Light Breathable Jacket/Vest Combo

[MTBMaven]

I know I might be asking for it all but I am looking for a very light weight (<5oz preferable), compressible, highly breathable (active or passive), full zip, jacket/vest combo. Reflective patches, rear pocket(s), waist belt, racer cut, bright colors are pluses. Front pockets, fleece collar, any unnecessary anything are negatives.

I have been looking on line but it is hard to tell enough about products online. I just received a Canari Eclipse Jacket/Vest. I was very unhappy with the bulk and weight of the item. The sleeves on the medium we a tad too short but the rest of the jacket was way too bulky for cycling jacket and I ordered a medium.

I ride in SoCal so the temps are not that low. I really need a jacket for night time after work rides and early starts. After that the jacket, jacket sleeves, and/or vest will be stowed in my jersey pocket.

I did a search and the best threads were from two years ago. There are bound to be newer products now.

[rufus]

Pearl Izumi makes the Vagabond jacket, which has zip-off sleeves, but it's not really that lightweight. It's light, but will still be a bulky load in your rear pockets.

Their lightest stuff would be the Optik jacket and vest, but now we're talking two separate pieces of clothing. But the two of them should still pack up into a smaller ball than the Vagabond.

[Ken Cox]

I have a really great jacket with removable sleeves.

I've found I hardly ever use the sleeves, but use the vest.

In that regard, I wish I'd bought the vest below:

http://www.pearlizumi.com/product.php?mode=view&pc_id=45&product_id=396205

For super cold days, I start with a long sleeve, form-fitting wicking liner, as below:

http://www.pearlizumi.com/product.php?mode=view&pc_id=42&product_id=396469

I wear a cotton Henley neck (three buttons and a round collar) short-sleeve T-shirt and arm warmers over the liner; and then the vest over it all.

This lets my armpits breathe like no other combination, and I stay warm without getting wet underneath everything.

Got it?

Skin-tight long-sleeve liner; cotton short-sleeve T-shirt or polo-shirt; arm warmers; and, sleeveless vest.

With the right gloves, shoes and skull cap, this will take me comfortably down to zero C.

For below zero days, I put the following slightly-loose, or slightly-fitted long-sleeve Ultra Sensor shirt over the liner, T-shirt and arm warmers:

http://www.pearlizumi.com/product.php?mode=view&pc_id=42&product_id=396513

So, skin-tight long-sleeve liner; cotton short-sleeve T-shirt; arm warmers; long-sleeve Ultra Sensor semi-fitted shirt; and, sleeveless vest.

Warm as toast...well...warm enough without working up a sweat.

I see the sleeveless vest and the arm warmers as the key to staying warm and not over-heating.

Let the armpits REALLY breathe.

=====

(edited to change F degrees to C degrees)

[rufus]

I'd lose the cotton shirt, as it's really not contributing anything, and in fact, is a detriment to your goals. Cotton doesn't wick, but just absorbs moisture, and it doesn't keep you warm either, especially when wet.

replace the cotton with wool, and you'll be even warmer

[Ken Cox]

Yes, I've heard that about cotton, and yet, my experiments show this works for me.

I grossly overheat, except for my hands, feet and head.

For some reason, the cotton layer seems to broaden my comfortable temperature range.

The main thrust of my post, though, had to do with minimizing the layers around the shoulders and armpits.

A high tech long sleeve base layer, and then a vest and arm warmers, seems to keep me warm without overheating.

For another layer between the long sleeve base and the vest, I think it important to wear short sleeves, whether wool, cotton or synthetic, in order to allow the body to dump excess core heat.

For those with a cold core and warm hands, feet and head, my method won't work.

I also keep a log of temperature, wind and weather, so I can remember what works and what doesn't work in different conditions, for me.
For me.