I need a new wind/shower proof jacket asap!

CRAIGO5000

All ready this morning with my awesome Aldi jacket which is (was) absolutely superb and the bloody zip has gone! It was a YKK zipper so obviously decent but I must have had a faulty one? It's splayed open and won't lock up so I can't fasten it anymore. Ill probably get it repaired but I'm now in the market for a decent Gorewear style jacket which I need to buy from Evans tonight (as I can't wait for delivery and I have a voucher to redeem too)

I want: a dark colour, fitted, wind/shower proof whilst warm and breathable. My Aldi jacket did all of this. Even down to the recent 0degC I only needed a thin cotton T-Shirt underneath and I was nice and toasty without ever getting sweaty.

I wish I'd bought a few from Aldi now!

asprilla

Get a Countdown or an Alp-X; everyone who owns one raves about them, particularly as you can zip the sleeves off.

rolf_f

CRAIGO5000 wrote:

All ready this morning with my awesome Aldi jacket which is (was) absolutely superb and the bloody zip has gone! It was a YKK zipper so obviously decent but I must have had a faulty one? It's splayed open and won't lock up so I can't fasten it anymore. Ill probably get it repaired but I'm now in the market for a decent Gorewear style jacket which I need to buy from Evans tonight (as I can't wait for delivery and I have a voucher to redeem too)

I'm beginning to wonder about YKK zips as I have a couple of Aldi tops where the zips feel a little tricky.

Might be worth seeing if your local Millets or TKMaxx have anything as both will be cheap and I struggle to see the need to spend more than I did on my Aldi lightweight wind proofs.

meanredspider

I don't understand the blind faith in YKK zips - I've had just as much trouble on the past with YKK as any other brand. They are common but that doesn't make them good.

suzyb

The zip on my Aldi jacket went last winter. The bottom came away from the jacket itself and got progressivly worse to the point I couldn't zip it up.

Ended up getting a local shop to replace the zip which cost me as much as the jacket did in the first place

veronese68

YKK are a huge manufacturer. I'm sure they make more than 1 quality of zip. I doubt that Aldi buy their premium quality.

rolf_f

Veronese68 wrote:

YKK are a huge manufacturer. I'm sure they make more than 1 quality of zip.

If they want to protect their brand image, they wouldn't deliberately produce crap zips - there is a difference between different qualities and whether or not an item is fit for purpose. Given that they know what shape to make the teeth, the only real remaining variable is the plastic and there is no excuse not to make that durable. There is really no excuse.

tetm

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gore-bike-wear/ozon-wind-stopper-long-sleeve-jersey-ec024438?query=ozon#features

I have, is awesome.

meanredspider

Rolf F wrote:

Veronese68 wrote:

YKK are a huge manufacturer. I'm sure they make more than 1 quality of zip.

If they want to protect their brand image, they wouldn't deliberately produce crap zips - there is a difference between different qualities and whether or not an item is fit for purpose. Given that they know what shape to make the teeth, the only real remaining variable is the plastic and there is no excuse not to make that durable. There is really no excuse.

That's a vast over simplification. Different plastics cost different amounts, mould maintenance, cavitation, moulding conditions, tolerances on moulding, tooth placement, quality of zip backing fabric, quality of the zip pull etc etc If it was easy, every zip company would be as good as the other.

rolf_f

meanredspider wrote:

That's a vast over simplification. Different plastics cost different amounts, mould maintenance, cavitation, moulding conditions, tolerances on moulding, tooth placement, quality of zip backing fabric, quality of the zip pull etc etc If it was easy, every zip company would be as good as the other.

Absolutely - but YKK know all these poinst and have a reputation to protect. The only variable for YKK should be materials and there is no excuse not to make things not fit for purpose. A zip that develops defective teeth in only a few uses shouldn't really be made at all but if a supposedly decent manufacturer has to do it, if they had sense they'd sully a different brand name.

porlyworly

Slightly off topic but are the aldi cycling jackets any good? Noticed my local aldi has a few in stock but (wrongly?) assumed it would be cheap tat. Didn't check the brand name.

sketchley

I have http://www.pro-bike.co.uk/jackets-/2362 ... acket.html very good indeed. Also Gore Phantom gets great review but tight fit didn't work for me....

PBo

CRAIGO5000 wrote:

All ready this morning with my awesome Aldi jacket which is (was) absolutely superb and the bloody zip has gone! It was a YKK zipper so obviously decent but I must have had a faulty one? It's splayed open and won't lock up so I can't fasten it anymore. Ill probably get it repaired but I'm now in the market for a decent Gorewear style jacket which I need to buy from Evans tonight (as I can't wait for delivery and I have a voucher to redeem too)

I want: a dark colour, fitted, wind/shower proof whilst warm and breathable. My Aldi jacket did all of this. Even down to the recent 0degC I only needed a thin cotton T-Shirt underneath and I was nice and toasty without ever getting sweaty.

I wish I'd bought a few from Aldi now!

at the risk of sounding nanny like, are you sure you want a dark colour at this time of year? i'm not saying you have to go dayglo, but my own experience (ie highly scientific sample of one!) even with lights, it's much harder to see the darkly clad cyclist.

If you have reflective strips and super lights, then fair enough....just a thought.

pangolin

I have the black one of these, which I like a lot. More visible colours are available!

http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/product/42934/Surface_Pertex_Jacket
http://www.surface-clothing.com/pertex.php

The tapes seams and i-port are lies, but the rest is true.

wyadvd

my fave is the endura windchill. Ive been on 2 hr rides in constant driving rain in feb, and still been warm and comfortable. and it looks like it might go through a third or fourth season. only slight prob, the reflectives are washing away! no biggie

rolf_f

PorlyWorly wrote:

Slightly off topic but are the aldi cycling jackets any good? Noticed my local aldi has a few in stock but (wrongly?) assumed it would be cheap tat. Didn't check the brand name.

I've done over 15,000 miles in Aldi jerseys, softshell jackets and windproofs.

I find - the jerseys are a bit long for me - puts the pockets a bit low down but I use them mainly for commuting and don't use the pockets. Plus I have a relatively short torso so really just me.

The jerseys I got a couple of years ago tend to end up with unstitched cuffs (for long sleeve). Doesn't look great but doesn't fray any worse either. More recent ones seem to be better.

The material bobbles a bit eg around where my rucksack straps go but so does expensive stuff.

Otherwise hard to fault. I can't think of anything to complain about with the softshell jackets (which are excellent).

lostboysaint

Gore Phantom on a 40% off deal at "they who must be blamed" at the moment...........

medoramas

Slightly OT, but as far as I know Aldi's stuff have YCC zips, not YKK... It's totally different brand.