rogerstg

I came across the Champion softshell jackets while waiting for my wife to try on some clothes and bought one to use as a winter shell. For $30 (reg $35) it'll make a nice jacket/shell for winter cycling.

It’s slightly stretchy material with a light fleece backing. It's cut long in the rear for full coverage while cycling (or running, its intended purpose). The material is wind and water resistant. While it does not have specific ventilation such as zip pits, it has two side pocket zippers that extend from near the armpit to 3/4 the way to the bottom. The pockets are mesh inside, so the zippers provide significant ventilation.

I've worn it on a 30 mile workout ride at 42F with just a long sleeve baselayer (and appropriate covering for other body parts of course). It became a bit too warm until I vented with the pocket zippers. I expect that it will work well at much lower temperatures with the proper layering.

In the past I simply layered as needed with a cycling windbreaker as the final layer. The downside of that system is that at low temps too much sweat would condense inside the windbreaker, eliminating breath-ability and causing me to get soaked by the end of the ride. I also found the flapping of windbreaker material to be a little annoying.

I thought I'd pass this along to folks that might be interested in getting started cold weather cycling for very little $$ outlay.

oban_kobi

Thanks! I'll have to take a look, I have a similar one from Target, but it's not very long, the back pulls up, kind of annoying. It's times like this I think this forum needs a reputation system...

hubcap

I have a number of articles of the C9 stuff from Target. Mainly synthetic short sleeve tshirts and zip tshirts, but a couple long sleeve regular and zip tops too. The C9 gear is definitely not as nice as something like my smartwool shirts, but it is a fraction of the price and had held up reasonably well. Their softshell jacket is cheap enough that you are not out too much if it performs horribly. I might get one if I didn't have a couple other softshells already. I really only will wear them when the temp gets below 30F though. I get overheated in them otherwise.

Captain Blight

Thanks for the review, I've been looking at that jacket and have wondered how it would do for cycling. Much obliged!

GipsyKing

I also use quite a lot of C9 stuff -- ss shirts, ls zip-collar tops mostly. Great for running. Not bad for cycling. I've also had my eye on that same jacket lately, wondering if it would be okay for cycling. Only thing that bothers me is it's black with no reflective material. Wish they'd stick some scotchlite or something on it. Anybody ever buy that reflective tape and apply it to clothing? Does it stay on?

boog

Anybody have a link to this jacket? Can't seem to find it on the Target website. Probably a screw loose on my keyboard today...

Arcanum

Different
Color
Combinations

I might have to head over to the local Target and check these out.

boog

Thanks Arcanum! Looks like a nice deal on an emergency shell to keep at work. It seems there WAS a screw loose on my keyboard this morning

Arcanum

I picked up one of these jackets in red and black this evening. It seems pretty decent, though I haven't really tested the temperature or wind effectiveness to any significant degree. When I put it on, it feels stiffer than I expected from just holding it. It's odd in that respect.

black_box 

i've been happy with my other C9 stuff (shirts) and almost got that jacket last year. Does it have other pockets? can't exactly put my phone and keys in a pocket that I have to open for ventilation.

jayfromqns

Here's a link to the C9 softshell on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/C9-Champion-So.../dp/B0040PTAC0

Arcanum

Just as a random update, I've been wearing mine for a couple weeks now. It's pretty effective. It will keep me warm down into the 20s with just a t-shirt on, even with wind. If anything, I run the risk of overheating.

The "pockets" work better as pit-zips than actual pockets, though they'll do in a pinch. I don't recommend carrying anything in the pockets while riding, especially if the "anything" is bulky. It won't be comfortable.

The water resistance is adequate, though it doesn't really repel water as well as other softshell material I've seen, or a proper rain jacket does. Then again, what do you expect for $30-$35?

All-in-all, a worthwhile purchase.