well the temps are staring to drop here, the mornings are feeling a little chilly. right now i get by with under armor type, long sleeve shirts under my t-shirt. but it wont be long until i'm gonna need a little more warmth. i was thinking of buying the SOMA wind / rain shell, but i'm worried that it may not breathe well enough for everyday use. i'll probably still buy it for the cold, wet mornings. anybody got suggestions for a good, reasonably priced, daily commuting jacket?

I have a light Descente full zip fleece jersey that I really like. It stays warm even when totally soaked and is light enough to dry while I'm working.

Marmot DriClime Windshirt.

9 ounces.

REI Element ultralight rain/wind jacket.

I was wearing it when I went over my bars last week, and there's nary a rip to be seen on it. It's a good fall jacket.

My wife loves her jacket from J&G. I'm planning to pick one up for myself as well.

https://www.bicycleclothing.com/Water...n-Jackets.html

My sister bought me an Arc'Teryx Velox jacket that is the bomb. And I had a North Face jacket I bought on close out from REI last year. They both are made of a breathable neoprene like fabric. I much prefer it to fleece, it does not have fleece's magnetic draw to pet hair.

--A

I don't wear a jacket until it's well below 40, but when I do I opt for a softshell. It breathes a great deal better than a rain jacket and still fends off the muck pretty effeciently.

Interesting that they sell a "waterproof" and a "waterproof/breathable" jacket.

I have the former and "waterproof" it ain't. It doesn't breathe either but I guess they don't claim that it does.

+1

I use a Pearl Izumi Vagabond, and layer it with a micro fleece if required. I have not had to use both yet. It's light, packable, and is more streetable than most cycling jackets when off bike.




In the winter I'll probaly break out my Hiking TNF Ama Dablam Gore XRC

You need to get yourself a jacket from Assos. Commute in style!

This guy is like, the zoolander of commuting.

I know - I know -
I just love these folks, but check out STP for deals...
Did I tell you the story about my dog eating my Goretex?....
Anyways....
This jacket looks BAD-A$$

And this Pearl Izumi one at REI-outlet seems pretty "cool".



That's the word from the bargain-hunter....
I reality I just wear my old beat-up one size too large PI Zephyr jacket with a sweater or appropriate layer underneath...And when the weather gets nasty I break out the Arc Tery'x Theta AR bombproof-ness!

Thats a lot of money for a jacket that breaths half as well as a jacket thats half its price

I have an arc'teryx theta AR and sigma SV and I would NEVER wear either one when riding hard. They just don't vent well enough.

ARG You son of a b***h, that castelli carbon jacket is bad ass... must... resist... credit..card.... arg....

PitZIPS, Baby...I usually stick my arms out as radiators and let the sleeves flap behind me...I swear by pitzips in the marginal seasons!!!
Although - I'm VERY hesitant to ride FAST wearing my ArcT', in case of wipe-out.
I generally use it fall/winter backpacking more often.

I'd worry about the stiff goretex fabric (I have the original version) in the theta AR but I've wiped out in the sigma sv before. That thing is bomb proof, you can't even see the abrasion.

That castelli carbon advertises that it absorbs static electricity !!!!!
If you aborb enough you can power your hid light...

Damn!
- now I'm jacket-geeking...
here's a cheap one that should fit your needs on sale at Nashbar

or this Gore jacket

Stop me before I post again!!!

It Breathes well enough for me.

I like my TNF stuff, it works, they have provide me exceptional warranty service, and I trust their products knowing they stand behind it. Cost be damned....





This has been a wicked outdoor combo. I slogged a few trails and backcountry camped in Jasper this year with it and it worked well.

Are the better cycling Jackets? For sure there is, however this is not a cycling jacket, but it'll do the job when required.

https://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...SHP_CYCLING_LD

they used to sell it in neon lime which is what I have... see if you can find it in that, doubles as a hi-vis jacket very nicely. I also use it as an outer layer during the winter.

Send it back. They have excellent customer service. A shipment they sent to me in Latvia was lost and they sent a replacement no questions asked. They stand by their products.

are you guys spending the fall season in the arctic or something?

all those jackets that are waterproof/breathable this or that are particularily ill suited for bicycling. you need way more breathable and way less water resistance for comfortable bike gear.

the Assos' flash jackets have fauxleather shoulder and chest panels, they are right out of Hans-und -Franz' S&M Saturday Night Live skits- they are so over the top, so Euro....

I recommend the Pearl Izumi Optic jackets, the Patagonia Houdinis and Dragonflys,

and nonlaminate softshells, although those are often too much in the moderate fall weather. these are good for snow and cold, and just a bit warm otherwise, in my opinion. the Marmot Driclime would be an excellent, breathable choice. its so comfortable you could wear all by itself or layered up.

Personally, i usually just put on a brightly colored Pendelton wool shirt, maybe a woolie underneath, and call it good.

a densly woven wool sweater is remarkably comfortable for riding.

Heres an interesting one, a softshell jacket made with event. I've never seen it, but it was bound to happen eventually.

https://www.montane.co.uk/productdeta...uctid=73&rid=8

Events a WB, so the misnomer 'softshell' doesnt apply in the traditional definition of softshells as a non waterproof, highly breathable fabric. mountain hardware is pimping WB 'softshells' too, and the Gore windstopper stuff is darn near waterproof already!

go non waterproof, non laminate as much as possible for more comfortable bicycling. leave those WB parkas at home.

The original gore windstopper IS waterproof. The only difference between windstopper and goretex was the fact that windstopper was the pure teflon bonded to a light nylon or polyester outer layer without sealing the seams while goretex was teflon bonded to a heavier outer layer and then protected by either a hanging mesh layer or by another layer bonded to the inside and then seamsealed. Then goretex garments had to pass their testing while windstopper didn't.