What Waterproof Jacket

gelbvieh
gelbvieh Posts: 27
edited August 2009 in Road buying advice
Help, I live in New Zealand and am looking to buy a good waterproof jacket which offers some breathability for use in training and tour racing. However none of the top end jackets are available in NZ and I would need to bring one in from the UK. I am looking for something that can withstand heavy rain and is lightweight and packs down small, very small. I have sorted out 3 jackets so far the Gore Xenon Race Gore-tex waterproof jacket, the Gore Oxygen III Gore-tex Waterproof Jacket and the Vaude Pace eVent Jacket. What do people recommend?

Comments

  • calvjones
    calvjones Posts: 3,850
    Why not Ground Effect? They're based in NZ.
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    Strava is not Zen.
  • gelbvieh
    gelbvieh Posts: 27
    Great stuff, just too heavy and doesn't pack into a jersey pocket. Was looking for something under 300g.
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    For very light and very small see:

    Montane Featherlite
    Altura Pocket Rocket
    Altura Race Cape

    I've got the Montane and although it won't save you if the rain lasts a long time it is fine for short blasts. Cheap too. CRC have them I think. Wife has the Rocket which is basically the same but more cash.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • TheStone
    TheStone Posts: 2,291
    The Gore paclite range is brilliant (I think it included the Xenon, Oxygen etc)

    I went for the Cross, which is the MtB version as it fit me a bit better. Excellent jacket.
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  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    The Gore Xenon has stretchy panels and is therefore a nice, close unflappy fit - quite snug though
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    calvjones wrote:
    Why not Ground Effect? They're based in NZ.

    I thought you would have checked out GE, being in Kiwi-land mate!
  • gelbvieh
    gelbvieh Posts: 27
    Ground effect stuff is great but as it mainly caters for the mtn bike boys its jackets are a little loose fitting for racing in. Also you still get pretty sweaty in the hydrofoil. Love their baked alaska top though.
  • onthefells
    onthefells Posts: 157
    alright mate...out of those I'd go for the Vaude. A bit pricey but Event is as waterproof as goretex and definitely more breathable. it also weighs next to nothing so should fit in a jersey pocket easily
  • andrew_s
    andrew_s Posts: 2,511
    eVent is more breathable than Paclite, but makes for a slightly bulkier jacket. Neither are particularly small - think rolled up and stuffed in a bottle with the top cut off.

    Whatever you get, you'll get wet in if it's been raining a while and you are putting in a significant amount of effort. Breathable is limited even in non-waterproofs like the Montane Featherlite, and if it rains hard enough for long enough the surface of the fabric will wet out and stop what breathability there is.

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