Rain Jacket for hot humid climates?
 

Im looking for a lightweight breathable rain jacket, since Puerto Rico has very high humidity levels. This island is sunny with ecuador hot, super humid days. When rain hits, ive found myself soaked head to toe...the shoes are specially wet...

Ive seen many jackets and most concentrate on wind protection, but i need light breathable water protection.

saw capos pursuit rain thingy...seems like a bag, but it claims breathability for 20 bucks seems like a bargain, but then again all other offering from quality companies go for 70, 90, 140....... talk about this rain jerseys.

if you wear an L would rain jacket be XL for layering?
http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=246425

Just get wet.

How much layering do you need in PR?

Rain jackets make annoying flapping noises if they are too large.

"Breathable" isn't magic. It works best in low humidity situations.

Google " bicycle cape" it lets the air in, and, if you have good fenders will keep rain out.

If it's hot and humid a rain jacket won't keep you dry, you'll just build up moisture from the inside. Nothing I've come across is that breathable.

This. If it's hot, you are definitely going to get wet. From the outside with no jacket, from the inside with one.

I live in the tropics, too.

You just get wet. Sometimes it's even a relief.

A jacket with pit zips makes all the difference. the airflow prevents the clamminess you'd usually get.

Not in the tropics, my friend.

Pick any two.

ill just get wet... and buy shoe covers, cause the worst is the wet socks and shoes...

+1 to all comments. You may find a lightweight gilet is a better compromise as it won't get as hot. Staying dry is hopeless though.

The sole purpose for my rain 'cape' is to keep my pack dry on on commutes. You're going to get wet one way or another, sweating from the inside or rain from the outside.

A bicycle cape will have loops for your thumbs to keep the front of the top of the cape near the handlebars. That means the entire front of you upper body has fresh air exposure, including arm pits. That's why the fenders will be needed. Nothing is going to be perfect, but having the front open can be a huge help.

This page has a few photos of them being used correctly, with the front up over the bars.

http://www.google.com/search?q=rain+...w=1366&bih=643

I could maybe see that for commuting but I think it would be horrible for road riding at any speed.

Just wear merino clothes, and tolerate getting wet.

This jacket is wonderful. It's the most breathable one I've ever had. It lets something like 1/3 of the wind in, which is like air conditioning. It isn't waterproof, but it'll keep you dry for about 20 minutes in a downpour, and longer in a lighter rain. If you move around and shake the water drops off before they soak through, you can stay dry almost indefinitely.

But I'd recommend going without a jacket and just wearing a merino base layer.

http://www.backcountry.com/images/it...ARC0925/BK.jpg

No matter how breathable your what you wear is, your ability to stay dry is dependent on temperature and humidity. This combination of heat and moisture equals moisture vapor pressure. For clothing to breathe, there must be a greater moisture vapor pressure on the inside of the clothing compared with the outside.

This means that if it's warm and humid inside the jacket and warm and humid outside, there's no driving force to move the moisture so it doesn't breathe. Conversely, if you're in the snow, it's warm and humid on the inside and dry and cold on the outside so jackets can breathe well.

You will get wet no matter what and you just need to come to terms with that. If you really want to stay dry, dress as lightly as you can so it will dry off faster. BTW, if it rains hard, booties will not help your feet -- the water will just run down your legs into your shoes.

I used to live in PR and still have family there and plan to ride there soon one day, I would figure I'd welcome the rain in those humid conditions...HTFU and leave the rain jacket at home.

Great comments, thanksShoe covers wont hold? :(

I like shimano shoes that are mostly mesh, they drain during the ride, and vent better which means that after I take them off (and pull the insoles) they are most likely to be dry by the time I need to put them back on again. Mesh shoes plus wool socks (that will get wet no matter what).

Sadly the mesh shoes I like only stand up to maybe 2 yrs of day-in-day-out riding and each successive model has had more solid outer and less mesh.

^^this. Get one with mesh in the back like Craft or I think, Castelli. It will keep your front dryish, but prevent chills on downhills and alleviate misery somewhat.

Agreed. Also not practical on very windy days. At slow speeds with a good mud flap you will be pretty dry. However with a good fender and a good mudflap going fast, some spray will come up on you anyway.

I think many poster are missing the point that the OP is riding in TROPICAL heat and humidity.

T--R-O-P-I-C-A-L.

No rain cape/poncho or breathable fabric will help you. You will get wet from the added sweat a jacket/cape or WOOL BASE LAYER(!?!) will bring, over heat and have a fricken' stroke by the side of the road.

I have ridden in hot, humid conditions where I have prayed for rain.

Your feet will get wet but good booties can help.

The trick is to shave your legs and to wear low cut (ankle cut) socks that do not protrude above the elastic at the top of the booty. If they do they will soak up the rain from your legs and release it inside your shoes.

They will keep your feet drier and, more imoportantly, reduce the amount of grit that would otherwise accumulate in your shoes.

Post ride make sure you pull the liners from your shoes and pack the inside with newspaper to dry them out for the next day.