Southern California - Good jacket for San Diego?

So, I'm in the market for a jacket that will keep me warm, but not make me overheat. With the temperatures here usually in the mid 50's (shorts and flip-flop weather if it's dry and I'm not riding), this seems to be a bit harder to find.

Most of the jackets I see are nice and warm, but I know that if I tried to ride the 5 miles to school in it, I'd die of heat exhaustion.

Any suggestions?

5 miles each way...
You need to join the POM club.

Yeah, I know. It's not my fault that I live close to school and work.

You don't need a jacket. You only need a vest. You'll overheat in a jacket. Just layer up and use arm warmers.

get a light jacket with removable sleeves, like the pearl izumi vagabond.

I have the Pearl Izumi Optik jacket. It's good enough for cooler mornings and nights if you also have arm warmers on. I find the jacket sleeves to be insufficient by itself. However, try to take it off/open it up before you start sweating otherwise, it can get quite chilly (if you take it off after you're wet from the sweat).

I think the suggestion for a vest with arm warmers is a better idea.

My commute is also 4 miles 1-way unless I take scenic detours.

I have the Pearl Izumi Optik jacket. It's good enough for cooler mornings and nights if you also have arm warmers on. I find the jacket sleeves to be insufficient by itself. However, try to take it off/open it up before you start sweating otherwise, it can get quite chilly (if you take it off after you're wet from the sweat).

I think the suggestion for a vest with arm warmers is a better idea.

My commute is also 4 miles 1-way unless I take scenic detours.

My experience with the Optik is the same. Cold mornings I wear it with arm warmers or long sleeve jersey....even base layer beneath if needed. I considered buying a jacket but realized if I wanted to take it off, I'd have a harder time stowing it.

Sheldon

I have both the Optik jacket and vest. I've even worn both together on very cool mornings.
You need arm coverings underneath an Optik jacket as the jacket sleeves alone will stick to your arms and make you feel miserable in no time.

Try the Pearl Izumi outlet in Del Mar.

Del Mar Highlands Town Center
12845 El Camino Real, Suite S-1
San Diego, CA 92130
Tel. 858.793.0366
Fax 658.793.3527
Email: delmar@nautilus.com

You don't need a jacket. You only need a vest. You'll overheat in a jacket. Just layer up and use arm warmers.
+1 My morning commute starts in the mid 40's and I wear base layer, jersey, arm warmers, vest, shorts, and leg warmers. It has to get close to 40 before I break out the toe covers and even consider a full jacket (really just a wind shell). Even then, I find myself breaking a sweat on the climbs with the jacket, but I'm going more than 5 miles.

+2. I just wear a long sleeve wooly under my jersey with arm warmers and tights or knickers. It always warms up, or goes from one to the other and back at some point in the ride any where you go in SD.

This morning I wore bibs with tights over them and long sleeve t-shirt and assos airjack jacket. I felt very good.

get a light jacket with removable sleeves, like the pearl izumi vagabond.

+1 Specialized makes a nice one