Touring - Anyone used the "o2 Rainwear 3 Flow" jacket

Anyone have an experience with these jackets? Are they breathable? Sturdy? Actually waterproof? Thanks!

Check the first jacket: http://www.rainshield.com/p_cycling.html

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...feat=8247-sub2

We carried them on an upstate New York tour of the Erie Canal and then down the Hudson. As it happened, we were rained on only twenty minutes of the entire trip. The Rainshields were exceptionally light weight and when we did put them on, they functioned quite well: totally waterproof but not clammy. Having noted that, I also have to say that we did not test them during a full day's ride in the rain (the real test). But as backup rainwear they were an exceptional value and very low in weight.

Anyone have an experience with these jackets? Are they breathable? Sturdy? Actually waterproof? Thanks!

Check the first jacket: http://www.rainshield.com/p_cycling.html

http://www.llbean.com/webapp/wcs/sto...feat=8247-sub2

I use a miroporous O2 jacket because it's cheap, light and I like the way the fabric feels. Most other jackets are either nylon that clings to you when it gets wet or gortex which I find a bit heavy. The o2 jacket feels quite soft and keeps the rain out and "breathes" better than the other things I tried. I buy a
size larger than I usually wear so that I have plenty of room to move and lots of air flow on the bike.

Thanks for the info. If I pick one up, I will try and write up a review when the winter is over here in Vancouver.

I have the O2 rain suit. The pants and jacket are baggy which is good for airflow but the pant leg will be trashed from your chain. I also like the feel of it compared to nylon rain suits. I wouldn't hesitate to try the more cycling specific models. Have only used it for 1/2hr commutes but it worked well enough even in t-storms.

Mine worked in light rain, but leaked like a sieve in normal rain.

Fit awfully tight in chest/shoulders/arms.

Breathable if I opened front.

I chucked it. Yet another one of many half-as$ rainwear.

How about the Taiga Velocity Cycling Jacket?

http://www.taigaworks.ca/html/outdoor-gear/Cycle-Clothing/Velocity-Cycling-Jacket-61.html

These guys seem to make the best W/B bicycle-specific rainwear, based on user comments.

http://showerspass.com/index.php

If you're in an area like SE US, you might consider the option of just getting wet. Nearly all rainwear makes you so wet from sweat that rain in 70F+ will seem like an appealing alternative. Pants are even worse than jackets since there's no way to ventilate - you'll sweat your n__s off in rain pants.

West of rockies a good portion of US is desert anyways, rain unlikely.

Taking a long break / day off is another effective way of dealing with bad weather. Depending on rate, you can buy several nights in a motel/hostel for the $300+ price of a good rainsuit.

Also, you might want to look into a rain cape (big in UK) or poncho. I've been meaning to sew-up a silnylon, flourescent yellow poncho/tarp/ground cover for some time now.

Here's the nicest rain cape i've seen - hard to buy in US - yellow one, "pro route", scroll down 60% of page

http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/carradice.asp

Although capes are like, uh capes (think superman, flapping in breeze etc) they breathe well since they're the most ventilated design available in bike rainwear.

Thanks for the suggestions. I was looking at the Showers Pass Jackets before, but there is not a dealer here in Vancouver. The closest one is Victoria which is a bit far. In terms of buying one online, I don't want to deal with the whole mail order hassle, pay return S&H if I don't like it, etc. I rather just try some on in store, and pick one I like. Anyways, I'll figure it out. Cheers!

I've been using one of these as my primary fall / winter jacket for a few years now. Despite claims, I don't think there are many (any?) truly waterproof and truly breathable jackets out there. This one, like most, breathes better than plastic or something, and of course proper pit zips help a great deal. It remains quite waterproof to this day, but over time the outer fabric/coating aged and absorbs more water than it used to. That water still doesn't get through the inner "3 flow" stuff though. The jacket has proven very durable, with almost daily use outside of the summer months including snow, salt and slush commuting in traffic. I had the pants too, but wasn't too crazy about them. I would give the jacket an 8 out of 10. I should note that I haven't used much other rainwear for comparison, but I think this jacket has been pretty good to me.

Anyone have an experience with these jackets? Are they breathable? Sturdy? Actually waterproof? Thanks!


Just in case you missed it, here's a recent relevant thread.
(http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/706844-Good-Light-Inexpensive-Rain-Jacket)

Thanks for the suggestions. I was looking at the Showers Pass Jackets before, but there is not a dealer here in Vancouver. The closest one is Victoria which is a bit far. In terms of buying one online, I don't want to deal with the whole mail order hassle, pay return S&H if I don't like it, etc. I rather just try some on in store, and pick one I like. Anyways, I'll figure it out. Cheers!
MEC on broadway has the showers pass elite jackets, similar price as the U.S.

Very late to the party, but I thought I'd chime in.

I am a jacket *****.

I have light windbreakers (with and without side netting), microfiber jackets, plastic rain jackets, and no less than three rain jackets, including this one and two from Showers Pass. I wax fondly of well thought-out, well-made jackets, because there is little more comforting on a cold or damp day.

The conclusion I've come to is that the perfect rain jacket should be/have:

1. waterproof.
2. windproof.
3. breathable
4. pit zips
5. velcroed cuffs.
6. two-way front zipper
7. packable in a seat bag or a back pocket.

The Showers Pass Elite has/is all of these things, but not #7. And its $200+.

The Showers Pass Double Century has all these things, and its $100+. But the material is so thin, it doesn't appear that it would stand up well to every day use.

This jacket lands between the Showers Pass Elite and the Double Century. It's not as packable as the DC, but much more so than the Elite. It also appears to be more durable than the DC.

It doesn't have waterproof zippers, and the front zipper is only one way. And it includes a non-detachable hood, which makes it bulkier than it needs to be.

But at the price point (~$25 on Bonktown), it is hard to beat this jacket. The fabric is reasonably breathable, and with the pit zips and velcroed cuffs, comfortable in a wide range of conditions.

And if it's not packable enough for you, you can always just scissor off the hood. :D