Jacket recommendations
 

The search function isnt working for me so apologies since I know this must have been posted a couple times.

I'm looking for a good windproof and and packable jacket that will keep me warm from 35-55ish degree weather (waterproof would be a bonus but not necessary). My budget is anywhere up to $200 although id prefer to stay between $80-$150.

Thanks in advance

I have a Pearl Izumi Zephhr (bright yellow) that I really like. It packs down to almost nothing and provides good wind breakage/moisture resistance across a wide temp range, depending on your base layers. They sell for less than $75--probably closer to $50 on Ebay. I'm thinking about getting one in another color for XC skiing. I don't want to head out into the woods in "don't flatten me, dude" yellow.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Pro...37&cdf=Recs_MB

Limited sizes and other jackets too>

i second this. just got mine (the yellow one that's $5 more expensive) & it was pretty warm when i rode in 35 degree weather on monday morning with only a baselayer, jersey, and pullover inside. get the yellow ones for safety consideration. one other thing is that waterproof is a subjective term, but if you are willing to try, get the endura jackets they have at pbk. personally, i refuse to bike in rainy 40F weather as it gets freezing after an hour.

edit: waterproof is high subjective & those jackets are highly finicky. you can't wash them too many times and you have to keep them clean or else the clogged pores will trap sweat (the good thing is that your sweat won't cool your temperature as much as cold rainwater does).

You must be the guys flapping in the breeze on my rides. ;)

All of my cycling clothing is resistant to nuclear attack - to a degree.

I'm still looking for a good one, but in the mean time I can offer what to avoid: the Canari Razor Convertible Jacket, it cuts wind and keeps you warm, but the sleeves and torso region are so baggy, when riding the sleeves were flapping so much, it was like wind beneath my wings.


http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=128160

For a packable waterproof jacket, my favorite is: The Montane Velocity DT Jacket.. It stuff down to about the size of a big orange.. It is cycling specific.. Hard to find in the States, bought mine from UK seller...

http://www.montane.co.uk/products/me...2.0-jacket/246

For your conditions you have lots of cheap choices, as previously pointed out. I have a whole bunch of jackets, cheap to dear. On the former end, see what Nashbar has. I got a nice GBW Function II Winstopper for $110 this fall (2007-08 model) with zip off sleeves, which is to say you can get a bit of pit-opening without removing the sleeves. I love it. They subsequently dropped the price to $84. Super bang for buck shell.

I also got a Bellwether putatively waterproof shell. I paid $90ish. Pitzips (conventional opening from mid-upper arm to lower chest) and back vent. Excellent bang for buck.

Old PI Zepphr windproof and water resistant with removable sleeves (again giving you some pit-zipping venting) and back vent. Somebody got it on sale for me, 80ish. Very good.

All of these are packable in a jersey pocket. I'm not pimping any specific brands. I would say look for pitzips, and back vent. A double-action zipper, opening from the bottom, if you can find it, is a venting-adjustability plus. You can always hire a seamstress to put one in on a regular-zip jacket.

Check out Showers Pass. $230 for Elite II gives you full venting capability, plus waterproof eVent. Very, very popular in the NW. Some quality control and unresponsiveness to customer's asking for repair/replacement reported, but most users seem to be very happy. They also make some less-expensive non-eVent Century and other models that get some very good reviews.

You might also consider alpine-sports shells. They often go on sale for overstocks and closeouts.

I've got softshells and rainshells from Arc Teryx, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot and REI that all work well. I lost a lot of weight, so some jackets became too big, and I looked for great deals when I downsized. I also have two sons who like to ride when they visit mom and dad, so they can use my stuff.

You can't beat Windstopper for stopping windchill dead in its tracks. It's the gold standard. Lots of respected bikewear companies use it. Most shells and fleece-line softshells with it are water resistant. We're seeing stretchy Windstopper ("X-lite" and "X-Fast"), and it really "hugs" you. This isn't a great time to find it on discount. You'd have to wait for warmer weather.

Hows the breathability on the showers pass elite 2.0?

also, I found Showers Pass Softshell Trainer - http://www.showerspass.com/products....tshell+Trainer does anyone have any insight into how this one is? warmth? doesn't seem to have much option in terms of layering, but since itll mostly be for 40s or low 50s, I'm not sure how much I'd need anyway

I don't have it. I ride GTX. But everybody says it is breathable. An Army lab study showed it was identical to "Gore Tex I" Robert Gore's original expanded polytetrafluoroethyoe (ETFE) membrane. Gore decided to decided to downgrade breatabability to slow clogging from sweat oils. If you get eVent, you may have to do some washing, with new-generation detergents not known to Gore in the 70s. eVent is PTFE. It is post-patent Gore Tex I with some new molecular finishing coatings. Now, the Army decided to stick with GTX. despite the fact that General Electric, eVentt's owner is a prime defense contractor, with humongous lobbying power. (But read my final comments.)

Showers Pass was sold by its founder to another guy. The shells used to be made in NorCal, then Portland, now Vietnam. Some people have complained. It has sounded sketchy to me.

If you want my recommendation, I reallyy like Marmot Sharp Point Windstopper softshell jacket ($140 on discount) and the Marmot Exum GTX Pro 3 shell ($230 on discount). I paid $218 for an Assos airBlock 851 jacket. Fantastic form-fitting stretchy wind-blocking material.

Paying list prices for these items, I dunno about that. They are all great jackets. Frankly I like Assos, everything I have got from this mfr has been 5 flamin chiles. Bang for buck over the long haul I can't say, not enough use. But short-term, I love their stuff. It's designed by people who think about cycling, and I want to believe it is durable. If a cyclist got teminal cancer, and heirs sold an almost-new condition airBlock 851 for $150, that would be s snatch.

Showers Pass Elite 2.0 features are bullseye on paper. Previiously, warrantee coverage was sketchy. But now, If I were you, I'd get it from REI, which has recently started carrying SP. You get a no-hassle customer-satisfaction guarantee: if you don't like it you get a full refund. A year, two years, it doesn't matter.

I may get one myself. I have been waiting for REI or another full-satisfaction-guarantee co to sell SP. I may wait for a 20% off member-sale. Without a sale price, as a member you get a 10% dividend, which would bring your cost to really close to $200. If I were you, I'd strongly consider pulling the trigger. And if you do, please report your findings.

I have the Gore Phantom II (The white one below). I'm really happy with it. I also have a Specialized weather proof jacket but sweat builds up too much in it. This doesn't happen with the gore.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/images/gore-...19907-zoom.jpg

I love GBW. I've got four pairs of their bibshorts, a jacket, knee warmers and two jerseys. Gore is the world's #1 high performance outdoor sports textile supplier for a reason: they are really smart people, and they require mfrs to adhere to specific fabrication standards, so that Gore is synonymous with highest-tier quality.

It's no accident that the main contender to GTX in breathable waterproof membranes, eVent, is actually... GTX, post-patent-expiration. Robert Gore was a genius. His dad worked for DuPont, where Teflon was invented. GTX and eVent are Teflon. Cool stuff. Assos claims to have invented "Spandex" [sic] bike shorts, Assos talks proudly about having worked with DuPont on this and other projects. Your bike shorts, no matter what brand, have DuPont-invented fabric . If you ride puncture resistant aramid tires, you're riding a DuPont innovation.

Wm Gore & Associates is perennially get listed in "Best 100 Companies To Work For". People get to choose the bosses they work under, which is also to say the projects they want to work on. How cool is that? The Gores are a Western outdooring family. Bill died hiking in the mountains. A great way to go.

With GBW, you're buying the ideas of really smart people. Fabrication is mostly in China. But if you get tony Italian (or Italian-canton Switzerland Assos) or Scandinavian, most of their stuff is too, or in former Soviet Bloc states, or Mexico. But with excellent-oversight quality control, durable garments can be made anywhere. So, it boils down to thoughtful design concepts, and performance guarantees to back products up.

My experience is limited. I have found the following brands to make very pleasing stuff (in bike-specific apparel): Assos, Bellwether, Castelli, Craft, GBW. I would add De Marchi, but steer clear of their second tier stuff. Santini is comfy but not durable.

PI, I'm mostly not interested, having tested shell (good for the money but only on sale), jersey 3/4 zip (okay on sale, but after discovering full-zip, 3/4 just seems like a dumb design), Ultra sensor shorts (full price), Nooooo! They will hurt your butt on long rides. PI's topline pro shorts are designed in Italy. Skip the middleman and buy Italian brands.

With Showers Pass now being covered by REI guarantees, that's a no-lose proposition. It's mid-ranged price. Right now it's a money-back proposition for anybody wanting to try it. One of the very nice things about REI is that they have the sales volume to make product-performance assessments, and to inform mfrs of what's not working. When mfrs responsively fix the problems REI sticks with them. Mfrs who don't do this get dropped. REI is the most trusted name in outdoor gear retailling for a reason: they act in their customers' interest.

I've just moved to a new place and am looking for a wind/rain shell for cool weather. Say 45-60* and light rain. I don't ride in pouring rain and waterproof jackets never breathe for me.

- I have two winter jackets that are wind-resistant and water-resistant, use them at different temps.

- But, it is going to be warming up to the mid-50s by next week and lots of rain forecast. I have a great Nalini-made vest that I love. I'm now after a shell jacket I can wear in mild temps that will shed light rain or road spray. (I have full fenders, I'll ride in light rain or after a heavy rain, but don't head out in downpours).

1) Do you size up for shell jackets? I typically wear a medium in U.S. made jackets (or a large in stuff like Castelli). I'd be wearing light baselayers or jerseys (long/short) under the shell.

2) I'm looking for a wind/water resistant shell that I can head out in OR pull out of a pocket. Since I have a vest, I don't think I need the arm zip-off feature. Read good things about these...anyone using one in similar conditions to mine?

- Castelli Squadra
- Montane Featherlite Velo Jacket
- Pearl Izumi Zephrr

Do any of you use the clear capes that the pros use? Those seem like they wouldn't breathe at all.

Nike - Livestrong Half Zip jacket - great venting warm to the temps your looking at and very packable

I had good luck with the Capoforma LE jacket: http://mikesbikes.com/product/capofo...m?affiliate=31

Bellwether Aqua-no. I love this jacket!! Pit zips, back vents, very breathable fabric and totally windproof. I've worn this jacket with just a short sleeved jersey in 50-60 degree temps and have been very comfortable. I've also worn it with several wicking layers in 13 degree/20mph wind and I was toasty warm. Can be found for 80 bucks or so.

Thanks for the replies. Hmm, it seems as if shell jackets might be as personal as saddles...everyone seems to like something different. I might just have to grab one and see how it goes. Thanks for the feedback!

+1 on the Gore. The only downside is that it's fairly heavy and thick, so you can't take it off and stick it in a jersey pocket (but you can remove the sleeves). I sweat in any temprature and I really don't care for the shells that don't breath.

^ +2

I've got a GBW Tool II that I can layer under for differing conditions. Mine has pit zips so I can open those babies up when it's gets a little warm. I actually took this jacket skiing in France and it held up really well in Spring conditions from piste, off-piste, and randonneur skiing. The only time I got a little warm was when we went for a rando adventure in Queyras near Guillestre.

I've got one of these from Voler; $100:

http://www.velowear.com/images/produ..._CYN_f_400.jpg

The front is all windproof material, the back is a thicker lycra so it breathes very well. Used with a cold weather baselayer I've been comfortable down near 20 F, and with a lighter baselayer it's comfortable up to 55 or 60. It will not flap in the wind unless hilariously oversized. However I'm not sure how "packable" it is... the windproof material is sort of bulky. It could be rolled and stuffed in a jersey pocket.

The only downside I've noticed is if you are overdressed your arms and forearms will sweat like there's no tomorrow.

With REI customer-satisfaction guarantee (you don't have to claim a fabrication defect, just it's not working for ya), I went for the SP 2.0. Wow. Extremely versatile, 12F-54F range so far, dry calm, dry windy, rainy, sleety, snowy.

eVent is NOT totally breathable. It cannot compete with woven fabrics in this regard. What makes the 2.0 work is unsurpassed undershell-airflow versatility: bottom-up unzipping (plus conventional top-down unzipping), pitzips and widely openable velcro cuffs. Plus a backvent. It's an amazing piece of kit if you want one jacket that does a nice job for a wide range of conditions. Caveat: you have to learn how to adjust it. If you just do top-down front unzipping like most jackets offer, you won't "get it" as to why it is so good.

For defined specific conditions, there are lot of good and great jacks. The 2.0 is one of the best all-around jackets for whatever nature may throw your way. Let's say you wanted to do the Triple Bypass, starting at 35-40 F. Dry but chilly. It's good for that. You ride, you get warm, maybe too warm, unzip it maximally. Get some cool refreshing underflow air. Then as the sun gets high, it gets even too warm for this, so you roll it and stuff it in your jersey pocket. Your doing great. Then you get an afternoon thunderstorm. Put it back on, avoid rainchill. Storm over, take it off and stuff it again.