Touring Outerwear
 

What special clothing have you purchased (if any) for touring and/or commuting?

Particularly, is there a rain/wind jacket and pants that you like?

I'm trying to get the most bang for my buck on getting some rain wear to commute in, and it would be awesome if it was also tour-worthy so I'd have it for my Trans-Am. :)

You may want to check out this company. Got most of my gear from them.

http://www.bicycleclothing.com/

I use my wind jacket 95% more than a rain jacket.... so for me this is my number one go to item. When I have to wear a rain jacket i go with a simple bright yellow Bellweather. Figure the only time I'm going to be wearing it is in nasty weather so visibility is important to me. I have rain pants as well but tend to wear them around camp more than on the bike. Have some good windproof tights that are also my go to items.

I could live without the rain gear... Couldn't live without the wind gear. YMMV.

I was happy with the lightweight coated nylon Sierra Designs pants and jacket I got from REI. I used them for the TA and carried them unused on my Santa Fe Trail tour. They are inexpensive and pack small in a tiny stuff sack.

I only wore the jacket when riding, but the pants only in camp.

I use a Marmot Driclime jacket for wind which is very breathable and Showers Pass top and bottom as rain gear which keeps me fairly dry in the rainy Pacific NW. I also use both light and mid weight wool base layers (depending on the temps) and wool biking shorts and jerseys which are also nice and cool in warmer temps including some high 90 deg days last summer. Wool wicks nicely.

I have a blue Sierra Designs nylon jacket that I like a bit better than my yellow Novara nylon cycling jacket. I have a yellow Novara cycling rain jacket that I like. I have never used rain pants riding.

We have a May tour planned in Utah and I have been thinking carefully about what I'll bring for outerwear, it may be cool and windy.

I have been thinking that I will take my thin skullcap that I wear under my helmet. I can wear it in camp or to bed if I need to also. I am also going to take a thin pair of gloves that I use under my cycling gloves in cool weather. I can wear them in camp too.

We are going to have some long stretches without towns on our tour and will have to carry a lot of food, so I'm trying to pack light, but be warm.

One of my favorite jackets of all time... A true classic.

If it's good for touring it's probably good for commuting. I finally broke down and bought a showers pass elite 2.0 jacket last year. It's really great, definitely the most well ventilated rain jacket I used. I've had goretex and cheap plastic rain coats on past tours, it's a big improvement.

ditto, I've used it in 20-60 degree snow and downpours for two years now. For just walking around camp a cheap poncho would work but for riding it's the best. The mens pants are great but cut for skinny butts and would benefit with suspenders.


Bellwether yellow Velocity vest with mesh back worked as a visibility vest while riding in 85degree temps with light poly pro sun shirt underneath, I just wore it loose or zipped up a couple inches. In cool/cold weather it's just enough ventilation and wind break when a full jacket is too much.

My favorite jacket is a Pearl Izumi wind jacket with zip off sleeves. I often get half way to work or the weather warms on a ride, then I just zip off the sleeves and I'm cool. I still have wind protection on my core from the vest and the bright yellow to be seen.

I take 2 jackets, a featherweight windproof and a lightweight, fully vented gortex. If it gets really cold I can wear both. I have done mountain descents in snow and sleet (on summer holidays) and spend unplanned nights at high altitude campsites, so it is useful having extra layers that are light and compact to carry.

When it's a little cold, I ride in a hi-vis yellow windbreaker jacket I bought from the LBS. I also bring a hi-vis yellow vest with a mesh back. With the two of those I have different combinations of warmth and windbreaking available, and they weigh next to nothing. For my raingear I have a Goretex jacket with hood and coated nylon pants. I bought them from Nashbar and Performance because they're tall sizes, and most places don't carry tall sizes in bicycling gear.

I also have a helmet cover from Nashbar, shoe covers from MEC, and winter gloves from Nashbar. When it's pouring rain I ride in the whole rain getup. In light sprinkles I usually just wear the windbreaker(s). In camp when it's cold I put the rain jacket on over my other camp clothes. It keeps me pretty warm.

I use the cheap microfiber jacket from Performance. Never wear rain gear on my legs, just leg warmers or tights. O2 Rainwear is nice, too. Cheap and light.