sweat or condensation

[Gibbygoo]

I noticed today that my nylon shell was soaking wet between it and my long sleeve jersey. This also happened in a little warmer weather with just the shell and a short sleeve jersey. I don't think it's sweat. Do you think that condensation has formed inbetween? Would a more breathable jacket do the same thing?

This is a Performance Century Jacket (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=18551&subcategory_ID=1130).

Lightweight, windproof, water resistant – what else could you want in a cycling jacket? how about breathable and pit zips and removable sleeves! Oh well, it was cheap.

[shaq-d]

your jacket is water and wind _resistant_..so it's already breathable. nonetheless it looks warm. i'd say it IS sweat and u should dress down. in warmer weather instead of the, use a mid-layer fleece or a vest. and where u'd normally do a long sleeeve, put on the short.

sd

[Gibbygoo]

Well the temp was about 52 degrees F. I didn't feel overly warm. The jacket looks warm, but is just a windbreaker (no lining). I was wearing a base layer and a long sleeve thermal jersey and felt a little on the cool side until riding. I did not feel any moisture at all, I just saw it when I took of the windbreaker at the end of my ride. It was like how a tent gets when in cold weather on the inside of the nylon.

[Diggy18]

I noticed the same thing on my windbreaker when I wore it with a heavy fleece top underneath. In my case I think it was sweat. I guess that's ok as long as the insulating layer keeps the moisture off you. Everytime I wear my windbreaker I get sweaty. I just ordered a mid weight fleece to wear over a short sleeve jersey, and then forget the windbreaker. Maybe a windbreaking vest would be a good idea. . .

[Guest]

I used a jacket that did work to keep the wind out but wasn't a very good choice, since I had a lot of condensation, which was not fun to peel off my skin. I went home and pulled out my goretex windbreaker and rode with that one for the rest of the day, and didn't have that problem at all. I think it may be that you need something a little more breatheable.

Koffee

[supcom]

Sweat, condensation, it's the same thing. You are overdressed and are sweating faster than the moisture can evaporate through the jacket. Despite being called 'breathable', any jacket, especially a windproof one, slows the evaporation of perspiration. If the humidity is high the problem is worse because the air is already near saturation.

[Guest]

I would say I was overdressed, except all I did in my situation was switch jackets- both were approximately the same thickness (or thinness, because they were were both just thin jackets). In temperatures in the mid-30's, I just had on my warmth layer of a long sleeved, thin wool shirt, and a nylon, short sleeved jersey underneath that. But one jacket was mainly for the rain, and the other was specifically a windbreaker jacket.

Koffee

[qmsdc15]

Is Gore wind stopper more breathable than regular Gore-tex? Anything that stops wind is not breathable, obviously, but the windstopper might let more air through. Or is it the same laminate without the DWR and taped seams, etc.?