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.

Interesting that we are so different in size but we both like the same size jacket. I'm 5'9" and 158 lbs.

Today, I walked outside wearing a dress shirt, the jacket, a hat, and a scarf. Normally in this weather (45ºF and breezy), I would wear a t-shirt under my dress shirt or a sweater over it, but I didn't need to. So far, still so good.

I use a couple different options:

1. Marmot Down Jacket
2. Nashbar Softshell
3. Woolrich Flannel
4. Orange softshell

These are all usually used with a combination of layers except the marmot, it just needs a t shirt or a thin wool long sleeve underneath. It stuffs into itself to so fits easily in my pannier.

The woolrich is my go to most of the time, the jacket is awesome and will probably outlast me. Not fancy tech involved just hard work. I usually do two long sleeve layers under it and it's good to go.

The softshell I usually use at a cycling type event, because its reflective and for some reason people get after about that kind of stuff when I am in a group. The jacket is ok, if I did it over again I would not use it and would have sold it but someone made me crash on it so its scuffed up.

The orange is a nice jacket, its pretty heavy though. I might drop the down jacket in favor of it on a bike due to the cut being more relaxed.

I just bought a Northface softshell jacket I found on sale at Sports Authority for $75. https://www.thenorthface.com/shop/me...ariationId=7D1 I wore it yesterday for a club ride in temps of 40 F with a tee and and a long sleeve jersey under and it was just right. Northface gear and clothing, in my experience is a bit heavy but very well made and durable which describes this jacket. It resists rain and abrasion, typical of soft shells. With a micro-fleece shirt under it, it will be good into the teens.

It's been a while since I posted anything on Bikeforums, but I've been meaning to write something on this topic.

Over the last year and a half or so, I've been trying out some Triple Aught Design gear. I have been very, very happy.

Context: I commute year-round in Rochester NY. Temperatures in the teens (F) are pretty common in the winter, and there are generally a number of days/nights that get to be -10F or below. And it's pretty much always windy.

Low temperature ratings here assume a waffle knit Henley as a base layer top and other appropriate cold weather gear.

Stealth Hoodie LT
Best. Jacket. Ever.
This is my year-round foul weather shell. Windproof, waterproof, breathable to varying degrees depending on temperature, and pit zips. A nice selection of pockets that are well placed to stay out of the way and be accessible. Zippers and material can be a bit stiff at first, but soften some with use. Durable material; one review I read before buying involved the reviewer wearing the jacket in a motorcycle accident. The jacket survived, though looked worse for wear. Works extremely well as the outer shell in a layering system. It's not super-light, and packability isn't great, but it shoves into a small-to-medium-size backpack pretty well.

In my experience, you'll be cool but comfortable while cycling down into the 20s wearing this and the aforementioned Henley. You'll be less comfortable standing around and walking for long periods of time. You lose too much heat via conduction.

It ain't cheap, but it's a fantastic jacket.

Praetorian Hoodie
A nice, moderately warm, comfortable Merino wool hoodie. Good looking, and will keep you cool but comfortable while cycling down into the low 30s. It's cut to fit under the Stealth LT, and that's my go-to combo when the weather gets very, very cold. I have yet to find a lower limit for the Henley+Praetorian+Stealth LT combo, but I've been perfectly comfortable down around -15F.

Ranger Hoodie
I just picked this up in early December. It is extremely warm; wearing a Henley and this I can start overheating when cycling at 25F. Pocket layout is essentially identical to that of the Stealth LT, but most of the pockets double as vents. Like the Praetorian, it's cut to layer under the Stealth LT, but when I tried it I started overheating when riding at 10F. Note that it is not windproof, which will tend to be the big limiter for what temperature at which you can wear it.

So yeah, I'm really happy with my TAD jacket and hoodies. Zero regrets.

I bought two of these I liked it so much (blue/black and hi-vis/black): Gore Bike Wear Phantom 2.0, and wore it down to 5 F on my morning commutes this week, with a medium weight long sleeve base layer, and a really thin long sleeve base layer under that, along with Izumi AmFib windproof bib pants and standard padded bib shorts.

This jacket is 100% windproof, water resistant, and its usable temp range is 0 F (with 2 bases) to 60 F (with nothing under), and has removable sleeves (for days that get above 60 F unexpectedly), which unzip, roll up, and store easily in one of the three ample back pockets, and has built in short sleeves. But this is an unexpectedly thin single layer cycling jacket, with a breathable back panel to release hot moisture during a hardcore vigorous ride, and not a fashion jacket that is multi-purposed for cycling. The sleeves are designed to be a little extra long for getting into the drops without the cuff riding up and exposing wrist skin. Highly recommended. $100 on sale. I'm 5'10", 169 lbs, 33 waist, and longer than avg arms, and the Large fits nicely.