General Cycling Discussion - Quality rain gear

Burley makes some excellent cycling rain gear. Headquartered in soggy Eugene, Oregon, they know rain and how to protect you from it.

burley (http://www.burley.com)

This is what I use my jacket is 3 years old and still looks like the day I bought it. And it has been through many a down pour
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=668631&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=13783&bmUID=1078258155196

I've heard good things about the O2 Rainshield stuff... www.rainshield.com - but haven't owned it myself (yet!)

It's a LOT cheaper than Burley or MEC stuff, but may not be of the same quality - since O2 is the exclusive licensee of the 3M fabrics they use, it's very hard to compare them to others. I hope (and suspect) that I'll be getting one of their jackets for my birthday this week, and will report back if my hopes are founded ;)

-chris

I don't know where you live, but Canadian Mountain Equipment Co-op can be purchased in MEC stores in Canada as well as on the internet.
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=675681&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=13783&bmUID=1078260902032
I am especially impressed with this jacket. I've worn it all winter with a fleece. It does everything well. Its zippers are waterproof, it has HUGE pit zips and they don't skimp on the ScotchLite either.
I ride down to -25C and in just about every type of weather. Usually MEC products wear very well and are good, if not spectacular value for the money (especially when the $CAN is still lower than the $US).

Hello,

I am new to this forum and new to touring and I need a little help. I just about have everything that I need except some quality rain gear. I ordered the top of the line Gore-Tex from Nashbar, received it yesterday and am not impressed by it at all. It felt thin and chincy, not what I expected for $200.00 just for the top. Outside of Performance and Nashbar , does Anybody know of some quality rain wear made for cyclist. I would appreciate any info that you might have.

Thanks.

Greg

Good rain gear is pricey and will have a lot of vents.
Bicyclists produce a lot of sweat, so anything that is
water tight will result in you sweating out from the
inside. Goretex does not breathe fast enough to prevent this from happening. Can't advise on specific
brands, but "chintzy" will probably describe almost any
rain gear for cyclists, where the clothing tends to be
optimised for low weight and low bulk. If you expect
to be rained on a lot then fenders are a necessary
addition to the bike and some sort of shoe/foot protection as well. Cyling shoes are like sieves. Steve

Hi,
when I needed a cycling rain jacket, I asked around, and Burley came up a lot. So I got one, and it works. Surprised the heck out of me that it kept me dry without drowning in sweat.

I ordered the top of the line Gore-Tex from Nashbar, received it yesterday and am not impressed by it at all. It felt thin and chincy, not what I expected for $200.00 just for the top. Outside of Performance and Nashbar , does Anybody know of some quality rain wear made for cyclist.

I'd give that "thin" fabric a try in the rain before judging it. I currently own a Goretex jacket from Assos, which I paid a small fortune for. Thin as it might be, it's far to hot to wear in the "winters" around here most of the time. However, it did come in handy for the notorious rain in Tasmania's South-West back in January (I may not have survived without it).

Anybody know of some quality rain wear made for cyclist. I would appreciate any info that you might have.


Louis Garneau.

I live in this jacket:

http://www.louisgarneau.com/eng/catalog_prod.asp?catalogue=HH3&section=CY&subsection=028&style_no=1032005

It sells for around CAN$150. It's not Gore-Tex® but it's just as good (IMO). I like the jacket so much I'll probably buy another one for daywear when the "cycling" one gets stinky.

You will get sweaty pretty fast even with the pit-zips open. Waterproof fabrics are like that.

P.S. I just merged about four threads here. Please refrain from cross-posting in future, it clutters up the forum and makes it much more difficult to track replies.

Cheers,
Chris L
Forum Moderator.

I've weathered many a storm in a rain cape. Great ventilation and reasonable rain protection. With some finagaling, it even works on a bent.
RAIN CAPE (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=10130&memberId=12500226)

P.S. I just merged about four threads here. Please refrain from cross-posting in future, it clutters up the forum and makes it much more difficult to track replies.

Cheers,
Chris L
Forum Moderator.

Ah. Probably this explains how the original question got below some of the replies, which was baffling me a bit ;)

-chris

Don't knock Goretex. It is the only rain top I have that is rain proof, and I currently have 3 other"rain tops" 2 of them are water proof, to the extent that I get competely soaked by sweat, and the other one is almost as bad, except I keep cool in that one from the rain coming in the zips and seams. Goretex make so many types and styles of rain tops, but mine is a cycling specific jacket,and is made of 3 layer material. It cost me an arm and a leg 4 years ago, and still works. A Friend of mine bought a 2 layer goretex, and although this is a lighter grade, it is still fully waterproof. Neither of the jackets are warm though, but they are both fully waterproof and breathable. How waterproof? Try 7 hours of rain in a 60 mph wind, and barring a little seepage around the neck, we were both completely dry.

Goretex is OK when new, but my biking jacket, made by Gore, started to degrade after about 3 years. They get dirty, and less breathable. When the surface treatment wears off, water soaks into the material, making in non-breathable and it takes hours to dry.
Ive changed to a jacket made by Paramo. It is more breathable, lasts longer and is fully maintainable. It is std equipment for many professional outdoor/mountain rescue people in the wet and cool UK, but is probably too warm for Aussie winters.

I rode all year in Victoria BC and during the winter season it pours all the time, Activa gear is where it's at

check out the activa gear on the Norco website

if it's designed for western canada you can be sure it will perform extremely well anywhere

I rode all year in Victoria BC and during the winter season it pours all the time, Activa gear is where it's at

check out the activa gear on the Norco website

if it's designed for western canada you can be sure it will perform extremely well anywhere

Yeah.

I didn't mention Activa because I figured the distribution was fairly small. I've got a ton of Activa stuff I bought when I worked in a LBS. It's all high quality and lasted me for years.

I've got a shell (Stormfront I think it's called) that after 5+ years is still watertight.

After last Friday's downpour, I feel compelled to make the comment again. There is no such thing as totally watertight clothing. Nothing was going to keep that lot out.

I believe you can reapply Goretex surface treatment if you feel it's going bad because of dirt / age / laundring etc.

I have never had a truly comfortable rain top. Either it does not breathe (enough) or it is not watertight (enough). Feel free to choose what you think is the lesser of the two evils.

--J

Someone earlier complained in this thread about Performance Gore Tex..Think they claimed it was too light and not warm enough...
I bought the same...Since California is not that cold, mine has been reasonable comfortable and worked fairly well...
But in the few California downpours that we can witness; I did get to ride in one...Most of me was dry..The jacket worked well...I found water proof tights more watar proof than the loose 'gore tex rain pants.'
But, my one complaint...My jacket. it does not have a hood.
I used a waterproof helmet cover. This was not the best choice...Water ran down my neck...Neck was cold....
Gore Tex Jackets...Is it necessary to have a built in hood to feel comfortable...?

most jacket won't have a hood with them, but they close rather tight at the neck, I don't really care about the helmet covers makes the ride more interesting and most of the water goes aways with the wind going through the vent holes

Hoods are good for use off the bike, but not when riding. You lose too much peripheral vision. A high collar keep the rain out.
I think a summer waterproof is a different kind of beast to a winter waterproof, esp if you have cold, damp winters, rather than freezing dry ones.

Hoods are good for use off the bike, but not when riding. You lose too much peripheral vision. A high collar keep the rain out.
I think a summer waterproof is a different kind of beast to a winter waterproof, esp if you have cold, damp winters, rather than freezing dry ones.

That would depend on how the hood is designed. The latest rain jackets seem to have a tapered hood that cuts away from the eye.

I like the hood better than the helmet cap...it's one less thing to drag along--always attached. My jacket has this sort of hood and it keeps the rain from going down my back. I arrive at work with dry hair. If you have a crew cut a wet head is no problem. But for long hair, it's a must!

????????I tend to get overheated. Of the pants mentioned, do any of these work well in 60F temps??????????

I've weathered many a storm in a rain cape. Great ventilation and reasonable rain protection. With some finagaling, it even works on a bent.
RAIN CAPE (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=10130&memberId=12500226)


I'll bet this works pretty well, especially for the money.

We recommend two rain jackets which we have used and tested: Rainshield O2, see Recumbent & Tandem Rider Magazine issue 13 on page 10 has article, but wrong photo of the jacket. Less $$$ than Goretex and works great.
Burley's raingear is also tops but a few $ more.
Ventilation zips make all the difference in these jackets and yes they are waterproof and can be worn on or off the bike.
Rudy & Kay/Zona tandem