I have a good polartec powder dry base layer and a medium weight long sleeve jersey that keeps me warm down to about 35F or so. Past that I've been struggling with either being too warm/sweaty (putting on a rain jacket over the top) or just too cold.

Since it's been about 20F during the day and 5F during the night for the past two weeks here I figure it's time to get another layer. I figure getting a mid/heavy layer will fill in the gap. For the low 30s/high 20s i'd go with wearing my base + new layer. For 20s i'll go with base + L/S jersey + new layer. Any colder than that I can throw in an extra S/S layer or put on my rain jacket.

I have a nice castelli vest that I like but if it's cold enough to wear, my arms get cold with it. The base layer with a jersey on top gives me a lot more versatile and comfortable. I really don't get the point of vests.

I don't ride in heavy rain very often (UT doesn't really get heavy rain more than 3 times a year), but i would be riding in some light snow and drizzle. So water proof isn't too important, but staying warm when it's a little wet out is important.

TL;DR Should I get a wool sweater/jacket (natural) or a Foxwear jacket (synthetic)?

I think the issue, for me, is what part of your body is feeling the cold the most. Legs are usually okay, hands and torso are where I have the problem. I'm usually wearing some type of a wool base layer and add more wool for warmth. My problem is wind direction and my speed. The harder I pump, the more moisture I'm going to produce and the colder I feel. Bottom line - keep the wind speed consistent (or its effect) and use wool. I've read that wool can absorb up to 30 % of it's weight in moisture before it loses its ability to insulate. Synthetics don't seem to cut it for me ( but then I have a lot of wool in my closet).

I wear a lightweight foxwear jacket over a long sleeve merino wool shirt. Another shirt, if necessary.

And I wouldn't wear a rain jacket in the cold if it is not raining. You get no breath-ability that way.

noooooooooo. Hello indecision.

Well, since I've got a post going about Foxwear jackets you know what my vote is,!

I used to use a lightweight gortex jacket as a shell and all it did was make me hot and sweaty or turn to ice if it was cold enough. The Foxwear jacket has been the perfect solution, warm, breathes well, and blocks the wind.

It's about 5 degrees F. currently here in the Ogden Valley and I'm getting ready to head out for at least a two hour ride wearing my foxwear. I know it's up to the task.

Yeah, your other thread is what motivated me to check out foxwear. They seem like the perfect solution. I know wool is supposedly magic, but i'm leaning towards foxwear right now.

My rain jacket just makes my arms super sweaty, which is what i'm really trying to avoid.

I've been wearinng the same Performance winter jerseys you have for the last 8 yrs. I love them. Your problem seems to be that you don't have a suitable wind blocking/breathable jacket to go over the top.

In temps down to freezing i wear the performance jersey with a Pearl Izumi Zephyr vest, and a Pearl Izumi Zephyr Jacket. Below freezing all the way down to minus zero, I just trade the Pearl Izumi Zephyr jacket for a Performance Gore Tex cycling jacket with pit zippers.

It is essentially just a heavier, less breathable jacket with exhaust. That is what it sounds like you need. Lou can probably hook you up or there are probably a lot of other good options. Keeping the torso warm is the easiest part of winter cycling. IMHO.

Yes, I've been thinking this too. I was hoping a wool sweater/jacket would help me stay warm and be able to handle a light rain. Maybe I need to be thinking more about wind blocking than just another layer though.

Great advice. I think i'll give lou a call on monday morning.

Most likely your rain jacket is not breathable enough. Many cycling rain jackets are meant to keep all of the rain out in 40-50 degree temperatures. Because getting soaked in these temps can cause hypothermia. So it's often better to keep the warm internal sweat completely separated from the outside cold water. This won't work in the cold. You have to have a cycling jacket made from eVent membrane or one of the newer Gore-tex equivalents. If you are a heavy sweater and ride hard. You may be better off with a non membrane fleece jacket that has a tightly knit smooth outer surface. So it is more breathable but offers enough wind resistance to keep you warm.

New Polartec fleece is wonderful and much warmer than wool. I have been very impressed with Polatec Power Stretch 200 waive tights, they are very light, very packable, very warm and very breathable. I do not have a Polartec jacket but I own a wool jersey and a t-shirt.
Wool does not smell though and synthetic fleece does.
For winter riding(warmth) I would go with Foxwear personally. Wool is for early spring, fall riding.

I also use eVent Shower Pass jacket that I use for cross country skiing and winter cycling, It is OK for that, but I would prefer more breathable and better insulating fleece jacket than the eVent jacket if it is dry and cold outside. The eVent jacket is great in cold/windy rain though.

Just wanted to add some additional insight into this thread. As a test I wore the Foxwear jacket on a rainy ride instead of my gortex. Temps were around 35F with steady rain and a 7 mph wind. Went for 20 miles and the jacket did get soaked with water although in the past it has repelled drizzle and snow just fine. Good news is that it seemed to retain it's warmth factor despite being soaked. I was quite comfortable for the whole ride despite the conditions.