Rapha Rain Jacket vs Gore Xenon

hangsheadinshame

Hi,
Can anyone with either (or both!!) of these rain jackets help give me a steer. I want something that keeps the rain out for longish rides. Say 3-4 hours. Something that remains very windproof even when wet.

I know that all rain jackets are boil in the the bag compared to soft shells but I really am sick of that feeling, after an hour of constant rain, when the softshell gives up the ghost and gets saggy and wet and heavy.

Out of the two I guess I'd like to know which one that is best at keeping me dry and warm without cooking my goose. If there is parity between the two I reckon the Rapha looks nicer, but that only matters if it performs as well.

Cheers

rokkala

In time-honoured bikeradar forum tradition, i will not pick between the two but just give you another option Endura Stealth!

I was looking seriously at both of those that you mentioned but ended up getting the Stealth. Have had it a few weeks now and been on a few 2hr rides in heavy rain with just it and a baselayer and nothing has got through, don't know about longer though.

I know Ant on these forums has one and he seems to love it and can probably comment about longer duration rides in it. But it looks decent, has good zips for ventilation, windproof, waterproof, softshell inner so keeps you warm. If you listen to music when riding then it is ideal as it has a napoleon pocket with internal routing for ipod cable, which neither of the two you mention has.

Both still seem to be v good jackets tho!

Garry H

hangsheadinshame wrote:

Hi,
Can anyone with either (or both!!) of these rain jackets help give me a steer. I want something that keeps the rain out for longish rides. Say 3-4 hours. Something that remains very windproof even when wet.

I know that all rain jackets are boil in the the bag compared to soft shells but I really am sick of that feeling, after an hour of constant rain, when the softshell gives up the ghost and gets saggy and wet and heavy.

Out of the two I guess I'd like to know which one that is best at keeping me dry and warm without cooking my goose. If there is parity between the two I reckon the Rapha looks nicer, but that only matters if it performs as well.

Cheers

There's probably nothing much between the two, performance-wise, so I would pick the one that fits best (or the cheapest, or the most bling...). It's quite possible that the material is exactly the same on both. Gore Tex is both Wind and water "proof". If you sweat, then you'll get wet, whichever one you wear. Oh, and Gore Tex has a lifetime guarantee which, anecdotal evidence suggests, they always honour.

JonEdwards

Can't comment on either the jackets mentioned, but I've found that the best fabric for waterproof/windproof/breathability combinatoin is eVent. It's not 100% waterproof, although it's pretty good. It has the best breathability, and it dries out very quickly. A good wicking layer (or 2) underneath, and it's the best I've found.

I have a Pace 3x3 jacket. Endura do one too though.

GyatsoLa

I can't comment on either, but this months C+ has what seems to have been a pretty comprehensive review of waterproof jackets. The Xenon got 7, the Rapha, 6. Both marked down for being overpriced.

The highest rated, with a '9' is the PBK Neutron.

onthefells

got the Rapha rain jacket and its good. keeps the rain out and importantly for me its very packable. fits in a back pocket easily. also its very thin so equally good as a windproof. extremely well made, sealed seams plus the fabric down the sides is the same as the Stowaway so its more breathable.

can't comment on the gore jacket but I've used their stuff in the past for running and its also very good. all I would say is I'd bet the gore jacket doesn't fit as easily in a back pocket so that may be worth checking.

Monty Dog

The Rapha jacket won't be GoreTex - Gore insist that all producers are licensed and meet their quality standards in terms of design and test - if Gore don't think it's good enough, they won't let you sell it. In my mind, Gore products are some of the best made and are backed-up by a good warranty - if it starts leaking due to material failure, they'll give you a new one. Depends on how much 'premium' you attach to having 'Rapha' across your arse, as opposed to knowing that it works?

APIII

From memory, they both scored pretty well in the recent test in C+

red dragon

I had my Stealth on today, outstanding. Base layer, thin long sleeved jersey and the jacket. Very good.

Garry H

Monty Dog wrote:

The Rapha jacket won't be GoreTex - Gore insist that all producers are licensed and meet their quality standards in terms of design and test - if Gore don't think it's good enough, they won't let you sell it. In my mind, Gore products are some of the best made and are backed-up by a good warranty - if it starts leaking due to material failure, they'll give you a new one. Depends on how much 'premium' you attach to having 'Rapha' across your ars*, as opposed to knowing that it works?

I think you can still buy Gore Tex fabric by the metre square, you just won't be able to label it as such. Agree on the warranty part, pretty good, I've known people to have had 2 or 3 jackets replaced under the warranty. Personally, I don't find it very breathable and much prefer eVent fabric. Having said that, I haven't bought any of the newer generation Gore Tex garments.

Scrumple

I still can't work out how the Gore Xenon is different to the Gore Oxygen (not SO version).

Both are paclite, and just cosmetic differences???

LBS has no Xenons and I have an oxygen, just wondering what the Xenon has that I don't?!!

Help?