Touring - raincoats: J&G vs. showers pass

these are the two best that ive found so far...

Does anybody have experience with these? Im trying to figure out which one i should get. or if you have another recommendation that would be great.

http://bicycleclothing.com/Waterproof-Breathable-Rain-Jackets.html

http://www.veloclothes.com/prod1.aspx!Mode!34!Brand!All%20Brands!SID!1!Product_ID!995!Category_ID!41

can't compaire the two if your looking for a highly waterproof jacket the velo clothes one is the way to go, because of the material it's made from they moutaineering jackets from it, the bicycleclothing one is showerproof as supplex isn't waterproof.

I have the Gore-Tex MEC version. It's not cheap but it has pit zips, lots of ScotchLite strips and is almost indestructable. When it isn't waterproof anymore just wash it in soap and water and iron it while it is inside out.

In the winter I wear a fleece underneath. AMAZING (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442541829&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692343&bmUID=1138669765185)

Gore tex is crap, sorry :)
Anyone can make a waterproof, few make one thats breathable.

Showers Pass jacket is the best cycling speific waterproof. Heres why....

Take the BEST breathabile waterproof material....
http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/breathability.pdf

Thats eVent material, nothing else beats it, and if you do a lot of research, you'll see that its pretty much an undisputed fact.

Then form it into a cycling specific jacket.
Pearl Izumi, Showers pass, and Gill, are the only 3 cycling jackets I can find made in eVent.

Then dont rely on the material to do all the breathing, but add as much venting as possible. Pit zips, open cuffs, back vent, 2 way zipper, etc. Of the 3 manufactureres I mentioned, Showers Pass is the ONLY one to add venting. And the PI one is even more expensive, go figure...

So there you have it, the best cycling waterproof made :)
www.showerspass.com

Heres an explanation as to why gore-tex is crap...
http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/FAQ_Rainwear.htm

Heres a good site describing different materials...
http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/clothing.html

A softshell made with say Schoellar Dryskin Extreme is prefered when its not raining. Its the most breathable of all softshell material.
And then use either the showers pass, or get a propore (raingear O2) as a storm shell to use over top.

The problem with the Propore ones is they tear really easy, so are sorta an emergency use thing to keep in a pack if you cycle in predominantly non rainy areas.

But if your looking to just buy the best 100% waterproof cycling jacket and be done with it, get the Showers Pass one.

What most people forget is that Gore-tex is designed for mountaineering in freezing cold mountain where it snows and the chance of it rain is minimal it's the fact that you're warm inside and it's dry and cold outside that draw the humidity out of the jacket.

Gore tex is crap, sorry :)
Anyone can make a waterproof, few make one thats breathable.

Showers Pass jacket is the best cycling speific waterproof. Heres why....

Take the BEST breathabile waterproof material....
http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/breathability.pdf

Thats eVent material, nothing else beats it, and if you do a lot of research, you'll see that its pretty much an undisputed fact.

Then form it into a cycling specific jacket.
Pearl Izumi, Showers pass, and Gill, are the only 3 cycling jackets I can find made in eVent.

Then dont rely on the material to do all the breathing, but add as much venting as possible. Pit zips, open cuffs, back vent, 2 way zipper, etc. Of the 3 manufactureres I mentioned, Showers Pass is the ONLY one to add venting. And the PI one is even more expensive, go figure...

So there you have it, the best cycling waterproof made :)
www.showerspass.com

Heres an explanation as to why gore-tex is crap...
http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/FAQ_Rainwear.htm

Heres a good site describing different materials...
http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/clothing.html

A softshell made with say Schoellar Dryskin Extreme is prefered when its not raining. Its the most breathable of all softshell material.
And then use either the showers pass, or get a propore (raingear O2) as a storm shell to use over top.

The problem with the Propore ones is they tear really easy, so are sorta an emergency use thing to keep in a pack if you cycle in predominantly non rainy areas.

But if your looking to just buy the best 100% waterproof cycling jacket and be done with it, get the Showers Pass one.


How does the Gill stack up the the Shower Pass? I was considering the Gill because it is a few dollars cheaper and looks a bit snappier.

The Gill has great styling, but relies on the material to do all the breathing. No pit zips, and no back vent.

But style wise, it was the best.

I commute, 2 hours a day, rain or shine in the pacific northwest. I pedal my butt off in wether that is pouring rain, 3-4 degrees above freezing, and have to climb mountains. So breathability/comfort won over looks.

If I only used it for more casual riding, group rides, etc, The gill mighta won.

The Gill has great styling, but relies on the material to do all the breathing. No pit zips, and no back vent.

But style wise, it was the best.

I commute, 2 hours a day, rain or shine in the pacific northwest. I pedal my butt off in wether that is pouring rain, 3-4 degrees above freezing, and have to climb mountains. So breathability/comfort won over looks.

If I only used it for more casual riding, group rides, etc, The gill mighta won.

I was thinking about the
Gill Freedom Jacket (http://www.bikemania.biz/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=Gill_A11_Unisex)

But it looks like this may not be eVent fabric. It used to be on Performance's site but it is no longer. I thought Performance said it was but I looked at so many jackets, it's hard to be sure.

Why wouldn't Gill put pit zips into their other jackets??? What could it cost? I suppose one could have pit zips sewn in but you would probably need someone that has experience with that type of fabric.

I hear ya. Id makes no sense to me either.
If your a jacket company, why make your top of the line jacket with the least function.

/shrug

I figured id go with less style and be dry then be styling and sweating to death.

Edit : and yes, that gill jacket is with a pu coating, not event.

Heres the one with eVent
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=17578

Gore tex is crap, sorry :)
Anyone can make a waterproof, few make one thats breathable.

Showers Pass jacket is the best cycling speific waterproof. Heres why....

Take the BEST breathabile waterproof material....
http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/breathability.pdf

Thats eVent material, nothing else beats it, and if you do a lot of research, you'll see that its pretty much an undisputed fact.

Then form it into a cycling specific jacket.
Pearl Izumi, Showers pass, and Gill, are the only 3 cycling jackets I can find made in eVent.

Then dont rely on the material to do all the breathing, but add as much venting as possible. Pit zips, open cuffs, back vent, 2 way zipper, etc. Of the 3 manufactureres I mentioned, Showers Pass is the ONLY one to add venting. And the PI one is even more expensive, go figure...

So there you have it, the best cycling waterproof made :)
www.showerspass.com

Heres an explanation as to why gore-tex is crap...
http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/FAQ_Rainwear.htm

Heres a good site describing different materials...
http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/gear/clothing.html

A softshell made with say Schoellar Dryskin Extreme is prefered when its not raining. Its the most breathable of all softshell material.
And then use either the showers pass, or get a propore (raingear O2) as a storm shell to use over top.

The problem with the Propore ones is they tear really easy, so are sorta an emergency use thing to keep in a pack if you cycle in predominantly non rainy areas.

But if your looking to just buy the best 100% waterproof cycling jacket and be done with it, get the Showers Pass one.

Hey Jarery,

Where in the lower mainland can I find these Showers Pass and Gill jackets?

Thx.

Hey Jarery,

Where in the lower mainland can I find these Showers Pass and Gill jackets?

Thx.

I ordered mine from showers pass in seattle, they shipped it across the border. :)

Dont know of anywhere you can go here to actually see one, well unless ya stand on my commute route one day lol.

I hear ya. Id makes no sense to me either.
If your a jacket company, why make your top of the line jacket with the least function.

/shrug

I figured id go with less style and be dry then be styling and sweating to death.

Edit : and yes, that gill jacket is with a pu coating, not event.

Heres the one with eVent
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=17578

Maybe a suggestion to Gill is worth a try? Anyone know their website address?

I ordered mine from showers pass in seattle, they shipped it across the border. :)

Dont know of anywhere you can go here to actually see one, well unless ya stand on my commute route one day lol.

Did you go for the hood too? Probably not good for on bike but I was thinking off bike during a tour.

I ordered hood too.
Its not bad, fits under helmet.

But for commuting i end up with helmet head that way. I tend to still use helmet cover and a headsweats.

But I will use the hood if I ever switch to a helmet that a cover doesnt fit. FOr 20 bucks, I figured what the heck. Ive lost that much on pull tabs in the bar.

Maybe a suggestion to Gill is worth a try? Anyone know their website address?
http://www.gillbikegear.com/

Thanks for the link. They don't list most of their jackets. :( I wonder why? Seems like poor marketing to me.

The do have something called the Alpha (http://www.cpcycles.com/products.php?plid=m2b20s66p481&PHPSESSID=3c0fc9d0275889ca04dd9690f37bf944) that is eVent and has pit zips but no draw string at waist. :( What is it with this company and leaving out features?

I was only able to find it at a handful of UK outlets.

Thanks for the link. They don't list most of their jackets. :( I wonder why?
They list other (non cycling-specific) jackets on their main sites http://www.gillna.com(US) and http://www.gillmarine.com(UK).

They list other (non cycling-specific) jackets on their main sites http://www.gillna.com(US) and http://www.gillmarine.com(UK).

I guess I should have said all of their cycling jackets. They list 2 and they have more than 2 cycling jackets.

Goretex works fine in a hot evironment, there is more than enough difference in heat to get moisture moving through the fabric. You will notice that by the fact it is so darn hot inside the jacket, and you wish you could take it off, but it's still raining.

Ventilation is a better strategy if you can work it. Poncho and chaps, anything new available there?

I ordered mine from showers pass in seattle, they shipped it across the border. :)

Dont know of anywhere you can go here to actually see one, well unless ya stand on my commute route one day lol.


I am an odd fit so I really like to try things on first. I really like my MEC Bernoulli (nuff said 'bout goretex) and lament its discontinuation.

Thanks

STH

I am an odd fit so I really like to try things on first. I really like my MEC Bernoulli (nuff said 'bout goretex) and lament its discontinuation.

Thanks

STH

I hear ya
I wish i coulda found a dealer local also.
I've just recently given up completly on buying local only, and started buying online a lot now for my purchases.

So far I've lucked out, and everything I've ordered online has fit perfectly. But at 5'10" and 160-165 lbs im sorta mainstream.

Spinnaker, interesting find. I never knew Gill had an event material jacket with zips, as you said, poor marketing since no one knows about it.
I dont mind the showerspass jacket styling, it looks much better in person than it does in the pictures.

I hear ya
I wish i coulda found a dealer local also.
I've just recently given up completly on buying local only, and started buying online a lot now for my purchases.

So far I've lucked out, and everything I've ordered online has fit perfectly. But at 5'10" and 160-165 lbs im sorta mainstream.

Spinnaker, interesting find. I never knew Gill had an event material jacket with zips, as you said, poor marketing since no one knows about it.
I dont mind the showerspass jacket styling, it looks much better in person than it does in the pictures.

Looks like for the European market only. Someone posted two links. One British and one US. Seems kind of redundent to me. I emailed them at the email posted on their US bicycle site and it bounced. Poor marketing indeed.

The Showers Pass jacket uses eVent fabric which breathes really well compared to all the other fabrics. Good quality stuff and the owners ride a lot in Seattle where they are headquarted. In Seattle it does rain baby! You can also buy direct from the Showerpass website - they have cheaper jackets too if you are on a budget.

Gill has left the US market - some places are still blowing out the old stock. But I would not expect any customer service from them.

Looks like Shower Pass for me then. It's nice to buy American anyway. I had the J & G, nice jacket but just not for me.

i don't know about the different choices mentioned here. I have a Burley Rockpoint Rain Jacket Burley Rockpoint (http://www.burley.com/products/raingear/default066e.html?p=Rock+Point+Jacket&i=1) and I think it is pretty good.

Burley Rockpoint is a jacket I considered, it gets high ratings from all who own it.

But its price when i looked was similar to showerspass, but its material is proprietary. I wasnt willing to pay top end for a jacket with a material I couldnt research. The event material is well known, and included in tests/research that one can access.

I went with something I could research instead of something that only that seller claimed was good. Its the Engineer in me :)

This is likely covered in another thread, but could someone point me in the direction of warm weather waterproof and breathable jackets and pants? I remember biking this summer without any rain gear because even the thinnest jackets were broiling. Is it all about the ventilation zips?

100% waterproof and warm weather is where waterproofs do their worst. And softshells may be a better choice. Depends on how long your ride is I suppose.

If you still want completly waterproof, the showerspass will still be the best you can buy, because it has the best breathability and the best ventilation. But they do get warm inside if your working hard.

Summer time though I go for 'almost waterproof', and real light. I use a Sugoi Viper, it keeps me almost dry for almost long enough :)

If you go the softshell route, be aware that the term 'softshell' covers a range of jackets from 99% waterproof to a cotton t shirt it seems.

This is likely covered in another thread, but could someone point me in the direction of warm weather waterproof and breathable jackets and pants? I remember biking this summer without any rain gear because even the thinnest jackets were broiling. Is it all about the ventilation zips?

Actually it is covered in this thread.