Very best winter jacket

beancounter

I'm treating myself to an early christmas present (!)

What's the very best winter jacket, no expense spared?

bc

meursault

beancounter wrote:

I'm treating myself to an early christmas present (!)

What's the very best winter jacket, no expense spared?

bc

Something breathable and waterproof, with removable arms, and magic elves that make you peddle faster. Priceless.

Steve236

I'll get in first and say I suppose it depends what you want to use if for. Fast road riding, commuting, wet weather, cold weather etc. Then the next point is that no one jacket will excel at everything.

I think those are the usual comments. I just bought a Gabba that I hope will cover most occasions pretty well.

thegreatdivide

The Gabba is not a winter jacket - it's a jersey with water repelant properties and a bit of roubaix on the inside. Nanoflex/Aquazero is good stuff but it's not winter wear.

The Rapha Classic Softshell is probably as good as it gets.

itsnotarace

thegreatdivide wrote:

The Rapha Classic Softshell is probably as good as it gets.

^^ This, with the exception of really heavy rain when either the Hardshell, or winter jersey + rain jacket would be a better bet

The softshell is a superb all rounder though

trek_dan

I love my Castelli Moritrolo, perfect for days like today when its cold and damp but not raining heavily. The zip down cooling ducts and high collar are great features.

shamrock134

The Gore Oxygen or Xenon Softshells are also worth considering.

giant_man

No, you want Assos, that's the best you can buy for yourself ...

thegreatdivide

giant man wrote:

No, you want Assos, that's the best you can buy for yourself ...

It's OK giant man, Rapha have totally redesigned their winter gloves for 2013. You can relax now

gabriel959

shamrock134 wrote:

The Gore Oxygen or Xenon Softshells are also worth considering.

Indeed, I have a Gore Oxygen and it has been through rain, snow, wind and kept me warm and dry. Prices are good too.

aberdeen_lune

+1 for Gore Xenon first class winter jacket.

giant_man

thegreatdivide wrote:

giant man wrote:

No, you want Assos, that's the best you can buy for yourself ...

It's OK giant man, Rapha have totally redesigned their winter gloves for 2013. You can relax now

I know they have but you wouldn't catch me buying them!

Steve236

thegreatdivide wrote:

The Gabba is not a winter jacket - it's a jersey with water repelant properties and a bit of roubaix on the inside. Nanoflex/Aquazero is good stuff but it's not winter wear.

The Rapha Classic Softshell is probably as good as it gets.

It'll be winter wear for me

Hoopdriver

Rapha softshell

Gazzetta67

Well do you live on the south coast or the north of scotland ???? - a big difference from wearing a baselayer and a long sleeve top to wearing about 4 or 5 layers. if it's no expense spared then a up it's own A*se rapha jacket you want 8) .

ViperS15

I know a couple of guys using this jacket and have never heard a bad word about them. Etxeondo Summum:

http://www.boneshakersbikes.co.uk/m8b7s ... oof-Jacket

APIII

Rapha softshell for me aswell.

cougie

You have all those colnagos but don't know about winter jackets ? What have you worn in the past ?

And we do need to know more about your location and your tides and your intensity. And a gabba isn't a winter jacket - not unless you live somewhere warm or all of your riding is racing.

sungod

i've got a castelli quantum radiation jacket, absolutely superb, only minor gripe is the collar could be higher, but when it's that cold i wear a buff or balaclava so doesn't really matter

the quantum is no longer available, the last radiation jacket was the 1-2-3, not tried it, but if it's anything like the quantum i'd try one quick as they seem to have stopped making them - there's still some stock being discounted (ribble for instance)

designman

In the November issue of CP there is a Winter Clothing Special, and the best jacket on test is the "Castelli Espresso Due Jacket" for winter riding.
The Rapha Hardshell Jacket gets 5 stars.

beancounter

cougie wrote:

You have all those colnagos but don't know about winter jackets ? What have you worn in the past ?

And we do need to know more about your location and your tides and your intensity. And a gabba isn't a winter jacket - not unless you live somewhere warm or all of your riding is racing.

My current winter jacket for weekends is an Assos 851 Airjack Limited. For the weekly commute it's a Cannondale LE Carbon.

My inclination would have been to stay with Assos, maybe the Bonka (?), but with the Rapha Soft Shell getting so many recommendations I may give one a try.

bc

moonshine

The Endura Stealth is a perennial winner -
I have one and it is VERY good - i usually only wear a merino LS Tee under ut - even on cold wet days. - massive pit vents for cooling & very waterproof (for a softshell) http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/ ... lth-33743/
You can probably find it cheaper than CRC, but for example.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/endu ... -prod17903

edit... there appears to be a new "Stealth 2" Jacket this season.
http://www.endura.co.uk/product-detail.asp?ProductID=25 and http://www.evanscycles.com/products/end ... 2#features

cookiemonster

I've a rapha softshell, still going strong after a good number of years. I use it a a fair amount, but, and I feel like a heretic here as reviews are usually glowing, it has always felt like a poor compromise.

I find it a bit on the hot side even with just a short baselayer underneath for anything but either the coldest days (and after a serious lets-spend-some-time-in-hospital smash on ice a few years back, I tend to avoid going out when it touches freezing) or pootling around.

It's less than wonderful in the rain - I reckon I get about 20 minutes dryness in real medium to heavy rainfall, maybe an hour tops in drizzly crap, before water seeps through and there's a feeling of water-loggedness. Its also too bulky and hot to wear a rain jacket over the top, so if its raining then it stays in the cupboard. Given that, I find its best suited to the commute, rather than "proper" cycling.

If your winter riding comprises dry freezing temperatures, or you tend to feel the cold more than most, then the softshell makes a load of sense. Its also well made, both in cut and construction, and looks good. But if you're going to be riding in, dunno 5-10 degrees with a smattering of proper rainfall, then personally I'm reaching for a lightweight jacket (of the Gabba or Rapha Pro Team variety) with a separate rain jacket for the back pocket.

jon

goonz

giant man wrote:

thegreatdivide wrote:

giant man wrote:

No, you want Assos, that's the best you can buy for yourself ...

It's OK giant man, Rapha have totally redesigned their winter gloves for 2013. You can relax now

I know they have but you wouldn't catch me buying them!

What you mean you havent already put in an order for the gloves bundle?

goonz

cookiemonster wrote:

I've a rapha softshell, still going strong after a good number of years. I use it a a fair amount, but, and I feel like a heretic here as reviews are usually glowing, it has always felt like a poor compromise.

I find it a bit on the hot side even with just a short baselayer underneath for anything but either the coldest days (and after a serious lets-spend-some-time-in-hospital smash on ice a few years back, I tend to avoid going out when it touches freezing) or pootling around.

It's less than wonderful in the rain - I reckon I get about 20 minutes dryness in real medium to heavy rainfall, maybe an hour tops in drizzly crap, before water seeps through and there's a feeling of water-loggedness. Its also too bulky and hot to wear a rain jacket over the top, so if its raining then it stays in the cupboard. Given that, I find its best suited to the commute, rather than "proper" cycling.

If your winter riding comprises dry freezing temperatures, or you tend to feel the cold more than most, then the softshell makes a load of sense. Its also well made, both in cut and construction, and looks good. But if you're going to be riding in, dunno 5-10 degrees with a smattering of proper rainfall, then personally I'm reaching for a lightweight jacket (of the Gabba or Rapha Pro Team variety) with a separate rain jacket for the back pocket.

jon

I think this is a good review. I have the softshell gilet which I used all last winter in the coldest months with a LS baselayer and winter jersey which was fine. For this winter I have also just bought the softshell jacket and hoping to wear it over a LS baselayer but I do fear it will only be suited for the coldest of days. It doesnt usually rain on the coldest days so should be ok.

A lot of other people suggest its best for commuting which suits me fine and for sunday rides I would probably use my winter jersey which is probably a bit more breathable. To be fair the gilet stood up well to rain so I am hoping the same from the jacket.

robbo2011

I'd go with the Bonka, myself.

wiganwarriors

Just purchased a Gore fusion 2.0 Gore-Tex active jacket. Will check it out this weekend and report back.

buzzwold

I'll go for the layering route and checking the weather before hand. The top half is not normally a problem unless heavy rain, it's the legs and the crotch that I need to protect. Wind resistant chamois?

shamrock134

buzzwold wrote:

Wind resistant chamois?

Gore Windstopper softshell bib tights!

moonshine

buzzwold wrote:

I'll go for the layering route and checking the weather before hand. The top half is not normally a problem unless heavy rain, it's the legs and the crotch that I need to protect. Wind resistant chamois?

http://www.assos.com/en/19/singleProduc ... 50&var=645
superb kit i have a pair and they are fantastic...

goonz

moonshine wrote:

buzzwold wrote:

I'll go for the layering route and checking the weather before hand. The top half is not normally a problem unless heavy rain, it's the legs and the crotch that I need to protect. Wind resistant chamois?

http://www.assos.com/en/19/singleProduc ... 50&var=645
superb kit i have a pair and they are fantastic...

Me too, and they are fantastic.