Softshell Jacket

Bloz

Hi am looking for a softshell - I feel the cold but generally try to avoid riding in the rain, have already got a good waterproof. I was thinking about the Gore Phantom 2, dhb Windslam Roubaix, or the Giordana Silverline - anyone got any views about these good or bad ? Thanks.

styxd

Bloz wrote:

Hi am looking for a softshell - I feel the cold but generally try to avoid riding in the rain

So when do you actually ride your bike then?

Camus

I have some Giordana silverline bib knickers and the quality and fit are great, if that's any use. I'd imagine that carried to other products in the same line.

FatTed

I have the Gore phantom (not the 2) it is warm, less than 10 centigrade. MTB fit, I prefer the Rapha Winter Jersey.
If the phantom had zip vents it would be really good.

peat

I've got one of the Aldi £15 soft-shells. So good that i usually get too hot if ambient gets above 6/7 degrees. It's lovely, you don't feel the wind cutting through you like a knife.

flasher

FatTed wrote:

I have the Gore phantom (not the 2) it is warm, less than 10 centigrade. MTB fit, I prefer the Rapha Winter Jersey.
If the phantom had zip vents it would be really good.

?? it has zip off sleeves, and you're allowed to unzip them just a little bit

Phantom is a great general all-rounder, and fairly water resistant too. But buy a size smaller than normal as they come up quite large as they are MTB fit.

djm501

I also have an Aldi soft shell and it is excellent. However, I think these things were a one-off deal (maybe to be eventually repeated) were they not? Can you still get them? If so, I'm going back!

Robert72

try Decathlon, they had some on sale last week.

inkz

I have a Gore Phantom. I wear it with a merino base layer and haven't felt the cold yet, it's probably been down to about 1 or 2 degrees. On the days with the hardest rain in the summer I've stayed dry on my 15 minute commute, I reckon it'll probably keep me dry for double that but not much longer. Kept me warm for 50 miles on Sunday, not sure what the temp was prob about 5 degrees.

I wore it through autumn but with the sleeves off and then put the sleeves on as it got colder.

Probably my favourite bit of kit I own.

littleprawn

djm501 wrote:

I also have an Aldi soft shell and it is excellent. However, I think these things were a one-off deal (maybe to be eventually repeated) were they not? Can you still get them? If so, I'm going back!

+ 1 for Aldi Jacket. Wore mine at just below freezing with synthetic thick Cantebury baseline for the hour commute.

Have a friend who also has Gore Phantom and also rates this jacket too.

fevmeister

I have a pearl izumi one and its fantastic!

nferrar

Gore Phantom - good, fairly breathable, windproof and shower resistant. I rarely take the arms off mine but it's come in useful a couple of times. The cut is fairly generous (it's an MTB jacket really not a roadie one) so depending on your build it might be flappy in places.
Gore Xenon (softshell version) - similar to the Phantom but arms don't detach and is race cut
Assos Habu - very nice but not quite as warm as the Phantom (it's not designed to be though), race fit cut and amazingly breathable
Assos 851 Airblock - I bought mine in way too big a size so it suffers as a result, if I'd bought it the right size I don't think I'd wear the Phantom on the road anymore
Assos Bonka - not ridden in it yet but cut is great (mille for me ) and has some neat features
Altura Nightvision (softshell) - pretty average, more a commuter softshell IMO, good VFM though
Endura Stealth - waterproof but not very breathable, only use it when it's sub zero really

ricky1980

Gore Phantom 2 here with a nice warm baselayer and a fleece thermal jersey, i am pretty well insulated and not necessarily over heated. i commute 10miles each trip on a daily basis and does it around 35min with traffic and stopping so fairly decent speed. the bits i can't feel or rather are frozen in the last few days are my face, ears and nose...also my toes and fingers...must remember to wear overshoes and have thicker gloves :!:

sorry, not bothered with other ones as i just went to Gore cos it was heavily discounted and had awesome reviews. it is wind proof, breathable, but i still need to unzip the top bit otherwise i will be sweating hard. definitely can fend off a light drizzle, but heavier than that a race rain cape, which you have, will be needed over the top. unless you are willing to pay £200 for a proper gortech material shell jacket with fleece inside then i guess you need these layers. also layers offer versatility, so you can strip layers off as the weather changes.

ddraver

Endura Windchill Jacket is very popular with me and my riding buddies...Reasonably water resistant for light showers, lots of well placed vents and a nice fabric

Alternatively if you want something properly warm, try their Stealth Jackets, which are waterproof too. Those are proper (above Zero and you ll be too hot) warm!

Reane_Machine

Fevmeister wrote:

I have a pearl izumi one and its fantastic!

+1 for PI.

I got mine and it's changed my cycling life. I hated the wind chill but now my torso is the warmest part of me!

Only downside it that it's highlighted all the other areas that are colder

I got the Elite Barrier jacket and I wear it with a jersey and a tee shirt underneath, it's more than adequate even in this winter weather!