Rain jacket

Citizen Smith · May 2009

Apologies if this has already been discussed elsewhere but I would really like to get a very lightweight, compact rain jacket for those times when mother nature decides to give us a soaking...

Currently my shortlist stands as follows:

Montane Featherlite Vélo Jacket
http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails.php?productid=104&rid=9

Castelli Velo Jacket
http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=C8513

Campagnolo Heritage Ultralight Windproof Jacket
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Campagnolo_Heritage_Ultralight_Windproof_Jacket/5360035408/

I believe LiT & Blondie are advocates of the Montane but any thoughts/experience of any these would be much appreciated and any other suggestions as well. Thanks.

il_principe · May 2009

The Montane. I'm sure the Castelli would be good though.

lost_in_thought · May 2009

They all seem pretty similar but for the fact that you can pick up a Montane for a lot less than the other two! I love mine, as you may already know...

artaxerxes · May 2009

Montane Featherlite Velo is DoublePlusGood!

Also have you thought of Lusso jackets like the HT50? They are made in the UK at least.

Edit: Lusso Aqua Jacket

jamesco · May 2009

You can get the Montane Velo for £30 here. I'd tell you something about mine except that they haven't delivered it, yet

sarajoy · May 2009

If there are any of those tiny wee packaway cycle jackets left at Aldi, it's not bad...! £13

itboffin · May 2009

SiHughes wrote:

Apologies if this has already been discussed elsewhere but I would really like to get a very lightweight, compact rain jacket for those times when mother nature decides to give us a soaking...

Currently my shortlist stands as follows:

Montane Featherlite Vélo Jacket
http://www.montane.co.uk/productdetails.php?productid=104&rid=9

Castelli Velo Jacket
http://www.probikekit.com/display.php?code=C8513

Campagnolo Heritage Ultralight Windproof Jacket
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Campagnolo_Heritage_Ultralight_Windproof_Jacket/5360035408/

I believe LiT & Blondie are advocates of the Montane but any thoughts/experience of any these would be much appreciated and any other suggestions as well. Thanks.

I have the Castelli & the Campag the latter looks better but is very poorly made for the money, not as you'd expect made in Italy, the Castelli is a thing of beauty but they're both comfortable, I will most likely be wearing the campy tomorrow if you're going to the Morpeth.

prawny · May 2009

sarajoy wrote:

If there are any of those tiny wee packaway cycle jackets left at Aldi, it's not bad...! £13

+1 to that used mine this morning for the first time, impressed. No taped seams so it wont hold off a proper soaking though.

Also had a look at the Mavic Helium in evans yesterday, if I had £65 I might have gone for one.

the_hundredth_idiot · May 2009

Another vote for the Montane.

The Campag jacket looks pretty smart - half wishing I'd bought that instead of the Montane, although the Campag is quite a lot more expensive.

But I bought the Montane on the back of the recommendations on here and have been pretty pleased with it, although it's only been used in anger a couple of times. It packs down very small (so I can keep it at the bottom of my bag) and seems to keep the rain out - pretty much all I want from a waterproof jacket.

EssexSuffolk · May 2009

Go for the Montane, great bit of kit! I've sung its praises before.

Matt_westmids · May 2009

Think I might get myself a Montane looking outside could probably do with it now.

Citizen Smith · May 2009

As I am addicted to Castelli...ended up plumping for this and also because I managed to find it for a bargain £38 squid.

itboffin · May 2009

SiHughes wrote:

As I am addicted to Castelli...ended up plumping for this and also because I managed to find it for a bargain £38 squid.

Now you can't say things like that and not tell us where, spill the beans.

pllb · May 2009

itboffin wrote:

SiHughes wrote:

As I am addicted to Castelli...ended up plumping for this and also because I managed to find it for a bargain £38 squid.

Now you can't say things like that and not tell us where, spill the beans.

It's here for £39.99 http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... acket_2008

AndyManc · May 2009

I HATE websites like Winstanley bikes :evil:

You pick what you want ...... go to checkout then they make you spend 30 minutes filling in forms and creating accounts .... ARGGGGGhhhhhhhh :evil:

Just let me put my postcode in and my credit card details and let me buy ffs :evil:

I never bother with sites like that.

.

pllb · May 2009

AndyManc wrote:

I HATE websites like Winstanley bikes :evil:

You pick what you want ...... go to checkout then they make you spend 30 minutes filling in forms and creating accounts .... ARGGGGGhhhhhhhh :evil:

Just let me put my postcode in and my credit card details and let me buy ffs :evil:

I never bother with sites like that.

.

Sorry mate, I now feel personally responsible

AndyManc · May 2009

No no ...... you just saved me £40

.

pllb · May 2009

AndyManc wrote:

No no ...... you just saved me £40

.

Yay Me!

Stone Glider · May 2009

+1 the Montane.

I note that the Castelli is "highly breatable", an interesting facility :?

Citizen Smith · May 2009

itboffin wrote:

SiHughes wrote:

As I am addicted to Castelli...ended up plumping for this and also because I managed to find it for a bargain £38 squid.

Now you can't say things like that and not tell us where, spill the beans.

I found it here: http://www.parker-international.co.uk/7138/Castelli-Velo-Jacket.html

cjcp · May 2009

Dagnabbit! Can't decide between teh Castelli and Montane!

SlightlyFuzzy · May 2009

Hey folks,

I tried to resist, but my geeky-streak got the better of me!;

I've got the Montane featherlight smock - which I believe is the same as the bike specific top, without the full zip.
I've been very impressed with it - both on the bike and walking in the hills - definitely wind proof up to 40/50MPH or so and very water 'resistant'.
It's not 'waterproof' though. In fact, I don't think any of the three originally stated are classified as 'waterproof' - more 'resistant'.
(And here's the geeky bit...) That's the compromise isn't it? - being a bit of an equipment nerd I've looked into these things - a 'waterproof' will stop rain coming in, but you'll sweat more during exercise and get soaked by your sweat condensing (even in Goretex/E-vent).... A 'water resistant windproof' is way more breathable and will keep most of the moisture out. Any rain that does soak through (and any sweat) has more opportunity to evaporate due to the material being more breathable.
You will feel more comfortable in a 'windproof' for this reason, especially if you wear a good 'wicking' top underneath it as it will transport moisture to the surface where it can evaporate.
Also - you're more likely to feel cold/uncomfortable through wind-chill, especially when you are wet. In which case; wearing a 'windproof' your body will warm surface moisture quickly (esp during exercise - this is how wetsuits work) so you are 'damp, warm and evaporating', rather than 'waterproof, sweaty (i.e. wet anyway) and (probably) overheating'.

Damn my geekiness.... I'm sure I could have explained this better (in fact - I should've just linked to this in the first place 'cos, if you have a look around, it will explain it a lot better than I can!; http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/index.htm - no I don't work for them)

Have I just confused things?!

SF

AndyManc · May 2009

Dont you just hate the word 'Smock' !!! :roll:

.

cjcp · May 2009

SlightlyFuzzy wrote:

Hey folks,

I tried to resist, but my geeky-streak got the better of me!;

I've got the Montane featherlight smock - which I believe is the same as the bike specific top, without the full zip.
I've been very impressed with it - both on the bike and walking in the hills - definitely wind proof up to 40/50MPH or so and very water 'resistant'.
It's not 'waterproof' though. In fact, I don't think any of the three originally stated are classified as 'waterproof' - more 'resistant'.
(And here's the geeky bit...) That's the compromise isn't it? - being a bit of an equipment nerd I've looked into these things - a 'waterproof' will stop rain coming in, but you'll sweat more during exercise and get soaked by your sweat condensing (even in Goretex/E-vent).... A 'water resistant windproof' is way more breathable and will keep most of the moisture out. Any rain that does soak through (and any sweat) has more opportunity to evaporate due to the material being more breathable.
You will feel more comfortable in a 'windproof' for this reason, especially if you wear a good 'wicking' top underneath it as it will transport moisture to the surface where it can evaporate.
Also - you're more likely to feel cold/uncomfortable through wind-chill, especially when you are wet. In which case; wearing a 'windproof' your body will warm surface moisture quickly (esp during exercise - this is how wetsuits work) so you are 'damp, warm and evaporating', rather than 'waterproof, sweaty (i.e. wet anyway) and (probably) overheating'.

Damn my geekiness.... I'm sure I could have explained this better (in fact - I should've just linked to this in the first place 'cos, if you have a look around, it will explain it a lot better than I can!; http://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/index.htm - no I don't work for them)

Have I just confused things?!

SF

SF - tidy

. The waterproof/overheating problem is the one that causes me problems on long rides. The Montane it is.

Citizen Smith · May 2009

Nice work SF.... you expressed it well. This was the conclusion I had come to and why I wasn't after waterproofs! 8)

SlightlyFuzzy · May 2009

Yey! Go the geek-streak! Glad to impart.
And yes AM, you're right - for some reason the word 'smock', for me, either conjures up a mental image of a 70's era baggy floral dress for maternal women, or a guy wearing something akin to a sack (standing in front of a pottery wheel!?).
And God only knows where those images come from?! :shock:

tardington · May 2009

From reality of course! Unless that first one was a caftan?

I personally hate the word because it was the subject of various Calvin and Hobbes comic strips. Oh god how I hate C&H.

SlightlyFuzzy · May 2009

At what length does a smock become a caftan, I wonder?
*off to scour the internet*

coastguard · May 2009

My favourite is the Velo. Packs away tiny, really comfortable on abike and able to handle all but serious rain.
Got my Velo from here:

Montane Velo

aba2005 · July 2009

Is the normal featherlite better than the H2O as i've just orderd a H2O which i'd want to cancel is the normal one is better. Also does anyone have experience of the Velocity DT?

Thanks

wantaway · July 2009

how very handy, I need to buy a rain jacket today and here is a thread giving me all sorts of advice. Magic.

I was all set to buy a montane for £30 but am tempted by the Castelli, partly because I need a waterproof coat to use for more than cycling and the Castelli looks nicer (yes, I reallyI am that shallow)

However it seems to clain to be splash proof. I tend to do my Commuting in Manchester, The rain up here is not as polite as it must be in the world of Castelli as up here it tends to soak you rather than give you a playful splash.

is the Montane the practical sensible slightly duller option?

Rain jacket

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