I am hoping to get opinions on what most comfortable (and warmest) cycling jacket is for the winter. I have a few lighter Assos and Rapha jackets already and was looking at something warmer like the Assos Bonka 6 Cento Black but the $530 price tag makes me hesitate.

Define "winter" So. Cal winter or northern Minn winter?

In the warmest jacket you will be uncomfortable- hot and sweaty, so the question doesn't work.

For my 'winter', the best jacket is usually a wind vest, occasionally something with sleeves.

Dress for how you will feel 20 minutes into the ride. Instead of a heavy jacket, choose 2 or 3 (or 4), light, breathable layers under a wind-breaking but breathable shell. That way you can adjust on the fly to meet conditions as they change. If you sweat you will freeze. If you don't ride with a rack or bag (front or rear) a small bungee or strap will keep rolled up layers secured under your saddle or under your top-tube. I also layer my gloves and socks.

With the right base layer a mid warmth jacket is your best bet. Hands, feet, neck and ears are the most sensitive areas not your torso.

Also, if you keep your house chilly, you might consider taking a quick warm shower to raise your core temperature before hitting the road. I wish I'd thought of that back when I was starting my bike commute at 4:20 in the morning on days when it was under 20 degrees F, especially since I rode downhill for first 5 minutes of the commute.

I agree in the the context of cycling, which goes against much conventional wisdom of core first.

Really any extremities exposed to wind is going to loose heat fast. Your core tends to stay warm due to the significant cardio.

Add an extra layer (or two) under your current jacket. A regular jersey is fine.

#thrifty

Get the Smartwool 250 long sleeve base layer. I have both the 150 and 250 and bought them 50% off.

1) riding intensity level?
2) temperature range?

———

I ride semi-hard. There are definitely faster riders than me.

I’m usually wearing merino base layers.

35-55F I’m perfectly happy with my Surly med/hvy merino jacket on top of a light base. 20-35F and I’ll be using a thicker base.

I’ve got a Bontrager RXL 180 jacket which I don’t use if it’s over 25F outside, even with the sleeves zipped off (unless I’m dog-tired and plan on going no faster than 12mph). It’s AOK with just one light baselayer down to -5F unless I’m leaving early enough for work to ride really slow. A thick base layer will keep me toasty down to -20 just fine. I’m curious about colder temps, but that’s as low as it gets here.

Assos or stay inside. And whatever jacket you buy, it *MUST* be worn over bibs, with clipless pedals and deep section carbon rims. (Yes, with bladed straight pull spokes, and disc brakes... duhhhh!!!)

I don't have any other true winter cycling jackets to compare to but I just picked up the Assos Mille GT winter jacket and have been quite impressed on how warm it is. Not as pricey as the one you posted but good enough for me. If I needed something warmer than this I just wouldn't want to go out cycling.

I can recommend Icebreaker brand - GT Merino lined softshell type jacket. I wouldn't call it a winter jacket, but it's very good - well-made, keeps me warm without betting overheated. I don't cycle during what I consider truly "winter" weather here in New England, so IDK re: actual water/snow-proof stuff for riders.

A wool, non-caped shirt-jac or hunting shirt. Add a wind-proof vest on the coldest days (or always, in climates that are colder than Northern VA - Use your own judgement). The best kind of vest would be wind-proof only on the front and mesh everywhere else.

Where will you be riding, and over which temperature ranges? Since you already have cycling jackets, you understand the concept of layering. My "winter" outer layer on my coldest rides is a Hincapie team Wind-Tex jacket that I purchased about a decade ago. It's not heavy, but it definitely stops wind and breathes on its back. The fabric is akin to Gore fabric, in that liquid water will not penetrate it.

But it's too warm to wear above 35 degrees F, it simply cooks you after 30 minutes. I wear it over a wicking tech base layer and a thin wool sweater - down to about zero degrees F. Beneath that, the middle layer must be thicker wool. Also, beneath zero F, it's the extremities that are hard to keep warm much over an hour's ride or so.

https://www.eddiebauer.com/p/3888863..._-10079-_-null

$135 and designed for mountain activities so you will be plenty warm on a bike. Enjoy the overkill.

What conditions do you ride in?

I’m riding in the frigid winter temperatures of Southern California. It gets down to 30 some mornings. Lol. But seriously yea for us, 30 is nuts.

what base layers are you wearing? like which brands work the best for you?

Just wear a baselayer and any windstop light jacket over your jersey and call it good. I would be more concerned with fingers, ears, and toes as those are what I insulated to feel warm and comfortable.

Smartwool 150 or 250

Wool tank top & synthetic wool padded jhorts. That's just a suggestion for South California riding

Living in SoCal

tank top? lol. it gets down to 40 degrees some mornings.

It's wool, you'll manage.
LOL, 40 degrees. The horror!

Seriously, though. Get something thin, well-ventilated, and big enough for you to layer underneath. With a warmish gilet/waistcoat/vest/tanktop (or whatever you want to call it) on, you'll be fine.
Get some windproof gloves too for those mornings.

Actually, I have a soft shell jacket "Novara" from REI that is quite good for utility riding down to 30s-40 or so.

I don't use it for road rides because it is too bulky to carry if it warms up, but for shorter rides in cool & light rain it works great-

has pockets, breathes well, but blocks the wind, and is OK up to 60s.