Winter Jacket

designman
designman Posts: 405
edited October 2013 in Road buying advice
Now the weather is changing, looking for a good winter jacket for training in and club rides.
Can anyone recommend one pls?
Do I need to be looking at Gore Bike Wear? Castelli? Sportful?
Thanks.

Comments

  • t4tomo
    t4tomo Posts: 2,643
    Foska winter jackets
    Bianchi Infinito CV
    Bianchi Via Nirone 7 Ultegra
    Brompton S Type
    Carrera Vengeance Ultimate Ltd
    Gary Fisher Aquila '98
    Front half of a Viking Saratoga Tandem
  • swj1
    swj1 Posts: 70
    I just got a Mavic Inferno and I am very impressed with the quality but it has not been cold enough to test properly yet but I reckon it will be more than up too the job :)
  • edten
    edten Posts: 228
    sportful survival jacket seems to be really well made, though I didnt find it that good a fit when in a bike position. It seems to ride up at the shoulders. I only tried it on though. I find the same issue with other sportful jackets. I think (could be wrong) it is made with a gore material. I have the assos sturmprinz which is bloody expensive but I only have because the sportful one was out of stock when I first went to buy it. Sigma offered me the assos one at a price I couldnt refuse. It is useful for all year round as it has good breathability (not really small enough to go in a pocket though- almost) but performance in winter is amazing. good for the coldest and windiest days. I used in Caledonia Etape when the weather was atrocious. Waterproof is excellent - by the end I was still very dry under it. The Endura Stealth is very good too. Very warm and very waterproof - on offer here http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/UniqueP ... tAod9lYAYA
  • luv2ride
    luv2ride Posts: 2,367
    I'd recommend the Mavic Echappee softshell jacket. lots of nice features, including forearm venting (these work really well), and thinner breathable panels on the side of the body mean it works well across a range of temps, and it copes well with showers. Previous jackets I've had have just been too warm when riding hard. I found myself between sizes on the Sportful Survival jkt, so got a Mavic H2O jacket for the (rare) occasions I want a full on waterproof - again, lots of useful features, especially for venting and I prefer the fit of Mavic tops and jackets.

    I get much more use out of the soft shell than the waterproof jacket though, as it's just way more versatile over a much wider range of conditions.
    Titus Silk Road Ti rigid 29er - Scott Solace 10 disc - Kinesis Crosslight Pro6 disc - Scott CR1 SL - Pinnacle Arkose X 650b - Pinnacle Arkose singlespeed - Specialized Singlecross...& an Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 4 string...
  • DavidJB
    DavidJB Posts: 2,019
    Gore Oxygen...amazing
  • smidsy
    smidsy Posts: 5,273
    Gore Phantom also good.

    You want something windproof that you can then supplement with a rain cape or similar.
    Yellow is the new Black.
  • amaferanga
    amaferanga Posts: 6,789
    Most of the jackets recommended are only good for sub-zero temps if you're riding fairly hard (especially the Foska jacket). Layering up with a good gilet and arm warmers works better for most UK winter days.
    More problems but still living....
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    designman wrote:
    Now the weather is changing, looking for a good winter jacket for training in and club rides.
    Can anyone recommend one pls?
    Do I need to be looking at Gore Bike Wear? Castelli? Sportful?
    Thanks.

    Winter jackets range from -£20 (Aldi) to +£250 (Rapha) - what's your budget?
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    Good point. I have two winter jackets. One Altura Varium (RRP £140), the other and Aldi special @ £16, Which one do I wear most and prefer?

    To be fair the Varium is a nice piece of kit but it doesn't have the versatility of the Aldi one. Both softshell but the Aldi one has detachable arms and three pockets in the back. The Varium has one pocket, is long sleeve only and is no more waterproof. Guess it looks nicer though!
  • designman
    designman Posts: 405
    Thanks for the replies guys.
    My budget is up to £200.
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    Luv2ride wrote:
    I'd recommend the Mavic Echappee softshell jacket. lots of nice features, including forearm venting (these work really well), and thinner breathable panels on the side of the body mean it works well across a range of temps, and it copes....

    This! Windproof over waterproof every time and really love my Echappee, the vents are super handy and with a base layer takes me to -5. Without its great from 10 degree down, basically most of Winter!

    With your budget it'd be the above or the Rapha classic wind jacket.
  • designman
    designman Posts: 405
    What jacket should I be looking at for winter?
    A Softshell Jacket which is windproof or a jacket which is both Windproof and waterproof?
  • +1 For the Gore Oxygen Softshell.
  • iPete
    iPete Posts: 6,076
    designman wrote:
    What jacket should I be looking at for winter?
    A Softshell Jacket which is windproof or a jacket which is both Windproof and waterproof?

    I've found with waterproof that I overheat and soak uncomfortably from the inside, 'boil in a bag'. Windproof/soft shells are generally very water resistant, can hold my Mavic under a tap and no water gets through and I find a much comfier body temperature, especially with the vents that make heat regulation really easy.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Go for a fleece-backed windstopper fabric over a waterproof for winter riding - the objective is to stay warm, the concession is you may get damp. Even the most breathable waterproof fabrics cannot cope when riding hard - you build up a wet-fug inside the jacket that transfers to your thermal layers, which then get chilled. Gore fabrics are the best IME, so plenty to choose from including Gore, Castelli, Sportful, ExteOndo. If going full windstopper, then pit-zips help too.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Avit5
    Avit5 Posts: 114
    +1 For the Gore Oxygen Softshell.

    Is this the gore oxygen softshell you are referring to?

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/gore-bike-wear- ... ll-jacket/
  • Avit5 wrote:

    Is this the gore oxygen softshell you are referring to?

    http://www.wiggle.co.uk/gore-bike-wear- ... ll-jacket/

    Yeah that is the one.

    Winstanley's do the 2012 version (which is basically the same) in a few sizes for £105-£120 depending on colour.

    http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... 012_Jacket

    It is a great jacket. Warm, breathable, 5 pockets, windproof and very water resistant. I'm tempted to buy a second one!
  • Avit5
    Avit5 Posts: 114

    Yeah that is the one.

    Winstanley's do the 2012 version (which is basically the same) in a few sizes for £105-£120 depending on colour.

    http://www.winstanleysbikes.co.uk/produ ... 012_Jacket

    It is a great jacket. Warm, breathable, 5 pockets, windproof and very water resistant. I'm tempted to buy a second one!

    Thanks Shamrock. Ordering one tonight when I get home.
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    Castelli Espresso Due voted best jacket in this months CP review of winter clothing. £230 though!
  • magoo289
    magoo289 Posts: 223
    Castelli Espresso Due voted best jacket in this months CP review of winter clothing. £230 though!

    Had mine 2 years can't recommend enough. It's coming out next week as 4 layers this morning was not enough!
  • cycleclinic
    cycleclinic Posts: 6,865
    Altura do some good winter jackets. They maybe more commuter orientated but they are warm, breathable and waterproof everything you need really.
    http://www.thecycleclinic.co.uk -wheel building and other stuff.
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    Can't recommend highly enough the Castelli Mortirolo Due jacket - it's like the Espresso but a bit lighter. As amaferanga implies, you will overheat in a hard-core winter jacket if you are riding hard. The Mortirolo is warm enough at any temperatures above freezing if you are riding hard, and above about 8C even that would be too warm and you are best off with layers and a gilet.
  • designman
    designman Posts: 405
    Just been looking at the Rapha Classic Softshell Jacket on their website, seems to have good reviews.
    Any thoughts on this?
    http://www.rapha.cc/classic-softshell-jacket
  • northpole
    northpole Posts: 1,499
    Best jacket by miles I have used in winter is the Assos 851 Airjack. It isn't waterproof - I carry a lightweight rapha wind jacket in a back pocket - but it does an amazing job at cutting out the cold wind without overheating. Only for use when it gets cold though but you can control temperature by the number of layers underneath. I don't think they are available new any more but I wouldn't hesitate buying one of Fleabay. Sizing is pretty tight so probably go for one size larger than you would normally wear.

    Peter
  • northpole
    northpole Posts: 1,499
    designman wrote:
    Just been looking at the Rapha Classic Softshell Jacket on their website, seems to have good reviews.
    Any thoughts on this?
    http://www.rapha.cc/classic-softshell-jacket

    I have one and really like it - mainly for casual walking about in rather than cycling though. Much prefer the Assos jacket for winter riding, despite the fact that the rapha is pretty much waterproof.

    Peter
  • Camcycle1974
    Camcycle1974 Posts: 1,356
    Altura do some good winter jackets. They maybe more commuter orientated but they are warm, breathable and waterproof everything you need really.

    I have their Varium jacket which is a top-end (for Altura) softshell. Good, windproof jacket but not waterproof or particularly warm. Good as a mid layer with waterproof shell and warmer base layer. Ventilation is good via pit vents.
  • robbo2011
    robbo2011 Posts: 1,017
    northpole wrote:
    Best jacket by miles I have used in winter is the Assos 851 Airjack. It isn't waterproof - I carry a lightweight rapha wind jacket in a back pocket - but it does an amazing job at cutting out the cold wind without overheating. Only for use when it gets cold though but you can control temperature by the number of layers underneath. I don't think they are available new any more but I wouldn't hesitate buying one of Fleabay. Sizing is pretty tight so probably go for one size larger than you would normally wear.

    Peter

    You can still buy Airjacks from the Assos factory outlet store. Not many size/colour combinations left though.

    http://www.assosfactoryoutlet.com/
  • rgasuk
    rgasuk Posts: 89
    Highly recommend Gore Phantom and Gore oxygen , Phantom also hand to use as a gillet . 8)
    Road - Scott solace .
    Training - giant xtc 1
    Mtb - Yt Capra pro
    Past - Scott spark , caadx ultegra , canyon ultimate cf slx ,trek madone , ridley x-fire , giant Defy, giant trance
  • gsk82
    gsk82 Posts: 3,659
    assos airjack 851, still plenty for sale online
    "Unfortunately these days a lot of people don’t understand the real quality of a bike" Ernesto Colnago
  • FatTed
    FatTed Posts: 1,205
    Castelli Espresso Due, has vents on the chest and arms which regulate temperature very well. The problem with any recommendation is we don't know how hard you will be cycling, if very hard the most important is trontal wind protection such as the Rapha Pro Team Jacket