Rain Jackets
 

I'm sure this has been discussed before (what hasn't been?!), but what rain jacket(s) do you use and do you like them? I'm going to start commuting in the next couple of weeks, and I'd like something other than the cheapo plastic velcro type I picked up at Performance a couple of years ago...

Thanks for your input.

I've been looking for a really light weight jacket for commuting or for when I'm on a long ride and the skies decide to fall. For whatever reason I'm unable to find what I want on nashbar or performance. I don't really want something that is yellow or orange.

Well bryan on this thread http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=280033 there are rain capes in navy blue ....

I use a Novara jacket. Its water resistant but breatheable. Has a mesh upper back area and underarms. My backpack covers the back part. Its a lightweight jacket and won't keep you dry in a downpour but works well for light rain/mist. Its also a nice bright orange :)

Canondale and Gore make blue rain jackets...

REI doesn't seem to have it on thier website...

I really like my burley rockpoint jacket. I got it cheap 'NOS' off ebay. I guess they're all collector's items now that Burley is back to trailers only.

I like the rain jacket I got from J&G http://www.bicycleclothing.com/
Comfotable, waterproof, visable, and has large pit zips.
For me, it is just about perfect.

I have a Burley raincoat as well. It's been getting good use this time of year in the PNW. Too bad the company stopped making them; I think they sold that part of the company to focus on trailers though, and the coats are still being made under a different manufacturer's name.

I have the Performance Transformer jacket http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=1130 . I've used it in the rain a number of times and like most breathable materials water will penetrate it after a few minutes of rain but not enough to get you soaked. What I really like about this jacket is how I can remove the arms and still wear it as a vest for those days when its humid and still drizzling a little bit. I tend to stay away from the one piece jackets cuz it'll keep me dry from the rain but gets me soaked from my sweat.

Cool thing about the burley is that it is feather-light and *extremely* well ventilated. I think they bill it as breathable fabric, but it's mostly not, the pitzips and back flap carry all that load, which is good because it never soaks through.

I went to Value Village the other day and found a very good condition Helly Hanson packable rain jacket. It does not appear to have a breathable membrane, but it was definitely worth 3.99. I will probably use it once it warms up a bit. I already have a heavier weight snowboarding type breathable jacket that I am using now on the colder days. Due to that, I passed up a few waterproof breathable jackets from Columbia and Sterns.
I also found rain pants: Sierra Design with membrane in new condition and some old eddie bauers with gore tex. Those were pretty spendy at 4.99 each : - )

link to value village locations - http://www.valuevillage.com/whoweare/us/

I currently am using a Musto jacket, bright yellow (as someone stole my red one) it has relector stips built in and will keep you dry in a downpour....

I use a Salsa Cycles jacket made of clear PVC vinyl w/velcro and breathable mesh. I had to use it once on the way home and it was okay. It got the job done and was comfortable. Kept me from being a soaken mess but I would like to find some "chaps" to match the jacket and keep my pants from getting soaked, too. I carry it in my messenger bag at all times while commuting (and in my saddle bag for club tours), rolled up tightly to save space. It is very nice to have and seems well made but at $25 at the LBS it was not cheap. I use the X-large size since my arms are so long and I want to get the proper "coverage".

I got the Descente Velom, and this thing is light, as in 2.5 ounce light. It packs into a size less than half a waterbottle (about 250mL?)

http://descenteathletic.com/cms/uploads/image_2848.jpg

also comes in Black
http://descenteathletic.com/cms/uploads/image_2852.jpg

for those who likes yellow and orange, yes, it does come in those color for extra visibility.

Viking Tempest II. Fully wind and waterproof, with chest and pit zips. All of the zippers are either covered by a flap, or are waterproof. Available in about 5 different colours. A great deal at $60 CDN!

I picked up a bright yellow "breathable" rain jacket from LandsEnd overstocks last year. It works much better than the vinyl cheapy job I was using before. I still don't use it much unless the weather is cool as I sweat too much without the air flow. The main reason I use a rain jacket is to stay warm.
Craig

Helly Hanson, breathable with pit zips, and extra long sleeves

In weather below 50 degrees I wear the Gill Freedom jacket:

http://www.gillbike.com/garment.php?cat=1&id=5

Above 50 degrees I wear a Canari Eclipse jacket:

http://www.rei.com/product/713690

The jacket I really wanted for 50 degrees plus was the Showerspass Elite 2.0 (see it at www.showerspass.com) but had a hard time finding it in an XL... and it costs $210.

While this may sound trivial, what's the advantage of a rain jacket? I typically wear bike gear whenever I ride and getting it wet isn't a big deal, so I never saw any compelling reason to get the jacket.

Do people ride in clothes and use the rain jacket to keep the clothes dry? Is there a risk of getting sick when riding in the rain? Does a rain jacket keep you warmer when riding in cold rain?

Thanks in advance

Paul

Rainshield O2 Cycling Rain Jacket

Wind & waterproof along with being very "breathable". Best of all it packs down to about the size of a clenched fist in its own carry pouch.

yes, I prefer to be dry in the rain. At 34-35 degrees, rain, and wind and a bike at 15-25 miles per hour it really is worth it to be dry. It really does not make for a good time to be wet for a ride of 30 minutes to 2 hours in that kind of weather. This may sound trivial... but if you're not concerned about getting wet why do you wear bike gear in the first place? Why not just go out there in your bike shoes and bike shorts... your skin will dry much faster than bike gear anyway.

1) Sometimes.
2) I don't believe that.
3) Depending on the jacket, yes.

It just rains way too much in my neck of the woods not to have one.

Smurfy, you should take a look at the wallbike.com offering. It's something like a pair of leggins, or something. Get one, try it, and pm me if I should get one too.

A billion Chinese can't be wrong
 

Rain capes for bicyclists include a clear visor and a clip to attach to a brake cable or front basket. Rain capes are effective, inexpensive, convenient, and inexpensive. A billion Chinese can't be wrong! Image taken in Shanghai.

Colorado Cyclist has a good deal on the Shower Pass Double Century jacket. This is nice piece that is water proof, and breathes pretty good depending on the situation. It has pit zips and a vented back that really helps to evacuate body perspiration, which can get you just as wet on the inside. It is very packable and packs smaller than a water bottle. I bought it for road cycling because it packs very small.

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/1010/dblcenturyiv3.jpg

I have a few other rain jackets that I wear while cycling, but this is one of my favs.



Paul, I like to be dry but I know what you are saying as well. One time at 20 Km into our 100 km club ride, clouds rolled in that made for a totally drenching ride for the remainder of the 80 kms. I was wearing a soft shell jacket that is water resistant, but not water proof. I thought I was dry in the upper body until I got home and tried pulling the jacket of. It must have weight 5 lbs water logged :lol: I was soaked, however I didn't know I was as the jacket kept me warm much like a wet suit. I'm sure I would have been colder if I was just in a cycling jersey.

So I would say a rain jacket does keep you warmer, but having a jacket like I was wearing that day also can keep you warm, even though you are wet.

Nice, thanks. I just found a place with a Burley Rockpoint in my size.

Cheers