Whats the BEST rain jacket?

bigpikle
bigpikle Posts: 1,690
edited December 2011 in Road buying advice
Looking for something lightweight, packable, fitted and not flappy, pretty good at keeping you dry for a couple of hours and most of all BREATHABLE...

Read some good things about the Rapha jacket and I have a 20% discount code that might help me here, and also the Gore Oxygen AS, but not personally tried either. What are people's recommendations please?

I have a couple of very lightweight flappy things that just arent breathable enough for me and turn into a tent when you where them, and a really good fitted jacket thats plenty waterproof but not good at breathing, so am looking for a really god quality jacket that meets the criteria above. Breathable is more important than absolute water repelling.

Thanks
Your Past is Not Your Potential...

Comments

  • My Rapha Rain Jacket turned up this morning. Haven't had the chance to use it in anger yet so I can't fully comment, but it oozes class - it's anything but an expensive pastic bag. Fit is great (nice long arms) material looks like it's going to be up to the job and it's made from a fabric that I can tell won't flap about. The usual Rapha attention to detail is all there too. I went for the red and as ajb72 pointed out pre purchase, it's a lovely deep colour. It'll roll up, not scrunch up into a ball for storage.

    As I said, not tried it in the rain yet, but from a purely observational/fit perspective it's ace!

    Used a 15% code myself so it takes the sting off ;-)
  • bigpikle
    bigpikle Posts: 1,690
    I have an old Rapha lightweight softshell that has had loads of use and is a superb jacket, and I grabbed a bargain Rapha gilet in the summer sale this year and have been mighty impressed by that as well. Their rain jacket looks good with some good reviews as well, but I'm wondering if there is anything better out there at a lower price?

    Just saw some info on a Craft Performance rain jacket which also looks great at half the price as well...
    Your Past is Not Your Potential...
  • Bozman
    Bozman Posts: 2,518
    Gore Bike wear, goretex jackets, go and try them(different styles/fits) on and get a good fit, i've tried quite a few rain jackets and i find their goretex about as breatheable as you get.
  • danowat
    danowat Posts: 2,877
    It's an impossible ask IMO, you are looking for something that doesn't exist, there isn't a waterproof on the market that is both waterproof, and breathable enough to expell anywhere near enough moisture that is produced by even the most moderate effort level of cycling.

    You've two options, wear a waterproof breathable and accept you will get wet (and cold) from the inside, or wear a decent windproof jacket and get wet from the outside, but you'll remain warmer (in my experiance).
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    The Sportful Gore-Tex jacket is pro-team quality and significantly cheaper if bought from storeforcyling in Italy. If I didn't have 4 other waterproofs, I'd probably go for that. The good thing about Gore is that they quality-assure all manufacturers and offer a warranty. Heard too much about Raphas variable quality to want one, never mind their 'image' problem - beside, I'm too old-school for Rapha.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Wore my Gore Active Shell in a torrential downpour last night. Stayed dry as bone.
  • Scrumple
    Scrumple Posts: 2,665
    Got a gore oxygen in blue for sale - good nick - size L if you want one?

    (thr goretex paclite one)

    Best fit I have found for a bike waterproof.
  • castelli aero rain jacket - brand new, pro tested, fully waterproof yet fitted. Beautiful! AND better value than rapha etc.
  • I've got a gore active shell and quite simply its performance has blown me away. 1st jacket I've ever had that actually breaths enough for running and cycling...I'm a very happy camper :)
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