Here are the first impressions. I've ridden about 150km now with the jacket and pants, or about 5 days' commute. I've only worn them in rain. Temperatures have been around +10C...+15C. I have mixed feelings.

- Water shedding is top notch. Which is to be expected, this is brand new stuff, never washed yet.
- Waterproofing works. Again, these are new products and they have minimal zippers, seams etc. Nothing much to NOT work there.
- Breathability... well. This is definitely the best jacket/pants combo I've used. I get sweaty a lot later and less than in my earlier waterproof clothes. And after an uphill, for example, I cool down faster. Just for the heck of it I tried one of the old jackets on (one that still sheds water nicely) the other day, for a short leg. The difference is clear. But... I still get sweaty. I wish they had put some zippered ventilation in the jacket.
- Usability: fair. I could use more pockets, as the jacket only has one zippered pocket (there is one small waist "pouch" hanging on the inside of the pants). But that's just a matter of rearranging my small items, not a big deal. The shell is very comfortable to wear, sleeves, back and legs are long enough for cycling, color is good for commuting in traffic.

Bottom line ATM: definitely better than any waterproof gear I've had so far, but still not quite there. Considering the price, I'm tentatively looking into the Goretex breathability guarantee, haven't really decided if I'll go that way or not.

--J