I am very interested in purchasing the SUGOI inverter jacket to finish out winter cycling with. But is it any good? Whats the reviews on it?
And if it is good what would you recommend wearing under it? Should I wear a base layer t-shirt along with a thermal top PLUS the inverter jacket? Or just the jacket with a regular top. Or should it be the jacket with only a thermal t-shirt.
Its really hard to know what to do.
But I do like the jacket.
So, any thoughts?

I am very interested in purchasing the SUGOI inverter jacket to finish out winter cycling with. But is it any good? Whats the reviews on it?
And if it is good what would you recommend wearing under it? Should I wear a base layer t-shirt along with a thermal top PLUS the inverter jacket? Or just the jacket with a regular top. Or should it be the jacket with only a thermal t-shirt.
Its really hard to know what to do.
But I do like the jacket.
So, any thoughts?

Here is the link for those who are not familiar with it:

SUGOI Inverter jacket................................... (http://www.sugoi.com/consumer/product.aspx?sectionStyleID=6909&color=PAT)

Here is the link for those who are not familiar with it:

SUGOI Inverter jacket................................... (http://www.sugoi.com/consumer/product.aspx?sectionStyleID=6909&color=PAT)

ARGH!
Anybody? I have to make a decision very very soon.

You're fairly impatient aren't you???? j/k

Sugoi makes great stuff IMO. The "firewall" material is windproof and warm but isn't super think and stays very flexible when temps dip waaaayyy down. I've got some firewall tights that are super warm.
Saying that, I've never used the jacket you speak of. Based on my experience I'd say that jacket would be overkill for anything above 20 degrees but that's just me.

I've heard it's good from 2 people, same with the firewall tights. What you wear is something you have to figure out yourself by making a chart comparing temperature, what you wore and how you felt.
For example, I know exactly which combinations of my clothing I should wear for every temp from +5C to -20c.

Well, I think I'm gonna take the plunge and buy it. Hopefully it will be worth it. I hate to admit it but the only way to see if something works sometimes is to actually buy it and try it out.
At $150-200 bucks its really an expensive experiment. :|

Well, I think I'm gonna take the plunge and buy it. Hopefully it will be worth it. I hate to admit it but the only way to see if something works sometimes is to actually buy it and try it out.
At $150-200 bucks its really an expensive experiment. :|

that is expensive. I guess it depends on where you live. I can get by with a inexpensive winter jacket. I could go for a better rain jacket though. I don't think they have come up with a good one. To me a good winter jacket: break the front winds and breathes like MF. I usually use a wind vest and light riding jacket. Then again temps are fairly mild in Md. We only 5-8 days of nasty temps. You'll haveto supply us with an critique after winter.

that is expensive. I guess it depends on where you live. I can get by with a inexpensive winter jacket. I could go for a better rain jacket though. I don't think they have come up with a good one. To me a good winter jacket: break the front winds and breathes like MF. I usually use a wind vest and light riding jacket. Then again temps are fairly mild in Md. We only 5-8 days of nasty temps. You'll haveto supply us with an critique after winter.

Nah, but see...I'm sensitive to the cold. I'm in new york and when I had to bike everyday to work and back during the transit strike I had to endure alot of cold early in the morning. Like 25 degrees F with real feel almost like 15 degrees.
The stuff I have isn't what I need. Its really whatever I have around the house.

Anyway, I went to paragon sports in manhattan to try out the inverter again. This time I find out from the store clerk that the inverter isn't really made for the freezing cold weather. And looking at the jacket it seems the entire back is vented. He may be right. I try out the XL and its a little tight but I'm told thats how its made. So I try the sugoi that I was told is made for really cold weather......the Dynamo. I try it on and its also tight fitting in some places. I ask for the XXL so I can compare how they fit with the XL.......of course they don't have it in stock. So I try another sugoi.....the thermal II. Now the XL in that fits ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY! Love how its made and how it fits. More relaxed in certain places so I can twist and turn with ease. But of course.......the entire back is vented and its not for really cold weather.
That annoyed the heck out of me.
Since they didn't have the XXL in stock with the others so I can compare.....I ended up not making a purchase.
And I walked out of the store. :(

Argh! Shopping for winter cycling clothes sucks!

Argh! Shopping for winter cycling clothes sucks!

And that, Young Jedi, is why you stalk the forum. . . .

And that, Young Jedi, is why you stalk the forum. . . .

Huh? o_O

Huh? o_O

All I meant was, forums are useful 'cause stores stock just a fraction of what's available. Stores just try and sell you what's on the shelves--forums-folks give better advice IMHO.

Personally, I use windproof, breathable shells (eg Goretex) with taped seams. Bike-specific shells tend to be tailored especially tight, so I usually get a size "too large" to allow layering merino wool turtlenecks under it. The shell needs to have venting too, like a 2-way zipper, zippered vents in the armpits, and one across the mid-lower back. This type of shell is not too hard to find in the outdoor stores, just make sure it's "long in the tail."

I'm not familiar with this "firewall" stuff, but I would stay away from anything that claims to keep you warm with basically one layer in freezing weather.

All I meant was, forums are useful 'cause stores stock just a fraction of what's available. Stores just try and sell you what's on the shelves--forums-folks give better advice IMHO.

Personally, I use windproof, breathable shells (eg Goretex) with taped seams. Bike-specific shells tend to be tailored especially tight, so I usually get a size "too large" to allow layering merino wool turtlenecks under it. The shell needs to have venting too, like a 2-way zipper, zippered vents in the armpits, and one across the mid-lower back. This type of shell is not too hard to find in the outdoor stores, just make sure it's "long in the tail."

I'm not familiar with this "firewall" stuff, but I would stay away from anything that claims to keep you warm with basically one layer in freezing weather.

Ok, well how about this....
Since the sugoi thermal II XL size fits me perfectly, why don't I get that? True, its not made for very cold weather because almost the entire back is vented but couldn't it still be useful when using layers?
If I do get that then what layers would I have to get? Its close fitting so maybe a thin fleece sweater? Advice? :|

Sure, a thin layer of something under that would work. Up to a point--depending how cold of course, then you might need more layers, and run out of room under the jacket.

I'd wear a thin turtleneck.

The best synthetic I know is the Patagonia Capilene. Personally I like the Ibex and Smartwool t-necks--they really don't itch, and I've got sensitive skin. But you need to wash carefully--no hot water. The thicker Ibex is pretty nice-looking and I wear it for all kinds of occasions, not just biking.

When you say "vented" , is this thing rainproof, like a slit with an overlaying flap? Or is it just breathable fabric that would soak up rain?

Sure, a thin layer of something under that would work. Up to a point--depending how cold of course, then you might need more layers, and run out of room under the jacket.

I'd wear a thin turtleneck.

The best synthetic I know is the Patagonia Capilene. Personally I like the Ibex and Smartwool t-necks--they really don't itch, and I've got sensitive skin. But you need to wash carefully--no hot water. The thicker Ibex is pretty nice-looking and I wear it for all kinds of occasions, not just biking.

When you say "vented" , is this thing rainproof, like a slit with an overlaying flap? Or is it just breathable fabric that would soak up rain?

Frankly, I'm not sure. Sugoi's site says that the themal II is water "resistant" but I'm not sure what that means.
ARGH! I can't find a store in new york that carries Ibex stuff. Can someone else recommend for me a smartwool brand name I can shop for?

EDIT: either smartwool or merino wool.