Catsinthepants

I'm in the market for a cycing jacket for my commute. However, I don't want to look like a neon jerk. Ive been scouring the interwebs for a decent jacket, and I'm torn between Showers Pass' Portland jacket and Chrome's Anza... Ugh... Can anyone give me some ideas?

Bachman

I don't have any experience with either of those jackets, but I'd prefer to wear a brighter color than that. I don't see why anyone would think you're a jerk for wearing it unless you're already acting like a complete jackass on the bike. Plus there's the added benefit of not blending in with an overcast sky.

MK313

I've had more luck with non-cycling specific jackets. Most large outdoor gear companies offer jacekts that work great for commuting & the color selections seems a bit wider. Not sure where you're at & how cold it gets, but I've had success with Mountain Hardwear & Marmot jackets. I also have North Face windwall jacekt that should work great for cold weather commuting (though I have not tried it for that purpose yet)

niccig

Big for thread title!

I have the Showers Pass Club Pro jacket in powder blue (women's - men's is available in a more slate blue). Based on what I've read it's more waterproof than the Portland, but I don't have any real experience with that one, since I only tried it on and didn't buy. It's waterproof for sure, and under 50 degrees I don't sweat to death in it (7.5 mile commute, for reference). One of the things that made me buy that one over the Portland or the Elite was that there's room for layering under it - I didn't feel like there was with the others. I also liked the bright-but-not-neon-jerk color.

Micheal Blue

That Portland jacket looks very nice, but the price... In winter I use either a normal cycling jacket I bought for 60 bucks plus several other layers underneath, or a gore-tex jacket I use also for hiking and other activities.

pdlamb

Showers Pass prices aren't low, but their jacket is worth it for me. After all, my touring jacket only cost 3-4 tanks of gas -- I'll save that much before Christmas!

A few things I want in a cycling jacket include two-way zipper on the front; pit zips (absolutely necessary!); at least one front pocket, preferably zippered; decent lining (nothing feels worse than sweaty, cold rubber on your skin); and a neck that's stiff enough to be zip-able when needed, but not to poke your neck when it's not.

TurbineBlade

Whatever you do, make sure your bright-colored jacket is fairly short in the back so that when you get into the drops your gigantic ass crack is in full view of everyone.

formicaman

I just wear a thrift store fleece jacket under a cheap unlined windbreaker. Best commute-wear I have found so far.

hiyer1

I usually wear my pea coat with my work clothes underneath =P

And yes, I am indeed serious

Rockfish

I use a layering approach. I have an REI soft shell that's very thin and breathable. It's perfect down to 50 with a work shirt underneath, and sheds light rain. Down to about 40, in the dry, an ibex wool sweater/jacket does the trick. I also have a fully waterproof Showers Pass jacket. If I put the REI shell over the wool it's good down to the mid 20's. The rain jacket over the wool does the same if it's wet and cold. Much below mid-20's and I wimp out - my face freezes and my eyes water too much to see!

lucienrau

I use layering too. Technical wool base layer, merino wool sweater & shell sees me thru most days. Colder days I use a heavier sweater, really cold days I use a wool coat under the shell. The wool is the only way I prevent overheating. I find good gloves are harder to figure out than the layers.

xtrajack

Another vote for the layering approach. I use my J&G rain jacket as a shell with a couple of layers underneath (wool blend baselayer, t-shirt, regular shirt). It has been plenty warm enough at -20 F.
I use a similar approach for my legs-- baselayer, double front Carhartt work pants, then my RainMates as a wind blocker shell.

xtrajack

Good gloves are hard to find. I currently have about four different pair. I also have a pair of snowmobiling mittens (windproof, waterproof) they seem to work about the best with a thin pair of wool liner gloves under them.

nashcommguy

My jacket's a Pearl Izumi Barrier w/reflective material. The jackets red/black and grey until light hits the grey then it lights up. 3 different hooded, longsleeve cycling jerseys, wool 2nd layer and the PI jacket. Sometimes a balaclava as well. Wool beaney and goose down mittens w/liners stop any wind. Had trouble figuring out gloves until I got mittens. Marmot from https://www.campmor.com for 20.00. Have other gloves, too. Gordini goose down. Wear liners and the dampness from sweat takes longer to penetrate to the interior of the gloves/mittens.

chipcom 

Same here, cept I use the J&G Wind Jacket as my outer layer...unless there is wet snow/sleet in which case I opt for my old Burley Rockpoint.

DogBoy

I've had my showers pass elite jacket since 2005. It is my winter jacket and my rain jacket. In winter I layer under it, in summer I open all the vents. I have only good things to say about it, but the zipper is now starting to get fussy. I may have to buy a new one. I will be buying another showers pass jacket when the time comes.

macdonwald

Boiled leather and mail.

rumrunn6

don't be afraid to look like a bike commuter

Juha

OP, what is your "winter" like? If you have several months continuously below freezing point temps, your requirements are way different from +10C and lots of rain.

TurbineBlade

+1. My definition of this based upon what I see every day in DC is a guy on a road bike with no fenders, 23mm tires, no rack, a huge backpack, and spandex.

The real kicker though, is your jersey has to be 1-2 sizes too short so that everyone can see your lower back boobs and giant ass crack.

cehowardGS

I also commute on my motorcycle in the cold. I have tasted single digits on the motorcycle. With that said, any temps below 30 degrees, I don my cold-weather-motorcycle gloves. Those gloves make the cold feel like summer time.. In addition, this winter, I might be looking into electric socks.

ItsJustMe

Neon and jerk are on separate axes, they are not necessarily correlated. You can be one without the other.
I buy the brightest stuff I can, and I'm not... oh wait...

Ratchet

this really bugs you, doesn't it?

WestonP

I shelled out $200 for a good Mountain Hardware Jacket over the summer for hitting mountains in Colorado and I figured I'd get some dual value out of it come winter commuting. My big issues so far are the lack of ventilation (gets pretty clammy once I warm up) and the hood, the hood is HUGE and can't be removed, it acts as a giant parachute and is uncomfortable when stuffed inside the collar.

My point being, there is merit in looking into jackets specifically designed for cyclists.

TurbineBlade

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