softshell jackets
 

Does anyone out there have any experience with a softshell windbreaker that will work well for a morning ride that is somewhere between 25 to 40 degrees. It was 31 this morning and 60 this afternoon so I would like to get something that I can throw on over a baselayer of polypro or the like and keep the wind out and not be too hot. I know the softshells are really pricey and my Burly W/b jacket works pretty well over the Hot Chilis but its whole I'd like to throw on one thing and be done with it and just use a light windbreaker in the afternoon during the spring and fall mornings when its cold but not raining. REI had the headwinds pants last fall and I love them but I see they don't carry them or a jacket of the same stuff which would be perfect. I have lots of cold weather gear but I'm getting sick of running three layers and then having to pack them home in the afternoon. Guess I'm looking the impossible?

I use a wind-proof fleece vest around those temps.

I found a windproof, softshell vest by Black Diamond at Costco for $20. It works great for 35 to 50 degrees. Above that, and it's a little too warm. Below that, and I'd prefer something heavier (such as 1: my $30 softshell Black Diamond soft shell jacket from Costco; 2: my softshell Cloudveil Serendipity, very expensive ($130 on clearance), not as water resistant as the Black Diamond, but more breathable; 3: my $99 hardshell J and G Cyclewear waterproof jacket).

I use my J&G Hardshell in all temps from 0 F to ~55 F with with wool long johns in the lower end temps.

The costco softshell is great. Mine is getting bit worn out and I can't find an easy to get another one while in Spain.

The softshells are great but not as durable. I swithed to the Altura jacket instead. In the US an equivilent is the Endura. Very nice
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Al...et/5360044970/

bought this one from Performance Bike. Pretty good price online and if it sucks for biking I can use it just knocking about http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...0_20000_400070

I waited till i found a good deal from Bonktown, but I picked up a Cutter Cyclical eVent jacket for 60 bucks. I love it!

Do you want something more cycling specific in mind (i.e. tighter/form fitting, reflective accents, pouch in the rear, etc.)? If so those can be on the expensive side. I personally perfer something a loose fitting as I am always dressed in layers. Something cheap from TJ maxx or the clearance bin at an athletic store usually fits the bill.

For the conditions you describe I use a Gore Bike Wear Windstopper softshell jacket. It is tight fitting (assuming fit to your size), warm, and versatile (full frontal zipper for adjustment of cooling flow). I got it on sale at Nashbar for ~$50 and I'm happy with it.

I wanted something cheap and reliable so many of the softshell stuff is ridiculously expensive IMHO. I'm getting tired of having to take two different jackets to ride. One for the morning and one for the afternoon and having to layer enough to keep warm but then sweating like a pig half way to work in the morning so I thought hhmmmm I can get a softshell that will keep a bit of the fog or rain off in the morning. I hope the one I ordered from Performance fits the bill. Frappin REI has discontinued the Headwinds stuff. I got the pants last fall and I love them. If it gets really cold a baselayer under them works great to keep me warm otherwise at between 28 to 40 degrees they are perfect and a bit water resistant they really keep the wind off.

Showers Pass or J&G WP/B .

I wear my J&G wind jacket for all my morning commutes when the temps are below mid 40s, the only difference for temps being what I layer underneath. For the temps you are talking about, I usually only have a poly/wool blend, long sleeve base and a short sleeve poly shirt or jersey. On the way home if it's 50 or above, the jacket and sometimes the ls base gets stowed.

Ditto on the headwind pants...great stuff, it's a shame they discontinued them.

The best combination for me is a light vest and a light shell. Some combination of these two takes me from freezing to about 60°F, and they both pack light. From 30-40, I use both the vest and the jacket. From 40-50, I just use the shell. From 50-60 I use the vest, and above 60 I pack both and just use a t-shirt.

Last Friday is was 35 for the morning commute, and I rode home in short sleeves and shorts. I totally hear you about the frustration of different needs for the morning and evening commute. To make matters worse for me, most of my morning commute is downhill, which makes most of the evening commute uphill.

If it is expected to be dry (a crapshoot in Portland), I use my vest and my $20 Costco merino wool sweater instead of the shell, simply because the sweater packs better than the shell I use.

Recieved the performance jacket on Friday. I wore it around a bit yesterday in the rain and the water beads up very nicely. Didn't ride today.( back is flaring up again) Hope to try it sometime this week. Seemms like It may be a bit heavy for this time of year but of course here in the Pacific Northwest it could be 30 degrees agin in no time. http://go.bikeforums.net/?id=42X1295...0_20000_400070

for spring conditions like we have in the northwest, a nonlaminate, bicomponent knit softshell is what you might want to try. I'm not terribly familiar with the REI or performance product, but a softshell jacket at not a bad price comes from Canada's Mountain Equipment Co-Op. I believe it is called the MEC kinetec jacket and usually can be had on sale for about 80 bucks.

There are always a proliferation of this type of jacket at outdoor gear sites like mountain gear..... schoeller dryskin or dynamic pullovers or fullzips geared towards backcountry climbing, skiing. cloudveil makes quite a few bicompoenent knit shells, but at the pricey side of things.

Glued-Laminate (polartec powershields) or barrier 'softshells' (Gore windstopper) are too, too much for spring cycling.

A smooth shelled Epic or Pertex nylon often works as a wind/rain shell but do get a bit hot in the afternoons- you'll get much better temp/vent regulation with bicomponent knit softshell.

mec jacket