Now that it's starting to get nice & cold (32F and below.), what jacket does this list recommend for that type of cold?

One day, I want a fancy cycling jacket.

I tend to run warm, so for 20-30F I wear:
wicking baselayer (synthetic)
1/2 zip merino wool cycling jersey
wicking high-viz long sleeve top over that
merino wool buff for my neck.

And hat/earband, gloves, shorts/legwarmers--and an overpant if it's really cold.

I have those Columbia OmniHeat boots that are lightweight, waterproof, and excellent. They are too warm for temps over 30ish, so I only bust those out when it's really cold. Temps in the 40s, I wear my summer hiking boots from Ariat.

For the top half of me, that serves me into the teens. Then I add my wool-blend hoodie on top.

I have started using Rapha's Winter Embrocation, and that stuff is amazing for knees, neck, and lower back. It's like wearing a heating pad.

I don't recommend a jacket, I recommend layers.

I wear my lightweight hi-vis windbreaker over layers. I can stop and peel off a layer if I get too warm, and I carry an extra layer in my backpack in case I get too cold, or if it is much colder on the ride home. I also carry three pairs of gloves for the same reason. Whatever small weight penalty this incurs is offset by the comfort of being able to "fine-tune" my outfit to match the conditions.

brought out some heavy artillery last week. namely the long sleeve, zip up turtle neck base layer & thick fleece North Face jacket w wind break vest over it all. next in line will be a tried & true long sleeve fleece shirt between the base & jacket. I like fleece cuz it breaths. North face jacket has pit zips. pic from last winter

I like the Showers Pass Transit jacket for commuting when it's cold (45F or below). Eye-grabbing (but not high-vis green) color, wide reflective stripes, nice collar that doesn't feel like cold nylon, good zipper, and the pit zips are useful to regulate body heat.


Underneath the jacket is where thermal regulation happens. IIRC, as the temperature drops, inside layers go from LS jersey, to heavy wool jersey or base layer plus lighter LS jersey, to base layer + heavy jersey, to base layer + jersey + fleece top. With appropriate headgear, gloves, and tights, that's taken me down to 7F -- the coldest I've commuted in.

I wear an Arc'Teryx jacket. It's very lightweight. It doesn't make me as hot as other jackets do.

Foxwear jacket for me. Custom fit and I'm comfortable.

Main thing I like is blocking the wind effectively. I have a Gore Phantom 2.0 which is windstopper soft shell.

A Parka.. big enough to layer up underneath..


no shortage of outdoor suppliers in Colorado, Kid...

Curious, what do you use for mid-layer?

Midlayer doesn't matter much, though perhaps I should do a better job at it. These days, it's a dress shirt which I wear for the rest of the day at work. But that's for convenience. It tends to be hot. The important thing for me is the under layer, and a merino wool t shirt is just fantastic. I paid $60 for a Smartwool shirt, which is damned expensive, but it has paid off in a big way. I only have to wash it every week or two, and it prevents my dress shirt from getting wet.

When it gets colder later this winter, I might have a wool sweater between my shirt and the jacket.

I'm thinking I may be better off riding to work in cycling clothes and changing at work. I did that this summer.

You should check out the winter cycling forum!

Layers, layers, layers. Three or four :-) For my so-called winter riding, the outer layer is a light cycling windbreaker. It's a great insulator! Keeps the cold out and the sweat in :-) Once you warm up, it can be removed. Mine is thin enough that I can twist/twirl it and tie it around my waist.

As I have been commuting daily for 22 miles all this fall, I find that my toes are excellent "wind socks". At any temps under 60F, a head wind can chill my toes! My toes are perfectly happy with a tailwind. I now have winter cycling shoes, one size too large and should be able to keep my feet from complaining.

Most winter days I wear a base layer, an insulating vest, and a windbreaker. I use a Patagonia Houdini jacket, which is very light but very wind resistant.

It’s important to keep your layers snug and fitted to yourself and each other so that every layer breathes properly and you don’t get clammy.

I stick with wool or synthetic insulation, and don’t use down because it’s less effective when wet and it doesn’t do well with repeated wash cycles.

I agree. A wicking t-shirt for base, long sleeve jersey or similar over that, and a wind breaker no matter how thin works for me to below freezing. Colder is just thicker layers. I haven't worn a jacket in years.

I've got a Shower's Pass, the Transit model jacket (click).

It's an excellent wind breaker, though fairly thick and heavy-duty. It's perfect for rain, not letting a drop in. Has full-length pit zips, a large rear vent, solid taped seams. Too warm for anything above 60*F or so, but with the right base layer and wicking-type under things, it's good enough down to 0*F (for me).

Allows me to have a single jacket for nearly all my cycling. I typically use a light windbreaker in warmer weather that isn't threatening to drizzle or rain.

It's about intensity vs windchill.

For a ride where I'm toodling along, I put on a heavy coat (read ski coat).

That's rare--normally I'm working hard. I could get by with a t-shirt and $10 Walmart windbreaker + fleece facemask.

My favorite at 20-35F is a baselayer, poly not tight is fine. Then cheap windbreaker (standup collar, not hood) + poly balaclava.

At 10F, I add fleece. In all cases it's bike tights down below and snow boots or bike shoes + neoprene overshoes.

Below 10, it's not very fun but you can layer up but likely won't hit a sustainable workload as your breath is short and you'll be moving slow--so the layers just slow the inevitable chill. Give it 30 min...

That said, with my layers I expect to be cold for the first five minutes.

I can do upper 20s with a longsleeve smartwool shirt and raincoat (~30 minute ride). If I am feeling pretty cold, or for mid 20s and below, add a short sleeve smartwool shirt below the longsleeve one. Mid 20s and below, pull out heavier gloves, also hat w/ earflaps instead of baseball hat. I just got this, looking forward to trying the facemask (my facemask is black, not camo) when it gets to the teens. Saw a bunch of facemasks on the trail today (38F), but they start appearing in the 40s. I save mine for when things get more dire...

Whatever jacket you like, long tail is key. Nothing worst wind whistling down to the small of your back.

Patagonia Nano Puff. Super light, Super warm... too warm above 35-40 for cycling. Compresses down to a very small package for when you don't need it on a ride home. I've stuffed it into a jersey pocket.

Patagonia Men's Nano Puff® Jacket

I picked up a Nashbar Derby soft shell jacket for just $20 a couple months ago, and it's been awesome so far. With only 2 layers underneath I can commute down into the 20's F. Unfortunately they're pretty much completely out of them now. Medium size Red is all they have left.

I don't have a winter jacket. A windbreaker over my regular clothes is enough. I'll be cold when I step out the door, but once I'm on the bike, my torso warms up just fine.

Similarly, I don't bother with warm pants. Whatever long pants I'm wearing around the house or at work, they're fine on the bike no matter how cold it is.

Warm gloves, warm cap under the helmet, and maybe booties over my shoes, these things are important, and progressively more so the colder it gets. A warm jacket, not so much.

I have been eyeballing that jacket and missed my chance. How does the jacket do with wind chill on the front? I am looking for a jacket with more wind protection on the front.

+1 for this jacket (I own two), which has removable sleeves and built-in short sleeves underneath. All you need is this jacket with no base layers for those rides that start at near freezing and warm up into the high 50's. The wind-stopping ability is incredible. I've done a 30 minute commute down to 5°F in it, though base layers are needed for warmth at those temps.

I'll speak from my own experience with it. It blocks the wind. I've experimented with layers, as the only complaint I have with it, is actually getting the sweat vapor to go someplace. It seems that if I do a wicking base layer, maybe a long sleeve merino wool jersey over it for longer spirited riding, and strip off the jacket immediately after I finish, I'm ok. For longer gravel rides at home, now that it's typically a high in the 20's at best, I use a wool/angora blend sweater over the wicking, and the vapor isn't awful, though it is there. Anything layered up heavier than that seems to result in a soaked back, etc.