Reflective cycling jacket any recommendations?

TRADESIZE

I want a reflective jacket breathable waterproof(ish) for my 20 mile almost daily commute to work. There seems to be plenty of good jackets on the market, but I can find almost no reviews for any good reflective ones. anyone got any recommendations? can spend up up £75

cheers in advance

markybhoy67

http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/p ... ts_id=7278

Altura NIght Vision Jacket £48.49 delivered 8)

I have this and it's a great jacket

AndyManc

markybhoy67 wrote:

http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=7278

Altura NIght Vision Jacket £48.49 delivered 8)

I have this and it's a great jacket

I've got it as well, same price from Wiggle.

It's a nice WINTER jacket, with a good lining at a decent price.

It's 'breathability' isn't great .... but what jacket is.

markybhoy67

AndyManc wrote:

markybhoy67 wrote:

http://www.discountcyclesdirect.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=7278

Altura NIght Vision Jacket £48.49 delivered 8)

I have this and it's a great jacket

I've got it as well, same price from Wiggle.

It's a nice WINTER jacket, with a good lining at a decent price.

It's 'breathability' isn't great .... but what jacket is.

Andy, it is £58 at wiggle unless I am missing something.

To be honest, this is the only waterproof jacket that I have so can't compare it to anything else, but I like it because it is warm when I am on my commute at 05.30 (usually very cold in East Kilbride)

AndyManc

I'm sure I got it for under £50 from Wiggle a few months back .. but then again I'm a Wiggle platinum customer 8)

Thats what I mean by it being a WINTER jacket, it may prove too warm for some.

I also commute at 5:30am, at present I only use it when it's throwing it down, though I'm sure when winter sets in it will prove it's worth.

Of course , those that do find it too warm could just wear a t-shirt under it 8)

markybhoy67

AndyManc wrote:

I'm sure I got it for under £50 from Wiggle a few months back .. but then again I'm a Wiggle platinum customer 8)

Thats what I mean by it being a WINTER jacket, it may prove too warm for some.

I also commute at 5:30am, at present I only use it when it's throwing it down, though I'm sure when winter sets in it will prove it's worth.

Of course , those that do find it too warm could just wear a t-shirt under it 8)

LOL, I ain't that far of a good discount from wiggle myself

I always wear a couple of football tops under my jacket with the jacket zipped up, I have just got into cycling to lose weight so I am more than happy to be very warm as this helps to have a right good workout

TRADESIZE

thanks people, i've have taken your recommendation and just bought one, as I thought it represented the best value for money also, but i had to get xxl??? and i aint fat I start my commut nice and early too 615 am.

cheers

markybhoy67

TRADESIZE wrote:

thanks people, i've have taken your recommendation and just bought one, as I thought it represented the best value for money also, but i had to get xxl??? and i aint fat I start my commut nice and early too 615 am.

cheers

No problem, it is a great jacket

I got an xl and I thought it was a little tight at first, but now it is a very good fit.

I am 5'10 and now 15 stone 2 pounds , although back in June I was nearly 17 stone :oops:

Me like cycling now 8)

Surf-Matt

Got one too - it is indeed a great jacket.

Have a much more hi tech (£250) one for hiking/post surf warming and although more breathable, the difference isn't vast.

However the expensive one looks cooler....

http://www.finisterreuk.com/technicalsu ... 0-c26.html

Think Altura do some great kit at the lower end of the price range.

UnworthyPapaLazaru

What a hood!

toshmund

I have the Night Vision too, you do have the option of the "pit-zips". Some people seem to disparage the zips (Napoleon pocket/back pocket), have not had a problem with mine though. The Castelli Solo looks to be the next investment...anyone with any experience of Castelli gear?

ris

my last night vision lasted 2 years then the inner coating started peeling and i got bl00dy wet. i was quite impressed with it until then but i'm not sure i'd replace it with another. having said that, for 40quid it is a lot of jacket!

Wrath Rob

For £50 its a good jacket but definitely for winter riding and not for autumn/spring. Otherwise you'll end up as boil-in-the-bag cooked by the time you get to your destination.

I'm considering taking a punt on some Ground Effect gear. I've got their Baked Alaska jumper and its fantastic so I might go for one of their jackets.

biondino

Rob, tell me about the baked alaska? I've been eyeing it...

jonginge

Toshmund wrote:

The Castelli Solo looks to be the next investment...anyone with any experience of Castelli gear?

Oh yes, i have been known to buy some of their kit The Solo is a great jacket.
Basically, I think every bit of Castelli kit I've bought has been great (so much so that I was a bit disappointed with some 2007 Assos Uno shorts I bought in a sale earlier this year)

linsen

I have an Altura night vision. Very visible, very boil-in-the-bag but I quite like a cosy ride to work! Lettering is already coming off the sleeve though....

Gilbie

Been using the Endura Luminite. Very impressed with its breath ability, may be due to the pit zips which allow a good flow of air through. Incorporates a red LED light (flash mode only) which makes a good backup to your normal light. Most of my commute is off road so went for the black but the reflective panels really do show up well in car headlights.

Paid £69.00p - expensive but would recommend.

http://www.endura.co.uk/Product.aspx?de ... rod_id=229

m0scs

I recently bought a Gore Phantom Windstopper

http://www.gorebikewear.co.uk/remote/Sa ... 722558082A

Really lovely bit of kit. A bit too nice ot get hot and sweaty on a bike though.

TRADESIZE

while after just over a week of use the zip on the small pocket on my altera night vison coat has broken, thats disappointing on a jacket that cost me just over £50. Needless to say I will be taking the damn thing back. I'll be looking at your other recommendations posted so far, but please feel free to let me know of any others too.

commuterconvert

m0scs wrote:

I recently bought a Gore Phantom Windstopper

http://www.gorebikewear.co.uk/remote/Sa ... 722558082A

Really lovely bit of kit. A bit too nice ot get hot and sweaty on a bike though.

I would second this as a great jacket, I have one of these (yellow).
I actually wore it through all but the hottest days in summer with the sleeves removed & have now added a layer underneath for autumn. Last winter I managed all the way through with this jacket and one of the thicker helly hanson underlayers. So it really is a year round jacket for London temperatures.

It's not waterproof at all though, so I'm also looking for an upgrade to my waterproof option which is currently an altura night vision which I find unbearably sweaty. I'm thinking gore because their stuff lasts & seems worth the extra but I may go for endura.

Surf-Matt

What are you all wearing under you Altura Night Visions? Because I ride pretty hard and hardly sweat at all - I either wear a Finisterre long sleeved (when really cold) or Patagonia short sleeved wicking top (when a bit warmer).

£100 for a jacket that's not even waterproof seem ludicrous to me.

gabriel959

It might but you only have to look at the reviews to understand its quality and versatility (zip off arms). It is miles better than the Altura Night Vision, starting from the cut, going through the mateial and ending in its breathability. Build quality is an issue as well in the Alturas, a lot of people have complained about poor zips and similar stuff.

I reckon the Altura would do the job for the casual rider or for a person that doesn't sweat much naturally.

The Gore Phantom can be considered a 3 season jacket, the Altura can't. To top it off the Gore Phatom was awarded with 5 out of 5 stars by BikeRadar.

m0scs

gabriel959 wrote:

It might but you only have to look at the reviews to understand its quality and versatility (zip off arms). It is miles better than the Altura Night Vision, starting from the cut, going through the mateial and ending in its breathability. Build quality is an issue as well in the Alturas, a lot of people have complained about poor zips and similar stuff.

I reckon the Altura would do the job for the casual rider or for a person that doesn't sweat much naturally.

The Gore Phantom can be considered a 3 season jacket, the Altura can't. To top it off the Gore Phatom was awarded with 5 out of 5 stars by BikeRadar.

Im not a Gore fan as such and the Phantom is the first piece of their clothing I have bought. Saw it at Earls Court bike show and it seemed ideal for my purpose. I will now prob buy some more.

I had intended to buy a Rapha winter top but talked myself ot of it.

As far as Waterproof gear goes, I have a Montane light luminous jacket that will fold up into a ball and can be strapped to the seatpost. Im not a fan of Waterproof gear as it will obviously make you hot and sweaty if you are pushing it.

Ive got lots of Altura gear as well, summer tops and lycra shorts and leggings. Ive not had one of their jackets though. Polaris gear is not bad either, cheaper than most others.

damnedinflames

I guess I'm more on the budget end of the scale - but if there's a decathlon near you they do some good basic highvis jackets and gillet

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/ultra-lig ... -49818645/
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/fluoresce ... -49818781/

Surf-Matt

gabriel959 wrote:

It might but you only have to look at the reviews to understand its quality and versatility (zip off arms). It is miles better than the Altura Night Vision, starting from the cut, going through the mateial and ending in its breathability. Build quality is an issue as well in the Alturas, a lot of people have complained about poor zips and similar stuff.

I reckon the Altura would do the job for the casual rider or for a person that doesn't sweat much naturally.

The Gore Phantom can be considered a 3 season jacket, the Altura can't. To top it off the Gore Phatom was awarded with 5 out of 5 stars by BikeRadar.

I wear my Night Vision all year (except warm Summer/Spring/Autumn) from pouring rain to freezing fog. The Nevis I had before it served me for three years of daily commuting and distance MTBing. The cut is fine and I don't need arms that come off. The zips have never let me down and nothing has broken.

I wouldn't say I don't sweat much - maybe it's my good wicking clothes underneath? I have a decent jacket for walking/hiking/general use ( http://www.finisterreuk.com/technicalsu ... 0-c26.html ) that knocks the socks off any Gore-tex clothing for waterproof and breathability but find the Night Vision does everything I need it to for cycling. The tone of this is patronisation. I can afford a pricier jacket - I just don't need to spend any more. Same with many others.

Gore-tex is fine but ultimately has limited breathability and doesn't last long.

chrisberry

Try:

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Cycle-Clothing ... esstQQtZkm

Also have a website selling goods at about half stated rrp.

I have bought reflective jacket, very impressed for the price but obviously not a comparison with expensive jackets, and shorts and jerseys all good too.

BTW if buying off ebay checkout topcashback or other money back sites to get some of ebay's commission paid to you!

Chris

robbyn

I need to buy myself a water proof/ windproof jacket that is luminous. Has anyone experience of this jacket?

http://www.discountbicycles.co.uk/biz/p ... 19f54607f5

Robin

cjcp

Not me. I've got the Altura Night Vision. I think, whatever I wore, I'd sweat like a maniac.

FeynmanC

I just got one of these and rode 18 miles in some of the wettest rain and windiest wind I can remember on my first commute a few days ago.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Altur ... 360031864/



It kept me warm and dry for the 2 hours I was out in it (2 punctures included!)

I got mine for £80 on sale from my LBS, but it's £90 on wiggle and they don't have all sizes and colours at the moment.