Cheap alternatives to dedicated rain gear?
 

I have been recently on the search for long pants and a rain jacket for cycling as I just began commuting by bike. The dedicated long baggy cycling pants options are wayyy out of my budget. I already have a Pearl izumi liner short which is supposed to go under pants. Would some Columbia brand waterproof pants and a thin windbreaker/waterproof jacket suffice or would they be uncomfortable?

I long ago gave up on rain gear. IME - None worked well enough to justify the cost. The better stuff DOES work better, but the price is also higher. My main objections for commuting purposes is that it's too cumbersome to carry with me on the possibility of rain, and too expensive to buy 2 sets, to leave one at each end. Plus IME most of the not super pricey rain gear doesn't hold up well. (Doesn't include super pricey stuff becase I never tried any).

So, after experimentation, I've settled on 30qt tall trash can liners. These are cheap enough to use once or twice then discard, light enough to carry on spec, and easily deployed at both ends for surprise rain storms.

I should add, that they don't actually keep me dry. Since they don't breathe, my sewat tends to get me pretty wet anyway, but it's the difference between wet and cold and wet and warm.

Bike rain poncho plus fenders:

Rain Capes from People Who Really Know Rain Capes!

Vaude Covero Poncho II - Outerwear | Adventure Cycling Association

They not as urban chic as FBinNY's garbage bags but they're in much brighter colors than most garbage bags which makes them good for low light conditions. Rain ponchos need not be made out of uberexpensive "breathable" laminates since they're open underneath and you can sweat just fine with them.

Meh..should have reworded it to rain AND general cold-ish weather riding. I wouldn't like to commute in spandex shorts and I was just looking at an all around cheap long pair of pants that can hold up to 50 degree F weather and some rain

Understand that I ride in cycling clothing, and change at work, so my approach may not suit others. At 50 or so and above, I'll wear long cycling pants, with or without fleece lining depending on weather. I'll also wear a long sleeve fleece layer, so my only real concern is core temp. My objective is to avoid the added wind chill of water evaporation, and the garbage bag does that by keeping the evaporation zone outside my insulated layers.

I don't mind cool arms and legs as long as my core is warm, so my system works fine for the 1/2 hour it takes me for the trip.

Below 50 I'll modify it various ways, all the way to wearing a 2mm wetsuit as an outside layer. This has kept me reasonably warm even in freezing rains at 32 or so, and I'll get home with nearly frozen hands and feet, but otherwise OK. However, in deference to my age, and the fact that it get dark too early, I don't ride in rain below 35 or so unless caught out, then it's a dash.

I use cheap generic rain pants. They periodically get some chain wear since they aren't form-fitting around the ankles, and I don't worry about it.
My slicker was a gift, and cycle specific. But, I'm planning on modifying a generic I picked up by opening up a little better underarm ventilation, and adding some reflective ribbon that I picked up cheaply on E-Bay.

My layers are generally:

Jeans + slicker pants on the lower half, plus warm socks and waterproof shoes.
Fleece + slicker jacket on the upper half. Perhaps a second fleece if it drops below 30, but the jacket and fleece seems to allow opening or closing for better ventilation and temperature control, and does quite well in a variety of weather.

Good day neighbour!

I have some rain gear that I am very happy with for cold weather that I found a Value Village/Savers - which is one strategy for finding decent gear on the cheap, but it does take patience and a certain degree of luck. I am also in a place where there are a lot of outdoorsey activities which many people participate in - which means a larger pool of such stuffs to be donated and end up in stores the likes of VVs/Savers.

That said - none of what I have is cycling specific, but it serves for cold and for wet with adjustment in the under layers.

I have a simple but good pair of wind and waterproof ripstop over-pants for the bottom. With a good base layer and a pair of corduroys under them they are good well below freezing. Around freezing I just wear them with cords. Warmer weather and I just wear shorts under.

Likewise, on top I have a wind and water-proof pull-over jacket that works from well below freezing with tech base layer and a couple of layers of wool and/or polar fleece adjusted for temperature.

These articles are my go-to for wet and cold weather, on the bike, in the canoe, and on my motorcycle. I also have an inexpensive nylon Wetskins rainsuit that is my alternate wear if the 1st set is wet.

I also wear a helmet when I ride - and a rain cover just lives on my helmet until temps are well above freezing since it also serves to limit airflow through the vents. I wear a couple of diferent beanies underneath depending on the cold, and I have a double layer polar fleece hat that goes right over the helmet and rain cover for extreme cold.

For feet - the best thing I have yet found for wet and cold is a good fitting pair of over-shoes. I have a couple of different pairs that fit a range of different shoes I wear while riding. I don't use clipless pedals - and my winter beater/utility ride only ever had platforms on it so retention devices are not an issue - my fast commuter gets the strapless clips I use in summer removed for use on dry and clear winter days.

I do have a poncho that I am planning to try this summer, but I bought it late in the year last fall and I have not even unpacked it yet.

I never though about getting some of this stuff from thrift stores. I was going to head over there tomorrow anyway to find some cheapo furniture to build something out of. I'll have to check out if they have anything.

The cheapest alternative, of course, is to realize that human skin is remarkably water-resistant and that there are no verified cases of potential witches melting into a puddle when doused. :)

Just focus on staying warm, and have fun playing in the rain.

I have rain paints from thrift stores.
I haven't found good cycling appropriate rain jackets there, although as mentioned, I'm planning on modifying one that seemed to have a good base which I'm going to add the reflective ribbon tape to, and make sure the underarm ventilation is good.

The problem with the jackets is that you need a lot of ventilation (underarm, and back).
I tried my boating jacket once... Took it off, and I was drenched from the inside like I had been boating.

just got back from a rainy ride here in drought ridden California. i agree, in general, that wet weather gear is inadequate no matter what.

but just for fun and as an example of what i wore... a Marmot gortex-like rainpant that i bought on sale for 50 dollars because the drawstring closure was poorly designed. a gore-tex park shell made by Columbia sportswear that my sister couldn't prevent herself from buying only to find out she had an almost identical one (that she rarely wore) and decided to give it to her minimalist poorly dressed brother. a thinsulate vest (another gift from said sister) a "hoodie", a stocking cap with a baseball hat (fully expanded adjuster) on top and a pair of plastic produce bags over my socks that were then inserted into a sieve-like pair of cycling shoes.

it was about 50 degrees out and the ride was tolerable but not all that enjoyable. i can enjoy a wet weather ride only in temperatures above 80. and i haven't had the opportunity to ride in the rain on such a warm day in decades.

now that i think about it... the same sister bought me the hoodie too.:lol:

The problem I have with thrift stores is that I tend to accumulate STUFF!!. I find that, if I am to be successful in using thrift stores to find gear, I have to go often to see what has come in before someone else grabs it, and to go with a list, so I have a tool to resist the urge to browse and so accumulate more STUFF!!.

That said - good luck! Thrift stores is like a box of chocolates - ya never know what you're gonna get.

I like lighter weight rain bibs for commuting in heavy or constant rain. Something like these: http://www.amazon.com/WaterShed-6500...Watershed+bibs

It might sound flippant, but the cheap alternative is swim trunks and light windbreaker. In other words, for shorter commutes it's easier to just not worry about it. This morning I was a little cold at 51° rain, and a little damp, but "a little" is less trouble to put up for 30-45 minutes with than searching for perfect comfort.

I'm very skeptical of that claim!

That's funny! When people around my work marvel at me riding my bike in the rain, I tell them I have the superpower of not being harmed by water. I even occasionally strip down and step under a flood of hot water on purpose!

Here in San Diego I don't have much rain to deal with. I like FB's garbage bag idea, it would go well with the plastic shopping bags I carry as emergency shoe-covers in case of surprise rain. Other than that, on rainy days I wear a cheap, sturdy raincoat that is basically solid plastic, not breathable at all, and leaves me almost as wet from sweat underneath as if I didn't have a coat.

One of these days I plan to buy a packable Ikea Knalla rain poncho, and I bet that will be awesome. If it would only ever rain around here...

There is and it was caught on film in the last century. Did you miss the movie?? I wonder if ruby slippers make good rain shoes.

You can get Army surplus Gortex coat and pants for about $80. They are very water resistant and breath relatively well. The drawback is that you will also need a high visibility vest or other items because it only come in Camo.

You can find them on Amazon or check you local Army surplus store.

I don't know what your budget is but this is what I'm using. No kidding. But it doesn't vent so, wet/ warm like FbinNY says.

Nelson-Rigg | Apparel : Stormrider 2-PC Rain Suit

You could try Frogg Toggs, Light, cheap and breathable. You don't get much durability though, but it shouldn't matter too much to cycling. You can get a suit for less than $20, and it breathes better than any fancy rain shell I've used. The fit is terrible though, and I'm a little embarrassed to be seen in it off a bike.

You could also use a wind shell with decent DWR over a wool base layer, which works pretty well for light rain. Breathes much better than any real rain gear,and while you do get wet, you stay comfortable and relatively cool.

I bought these FrogToggs lightweight rain gear for when I get caught in it. Not for daily rain use like where some of you live but easy to keep in my front bag and very bike user friendly.
frogg toggs DriDucks Ultra-Lite Rain Suit | DICK'S Sporting Goods

Oops. Did not see Fuzz's reply.

Cheap? Yard waste plastic bags with head and arm holes.

I have a cycle rain cape from Grundens, not cheap but will last me the rest of my life + that of someone after me.

the Vaude cape with the arm holes strikes me as odd since the hole may let in rain water, but I suppose it may let you stick your hands out to signal a turn..

easier than lifting the hem of the cape to do the same .. try and report.



Now shorter trips I wear a Parka , Hi-Viz neon lime w reflective bands..

on my last long tour wore an Anorak ..Front zipper vs pull over with a handwarmer (glove storage)

and a kangaroo pocket for Snacks and cough-drops..

pants and shoe covers [97 toured Ireland March through May. ]

Now local commuting, LL Bean rubber moccasins and platform pedals are fine..

In the rain, I wear as little as possible. I wear what I need to wear to keep from getting cold. If I can wear a short sleeve shirt, shorts, and sandals (and no socks), that is ideal. If it's cold enough to justify wearing pants, I will wear wool dress trousers, because wool stays warm when wet. I keep a spare set of clothes at the office in case I get thoroughly soaked. It doesn't happen often. Other than getting cold, the most uncomfortable thing about riding in the rain is having rain-soaked clothes tug at my body when I'm moving. This is why I prefer to wear as little as possible.