Touring - raingear for summer cycling

My Chinese brand rain gear makes me sweat like crazy when I wear them in weather that isn't very cold.
My rain gear is supposed to be breathable...so is this just the norm that one must deal with, or are my Chinese made gear crap? (never had rain pants before)

Can anyone recommend lightweight rain pants and jacket that Won't make me sweat to death.

Thanks,

drj

warm weather and wet,,you'll sweat

Showers Pass Event jackets are great,,and not cheap

i think it may be something you'll just have to accept. sweating with rain gear is something that irks me a lot as well. no fun.

Even with Showers Pass Event jacket, you sweat. I don't use rain pants unless it's both raining and very cold.

I tend to use the rain gear around camp. Or if like valygrl mentioned it gets really cold. I have a bellweather rain jacket that works about as good as anything. I would not spend $200 on a rain jacket that will spend most the time in my panniers. That is me though. Good rain proof shoe covers though............. worth every penny.

When it rains I expect to be wet. If it isn't cold out I don't wear rain gear. I find that cheap coated nylon works just about the same as breathable stuff for me, while being lighter, cheaper, and packing smaller. I most often wear it in camp, but when it has been cold and raining I wore the jacket on the bike. I have never worn the pants on the bike while on tour though.

When it rains I expect to be wet. If it isn't cold out I don't wear rain gear. I find that cheap coated nylon works just about the same as breathable stuff for me, while being lighter, cheaper, and packing smaller.

I agree. In light rain I don't put on the raingear. But if it's pouring I do. I still sweat and get a little wet inside the gear, but it's better than being cold and soaked to the skin without it.

Having good rain gear is mandatory when you're in camp and it's pouring. I also use my rain jacket as a top layer when it's really cold. It keeps me a lot warmer than my light windbreaker.

I use Gore-tex, but it doesn't breathe enough to let the vapor out when you're really exercising. You get wet.

I've heard excellent reports about Showers Pass gear.

...I use Gore-tex, but it doesn't breathe enough to let the vapor out when you're really exercising. You get wet.

I've heard excellent reports about Showers Pass gear.

I still get plenty wet from sweat in the Showers Pass Elite 2.0. I really like their Rain Pants. Their stuff has gotten really pricey since I bought mine on sale a few years ago. Not sure it is worth it over less pricey brands. When not exercising it is waterproof and keeps me pretty dry.

Does anyone within the sound of my voice use a helmet cover? I don't have one but we are doing a tour of the Pacific Northwest and I am wondering about getting one.

Does anyone within the sound of my voice use a helmet cover? I don't have one but we are doing a tour of the Pacific Northwest and I am wondering about getting one.
Yep. But the "4 for $1" shower-cap kind you can pick up at a Dollar Store. They work, they're cheap -- in fact, so cheap you can pass 'em out to friends you meet on the road :) On a chilly morning, they add a few degrees of warmth, too.

-- Mark

I have a couple of suggestions

1) Cheap Driducks or O2 rain gear. This is lightweight, soft and more breathable than most.

2) My personal recommendation is an expensive one, the Rapha Stowaway jacket. This
will hurt the wallet, but it's very light weight and breathable. It's water resistant so after
an hour in hard rain some water will get in, but it's the best compromise I've found between
letting sweat out and keeping rain out. It also looks good.

My default rain gear is the Stowaway, a pair of Pearl Izumi booties and a shower cap
over my helmet. I don't worry about my legs. This is all lightweight and works well for
3 season riding. This combo got me through a major downpour on the North Yorkshire
Moors where the rain was sideways.

http://www.rapha.cc/stowaway-jacket-09/

Finally if the rain is really heavy and isn't stopping I get off the bike and put up my travel umbrella.
I always tour with a small folding umbrella.

I always tour with a small folding umbrella.
Someones a Ray Jardine fan. :) I'd backpack with an umbrella but had never considered it for cycle touring.

Someones a Ray Jardine fan. :) I'd backpack with an umbrella but had never considered it for cycle touring.

You got me. I don't carry a large umbrella, but a small folding one takes up very little space and is useful when it's pouring and you are in a remote place.

Cheap Driducks or O2 rain gear. This is lightweight, soft and more breathable than most.



I carry the yellow Driducks for use around camp and for an additional layer in cold weather. Driducks are very durable and cheap, about $15. If it does tear, a little duct tape does the trick. It is "breathable," so in heavy rain, some moisture will seep thru.

In warm weather, I don't bother with raingear. Rather be wet from rain than from sweat.

This is a question that I have tested and mulled over my self. I have used the J&B rain cape and helment cover, also the shower cap method, and PI Zepher jacket. For me, if it's above 70F I just ride wet. If below, I use leg warmers and either the jacket or cape. I find the cape is rather daunting in the wind, but the very best you can get for keeping the lower half dry. The cape doesn't work as well in camp as a jacket does, at speed, and,or, windy conditins. This year I have decided to go with the helment cover and jacket. I find in realy hard rain a helment cover of some kind keeps the rain from washing the salt and oils from your helment into your eyes! One other thing, NOTHING breaths like a cape (the whole bottom is open) if you choose to use rain protection in warm weather!

The Campmor rain cape (actually more like a poncho with a hood..) $30. Great for not sweating to death in warmer weather. Keeps your gloves fairly dry. Not so great in stiff winds. You still need something on your boots, too.

http://www.campmor.com/wcsstore/Campmor//static/images/bicycling/50258.jpg

http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/CAMOmnifindQueryCmd?langId=-1&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&searchCategory=&ip_state=&ip_constrain=&ip_navtype=search&pageSize=24&currentPage=&ip_sortBy=&searchKeywords=rain+cape

I have been using a calf length hooded Patagonia Sealcoat raincoat for decades on tour. It does not breath at all but the two way zipper lets the jacket trail out to the sides and back when back zipped for ventilation and minimal condensation inside. Leaning over the handlebars I remain quite dry and warm depending on the zipper position chosen. Too bad they no longer make it. I do not find rain pants necessary at all.

You still need something on your boots, too.

Such as?

I figured wet feet were a given while touring. What footwear would keep the feet truly dry especially if using clipless pedals?

I use a Vaude eVent waterproof jacket and Berghaus overtrousers, the jacket breathes quite well when cycling moderately in the rain. For my feet, I cycle in North Face goretex hiking shoes, and I stayed dry even in the heaviest downpours in Germany. Believe me or don't believe me, makes no difference.

Yep. But the "4 for $1" shower-cap kind you can pick up at a Dollar Store. They work, they're cheap -- in fact, so cheap you can pass 'em out to friends you meet on the road :) On a chilly morning, they add a few degrees of warmth, too.

-- Mark

A great idea. Thanks.

The best thing I have found to keep my feet dry are FENDERS with a long mud flap!

I wear a helmet cover and shoe covers from MEC (http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302692723&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442618318).

I only bring one pair of shoes so I try to keep them dry. The MEC covers work great for my size-14 feet. I bought some XXL neoprene covers but I couldn't slip them over my huge gunboats.

I only use shoe covers for sub freezing temps. I find that some shoes don't retain much moisture and I wear those. Sidi Bullets work for me in that regard. I also find that some socks are much better than others for comfort when wet, wicking moisture away from the skin, and drying quickly. As has been said fenders help too.