Originally Posted by
chainlife
It's the start of another rainy season, and I need a great rain jacket. I currently have a Marmot Precip, but after an hour I feel wet. what i want 1. gore-tex rainproof. 2. lightweight and packable in a small bag.3. vents, pockets and hood is good. 4. something that looks normal around town. has anyone tried Outdoor Research "Elixer" jacket. looks nice. Is there any way to keep feet dry to?
You DONT want goretex, I own a Marmot Precip, and a multitude of goretex and its variants over the years. Precip is pretty much just as good/bad. A goretex jacket wont have you any dryer. Both are waterproof, both are breathable enough for people walking from the car to the shopping mall, neither are breathable enough for cycling.
Best cycling rainjacket is Showerspass elite. Lots swear by J&G but i have no personal experience with it so cant compare. Neither look like fashionable clothes off the bike.
A softshell is the other way, but they will start to soak through in an hour or so. If your working hard you'll evaporate it almost as fast as it comes in. Try
http://beyondclothing.com/products/jackets/soft-shell/ or mec.ca for various softshells. MEC has a nice chart comparing various ones. Softshells wont pack up and fit in a jersey pocket though.
If you want a small packable shell, thats waterresistant, see the one i use on second page of this thread
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=388656