I have one (14$ performace) but I need something breathable as it's gross to stew in your own sweat. ANy opinions on the Burley Rock Point...don't know for shipping but $109 seems like a good deal? or am I better off waiting and spending 160-200$. I eventually have to do something. Regular job is 42+ miles RT so I am going to sweat and I wipe off and change but no shower option at work.

there's no such thing as breathable. when it rains you get wet. either from the rain itself or sweat. i speak the truth.

At least something with vents would help no? Somebody is willing to pay the money for material they claim lets sweat out (water vapor smaller than rain water ) and keeping water out or am I wrong? I could be wrong but gortex and stuff seems big $$$. Must be a reason? Or is it just blind consumerism?

I figure if I am going to sweat on the inside I might as well ride without one I was thinking about one of those fancy jackets that cost a couple bills sounds like a nice x-mas present to me

Brunop speaks the gospel! You either sweat from not breathing and the moisture outside or you get drenched from the rain. Yet, even though I know this...I still pack my REI rain jacket. It is like a security blanket to me cause due to the darkness of rain, I like having my bright yellow rain jacket on as an added reflector to cars.

With that said...if I know it is going to rain for sure, I might bring a long sleeve underarmor shirt to keep from sweating so bad on my bare arms.

Chris

Although you'll still get wet from sweat, the REI Elements series of ultralight jackets are comfy and reasonably wind-resistant. They don't come in good reflective colours, though, so get a safety vest for over top.

Go check out the Rainshield O2 jackets. No jacket is super breathable, but these are as close as I've seen. Plus they cost about $30 which doesn't have a high bling factor but they're functional, comfortable, and will keep you reasonably dry and warm. I got mine at the LBS but have seen them at REI before.

Several long distance riders recommended them: https://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2006/0...bad-times.html

blind consumerism dude. you hit da nail on da head!

I have one of those, got on ebay <$70 (exact price escapes me). I've worn it through one PNW (WET) winter, worked great. All I wore under it was a powerdry fleece shirt (long or short sleeves). Kept all vents maxed out open except the (few) days it was in the 20s or below. When I got into work, I had wet spots around my neck and armpits, probably sweat, but could have been rain from openings/vents. No real way to bike in dry, as everyone has already said. But I do like that raincoat. Not to say I wasn't thrilled to hang it up for the season in February-ish...

I don't agree with that. There is a reason militaries around the world use it. I don't think I use or have anything Goretex but I wouldn't call it bind consumerism. I also don't think it works well below 5 degrees F though.

Live in a place where the rain is warm - it is easier... We don't need no stinking rain jackets!

I have wore a rain jacket twice, then took it out of the bike. It was to hot and to much weight. So now I just ride with out one.

GoreTex works. Go out and work 10 hours in slushie snow with a steady rain coming down in generic water resistant clothes, then do it the next day in GoreTex. You'll understand why there's a premium and why it's so willingly paid by those who need it. You sweat as much as your body needs to keep it cool, rain is not as considerate and will gladly make you hypothermic.

Edit: That said, if it's warm and rainy, don't waste your time with a jacket and enjoy the ride.

TWO WORDS

ALPENFLAGE PONCHO

Showerspass elite is most breathable you can get.
I can ride an hour to work and arrive no sweatier than on a summer day.
If its warm and raining, well then your gonna sweat
Cool and raining and it works just fine.

Anyone who says there is no such thing as breathable is someone who got burned with $300 gortex crap.

I have a vented waterproof jacket from bicycleclothing.com - I bought it last fall, wore it in the rain in the cold fall and winter, and as a windbreaker layer all winter. I love it. $99
https://www.bicycleclothing.com/Water...n-Jackets.html

In the summer I just get wet and love it. I need the jacket for when it's < 50*F and raining.

BTW if you are thinking of goretex, search around the forums. There's a fabric on the market by another manufacturer (which I can't remember) that is said to outperform goretex by a wide margin. Apparently Gore's licensing agreement stipulates that if you buy any fabric that competes with Goretex, they won't sell you Goretex anymore. Since the public only knows the word "Goretex" very few clothing manufacturers will take the chance of switching to another fabric even if it is better, because nobody will buy it.

https://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/FAQ_Rainwear.htm

The site is a year or two old now so not totally up to date, but has a good accounting of goretex and how its really not as breathable as they claim, which any cyclist who rode uphill in the rain will attest to.

Most waterproof breathable durable material is still eVent.
Most waterproof beathable non durable is propore .
Most breathable water resistant was schoeller dryskin. That may have changed since i last researched it a year ago.

Every year softshell technology improves and unless your cycling for hours in pouring rain, its probably the better choice. Long duration cycling in pouring rain id still go for an eVent material jacket with pit zips.

My best recomendation is start with a marmot driclime windshirt, with proper layering underneath.
If you still get wet, move up to a schoeller dryskin softshell with proper layering underneath.
If you still get wet move up to a showerspass elite rainjacket with proper layering underneath.
If you still get wet, move to a dryer location or buy a car.

I had this same dillema last year.

Used to use rain pants and jackets. Breathable promises were all empty promises. All I really wanted was something that vents.

I found it when my father in law's friend sent me the Carradice rain cape. Oh it's PCV and doesn't breathe, but it's a cape! Air goes under: constant air flow. In cold times I still use the over booties. In not so cold times I use sandals and shorts, so don't care.

Goretex and similar materials such as eVent do indeed work, that's not even an issue for anyone who has done the research and properly tried the products. What's more, Goretex Packlite and XCR work even better (up to 25%) than regular Goretex. One of the major misconceptions about Goretex and similar materials is that you can put it on over your normal, everyday clothing and then exercise in the rain and not get wet. If you are riding a bike you are exercising and you are going to perspire. As Goretex is also windproof there will be no convection to aide in the evaporation of the moisture produced by your body, and if you are wearing your average everyday cotton shirt you will get soaked and come home and say "Goretex is a rip-off."

Before you even put on the Goretex, put on an athletic shirt specifically made to wick away moisture made from polymide, polyester or polypropaline. If that is not warm enough continue with a layer of fleece or 100% wool. Do not put any thing on your upper body made of cotton as this does nothing but absorb moisture and hold it. Finally put the Goretex or eVent shell on last. By opening pitzips or regulating the zipper (depending on the rain) you can even further ventilate your body. Goretex and similar materials transmit water vapor, so you need to have materials on your body that will wick away the moisture and convert it into a vapor so that Goretex can do its job.

Again, if you are wearing a cotton shirt under your Goretex shell you are going to get wet and stay wet.

I ride year-round day in and day out in a big city where it rains a lot in the winter and I wear Goretex shoes, pants/trousers, shell and gloves. I do not get wet. Do I perspire? Yes, but with proper regulation of layers it is quickly wicked off of my body and transmitted out through the shell as vapor.

Mountaineers the world over have been perfecting the system of clothing materials, layers, and waterproof breathable shells. They leave their cotton at home.

I encourage everyone to research this subject for themselves and then go out for a ride in the rain with different sorts of gear to compare results.

I'm with Jarery on his analysis.

in addition to Schoeller or others bicomponent weave softshells, some of the new microweave polyester weave softshells, ( seen in jackets like the Patagonia Dragonfly and Pearl Izumi Optic) packs up significantly smaller than a schoeller softshell and performs at about the same level of breathability with better drying characteristics. not as warm or comfy next to skin, by perform well as a shell with appropriate layers underneath.

the best raincoat strategy is to wear it as little as possible. and you'll be more comfortable in the long run.

A water molecule is the same size regardless of it's state.

I've heard this recommendation before. Seems the only workable rain coat for cycling. One question. How do you prevent the wind from catching the hem and blowing the whole thing over your head?


BTW, I do use a so called breathable rain coat in the winter. I bought it because it was bright yellow and does give some wind protection. I don't zip the front up if it isn't below 20 degrees F. Even at 10 degrees, the inside surface of the coat is wet after my 5 mile commute.

The reason I got the cycling specific cape is because it has loops for your hands and a tie string at the back. Neither the front will lift up nor the rear will flap around. I imagine any drug store cape would work if you sat on it in the back and srunched it up under your palms.

This means, however, your freedom of motion is reduced when it comes to your hands. You can probably imagine the cape makes hand signalling not possible, so I use my head to signal when it rains .

The cape sits over your handle bar and may block any handle bar lights. I find this to be fairly easy to adjust though, i.e. put the cape over the light; or install the light lower, i.e. above the wheel. The rear of the cape will probably block any seat post mounted lights, so best to put them behind the rear rack.

Impressive commute. I had one like that for a month last summer. That far in rain and I would get the best **** raingear I could afford. Even so and with fenders one can still get damp/wet. In the words of Lon Haldeman, an early ultrarider, "It is better to be wet and warm than wet and cold." Decide how much comfort you can afford. Our club was briefly offered a discount on the Showerspass line of gear last year.

I have a cheap cycling vinyl rain jacket with vents I use for cold wet rides. It makes me much warmer than I would be otherwise so I have to remove a layer. Once the temp get above 60F I find I stew in a rain jacket so I just get wet. It works quite well for me and is much less expensive than a "breathable" jacket. I actually find it nice to ride in a warm rain.

Craig