Winter Jackets
 

So it's starting to get cold and I am looking into buying a winter jacket.

I am a fan of GCN and have seen that they see a GCN winter jacket. It looks nice but is rather expensive. Anyone actually tried their winter jacket? I've also come across the Sportful Fiandre No Rain and Santini Guard, and a few others.

I would appreciate some suggestions for a winter jacket, and any thoughts on the products mentioned above.

James

I've never bought a biking specific jacket. Big fan of layers and wool. Also, want to make sure I don't overheat as that would be as bad as being too cold. Could you post a link to this jacket so we could see it?

Santini SMS cycle clothing GCN Winter jacket | Santini SMS
Sportful Fiandre Light No Rain Jersey - Black/Red | ProBikeKit.com
Santini SMS cycle clothing Guard | Santini SMS

Bike specific jackets are lightweight and packable, which is why I am looking to buy one.

I use a lightweight breathable running jacket, windproof on the front. Under that are wool base layers and wool sweaters. Warmer and cooler layers as needed. New Balance makes it.

I picked up a soft-shell jacket with gore windstopper. I layer underneath it. It worked like a charm for an Iowa winter.

I suppose it depends on how you define winter; here in upstate NY that would be an early spring/late fall outer jacket.

I've found that I much prefer just layering with regular outerwear, since by the time it gets to be sub-30 degree weather you're not going to care a whole lot about back pockets, technical fabrics, etc. It's a whole lot cheaper and more flexible to use what you already have.

Thanks for the suggestions. Has anyone tried the GCN Jacket?

I have not tried this one but I have and can highly recommend the Arc Teryx Atom jacket. It is comfortable in a wide range of temperatures, water repellent for a drizzle, warm and light. Also packs small and extremely comfy and is very versatile even off the bike. When winter hits I never take mine off for I swear 4 months. Wear it around the house, in the office, and biking too. I have 3 of them in the same size because I hate to be without even when one is in the laundry. I wear a waterproof bike shell over it when it gets down to 20ish, and sometimes wear a layer under it or over it as appropriate. It is becoming a very popular jacket which is a good measure of its versatility and comfort. Same style has been in production for about 5 years or more.

I have not tried this one but I have and can highly recommend the Arc Teryx Atom jacket. It is comfortable in a wide range of temperatures, water repellent for a drizzle, warm and light. Also packs small and extremely comfy and is very versatile even off the bike. When winter hits I never take mine off for I swear 4 months. Wear it around the house, in the office, and biking too. I have 3 of them in the same size because I hate to be without even when one is in the laundry. I wear a waterproof bike shell over it when it gets down to 20ish, and sometimes wear a layer under it or over it as appropriate. It is becoming a very popular jacket which is a good measure of its versatility and comfort. Same style has been in production for about 5 years or more which is another testament to its popularity. I stay from the obscure stuff that has not been proven with popularity and longevity in the market.

Terms and Conditions: Winters may vary.

What type do you have?

[MENTION=126124]dwmckee[/MENTION], I looked up your climate and mine. Pittsburgh is a little colder than New York City by averages but these pages don't list standard deviation. Our average low in January is 26ºF, and yours is 21ºF, but we do occasionally have days that go below 20ºF. Do you find that this Arc Teryx jacket is not too hot? I have a squawl jacket rather like the Lands End jacket, and I can't ride in it. No matter what, it gets too hot even when other parts of my body are too cold. I want a jacket that will keep me warm but won't be too hot.

Climate Pittsburgh - Pennsylvania and Weather averages Pittsburgh

Climate New York - New York and Weather averages New York

Another difference is that it appears we get a fair bit more precipitation than you do. I don't know if that changes clothing requirements much.

I do not know if I can accurately answer your question, but I'll give it a shot. I have found that the ArcTery Atom has a very wide temperature comfort range just by zipping and unzipping the jacket, the over jacket or by adjusting the under layer. Really wide range of adjustability, even while you are riding. The side mesh seems to push out sweat really easily, and my only complaint is that the sleeves can get a bit clammy art times, though it does dry out pretty fast too. We have pretty hilly terrain here and you find a 10 - 12 minute heavy climb is immediately followed by a screaming descent which really challenges your wardrobe. I just do this over and over on every ride here. I find this jacket to be the key part (just part) of what I wear when it is between 20 and 45 degrees. Sometimes I have a poly tee shirt underneath and sometimes I have a light but long sleeve layer underneath. (Most common underlayer stuff works pretty well.) Sometimes I have a wind shell over it (Showers Pass Elite right now). Sometimes I use other shells and even occasionally a light insulated outer layer. Outer layer not too critical either as lots of shells seem to work pretty well. As I go from up to down hill I usually just adjust a zipper or two to get comfortable for the next part of my ride. Definitely the outer and inner layers are not as critical as this layer as I state, I have found that a variety of outer and inner layers work well, but this mid layer is the key piece.

I am 5' 11", 200 lbs. and normally would use an XL, but in this jackes a L fit quite well, no excess flap but not uncomfortably snug around the middle either.

I now have my son, wife and brother in law wearing this jacket and they all love it. It is especially versatile even as a casual jacket and I wear mine pretty much daily to and from work, around the house when it is cool, etc. The wide range of temp versatility is great. It is not clammy like fleece (which also seems to only be comfy in a narrow temp range), and I love that the the nylon-lined sleeves slide on and off easily without dragging my under layer up and down all of the time.

Overall a great (but expensive) jacket. Not perfect, but best I have found so far. I am wearing it right now, actually...

Depends on the temperatures and precipitation in which you intend to ride, and on how hard you like to ride. Poodling and hill intervals require completely different clothing, as do rain, dry, and snow.

[MENTION=126124]dwmckee[/MENTION], that was very helpful. I ordered the jacket. I should have it by Sunday.

Cool. I hope you like it as much as I do. Just have to get the sizing right. You will want it to fit with a small air pocket around the middle only, not skin tight and not saggy. That seems to help with quick evacuation of sweaty air but still keeps a decent bike fit. Mine are all hood-less, but my son's is with hood. I'll be curious to find out if you wind up wearing it all of the time like I do. So many of the other bike jackets really are only suitable for when you are on a bike and seem out of place if you wore them to work. You will also find it surprisingly light for the level of warmth, and it compresses to a little bigger than a 12 oz. Coke can. There are some thin down jackets that look like the Atom, but they seem to overheat more easily and do not adjust as widely to different temp conditions.

I wondered if I should get hooded or hoodless. I ended up getting the hoodless.

I doubt I'll wear it all the time. I tend to wear as little clothing as I can get away with. Right now, I'm wearing a short sleeved polo shirt in my office with no jacket or sweater.

So if I understand the latest theory correctly, you want the front and back of a cycling jacket to be windproof but the sides to be breathable. This lets your excess heat out, but since the sides don't normally get much wind, it won't let much cold air enter. Is that about right?

Yes, I think so. The sides under the arms are high perspiration and heat areas that are best ventilated at the source and the side mesh panels do just that. Also since those areas are covered by your arms they do not have to be as waterproof I guess (though that part of the Atom is still water repellent regardless). The jacket is popular among active climbers and here is a review I found by one: http://www.mountaingear.com/themount...-jacket-a-lot/

Also, I am referring to the LT version, not the AR which is a heavier jacket.

Noglider - I just got back from a 10 mile hilly ride with air temp about 45 degrees and wore a poly tee shirt, the Atom jacket and my showers Pass Shell. This was probably the upper air temp limit for what I had on but was okay. I noted a bit of my riding technique for how to regulate temp and realized I do a few things in how I ride to make temp adjustments. I had my outer shell zipped to about 4 inches below the bottom of my breast bone and the Atom jacket zipped to about 3 inches below the top of my breast bone. I rode this way the whole time and found that in my normal riding position my arm pits are closed and my head position allows just a small amount of air flow into the jacket, When I started to get hot I dropped my head about 2 inches and flared my elbows just a bit to open my arm pits. This allowed a big gush of cool air to flow under the collar and into the jacket and across my chest and shoulders then under my arms and out the side panels of the jacket. Four of five seconds like this and I dump out a whole mess of heat and sweat and I do it before it builds up enough to get uncomfortable. I did not have to readjust any clothing the whole ride and stayed very comfortable. I had never payed much attention before but I guess this conversation made me pay a bit more attention to what I was doing subconsciously. In cooler weather I normally have things zipped up a bit more, but still find ways to adjust my position and dump heat quickly with some airflow into the jacket and under my arms. I use small movements and that under arm air flow and side vents all of the time to easily make subtle adjustments to temperature. So I guess I am saying you have to find a subtle technique to use the features of the jacket best keep your temp where you are comfortable. I hope this helps.

Noglider - Did you get your coat? I am just curious if you are as happy with it as I have been.

I have different types of jackets and the one that have a wider range of comfort are those with a breathable back. Under arm venting is mandatory but not enough for me. But since you live in NY you're probably better with no venting at the back because of cold rain.

I use a J&G rainjacket for my outer shell and a Sport Hill Symetry jacket for my mid layer. I use those all winter and make adjustments with adding a long sleeve jersey or not. Depending on the temperatures.

Much of my winter clothing is used for hiking and packpacking and has worked well in below zero F temps. The amount of heat a body generates is dependent on the level of exertion as much as on the actual temperature. Most of the clothing is based, like on onion, on layering. Marmot Men's DriClime Windshirt - at Moosejaw.com The Marmot Driclime Windshirt is amazingly warm by itself and very breathable. I use it over a base layer down to the 20s F. When it gets really cold I wear another layer underneath, usually a micro fleece shirt.

[MENTION=195670]berner[/MENTION], that's good to know.

Cool. I found it the most breathable thing I know of. I like the collar too as it is always comfortable. I am 200 lbs. ant 5' 11" and I use a large, but I do not put heavy layers under it, just a light layer at most. I do sometimes put a ski coat over it though. You are right that to have great breathability it cannot be totally windproof. I wear a loose waterproof shell over it frequently for reflectivity and more windproof-ness. I do not often wear it as my outer layer when biking. I do find that the sleeves can get clammy at times so a long sleeve poly tee is good underneath it. See my note above for how I can easily dump a bunch of heat and sweat before it all condenses and gets clammy. I agree that some additional reflective material would be a nice plus. I do not have a problem with the shorter back as my rain shell covers that.