My trusty wind shell died a natural death after many years of hard service and I'm looking for a replacement. In winter I wear a base layer, a mid-layer, a down vest, and a wind shell.

I've been a bit surprised by how little I've been able to find. I guess pretty much everything is some form of breathable rain gear but I like a non-treated wind shell. I find that they breathe right and work very well for winter.

Any other suggestions for a windshell? I'm curious as to what other people wear as an outer shell for winter. I've managed to avoid the heavy parka thing but maybe that should be an option as well. I prefer layers though.

Edit: I'm curious in the outer layer that people use when the temp starts moving into the teens (fahrenheit) and below.

I use either a windproof fleece vest or a New Balance running jacket with a wind block panels on the front and a mesh knit type of fabric on the back. I would sweat too much with a wind shell.

I was hoping to find something that isn't treated so as to maximize breathability. It's colder by and large in the midwest than in Boston (I used to live there). So I've been relying on a base layer, a mid base, and a shell of some type. But I'd really like to avoid a waterproof/breathable outer layer because it doesn't breathe as well as a wind shell,

Based on your link to the LL Bean anorak I'm sensing that we may have different tastes in cycling gear, but I have been using the Bontrager RL Convertible Softshell Jacket for the last two years. I got it big enough to wear a few layers underneath so it has a temperature range from about 20-55F. Below 20 I switch to a gore tex shell, but I have become a big fan of the softshell material. My only cycling jacket with a hood is a gore raincoat with a removable hood that I have never actually used in real life.

Not a different taste; that anorak is old school and technology has changed a lot. I just like an outer layer that is designed primarily to deal with wind, not rain for riding in really cold weather. But maybe I need to rethink through my layering system.

Some of the outer gear I've seen is so light that it doesn't do a great job with wind and when it is below freezing I want something to deal with the wind.

I edited my initial post to do a better job of getting at my question. An outer shell is a pretty big deal, I think, in really cold weather. Rain isn't an issue when it drops below freezing so I'm thinking more along the lines of a windshell.

I use 2 thin wool with wind panels as outer-layers-windshell. Icebreaker blast and Smartwool pHd HyFi. The true outer layer being the blast.


I also have 2 nearly identical thin wool baselayers one being sleeveless.
In between i sandwiched 2 thin wool mild-layers, one with hood.
So it's 2 - 2 - 2 system.
Bulk is minimum (the whole system is 1/2inch thick) and warmth is maximum. Goes from 60F to -40F.

I also have a waterproof-breathable jacket that breath nearly as good as a windshell but like any other synthetic jackets... it smells... which i don't like.
Was on Goretex for 10 years before going for more technical gear like LG Massimo 2 and Sugoi Firewall 180. The latest being the blast and Hyfi. No turning back.

I use one of these

:
Darien Jacket - Darien - Jackets & Pants :: Aerostich/RiderWearHouse Motorcycle Jackets, Suits, Clothing, & Gear

Totally Fred, but it has shoulder and elbow pads. I bought it for my motorcycle, but works well for Winter riding.

The last few days I've been experimenting with something that has worked well. I have an O2 rain shell that's pretty form fitting. Calhoun Jacket (hi-viz yellow) | O2 Rainwear. My first layer is a very light long sleeve Merino wool T-neck. Over that I wear the 02 shell (breathable, but as with any "breathable" shell it's more about feeling a little less uncomfortable than actually pumping out all the moisture). Over that I wear a Mavic L'Equipe jacket. Mavic Equipe Cycling Jacket Large Blue | BicycleBuys.com. I'm quite comfortable at 15F. Comfortable enough, I'm sure, that 5F or so wouldn't be a problem. The 02 shell basically operates as a VBL, the Merino piece keeps me from feeling like I'm wearing a Ziploc and the Mavic shell supplies what little insulation I need.

Any thin mountaineering shell should work. They are generally made with longer sleeves and a rear that is long enough for coverage.

I have never used a cycling specific wind-shell in cold weather and do not see the need.

EDIT TO ADD: After looking at available shells, I will add that I think these are necessary features:

1. Stowable hood. Even if it just rolls up somehow.
1.2 A hood big enough to fit over your helmet if you ever needed to do something so crazy.
1.3 Hood has various adjustments, probably shock cord and preferably one-hand-operable
2. Long enough "neck" that you still get coverage in the drops.
3. Cinchable waist, preferably one-hand operable
3.1 A powder skirt works also but you need to be able to adjust it from the saddle
4. Two way zipper (can unzip from the bottom)
4.1 A wind-proof zipper, not one of those set-ups that has a velcro flap over the zipper. Just a zipper.
5.1 no snaps, buttons, or other annoying fasteners
5. Long pit zips which can be operated with one had.
6. Adjustable wrist cuffs, probably velcro
7. Big zipper pulls (easy to add later)
8. No added insulation

Another option (though it really doesn't accommodate a puffy vest) is to use a cross-country skiing jacket. I picked one up at a thrift store two winters ago, and have been very happy. Basically, it is stretchy material on the back, which vents very well, but the front in fairly wind-resistant. Tight cuffs and an athletic fit keep wind from blowing up from below. I ride (with varied layers underneath) down to about 0F with this setup, though I run warmer than most. I agree; windproof is where it is at during the winter; I rarely need to reach for my rain jacket (though I occasionally do when there is heavy snowfall near freezing).

My Altura Night vision shell ticks the boxes for me. It has pit zips, a little flasher in the back, the standard pockets, nice lining to keep the wind/waterproof (mostly - a down pour gets through) layer off my skin. Its light, and its bright yellow with lots of reflective panels. Ideal for any season except summer and then at night its very useful as well.

Starting by stating my internal thermostat and tolerance for cold seems to be set a lot lower than most people's. So you have a point of reference, I keep my house at 55F when I'm moving about, and 60F if I'm lazing about, and am perfectly comfortable.

Wind shell: I've had great luck with Novara's wind/rain shells made from Event Fabric, and highly recommend them. I'm on my second one (the first was durable, just well used). The current one has generous pit zips, and a quail pouch, but no other pockets. Layering this over a wool Ibex thingie, or an old fleece is working great this year, although the lowest temps I've seen so far have been 18F.

Edit to add: I also wear the same shell in the summer, and the old one had no pit zips. I found breathability to be better than all but my very expensive Ac'teryx mountaineering shells.

Voler Jet HiViz. It's exactly what you want. I've worn mine on a 70 mile ride at 36° and raining hard the whole way. Sometimes I use it as just a wind shell, but not usually. I mostly put it on when it's raining. It's the size of a Navel orange when crushed.
Voler: Jet Men's Wind Jacket

I don't see it offered anymore, but I have a convertible Jacket/vest from specialized. It's just a polyester wind jacket. The zippers for removing the arms and back panel (which reveals a mesh back on the top) effectively act as pit-zips. The front zipper has a panel behind it to block wind and has the dual zipper so you can unzip from the bottom. The bottom zipper is great for venting or getting a comfortable fit when leaning over (if you have a short torso). It has a front, external chest pocket (good for the phone) and a rear pocket. Velcro around the wrists.

Vest with long-sleeve running jersey (+ headband) down to 45, add sleeves down to 30 (swap headband for windproof neck gaiter and skull cap), add another layer if it'd colder.

Densely woven nylon is quite wind proof .. all else put a Few sheets of newspaper under your wool jersey , that what the pros did..

People use tablets these days. Doesn't work as good as newspaper

glass [touchscreen] is quite windproof .

Do people still read newsprint?

Agree about the woven nylon; not so easy to find though. Technology has moved on.

no more nylon on your planet?

Have you used the jacket when it's sub 20 degrees?

Nope. Around here, when it's that cold it's studded tires time. Not going to run a special bike and tires for maybe 3 days/year. Riders here mostly don't ride when it's below 40 at 10 am. Excellent chance of a broken clavicle.

That said, I grew up in Fairbanks and delivered papers on foot at 65° below. What worked best at that temperature 60 years ago was quilted dacron underwear on top over wool long johns, with solid felt shoes over 3 pair of wool socks on the feet. Windproof and thick. Today it would be a down parka and pants or down suit. Certainly nothing water resistant. That would be silly.

I doubt the Voler jacket would be particularly wonderful at extreme temperatures: it fits relatively closely, so not possible to get the 2" of insulation that one would like. What you'd want would be something like this:
Mountain Hardwear Chillwave Down Parka - Men's

I've used this over fleece jackets and long sleeve jerseys. It seems to fit the description you are looking for.

Canari Eclipse Convertible Jacket

cycling rain jacket and just work with the ventilation system, pit zips, back vent and front zip. layer wisely. you probably wouldn't need that down

Odd. When I walk into any bike shop, they've got enough of the kind of windshell you are talking about that you practically stumble over. Pearl Izumi Select Barrier jacket, Performance Transformer, Performance Windflow, Bellweather Velocity, and Sugoi Helium are just a few. I'd suspect that you'll find jackets that you are looking for if you look down line for just about any clothing maker. The high end stuff is going to be water proof and breathable while the lower end stuff isn't.

I've always preferred windshells over rainproof stuff because of their superior breathability. Pretty much everything now has some degree of waterproofness now. There is a trade-off between how waterproof a garment is and how breathable it is so I was curious as to what others use.