ok I have a gift card for Performance bike that I got as a gift. I thought I might use it to get a jacket for colder temps.

My question is arm pit vents vs back vents? Which is better? which allows for more temp control? Should I try for a jacket with both?

I would need the jacket mostly for the morning commute and maybe some afternoons. I live in Tucson so it rarely gets much below freezing, and even rarer still that it stays that cold all day.

Below are 3 jackets I saw at my local Performance store and I am considering, just not sure which would be best.
https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...estore_ID=1989

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...estore_ID=1989

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=24462&subcategory_ID=1130

Pit vents- definitely. That's where your heat is being generated from.
Reason why most decent shells have them; to retain or disburse heat.

I had some performance bux as well and went with this one:

https://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=1130

I've worn this jacket down to 15* and had no complaints. The vent is on the back, but the black fabric on the back of the arms is also breathable. This is a superb outer garment for riding.

Performance sells this craft jacket which makes at least an effort toward pit and back venting. I have been wearing one since fall, it is a good winter jacket for my neighborhood, wear it in the 40sF over a t-shirt, 30s w/ long-sleeve shirt, 20s w/ 2 shirts. The venting isn't nearly as good as my burley jacket, but it is vented better than any comparably GLOWING jacket that I've been able to find. The lack of pockets is grating from time to time. But again, it's easy to see.

I've got the Performance Illuminte Commuter jacket, and it's amazingly warm and versatile except for the sleeves. They need to be vented, but aren't, both the upper back and underarms have vents that allow for plenty of air to flow in those areas. Removable sleeves seem like a good idea to me, but I can't tell you how those work. Most of the jackets with removable sleeves have the sleeves connected, and that would mean removing a backpack to remove the sleeves if you use a backpack like I do.

I don't know about back vents, but I would imagine they wouldn't be that effective on a bike since you'll be leaning over a bit and likely stretching the material against your back, and the vents will be shielded from the wind by your body.

The back vent on my burley was amazing, it just opened up like a big exhaust pipe. I think the air in came through my neck and just blasted out the back. The burley coat was baggy, which is not the way a lot of bike coats are designed.

Some winter jackets have zippers.. I suggest one with zipper's is needed. When it's really cold, you'll only want the zip half open.. I have grown to like layering better. Seems such has better wicking properties.. With a base layer such as UnderArmour, you can enjoy less bulk and still be warm.. But, such layering will probably only work should the temperature be above 30..

Check out the Pearl Izumi Zephrr and Pearl Izumi Vagabond II great breathing material in temps of 43 - 55 deg. and a SS jersey after about 15-20 min. your just the right temp and it hold it in but breaths colder weather us a LS jersey under or other layer.

the venerated and difficult to improve upon classic cycling jacket archetype has both large pit zips AND a full width back vent.

but for versatility, a water resistant jacket with zip off sleeves gives one rider the most use out of a cycling shell.

+1 on both counts

Another vote for the PI Vagabond. It has back vents and you can unzip in the front to get air moving. When you get hot, you can unzip the sleeves and you have a vest.

I use a base layer, a jersey, arm warmers, and the Vagabond. That way, I can slowly remove or add pieces.

However, the Vagabond is not a jacket that will stand up to frequent washings. I had one for about 2 years and the stitching started to come out in 3 different places and the interior mesh liner came unattached at one point. (btw - I'm not the person who reviewed the jacket on Performance.com, so there are at least 2 of us who have had this problem).

Does anyone else know of a good, REALLY lightweight jacket like the Vagabond that also has venting and removable sleeves? I checked out a Gore Jacket with removable sleeves, but it was really heavy, almost like a wetsuit, compared to the Vagabond, which is like a really thin windbreaker.

I ended up with a Canari convertible. I don't know what "connected sleeves" are because these zip off independently. I can vent my pits by opening the zippers part way, but that's not as effective as a real pit vent. The jacket also has a full back vent. Only problem is my lower back (below the vent) still gets damp because the jacket has a large rear pocket which adds a couple layers of fabric, there.

I didn't start out looking for a convertible jacket/vest but now that I have it I love the versatility.

I also have the PI Vagabond in screaming yellow. Got it for my birthday in December (from REI) and so far it fits the bill perfectly for our wisconsin winter. In my opinion though the base layers are way more important that the outer layer.

https://www.pearlizumi.com/product.ph...uct_id=1319745

Thanks for all the information. It is helpful. Going to the local performance store tonight after work to try on what ever they have.

I've actually got the first one you linked - the Transformer - and I like it pretty well.
I use it with a base layer and a jersey underneath and I stay pretty warm (but not too warm) on those 30-40 degree Tucson mornings.

Never tried anything else so I can't compare very well, but there you go.

Thanks. It is very helpful for someone in Tucson to report on a product that I am considering by riding with it in the exact same conditions and location that I would use it in.

"Connected sleeves" are like this, where they have a yoke on the back to connect the two sleeves. I guess that's to make it harder to loose one of the sleeves, but it looks like you'd have to take off a backpack (and probably the jacket) to get them both off.