Rapha, nice but a bit pricey?

You sound like your mind is pretty made up about going for the Rapha gillet. So you're unlikely to be dissapointed by it's VFM or performance. (although I would get the rain jacket, as recommended by Regal)

I like to listen to what some of the guys on here say - as many have ridden more than me and in more varying conditions but I have the ability to easily buy a wide variety of cycling clothing, so it's easy for me to say.

I was talking about the active shell vest but I would hazard a guess that the winter version is similarly excellent. I think smallfurry may have bought one?

Of course I'm open to listen but I will not put down money for clothing I can't try on. I can't try on Gore stuff here so it's a no-go for me. If I can find some and try it, then I will consider it alongside everything else I can find.

Active Shell is a bit funny, as with GoreTex in general. I find it never breathes as well as the advertising would have you think. Active Shell is probably the best of the range but is still clammy when working hard. I have a climbing shell made with Active Shell that I cycled in last summer through some very Japanese afternoon downpours and while it certainly kept the rain out, it sealed a lot of moisture in as well. No hard shell will let you escape that, in my experience. I hear VERY good things about Polartec NeoShell but I've yet to see cycling apparel made from that.

An Active Shell gilet sounds very strange. Why have all that protection from Gore's latest super-fabric if it has huge holes for your arms and doesn't cover them?