Any experience with the basic 02 Rainwear? On a tight budget and the basic jacket and pants look to be ok.

Thanks

Ed

Plenty use them. They are more fragile but work well if cared for. The pants may wear out faster in the seat because of that.

If you're referring to the inexpensive yellow apparel with the little pores everywhere, then yes, I had that stuff over 10 years ago. It breathes a little (which makes no difference in the humid/hot SE USA, you'll still end up sweat soaked), and is water repellent but will leak in actual hard rain. It is not the most durable apparel, more like cheap stuff you carry and hope you don't have to use.

I eventually replaced mine with the more waterproof, durable and expensive Showers Pass rain apparel, which has been the Gold Standard in this product niche for many years. Highly recommended by most actual users:

https://www.google.com/search?q=show....net%2Ftouring

There are also ponchos and rain capes worthy of consideration, plus helmet and shoe covers:

https://www.google.com/search?q=rain....net%2Ftouring

Cheap gear is tempting to resolve an immediate need, but it is often better in the long run to buy the fancier stuff that others have tested and proven. Same goes for racks (Tubus) and bags (Ortlieb), which are regular topics of this forum.

I've only used the O2 jackets. I like their hooded jacket because it is oversized so I can layer underneath it. Their non-hooded cycling jacket has a racer fit.

Yes, the fabric is fragile. Don't go bushwhacking with it. But in my experience having owned a Shower's Pass Elite jacket, the O2 jacket is just as waterproof. Since I seldom ride in heavy rain, I prefer to carry the lighter and cheaper O2 jacket on tours.

Just would use this as a just in case. Looking to ride the Erie Canal next year. I don't typically ride in the rain.