keyven

My wife ordered online the "Louis Garneau X-lite Jacket (Medium)" for my birthday, it is generally form-fitting but one area in particular concerns me.

I'm about 5'7/150lbs (smallish built) but the jacket feels a little short. The front maxes out at about 1.5 inches below my belly button, and the back barely covers the top of my butt crack if I'm standing. Pardon the crudeness but that's the best way I can describe it.

The Louis Garneau website describes the Medium as being for 66in Body Length and I'm about 62-63. Is this kind of fit common for cycling jackets? Am I correct in assuming it's meant for a racing posture and as such the front will be shortened accordingly?

Thanks in advance.

TenSpeedV2

It depends on if it is "European" fit or not. Some of the jackets out there like GORE, are. The fit is not the typical one that Americans/others are used to. It sounds like this may be one of those jackets. If it does not properly cover you while standing, then it most likely will not when you are riding. Short in front and long in back (mullet) is how they should be with adequate coverage in the back.

keyven

Thanks for the insight.

The front "feels" a little short by my inexperienced estimation - I'm trying to decide if it's too short and I will need to exchange to an L, or has it simply been designed that way.

The length of the jacket is the sole problem I have with it - the rest do feel near-perfect for my body shape.

acidfast7

I like it that way ... most of my regular clothing is short and by these guys ... i usually try to keep my gf dressed "swedish" as well. form-fitting is quite nice if you've got the build for it.

TenSpeedV2

Looks good if you have the body, if you don't, everything that you don't want to show off is usually accentuated and looks twice as bad.

chaadster

This does not sound like a "Euro fit" issue, which in my experience describes trimmer, more close fitting design for smaller, more slender physiques. The term does not imply "short torso" in any way I've ever encountered it.

My guess is that the OP just has a long torso, and may need a Tall designated jacket.

It is typical and apropriate for cycling jackets to be shorter in the front to prevent bunching when on the bike, and to be cut longer in the rear to provide the necessary coverage when on the bike.

Whatever the measurements may be according to LG and your tailor (or tape measure), something is mismatched if you've not got sufficient coverage when standing. When on the bike, reaching forward with your back bent, you're going to be much longer and you'll find the jacket even shorter. Lose it, and get one that fits correctly.

It may be an LG model issue, so try another jacket from them if possible, if not, try the next size up, and if not that, move on to another brand.

jyl

Front sounds fine. Rear sounds a bit short, maybe. The jacket is meant to fit when you are leaned well forward on a road (drop bar) bike, not when you are standing up. It is also meant to be worn with cycling shorts which go up high on the waist, so butt crack coverage isn't an issue.

qclabrat

I'm 5'9" 150lbs with an average build and usually go with large or XL tops and medium bottoms.
even with my wimpy arms and chest the large is sometimes too tight across the chest and esp. biceps
never could figure what size the really fit looking guys are wearing, cause mine are sometimes fairly tight even in an XL

Jackets are different for me, I usually fit well in mediums, larger versions are either too long at the arms and more importantly too much extra volume in the torso. (defeating the purpose of a jacket) I checked out the pictures and the jacket is shorter in the front than back by a few inches, should mean the back should be close the start of the vertical smile



When you are riding, does it ride above the waist band on your shorts? if so, you may want to shop for something different. I hate that feeling.
the butt crack reference was a perfect visual, check out this silly jersey I came across....

CliffordK

I think some of the newer jackets are supposed to be "form fitting". No flopping in the wind.

Is this a windbreaker, or a rain jacket?

My old Burley jacket definitely has a butt flap. I think it aids with a little extra coverage when one is leaning over, as well as helping protect from tire spray.

Most of the Showes Pass jackets that have more or less replaced the Burley show long tails too.

And, of course, good ventilation is key for the Burley style jackets.

keyven

Thanks for the answers guys - I believe from your perspectives that this may be the correct size after all. I guess I'm just used to regular jackets but "Profit" is supposed to be the most form-fitting of all the LG jackets.

Judging from this, a Large would definitely be on the roomy side for me.

jur

This may be info too late for you, or not... Cycling jackets of that type are aimed more at the racing end of the spectrum where you hunch low, needing a short front and long back. For more upright commuting style riding, another cut is more suitable. I have a closet full of cycling jackets that didn't live up to the hype. My current favourite for Melbourne weather is actually a running jacket, an Pearl Izumi Elite Infinity. It cost half the price of their cycling jacket in the same class, has a lot of mesh-like panels and is ultra-light. The mesh panels help far better than any other jacket I have to keep the sweat build-up to a minimum. For example half the arms are mesh. The other half is breathable polyester. Check out ebay 281515019638. (I have no affiliation). They are so good and cheap every time I am tempted to buy another one, and I already have a yellow one and a black one! The black one doubles as my wear-anywhere jacket.