Winter Jacket

kangarouge

Can anyone recommend a soft-shell jacket for the winter; budget £100 max? The zip on my Altura Night Vision has broken which is a bit disappointing as the rest of the jacket is fine. Unfortunately, I notice the new versions don't appear to be made of a soft-shell, fleece type of fabric. They seem to use a stiffer more waterproof fabric.

nickynoodles

I have one of these, have been using it this year only and it is more than enough on its own so far. I have ridden with a merino base layer top underneath on a colder (around 3-4 C) day and I was roasting. I would imagine that even on extra cold days, with a base layer and maybe a fleecier jersey underneath it would be toasty. Oh and it is an excellent fit, nice long arms and back, great pockets as well. All in all a cracking jacket.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/mav ... wgodmmUAxQ

Dudders29

Gore Phantom 2. I was in Evans and looking at the Gore range as I really like it, but at Evans' prices. I asked em about price match and they said no probs. I found the jacket for £99 online and Evans matched it no issues. Quite surprising really as they had it advertised for £140 !
Top jacket aswell

amaferanga

You can still buy a windproof Nightvision jacket if that's what you want:

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/altura-night-vi ... of-jacket/

ctc

Mavic Echappee jacket for £96 at Chain Reaction. Bargain.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mavi ... prod114201

wishitwasallflat

I got myself an Endura Windchill 2 at the start of the winter this year and have been very happy with it riding down to around 2 degrees and up to 8-9 pretty comfortably. Pit zips work well to cool down and I have needed only a thin baselayer most days (I get warm though as I'm not fit at all!).

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Endura-Windchil ... wgod5zoAow

marshall_a

probably only cost £15 to get the zip replaced if the jacket is otherwise fine

iPete

CTC wrote:

Mavic Echappee jacket for £96 at Chain Reaction. Bargain.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mavi ... prod114201

This one...

rolf_f

marshall_a wrote:

probably only cost £15 to get the zip replaced if the jacket is otherwise fine

This wins! No point getting a new jacket for the sake of a zip. £80 less than the recommended bargains! 8)

prhymeate

wishitwasallflat wrote:

I got myself an Endura Windchill 2 at the start of the winter this year and have been very happy with it riding down to around 2 degrees and up to 8-9 pretty comfortably. Pit zips work well to cool down and I have needed only a thin baselayer most days (I get warm though as I'm not fit at all!).

http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Endura-Windchil ... wgod5zoAow

I bought one of these a few weeks ago. I've only used it once as it's been too warm lately, but it was great when I did. Last years ones can be found for about £50 (brand new) on ebay too.

kangarouge

Many thanks to everyone for the replies and all the useful suggestions.

I'll certainly be getting the zip replaced and then keeping that one as a spare. In the meantime I would like to buy another as a replacement. I've looked at the various jackets mentioned but can't make my mind up, so I'll have a long think and then place an order. Cheers.

daniel_b

I have a Gore Phantom 2, which is perfectly fine, and even better if you bag one at a bargain price.

I also have just purchased this jacket here, which I am hoping to try for the first time this weekend, and seems to have rave reviews:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/jackets-cycle-giordana-trade-team-wba-jacket/giorzjac150


This had even better reviews, but the medium was too snug for me, I went for a large in the Trade jacket above:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/jackets-cycle-giordana-fr-carbon-body-clone-full-revolutional-jel22-jacket/giorzjac372


And they have this one too:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/jackets-cycle-giordana-fr-carbon-body-clone-light-jel22-jacket/giorzjac374


Looks like 'XMAS10' will knock 10% off those prices too.

gimpl

Kangarouge wrote:

Can anyone recommend a soft-shell jacket for the winter; budget £100 max? The zip on my Altura Night Vision has broken which is a bit disappointing as the rest of the jacket is fine. Unfortunately, I notice the new versions don't appear to be made of a soft-shell, fleece type of fabric. They seem to use a stiffer more waterproof fabric.

Gone to a Gore Phantom 2 from an Altura Night Vision (waterproof fabric) and it's much better.

keef66

I wear my Gore Phantom pretty much all the time from October through to April, just varying the layers beneath according to temperature. Versatile bit of kit.

Iamnot Wiggins

CTC wrote:

Mavic Echappee jacket for £96 at Chain Reaction. Bargain.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mavi ... prod114201

I like the look of this, what's in like in "real life"? Assuming you have one, of course!

ctc

Errr, no...

I've got the Mavic vision jacket that I've been commuting with for the last couple of years. I think it's the same as the Equipe. My only quibble is I'm a sweaty b*stard and sometimes it does get a little sweaty inside if I wear it at the weekend. Then again usually I'll just wear long sleeve jerseys and gilet because I do tend to run hot. It's reasonably water resistant, even after having been washed a good few times.
That's why I was thinking the Echappee with the extra venting would be ideal.

In the end I went and bought the Shutt VR Performance Jacket. I was thinking something like the Assos Airjack was going to be a good winter jacket for me, and when looking through t'internet I spotted the Shutt VR jacket, and it sounded ideal. I was in the area of their headquarters on Friday, so popped in, had a cup of tea with them and tried it on. Jacket was lovely, and they were really nice!
Unfortunately a xmas party on Friday night, 16th birthday shopping expedition to Milton Keynes on Saturday, and 9 year olds birthday party and Hobbit cinema trip meant I didn't get to ride this weekend, so I haven't tried it out yet...

So really, I had tried shoftshell, so fancied a change, but my top 3 were Shutt VR, Mavic Ecahppee, and probably the Phantom or Power from Gore. Most of these were over the £100 mark though, so I only mentioned the Echappee when I saw it had come down.

Iamnot Wiggins

I did have a Phantom but found it a bit too warm and it didn't fit properly. Assos Airjack, when I had one, was a great jacket and I'm inclined just to get a 2nd hand one off eBay next year.

Ankles50

I bought a Santini 'Fuga' Gore Windstopper Softshell Jacket,
RRP £190
If you can track one down the right size in the end of season sales you can get for sub £100
Fantastic jacket for that price, absolute steal

alidaf

I don't rate the Gore Phantom at all. The material isn't waterproof and doesn't claim to be. It is supposed to be water resistant (not proof) and wind proof but I didn't find much evidence of either. I've been on rides that have left me feeling frozen while wearing a Phantom jacket. I find my Giordana bodyclone jersey much warmer, and a lot lighter. A thin rain jacket over the top for rainy days and a base layer on cold days suits me. I've used all three together down to -6degC. The Phantom also clings on to sweaty smells that are difficult to move without intensive washing, which washes away the water resistant treatment. Also, the reflective detail on the arms is on the inside for some bizarre reason. A nice looking jacket, but a serious disappointment IMO.

jordan_217

Iamnot Wiggins wrote:

CTC wrote:

Mavic Echappee jacket for £96 at Chain Reaction. Bargain.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mavi ... prod114201

I like the look of this, what's in like in "real life"? Assuming you have one, of course!

It's a very nice jacket, well made, comfortable, breathable and keeps the elements at bay. TBH unless you're getting it for a sub £100 price, or you don't mind forking out, then it's not really worth it over the Equipe but both of those jackets are well worth it over the Espoir, which lacks the trick 'ergo zip' and vents on the lower sleeves (these really work well). I've had the Equipe for almost 3 years now and it's still going strong so that's testament to the quality of the jacket.

Note that the white sleeves on the Echappee are a bugger to keep clean.

iPete

jordan_217 wrote:

Iamnot Wiggins wrote:

CTC wrote:

Mavic Echappee jacket for £96 at Chain Reaction. Bargain.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mavi ... prod114201

I like the look of this, what's in like in "real life"? Assuming you have one, of course!

It's a very nice jacket, well made, comfortable, breathable and keeps the elements at bay. TBH unless you're getting it for a sub £100 price, or you don't mind forking out, then it's not really worth it over the Equipe but both of those jackets are well worth it over the Espoir, which lacks the trick 'ergo zip' and vents on the lower sleeves (these really work well). I've had the Equipe for almost 3 years now and it's still going strong so that's testament to the quality of the jacket.

Note that the white sleeves on the Echappee are a bugger to keep clean.

I have both the echappee and equipe in medium. The echappee is cut much tighter, has bigger pockets and breathes better (could be in my head or could be down to fit). The equipe feels a bit more water resistant and to be fair you can hold it under a tap and it keeps the water out. As its baggier I tend to wear this in colder weather with a full baselayer.

Both excellent but to own one it would be the echappee for the fit and pockets. They are both so good I don't own a waterproof anymore and have put around 10,000 miles into them.

keef66

Must admit, I was expecting the Phantom to be a bit more water repellant. On the plus side it is very breathable and dries out quickly, and I find the Windstopper fabric does exactly what the name suggests. You're right about the reflectives on the arms though; most odd!

pkripper

I have a few mavic jackets and rate them very highly, so would recommend them.

jordan_217

pkripper wrote:

I have a few mavic jackets and rate them very highly, so would recommend them.

Indeed. I own few Mavic shells and jackets and they're ace but often overlooked and usually highly discounted as they don't seem to be as popular as Gore, Endura and Co. In fact I'm expecting a Mavic HC softshell gilet to be delivered today.