I got a $10 cheap raincoat/pant set from a sporting good store because there was a sudden downpour, and the first time I used it, it ended up with holes. $10 for something you use once and throw out is a rip-off. What the best value for rain protection, so I don't look like a drowned cat when I get to work?

I like showers pass, around 100 bucks, waterproof with some good venting

Showers pass has an excellent reputation. I wouldn't call it "best value" though, arguably "best" but at a stiff price. I think OP might be looking for something along the lines of 80% of the quality of showers pass (or more), at 50% of the cost (or less).

I bought a rain poncho (Knalla) from Ikea for like 6 bucks. It packs into its pocket, so that's convenient. Unfortunately, here in San Diego we don't get much rain (freak storms last weekend, but I didn't have to ride in it!), so I haven't tested it out yet!

Are there any decent pants? Those are what got holes, my belt buckle punched a couple holes in the pants. I like the jacket, it's loose enough that I can wear it over my Camelbak, so I can keep my wallet and phone dry in the Camelbak. I never wear cycling shorts to work, inormally wear khakis and wanna keep 'em dry.

We've been pretty happy with RainLegs. Fast to deploy and they work pretty well, like really well. Seems like they wouldn't work, but they do. Rain pants are a pain to use unless you put them on when you start out. Then you are pretty much guaranteed to get wet either way (rain or sweating).

J.

Better than $10/wearing though! SP is a screaming bargain at that rate.

There are no decent rainpants, sorry. These things are only like $30 though! I hear people like'em.

I'm not denying that SP is a good value, every SP in the world that doesn't regret their purchase demonstrates that. Is it the best value? Depends on the individual notion of "best value". I'm just saying that SP is at the high end of both the quality and cost scales, in case OP isn't the kind of guy that equates "best quality" with "best value".

Anyways, as I said, I live in San Diego, I don't deal with rain and I don't have any useful recommendations, so maybe I shouldn't have bothered to comment at all.

I ride in my bike clothes and carry my street clothes to the office along with a tall kitchen draw-string trash bag and two sandwich bags in my backpack which I carry on my back rack. When it starts raining I cover my backpack with the trash bag with the drawstrings towards the bottom. I put my phone in one sandwich bag, and sometime use the second bag on my seat. Yes, I get wet, but I found I smell better wet from rain than I do wet from sweat.

Value is in the eye of the beholder. $100.00, had it for like 5 years and still looking good. It works well, does its job and fits good, wears well, you decide?

For lower speed rain rides, I'm a big fan of rain capes paired with a set of full coverage fenders. My legs stay dry, although my feet still get wet. The best part is the airflow and ventilation. At higher speeds or very high wind, it can act as a sail though, and not in a good way.

If I had bought a showers pass jacket for $100 5 years ago that would be a cost of maybe $10/use and not amortizing very fast.

I always get that kind of stuff used on eBay. You can get the good stuff for a fraction of its original price.

What bike and/or wind speed would you estimate this starts to become an issue?

Maybe it's Arizona. But when I wear specific rain gear sweat soaks me as much as the rain would have. Well, it feels like it. For anything less than 10 mi nowadays I dress as lightly as is practical and let it rain. Carry spare clothes and a towel with me. Then change when I get there.

Good tip! I wouldn't have thought that used raingear would be the type of thing that would be a good buy, but a quick search turned up this right now, and there's probably more like it on a regular basis.

I like my Showers Pass jacket but I use it as infrequently as possible because it gets hot and sweaty inside.

Part of my solution is to have a complete change of clothes in case I get soaked on the way in. That's my solution to getting wet below the waist. Rain pants are just too hot and sweaty. And then shoes and socks get soaked.

When possible, bare your skin wearing short sleeves, shorts, and sandals. This works when it's not cold.

$35, breathable, water-proof and durable (I've used mine for years). Original Cycling Jacket | O2 Rainwear

Looks like a good price, but it certainly doesn't look breathable (as the description claims) -- 100% polypropylene = solid plastic, right?

However, their original waterproof pants might be what OP is looking for at $26.

Sorry I can't provide speeds as I never have any idea what speed I'm going. But winds have to be very gusty/stormy to push you around. Basically the same strength wind that would nudge you around with normal clothes on. As for speed, I have to be up around 46/13-15 (gearing) for it to really start becoming annoying. You certainly feel some drag at lower speeds, but for rainy day commutes, my goal is to stay dry (rain) and comfortable (sweat).

Ok, thanks. I've been curious about raincapes for a long time now but the reports of this sail effect kind of turned me off.

Your description makes it sound like much less of a problem than I thought.

the heavier Grundens cycle cape is quite immune to the sail concern, and more so when you use the waist tie and Hand loops .

sub 10 mph in heavy weather. I add light rain pants when blustery out .. like incoming storm front.

If it doesn't rain , why buy it? CA? Here in New England, we have regular rain, like most parts of the USA.

Exactly. That's why I don't have rain gear.

Except for the $6 Ikea rain poncho (that I haven't had opportunity to try yet, and likely won't until winter).

And I've been known to use plastic shopping bags as disposable shoe covers.

And full disclosure I have a few times worn my wife's cheap raincoat, it was bought for like 10 pounds in a pinch from a shop during a rainstorm. It is sturdy plastic, 100% waterproof, and 0% breathable.

In my situation, that's what passes for "best value".