Breathing Rain Jacket - one that works?

[pel]

Admittedly not a hardware question and not unique to Tandem cycling (the link is wife and I are planning a tandem tour through Europe and are trying out some gear already bought - damn) but has any one any recommendations on breathable rain gear that works. Had an Alpine Lowe Triple Ceramic jacket on for the first time today expecting heavy rain which did not materialise but kept the jacket on for a sweaty one hour ride and found that I was soaked under the jacket. How do you cope with prolonged rain European style while cycling. Thanks

[zonatandem]

We use the O2 Rainwear jackets
Several choices, but their top-o-the-line works great; about 80 bucks.
Even has a polypropoline liner, armpit zips, zipped rear pocket and a waist cincher. We picked the Hi-Viz yellow color. And yes, they are waterPROOF.

[TandemGeek]

Ditto on O2 rainwear; that's what we have: http://www.rainshield.com/p_cycling.html

However, we opted for O2's Cycling Series Jacket (Style #1111) at about $35/ea. They do breathe.. to a certain extent. If it's warm out, wearing the jackets in the rain while riding at a spirited clip will even turn our O2 Cycling Series jackets into a personal sauna. So, we usually don't bother to take them along on warmer days when there's a threat of rain.

In cooler weather where we are already layering for warmth we can pretty much replace our outer layer with the O2 jacket to keep warm and dry even at a moderate riding pace. However, once we turn up the power the sauna effect will kick back in.

However, to your point, we have not done any point-to-point touring where schedule and logistics dictate that you MUST ride regardless of weather so perhaps the high-end models with the added vents manage body heat and moisture a bit more efficiently than the less expensive models. But, to be sure, even the models we have outperform any other "breathable" rain jackets that we've tried.

[Maury Cohen]

No rain jacket will be perfect because you're dealing with trying to keep out 100% humidity (rain) while your body is producing 100% humidity (sweat). Waterproof materials (even gore-tex) are going to trap a certain amount of moisture inside the jacket. The harder your exertion, the more humidity you'll be producing within the jackets confines.
The best you can hope for is a balance between breathability (via material and/or vents) and water repellance.
I've found that if I reduce the amount of under-jacket wear to compensate for the heat trapped within I can get a workable balance going. I'll still need to unzip to varying degrees while climbing to compensate for the added heat being produced.

[alanbikehouston]

We use the O2 Rainwear jackets
Several choices, but their top-o-the-line works great; about 80 bucks.
Even has a polypropoline liner, armpit zips, zipped rear pocket and a waist cincher. We picked the Hi-Viz yellow color. And yes, they are waterPROOF.

These are terrific. I have a "basic" version that cost about $30. So light and compact that you can have it with you 24/7 and 365. It works even in the tropical heat and humidity of Houston, unlike jackets that make you thirty degrees hotter when you slip them on.

[twonbike]

We've just got back from 5 weeks touring in South & West Australia. We took O2 jackets but they didn't last. We brought Peleton jackets over there to replace them, as you could see more Duc tap than the O2 material. I wore the O2 for training at home for a year no problem and it was warm, dry, light etc, but I would not use it again touring.

[rmwun54]

http://www.rei.com/product/14205199.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_TOC

This is my jacket of choice. I have used it for 6 years now and I have ridden in rain blowing at me without any making it through what so ever. It has pit zip that work's awesome. I use it for backpacking and hiking while in heavy downpour.

[pel]

Will check it out. Thanks zonatandem. Pel

[pel]

Checked out the website. Great info. will take it further. Thanks Tandemgeek. Pel.

[pel]

Point taken Maury. I did not unzip at all. But seemed that shoulders and upper arms were most wet. would unzipping help here. Must do. Thanks. Pel

[pel]

We've just got back from 5 weeks touring in South & West Australia. We took O2 jackets but they didn't last. We brought Peleton jackets over there to replace them, as you could see more Duc tap than the O2 material. I wore the O2 for training at home for a year no problem and it was warm, dry, light etc, but I would not use it again touring.

Will have to check out the Peleton too. Where did you go in WA? Thanks Pel (Perth).

[pel]

These are terrific. I have a "basic" version that cost about $30. So light and compact that you can have it with you 24/7 and 365. It works even in the tropical heat and humidity of Houston, unlike jackets that make you thirty degrees hotter when you slip them on.

Thanks alanbikehouston. will follow up. Pel

[pel]

http://www.rei.com/product/14205199.htm?vcat=REI_SSHP_CYCLING_TOC

This is my jacket of choice. I have used it for 6 years now and I have ridden in rain blowing at me without any making it through what so ever. It has pit zip that work's awesome. I use it for backpacking and hiking while in heavy downpour.

Impressive site. Would prefer a hood for prolonged (down your neck) rain. Any idea how it stacks up against the O2. Thanks rmwun54. Pel

[stapfam]

Admittedly not a hardware question and not unique to Tandem cycling (the link is wife and I are planning a tandem tour through Europe and are trying out some gear already bought - damn) but has any one any recommendations on breathable rain gear that works. Had an Alpine Lowe Triple Ceramic jacket on for the first time today expecting heavy rain which did not materialise but kept the jacket on for a sweaty one hour ride and found that I was soaked under the jacket. How do you cope with prolonged rain European style while cycling. Thanks

Despite what others say, it does not always rain in Europe, but in the summer we are now experiencing thunderstorms that suddenly appear, and torrential rain is the norm. The only thing to do in this situation is park up and watch the landscape get washed away. My experience is to park and watch in this situation, but as it is generaly warm at the same time, a thick heavy waterproof is not the ideal. The lighter the material, the better it is. I have a polaris jacket,so old that I cannot tell you the model, but the ideal thing about this is that it is waterproof,packs away into its own small pouch and has a long zip. My riding partner has a cheap waterproof, once again it has a long Zip. Free movement of air in a plastic bag is enough to keep you dry in these conditions, but it is the ventilation that is required. For the cooler prolongued rain we both have goretex jackets, but these really come into their own in the winter, when body warmth is required. Goretex is wonderfull material and providing ventilation can be maintained is completely waterproof and it does breath.

[Guest]

I gotta go with O2. It's so good I thought it wasn't working. Then when I took off the jacket off after the rain, I was bone dry. And it's so light! Dang... it's incredible.

The only caveat- it tears easily.

Koffee

[twonbike]

Will have to check out the Peleton too. Where did you go in WA? Thanks Pel (Perth).
Very quickly. We did a loop, down to Augusta and back, on all the back roads( Lovely). We then spent 2 days at Rottnest Island, also a couple of days riding on your beautiful cycle tracks and routes in and around Fremantle and Perth.
Cheers Brian & Sue

[zonatandem]

Another source of rain jackets is Burley. Again, pit zips, standup soft collar and a hood is available, as are rainpants.
Have both models of the O2 jackets. The $30 ones are a bargain, but no pitzips and the yellow color is sorta washed out looking and body heat can build up rather fast. The $80 Hi-Viz yellow color will actually hurt your eyes, and vents can help you regulate airflow as needed. Have suggested to the manufacturer to make available a rainhood and slash side pockets; even mentioned that in a product testing review we did for R&TR Magazine.

Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

[pel]

At the risk of clogging this thread with individual thank yous: to Stapfam, Koffee Brown, zonatandem (again) and twonbike (again) thanks. Info much appreciated. Pel.