I live in an area that occasionally suffers from poor air quality. This week the air quality dramatically improved and the temperature came up above freezing. I was thrilled to get out and ride into work. The zipper on my jacket broke last week. 36 degrees is definitely a ride-able temperature, but not one that I want my jacket open in . Now i'm in the market for a new one.

I don't think I want a cycling specific jacket unless I can comfortably use it for other activities. But I do want a good jacket ... that isn't expensive. Any good suggestions out there?

I bought a Dunlop Hi Viz fleece jacket. Here in the UK, I paid £17 .... warm as it has fleece, high viz, good zips and 3 large pockets with zips

here's one on ebay.com, but I'm sure that you can get it cheaper:

Dunlop Hi Vis Working Fleece Jacket Mens Ensure Safety Work Coat All Sizes s 4XL | eBay

Favorite jacket I own is an Arc'teryx Accelero. I've worn it cycling, skiing, and hiking in much colder temps (with appropriate layers).

showers pass - rouge jacket. versatile, but have to catch it on sale. worth it though!

You're in Utah and suffer from poor air quality? I guess I always think of Utah as a sparsely populated desert area.

Anyhow, I'm sure you're relatively close to an outdoor store like REI or similar. There are lots of nice light-weight jackets with some windblock material on the front and breathable insulation everywhere else. These work great for about freezing on up to as much as 50 degrees for me. They also tend to look casual enough for day to day use.

Same Idea as # 2 , though I Got mine from Carhartt (heavy duty ) and La Crosse
lighter material but still a work not a bike-sport jacket .. US brands..


You could find someone to replace the zipper Too.. .

so you've come to a bike forum and specifically the road cycling sub-forum to ask for advice on a non-cycling specific jacket?

i think the sales associate at your nearest department store could likely help you man..

If he lives in the valley between the Uinta and the Wasatch mountains (so SLC area) then yes, they get some pretty good temperature inversions that trap air pollution in the valley. Still, what they consider bad wouldn't even budget the needle here in LA.

I personally prefer cycling specific outerwear because it tends to fit slimmer, flaps less in the wind and has longer arms and back (My arms are pretty long as it is, leaning forward exacerbates it.) If you think in terms of layers, you can probably find some nice hiking gear that will be suitable as well in terms of weight and breathability.

Well for many years I got by with a jacket made by Lou at Foxwear. He'll custom make it to your measurements for a good price.
Foxwear | Custom Sized Sports Outerwear | Made in Salmon, ID

I'm not sure wear you are but you can also find good deals at the Pearl Izumi store at the outlet mall in Park City.

I'm so glad I'm east of the Wasatch Front so while I deal with more snow I don't have to worry about the inversion.

The air in the SLC valley area is horrible. Natural temperature inversions trap all the pollution until it gets so bad you can't see the mountains 1/2 a mile away. Of course Utah is totally run by the realtors and the state is being greedily plundered now days. Pretty much all the politicians bend over for whomever flash the money at them and any thoughts to quality of life, restricting growth, protecting the wilderness, etc go out the door. It makes me sick to see what goes on here. Heck we are fighting the new California owners of Powder Mt for the water we've owned since the 1800s. Both culinary and secondary water bills are double now just from the litigation costs of these stealing modern day land barons. What has our country come to when the common people have to pay to keep those with money from stealing what we have legally owned for generations?!

They even tried to put a halt to people using wood stoves to heat while letting countless refineries and other factories continually dump more and more crap into the air. It's so bad in the Wood Cross/North Salt Lake area that you can taste the chemicals in the air as you drive through.

And I'm not some bleeding heart, tree hugging zealot. But you can't have a conscience and not be sick seeing what is being allowed to happen here.

Get a soft shell; it is a fine multi use jacket. Look around for a sale.

Huhza?
He specifically referenced an inexpensive jacket and you point him towards a custom shop?
A good price as compared to what btw?

I'd go with a Voler Jet wind shell in Hi-Viz. It's fairly inexpensive, durable, and packs to the size of an orange. Put whatever you want under it. I've never worn an insulated jacket or softshell that I liked: they all get wet on the inside and don't breathe well enough to get rid of it. Plus then you're stuck with that one temperature range. Buy a shell and layer under it to suit.

LOL, a custom shop where he'll make a jacket fitted like you want for under $100 that will last for years. So yeah, is that not a good price?

For a nice on and off-bike option, take a look at Giro's offerings.. Here's one link, and even better if you get their weekly coupons
Giro Men's Cycling Jackets: Average savings of 66% at Sierra Trading Post

That's actually what I had in mind when directing him to an outdoor store. Lots of hiking/climbing jackets have a good fit that can work well on the bike while still offering some windblock on the chest for those really cold days. The demands of climbing especially tend to favor close to skin insulation that is usually used as a mid-layer for even colder climates. Definitely don't go to the department store and buy some fleece lined London Fog crap that fits like a parka.

Good call on Giro's jackets. I love their stuff. I have a thin wool base-layer that goes with me on every ride below 60 degrees. (I live in Texas. )

Hiking generally means walking up hill in the mountains where it's windy. Exactly the same kind of jacket is going to work for both activities. Main difference is the pockets. Personally, I don't like stuff weighing my back down, so hiking and climbing jackets work for me. Plus I already owned them, and there was no reason to go out and spend several hundred dollars to buy something I already had.

All that matters is the real price, and that particular custom shop is cheaper than many of the premade jackets made with the same material. That's how it is, so it's a good suggestion.

Down to 35 degrees: Sportful Bodyfit long sleeve winter jersey (~$100) + LG Course vest (~$95): race-fit, surprisingly warm and comfortable
20-35 degrees: polypro base + LG Boreal jacket (on sale right now for $90) - also race fit, this is the newer (2015+) version of this jacket, it's terrific for the money.
Below 20 degrees: polypro base + Gore Fusion Tool jacket ($200 but worth every penny). I'm mainly fatbiking at this temperature. I can go down to about -5 with this jacket and two base layers, it's very warm. Below that I'm likely not riding.
Cold rain: Gore Path jacket ($200, often on sale): a tiny bit roomier cut for baselayers but still not flappy. Great for commuting. I use it for running in the rain as well.

Overall, Gore jackets are the best, in my experience. Extremely well made, well designed and very durable. Gore jackets are expensive at full retail but they're often on sale and they last for years.

I've found that non-cycling specific jackets don't really work that well. The arms are too short for reaching forward and the backs ride up. They can work in a pinch but if you ride a lot, a good jacket is invaluable.

And exactly why I went with them in the first place.