Touring - Decent rain gear?

Updated thread. Please see my entry on 12/5 posted at end of thread.

Can anyone suggest some decent rain gear? I'm not looking to spend a fortune but $150-$200 for a good jacket would not be too far out of my budget, if I could get something for around $100 all the better.


Should I go with Gortex? Or are there better fabrics on the market now?


What features should I look for? The zippered arm pits look useful. What about a hood? Will it only get in the way with a helmet?

I have the women's version of this REI Jacket (http://www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=47855770&parent_category_rn=4501457&vcat=REI_SEARCH). Love it.

Pit zips, zip-off hood that also rolls up into the collar, lightweight. I use it on tour as my only jacket - it's light enough to use as a windbreaker, so I don't take any other jacket on tour.

Recently saw last year's model on the clearance rack at a local REI.

Happy shopping.

I would have to recomend the Burley rain gear. Made in Eugene Or. by people who ride in the rain.

I'm having really good results from my waterproof / breathable jacket, pants, and helmet cover from J&G Cycle Wear (http://www.bicycleclothing.com). The design, materials and workmanship are all first rate, and they're made by bicyclists in Oregon.

Who knows more about bicycling in the rain than bicyclists in Oregon?

I'm having really good results from my waterproof / breathable jacket, pants, and helmet cover from J&G Cycle Wear (http://www.bicycleclothing.com). The design, materials and workmanship are all first rate, and they're made by bicyclists in Oregon.

Who knows more about bicycling in the rain than bicyclists in Oregon?

These look great! I just ordered the jacket and helmet cover.

Maybe I should have ordered the pants too???

I just orderd the pants too. What the heck it is only money. :)

I just hope they don't charge me double for shipping. :)

Call 'em and ask them to consolidate the order into one shipment. They're really nice folks, and they'll do their best for you.

I don't use the pants nearly as often as I use the jacket and helmet cover, but when I need the pants I'm glad I have them.

I don't use the pants nearly as often as I use the jacket and helmet cover, but when I need the pants I'm glad I have them.

Yep same deal on my sailing foul weather gear. I rarely use them also but I am always glad I have the pants when I need them.

Yep same deal on my sailing foul weather gear. I rarely use them also but I am always glad I have the pants when I need them.

I've got one of their rain capes and have the wind jacket coming. The rain cape, along with fenders on the bike, pretty much eliminates the need for pants. In the summer, who cares, in the fall/winter/spring I am usually wearing tights, though I do have a pair of nashbar crossroads pants in my saddlebag, just in case. ;)

speaking of J&G ..... They make great touring shorts (http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Mens-Touring-Shorts.html) The 2 pairs I have are over 4 years old now and still look good. They are remenisent of the excellent touring shorts that Cannondale was selling 20 years ago. They don't fit tight like lyrca but they are so not baggy that a bee will fly up into your jewels either ( don't ask how I know). They dry quick and the pad isn't so thick and over stitched that you look and feel like you are wearing a diaper.

I have some of their jerseys too, and they're the most comfortable jerseys I own.

It's satisfying to do business with folks like J&G. Some of the stuff I have is old enough it has Jackson & Gibbens tags on it. ;-)

I also like knowing the stuff wasn't made by slave labor in some asian sweatshop.

speaking of J&G ..... They make great touring shorts (http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Mens-Touring-Shorts.html)

+1

Can anyone suggest some decent rain gear? I'm not looking to spend a fortune but $150-$200 for a good jacket would not be too far out of my budget, if I could get something for around $100 all the better.


Should I go with Gortex? Or are there better fabrics on the market now?


What features should I look for? The zippered arm pits look useful. What about a hood? Will it only get in the way with a helmet?

Bah, humbug. Go down to a local camping store and get a hooded Columbia rain jacket, with velcra fasteners on the wrists for when ya really need to tighten up. They snap closed for cool days, they zip closed for very chilly days. The hood doesn't interfere with your helmet, and it prevents drips down the back of your neck. (Wear a dickie if it gets cold, too). Total cost...maybe $45 bucks. I often tour with just the old yellow raincoat like ya had in grammar school, but the Columbia is a better fabric and doesn't get stiff or crack in freezing weather.

roughstuff

Bah, humbug. Go down to a local camping store and get a hooded Columbia rain jacket, with velcra fasteners on the wrists for when ya really need to tighten up. They snap closed for cool days, they zip closed for very chilly days. The hood doesn't interfere with your helmet, and it prevents drips down the back of your neck. (Wear a dickie if it gets cold, too). Total cost...maybe $45 bucks. I often tour with just the old yellow raincoat like ya had in grammar school, but the Columbia is a better fabric and doesn't get stiff or crack in freezing weather.

roughstuff


It's not too often that you get a chance to buy American made clothing these days. I figure I won't be buying another rain jacket for some time so, a quality jacket made by Americans is well worht the extra $50 to me.

My J&G stuff kept me warm and dry today. Good stuff!

Well I got the J & G stuff in. A very nice jacket but just not for me. For one it just not seem to fit me very well. The chest, arms and shoulders all fit OK but it seems to be a little short at the waist. The lack of a draw string or elastic waist doesn't make that any better.

Plus it is not real attractive as off bike wear. Some jackets have a drop or foldable tail when wearing off bike.

A hood for off bike wear would be useful too.


I looked at Burley Rockpoint. It has everything I want expect a hood. Plus their website does not mention pockets.

Also on the list is:

Louis Garneau Supersonic (http://www.louisgarneau.com/usa/iframe.asp?Content=MenCycling)

Though I am having trouble getting a straight answer from them as to the material that it is made of. It was reported to me that an older version was made of a rubbery material. They did not answer my question but instead informed me that they no longer make the product. Yet it is still on their site and Nashbar and Performance and a number of other sites still carry it.

Looking at the
Performance Commuter Jacket (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=19310) but it mentions nothing pockets and it is coated nylon which is not supposed to be as water proof as laminated material.

GORE Bike Wear Century II (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18801&subcategory_ID=1130) but it does not mention zip pits.


Any other recommendations?

I am looking for:

Good water proofness
breathable
zip pits
adjustable hem
two way zipper
hood
Something that looks decent both on and off the bike.

cheap, good raingear is the Marmot Precip line.

I just bought a LG Western helmet cover with flecco piping, a blinkie strap, visor and a neck cape, I think on the few days I need to wear a rainjacket touring, I'll be real happy with the helmet cover instead of a hood!

cheap, good raingear is the Marmot Precip line.

I just bought a LG Western helmet cover with flecco piping, a blinkie strap, visor and a neck cape, I think on the few days I need to wear a rainjacket touring, I'll be real happy with the helmet cover instead of a hood!

I am keeping my LG cover too. Hood will mostly be for off bike wear.

Any other recomendations are still welcome.

Fox makes decent stylish jackets. I use the hoodless Stormblock.

http://aebike.com/site/images/library/catalogs/soc/prodl/CL0940.jpg

The Stormshield has a hood.

http://aebike.com/site/images/library/catalogs/soc/prodl/CL1006.jpg

Both can be ordered from http://aebike.com

Their site is pretty bad. Difficult to find anything except for free text search, but I guess Nashbar and Performance aren't that much better by not categorizing stuff correctly.

I am looking for something high viz preferably yellow. I can't understand why anyone would make bike clothing any other way, especially raingear. It's like some of the blue and white sailing foul weather gear I have seen. Yeah that is what you want to be thrown overboard in foul weather wearing clothing that matches the waves.

Well if I didn't have high tuition bills for my kids I would go for Shower Pass Century Elite
http://www.showerspass.com/cart/
OR (cheaper)
Gill Adrenaline
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17578&subcategory_ID=1130

AEbike is great for competitive pricing but you need to know what you're looking for.

How about a look at this marmot jacket, I linked to the ladies version because of the color. I believe all the marmot precip lineup is available in similar colors.I don't know if this specific one has pitzips, but most of the precip jackets do. Precip coating is very durable, and specs out as good as goretex.

www.marmot.com/products/product.php?cat=cloth&subcat=34&style_id=G1211

I have been doing a lot of reading about the eVent fabric. It is supposed to be 50% more breathable than GoreTex.

Peformance had a Gill Jacket (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=17578) with this material. It does not have a hood but I figure I could wear a hat off bike or make a hood.

i hear great stuff about event too, i just wonder about the durability, because of its layering construction. Its probably great stuff, I've not tried it yet, preferring softshells for 90 percent of my riding, with the storm coats seeming to never get worn anymore except extreme deluges. I haven't had to upgrade raincoats in a while. My patagucci Super Pluma has always been my choice of stormcoats. pricy, but the oldschool lightweight bombcoat.

I recommend the Banff Designs Goretex cycling jacket. It's lightweight and compact. Has a foldable tail. A hood that rolls up into the collar. http://www.banffdesigns.com/tourcycle.html

speaking of J&G ..... They make great touring shorts (http://www.bicycleclothing.com/Mens-Touring-Shorts.html) The 2 pairs I have are over 4 years old now and still look good. They are remenisent of the excellent touring shorts that Cannondale was selling 20 years ago. They don't fit tight like lyrca but they are so not baggy that a bee will fly up into your jewels either ( don't ask how I know). They dry quick and the pad isn't so thick and over stitched that you look and feel like you are wearing a diaper.

I like those shorts and what caught my eye were the zipperd pockets. Every cyclist worries about their wallet dropping from their pocket since the hip is always in motion. The zip solves that. Very nice.

Well I got the J & G stuff in. A very nice jacket but just not for me. For one it just not seem to fit me very well. The chest, arms and shoulders all fit OK but it seems to be a little short at the waist. The lack of a draw string or elastic waist doesn't make that any better.

Plus it is not real attractive as off bike wear. Some jackets have a drop or foldable tail when wearing off bike.

Sorry to hear you didn't like the stuff. Mine (several years old) has a long strip of velcro around the collar and a removable hood with drawstring. It also has a fold-up long tail with velcro to hold it in the folded position.

I believe the waist is short in front so it doesn't get all bunched up when you are leaned over in riding position.



A hood for off bike wear would be useful too.

I have one for mine (see above) but almost never use it.

Sorry to hear you didn't like the stuff. Mine (several years old) has a long strip of velcro around the collar and a removable hood with drawstring. It also has a fold-up long tail with velcro to hold it in the folded position.

I believe the waist is short in front so it doesn't get all bunched up when you are leaned over in riding position.




I have one for mine (see above) but almost never use it.

I did not mean to say I did not like it. It is just not for me. The jacket seems to be well constucted and probably works well.

You don't always need raingear. I'm going for a 4 day tour this December weekend, out to the Olympic Peninsula, Washington and I'm leaving the Burley Rainjacket at home.

Wearing wool and a softshell, I'm bringing the MEC pertex windbreaker and pants as foul weather gear and calling it good.