For the last few years I have been using a $99 jacket from Performance. It is windproof and rain resistant, but I don’t think that it’s breathable enough. My under layers wick the moisture out to the jacket and it stops there. After a while the clammyness gets to me and I start to get chilled. For a while I figured that perhaps I was overdressing but that is not the case. The problem is my area is hilly. I work up a good sweat going up and get a big breeze going down, then I do it again.

My present jacket has pit zips and back pocket zip for breathability but that is not enough. What I need is an outer layer that is very windproof and breathable in the chest and front of the arms, but a different material in the back and back of the arms. The back should be something that is extremely porous (like fleece?) even if it is not windproof in those areas.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Not what you describe, but the J&G Yellowjacket is the best all-around, all-season wind jacket I have ever had. The pit zips are huge and the material itself breaths well. I've worn it with a single layer on warm days like today (55F) and near 0F with multiple layers...never too hot, never too cold, moisture wicked through my wool layers doesn't drench the jacket, it feels almost dry and the end of the ride. Nice against bare skin too.

https://www.bicycleclothing.com/Wind-Jackets.html

Well, that's the result I'm looking for. I just figured that there is nothing that is REALY breathable. Thanks. I'll look into it.

Another good wind jacket, similar to the jacket recommended by Chip, is the MEC Supermicrofit cycling jacket. the fabric doesn't have any interior coating, lets it breathe well thru the fabric, plus pit zips, thumb loops, back poacket, reflectivity, long drop tail.

https://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...=1137163833525


If you're looking for a hybrid wind jacket, with a breathable back and a windproof front, there are many out there. I like my jackets to be monofabric, instead of a hybrid approach, so I've never tried them.

Ibex makes a hybrid softshell/breathable back jacket that would probably fit the bill, also a lot of the xcski/bike crossover jackets sold by a lot of gear manufacturers would work...sporthill sport tops spring to mind. Here's a link to the Ibex breakaway hybrid jacket..

https://www.ibexwear.com/F05/View_Pro...&CategoryLine=

Didn't know they were called hybrid. The only reason I wanted one like that is I want to make sure it's breathable. Why do you like your jackets monofrabric?

That MEC seems very similar to the J&G, but it looks nicer and seems to have even more reflective stuff. Price is close too. I have one dumb question for you though...what do you do with the thumb loops? I assume they're for when you have the wrists opened up to prevent the sleeves from riding up your arms?

I have been very happy with my Race Face Aquanot jacket that I got about 5 years ago.



Built for offroad incliment weather riding, this jacket is both warm and breathes. It has pit zips, the collar is fleece lined, it has reflective piping and the material will take a crash without ripping along with reinforced elbow pads. I don't think it's still being made but it seems that Race Face has a new lineup of jackets. I'm thinking of getting the Shore jacket.

-the thumb loops on the MEC jacket do let you run it with the cuffs open, Chip. even more venting!

and i like monofabric jackets as opposed to hybrids, Mike, because I like my shell layer to be consistent in performance throughout the coat. if its a windbreaker, i want a windbreaker, if i want a nappy soft shell, i want it soft shell all over, if i (rarely) want a rain jacket, i want it to be %100 raincoat.

That being said, hybrid jackets seem to be well designed for cycling and probably work very well.

i like the north face waterproof jackets with pit zips. just add layers or rain pants to ride in obscene conditions

Depending on the temperature, I either wear a PI Barrier or Trifecta (cooler weather) over a base layer and possibly a middle as well. Both are form fitting and probably best designed for road use. So far, these are by far the best jackets I have worn in temps down to 10F. Here are the links at PI if you are interested, but you should check around at the usual sites (CC, nashbar, performance, etc.) for sales about this time of year.

https://www.pearlizumi.com/product.ph...color_code=489

https://www.pearlizumi.com/product.ph...color_code=428

Take care.
T

Thomhill, how do you like the Trifecta?

Yeah, I am having great luck with the PI Barrier Jacket. It's got some additional reflective panels built into it too what are really nice on the commute. It is very breathable but I don't get cold with it, especially from the wind.

the nalini pro team jackets are just like that.
www.probikekit.com

sd

Check out these jackets at Foxwear.

https://www.foxwear.net/evaplite.htm

Thanks I will.
And thanks to everyone for there suggestions. I'm going to do some comparison shopping and make a decision this weekend.

I have been using a Pearl Izumi Trifecta jacket for the past month. I was very hesitant to buy it because of the cost, but when my LBS offered it at a 15% discount I could not resist. It has turned out to be worth every penny --greatly exceeding my expectations. It has stretchy windproof and water resistant side panels, sleeve bottoms, and upper back that allow it to always fit like a jersey regardless of the number of base and mid layers underneath. Breathability is amazing --I stay dry even when I misjudge the temperature and wear too much underneath, although I sweat less than most cyclists so it might not perform that well for everyone. It is made largely from a material called eVent that I had not heard of before, but is claimed to breathe considerably better than Gortex. My primary concern was that it would frost up and stop breathing below the mid-20s (Fahrenheit) as Gortex apparently does. Although the temperature turned warm and has stayed warm starting a week after I bought it, I did use it several times in the low to mid-20s before that happened and it continued to breathe. However, for someone who perspires more than I do and at lower temperatures that could be a problem, although the stretchy side panels extend across the underarms and clearly will continue to breathe at low temperatures. If it ever goes back to our normal seasonal weather in southern Wisconsin I will post another report on how it works down to zero degrees F or so. The only other thing that is worth commenting on is the color --I was looking for a black jacket and my LBS only carried it in 'screaming yellow-green'. However since I have put in considerable hospital time in the past from being hit by cars, my wife was pleading with me (not too strong a characterization!) to buy something bright, so I caved in and bought it in that color. I must admit that after a couple of rides I started feeling less self-conscious and now am actually glad I bought the obnoxious color because on heavily overcast days with fog or falling snow I have started to notice that other cyclists wearing black, gray, or dark blue (my favorite colors) are damn near invisible. So, based on my experience thus far I highly recommend the jacket despite the cost and color. If anyone has specific questions I will answer them --and I will post an update at the end of winter.

Water resistant, breathable soft shell - check out Ibex.

I have the Icefall jacket and really like it. It sheds some water, and is surprisingly warm. Did a 30 mile ride at 40 degrees and wore a long sleeve jersey and the jacket.

I have the same problem as OP - hills - up and down - and I sweat, even in the cold.

The main problem with all waterproof shells is that they COST TOO DAMN MUCH! If you can make a pot of coffee you can run a sewing machine, and remnants of goretex and microfleece can be bought for under $10/yard; check out the Rose City Textiles website. You could pay for a low-end sewing machine with the savings on your first rainsuit. Why are people willing to wrench their own bike but not stitch their own gear?

sewing a good looking jacket is loads more difficult than repacking all your bearings, truing the wheels, lubing all the cables and resetting your indexing.....

Go for propore rainshells then. Raingear O2, etc. Cheapest waterproofs that actually breath. $20 - $35 bucks.

Get a MEC Ferrata jacket, and a Raingear O2 storm shell, and your completly covered from wind, rain, and every temp from 75 degrees or so and below (with proper layering underneath) for about $150.00.

Edit : and the rain shell weighs all of 4 oz and fits in a jersey pocket for when its not raining

Target. Champion shells for $24.99. They vent out the back. Haven't tried them though.

I have one of those that I have had for several years. It's my general purpose jacket, the one I grab most of the time. Two things that bug me about it though... it doesn't seem to be the least bit water repellent, and the neck is HUGE. Mine is a size XXL, but even though I have a large neck the neck closure on this jacket is at least 4 inches bigger than my fat neck.

Is yours like that?

Mmh, about the same difficulty... but you're happy to do the bike work anyway, because you love it, right? So why not sink a little time into your clothes, especially if, for instance, its hard to find stuff to fit your unusual neck size? Or really want something that the market doesn't offer [like a Filson knockoff in goretex, lets say, pugetopolis.]

I have an XL and it fits my 17" neck just fine - not snug, I don't want snug, but just right. As for water resistance, it's definitely not water proof, but it's fine in a light drizzle and it dries really fast. I got the rain cape for steady rain. It's a great all-around jacket - like a jack of all trades, master of none.

I just recently picked up the Adistar CP wind jacket from Excel Sports ($50). I used it for the first time yesterday here in Mpls, MN. Temp was in the low 30s. Combined with an adistar long sleeve jersey and a North Face base layer it worked wonderfully.