Plus fabric is built to a very high specification with more than 20,000 mm hydrostatic head and a durable water-repellent finish. Many other lightweight fabrics with a 10,000 mm head are also described as waterproof. However all waterproof coatings become less waterproof with time and use. Our field testing over the years has shown that the higher 20,000 mm fabric stays waterproof for longer.
• Yet, even garments made from this most waterproof fabric will eventually leak when you're belting along at 30kph in the wet (rain gets in through the collar, cuffs or closures). So it's difficult to quantify waterproofness in meaningful terms for cycling. Keeping out the wind stops the majority of heat loss.
• The Flash Gordon provides extended protection and is good for up to a couple of hours in continuous rain.
• If you're heading into exposed areas for a day or longer or often ride in the rain for more than a couple of hours, then choose the anti-Cyclone, Storm Trooper, Rivet, Antidote, She Shell or Rivulet for maximum protection - with their tape sealed seams. And remember, if it all gets too grim then it's okay to hunt down a warm fire and a pint of Guinness.
• What ever your choice, it's important to use any shell in combination with an effective base layer (a Heatwave Merino, Lightwave Merino, InfraRed or HyperActive top) so that any accumulated moisture is transferred away from your skin.

+How breathable is it?

• Cycling is a highly aerobic activity - so you sweat, a lot. Even the most breathable fabrics won't actually stop you sweating and because they're windproof, you lose the cooling effect of the air rushing past as you ride.
• Our rain shells are constructed from the latest new-generation 3 layer HydroFoil™ Plus fabric. It is more than twice as breathable as most other quality waterproof-breathable fabrics, it has a small amount of stretch allowing a closer fit - and a lightweight tricot mesh inside for greater durability and improved moisture dispersion. It's water vapour transfer rate is a whopping 33,000 gm per sqm per 24hrs. 
• The full front zip on the Storm Trooper, Rivet and She Shell provide additional temperature control, while the anti-Cyclone and Antidote sport mechanical venting at the chest and arms. Zipping off the arms of the Flash Gordon leaves you with just a vest.

+Washing

• All Ground Effect clothing enjoys a warm 40ºC machine wash. Try to avoid cold-water detergents and those with bleach, 'oxygen whitener' or fabric softener.
• The cold-water varieties have little enzymes that are super-charged to brave the cold but can damage technical fabrics and cause skin irritation. 
• Bleach rots natural fibres like merino, strips the dye, attacks laminates of waterproof fabrics and can also cause skin irritation.
• Sodium Percarbonate (the main ingredient in oxygen whitener) can make colours run.
• Fabric softener and stuff containing it like wool wash destroys the water repellent finish on waterproof and water resistant fabrics, and can cause colours to run. 
• As a rule of thumb, a product that is easy on the planet is also easy on your body. Select a mild plant-based soap like Ecover, Ecostore, Earthwise or Aware.
• Hand washing is sometimes the only option on tour, but a washing machine rinses more thoroughly and is preferable if you have the choice.
• Most Ground Effect gear dries super-fast so hanging on the line or drooping over the bedpost is generally the best option. High heat can damage some fabrics so if you do take your threads for a spin, set the device on 'medium' or 'warm' rather than hot. A lap in the dryer is recommended for your rain jacket, after it has dried on the line, as it helps recharge its water repellent finish. 

• Wash with any of the plant-based products listed above. You can also use a specific sport wash like Grangers Extreme Cleaner, Nikwax Tech Wash or Atsko 'Sport Wash'. Around NZ$30 from most outdoor shops. Any stubborn stains should be dabbed not rubbed clean. For grease spots you can use a degreaser like Swarfega. It's aggressive stuff though so take care - it might be best left alone as added character.
• Keep it clean, but don’t wash too often. General wear along with washing progressively removes the water repellent treatment from the outside the fabric. This treatment helps rain to bead and run off - and enhances the overall performance of the fabric. Dirt, body oil, sunscreen and sweat also attack the water repellent treatment and can cause the waterproof-breathable membrane to delaminate. Wash frequency depends on how often and how hard you use your garment. We suggest washing after a particularly grubby ride or after say a dozen sessions in the rain. Use your judgement - if the garment looks dirty, the fabric is 'wetting out’ too quickly, or feels clammy then it's probably time for a clean.
• You can help restore the water repellent treatment after washing by line-drying your jacket, then chucking it in the dryer using a warm (not hot) cycle. This 'recharges' the treatment so it lasts a bit longer. When this trick no longer does its magic you can beef up the original treatment to some extent with a product like Nikwax TX Direct - $39 from Ground Effect. A bottle is good for two or three rounds with your jacket. The effectiveness of this process depends on the age and condition of your jacket. Expect ok results if the fabric is only 'wetting out' in patches (the 'mid-life' crisis). If the entire jacket is 'wetting-out' rapidly in light rain then it already has one-foot-in-the-grave and beading is unlikely to improve much from the treatment, the money may be better put towards a new jacket. Note that while the fabric's wetting-out impairs performance, particularly breathability, the HydroFoil laminate should still be waterproof.
• Always ensure your HydroFoil garment is completely dry before storing. Putting it away damp can destroy both the DWR and the waterproof coating. Hanging on a hook or coat hanger is best. Take care of your gear and it will take care of you.