Can anyone recommend a good jacket for cycling?

roadtraveller

Obviously want it to be wind and wet proof. Light weight and with a hood and reflective stripes would be good as well.

Gizmodo

Seriously, a hood? Why? Can't you get your hair wet?

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/gore-bike-wear-phantom-20-convertible-softshell-jacket-2012/
Or see
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/clothing/jackets

cougie

Hoods and bikes aren't a good mix. I've seen triathletes racing - all the kit. Low pro bike. Aero helmets. Disc wheels. And then a jacket with a hood acting as a parachute.

lotus49

I bought an Altura Night Vision jacket recently and I am quite pleased with it. It's wind and waterproof, pretty visible in the dark (bright yellow with reflective stripes) and very lightweight.

Forget the hood though.

tomhowells

I can second the Altura night vision. I got it as a freebie when signing up for subscription of cycling plus magazine. It does exactly what it should! I also use it for running (I know, I know... :-) )

northpole

You would be better served if you outline the type of cycling you are contemplating and your approximate budget.

Personally, I don't try to get wind and water proof jackets - if it's pouring I stay home and if I get caught in the rain I prefer to carry a lightweight shower proof jacket. My favourite jackets thus far have both been from Assos - Evo Intermediate (combined with arm warmers in cooler temps) and 851 Airjacket for colder days. Sadly both of these have been replaced with the new range which has also seen the prices being hiked considerably (from a pretty high starting point)! You can still get them but becoming increasingly rare as stocks run down.

The key to me with jackets is to get the temperature correct for the conditions - very easy to get it wrong and either cook or freeze at this time of year! Something like a rapha lightweight windjacket can be tucked in a back pocket and can serve two functions - firstly it'll help keep you dry if it rains and secondly, the additional layer can make a significant difference to comfort, temperature wise. The most versatile jacket I have is the wind jacket.

There are out and out waterproof jackets such as rapha's hardshell but they cost a heap and I suspect they aren't the most comfortable/ breathable and make your choice of baselayer a bit more critical. Haven't worn one albeit a friend recently bought one and rates it very highly.

If you are looking for a jacket just for commuting, the answer may be considerably different.

With regards to hoods, I'm in agreement with the previous posts - not a practical proposition on a push bike. I find that a hat beneath the helmet with some thermal properties is more than adequate to retain warmth - with a hood you'll suffer from terrible wind noise/ drag/ perspiration - not a good place to be!!

Peter

plumber1447

if you are commuting or just having blast round roads for fun i would recommend altura night vision as well its perfect for these but if you are into rideing a bit more i would suggest a good baselayer then jersey with arm warmers then carry a rain jacket in back pocket a coat is inflexable if you get too warm what do you do with a big coat.

Guglielmo

Northpole speaks a lot of sense!

I have a Montane Velo that is Pertex Microlight and packs down to the size of a tennis ball (or flatter if you want - fits in a jersey pocket perfectly).

It's windproof and water resistant, but very breathable - which is more important then being water PROOF as fully waterproof garments get wet from the inside with sweat when cycling.

I bought it for my Pyrenees trip in September, wore it on all the long downhills (Aubisque, Tourmalet etc) to keep the wind off and needed it twice in a shower and it works great, rain droplets just bead up on the surface and fall off a bit like freshly waxed car bodywork! Just pack it down in 5 seconds and back in the jersey pocket when not needed. Very versatile.

I'm going to sell it though as I've not used it since then, and tend to only really ride in dry weather over here. It's an XL (more like large) in light grey, as new condition if you fancy it.

secretsam

Hoods are evil regardless of what activity you are doing, they restrict vision and movement, catch the wind and make the rain sound like it's tennis ball sized.

So that's a 'no hood' vote from me

Reane_Machine

I have a Pearl Izumi Elite Barrier jacket.

It's lightweight and it's waterproof in every shower Sheffield's thrown at me so far. It's also kep me warm with a jersey and t-shirt underneath.

I'd highly recommend it. Especially if like me you don't want a bulky jacket.

ratsbeyfus

CRC doing Montane featherlights for £33 at the moment.

p1tse

ratsbeyfus wrote:

CRC doing Montane featherlights for £33 at the moment.

Any experience?

Philby

I've a Montane Featherlight - packs up to size of tennis ball and is shower-proof rather than waterproof. Can be a bit 'flappy' in windy conditions though.

wheeler585

Castelli espresso, lightweight and really warm, jacket also has zip vents if you get to warm. Also looks the mutts nuts, get it bought

p1tse

wheeler585 wrote:

Castelli espresso, lightweight and really warm, jacket also has zip vents if you get to warm. Also looks the mutts nuts, get it bought

Pricey though

wheeler585

Supose you get what you pay for, better than any jacket I have owned. If your limited on cash, the 2xu jackets are worth a gander

roadtraveller

Well I do get my hair done quite a bit and like to keep it dry :P but okay i'll live without the hood. Thanks for the suggestions, i found this jacket and wondered if anyone had any comments or experience with it:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gor ... t-ec030353

The only thing that puts me off it is quite expensive and the back is quite short so little protection from spray as i don't ave mudguards.

ratsbeyfus

p1tse wrote:

ratsbeyfus wrote:

CRC doing Montane featherlights for £33 at the moment.

Any experience?

No, but I've ordered one as I love a bargain. Seems to get rave reviews.

p1tse

Ah cool.
What size and colour did you go for?
Always find it hard going off size charts

keef66

roadtraveller wrote:

Well I do get my hair done quite a bit and like to keep it dry :P but okay i'll live without the hood. Thanks for the suggestions, i found this jacket and wondered if anyone had any comments or experience with it:

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gor ... t-ec030353

The only thing that puts me off it is quite expensive and the back is quite short so little protection from spray as i don't ave mudguards.

I got one of those when they were on sale for £80. 100% waterproof and pretty breathable; I only see condensation on the inside where there are taped seams, the rest of the fabric is completely dry which suggests moisture has gone straight through it.

essjaydee

As others have said, depends what you want it for.

I have 3 jackets now;
1) Altura Night Vision - Commuting in really cold/wet weather temp's below 5 degrees C. Big and flappy jacket, that I wouldn't use for longer rides as it's just not practicable for this. Used throughout last winter and still going strong.
2) Altura pocket rocket - lightweight showerproof jacket. Bit flappy but ok as a a milder weather additional layer, or for summer showers. Packs down to tennis ball size.
3) DHB Minima - Not long had this, but a closer fit than the Night Vision, and good for colder conditions below 10 degrees. Packs down to about 2 tennis ball sizes, but will fit in a jersey pocket. I bought this as I wanted something that sits between the Night Vision and Pocket Rocket, and it does. In fact, I like it so much that I haven't used the night vision this winter, so far!

andyoh

There is only one jacket: Gore Oxygen Goretex Active Shell Jacket. This jacket is not cheap, however, it's the best money I have spent on cycling clothing in a long time. As it is Goretex, it is wind proof, water proof and breathable. Believe me I've worn it in -6C with just a long sleeve Icereaker 200 merino wool base layer and it keeps you warm and in the pouring rain tonight from the City of London to home it kept me bone dry. I was sceptical about spending so much on a jacket that is paper thin, but it genuinely is a brilliant bit of kit.

roadtraveller

Yeah that one looks good angyoh looks like you need Gortex if you want total waterproof whilst having breathability i like the way it has a tail at the back to fend off spray. The only think i think this jacket is missing is reflectivity bits, whereas the gore jacket i linked was hi vis.

keef66

Don't confuse hi-viz with reflective. The luminous yellow Phantom you linked to would still be invisible at night were it not for the reflectve details.

Doubt there's much difference between the Phantom and the Oxygen in terms of reflective bits. The Oxygen is a more extreme race cut, so will suit if you do a lot of riding in an aero tuck.

I'm more of a leisurely cyclist, so the Phantom is long enough at the back for me. Plus I have full mudguards for most of the year

p1tse

How about the gore contest