Waterproof Jackets.

[Richard123]

Can anyone suggest what's right about cycle jackets. I have a very light waterproof shell, that would be considered a summer jacket.. But with layering, I think it would be ideal for winer showers, just to keep the rain off a decent down shirt, with merino wool underneath? Or should I go for a more heavy jacket (less packable, still light) but does not need a thick mid layer under neath?

Thanks all. Richard.

[PedallingSquares]

I gave up on waterproof hardshells years ago as I tend to 'boil in the bag'.I've never found one that doesn't result in me getting wet from the inside.
I just wear a softshell waterproof and layer up.I do carry a very thin and light Gillet in case I get caught out in really heavy rain.

[simonineaston]

My usual 3 season garment was for many years, a Buffalo mountain shirt. I used to live in a ms twixt Oct and March, pretty much. I discovered it rolled up in the back of my wardrobe the other week and have started to use it again for local journies. It suits me well for shorter, mixed weather, use when it's under 10 degrees. Love it. There was for a while, a picture of yours truly on the maker's website, in my original green, torn and darned, Buffalo...
They have a few pluses: cosy, hard-wearing, inexpensive, rain-resistant up to a point, comfy to wear when wet. Tend to Marmite reaction.https://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/produc ... ain-shirt/

[Nearholmer]

IMO a great deal depends upon how 'hard' you intend to cycle, and what the weather is like, sharp, cold wind being as much of a concern as rain.

The basic rule is thin layers, the number depending upon the weather.

For "utility cycling", where I'm not working very hard, I have a fairly robust water/wind proof single-layer jacket. Work too hard while wearing that and it definitely becomes a bit "boil in the bag".

For "sportier" riding I have a brilliant, but definitely not cheap, Endura three-season jacket. That comes as an outer jacket with oodles of zippable vents, plus an inner gilet made from a weird bobbly material called primaloft. Its claimed that the jacket is good for zero to fifteen degrees by using the gilet or not, and using the vents, and my experience confirms that. It isn't fully waterproof, but somehow it keeps one dry in a downpour, provided one is working fairly hard.

As a footnote, I would say that something to be careful about is the sudden drop in temperature that can occur if you are cycling hard then have to stop, say to deal with a puncture. If it is cold or wet, and especially if its windy, body temperature can crash really quickly, even dangerously so. For that reason I often carry the "boil in the bag" jacket with me on sportier rides in the winter for "emergency" use. I had a rather spectacular "off" a few weeks ago on a bright but cold and windy morniing, riding over a lump of concrete, unseating and puncturing both tyres, and depositing me in an undignified heap. I'm sure that donning the overjacket saved me suffering cold-shock on that occassion.

[multitool]

I think rainwear has come a long way in the last decade, but as someone says upthread it depends how intense the rain is, and how long you intend to be out in it. A ride of an hour or so of intermittent rain and one of the cheaper shakedry jackets will be perfect. If the rain is not heavy then one of the dwp treated winter jackets is good. But for all day riding with frequent heavy rain I'd probably be wanting a 100% waterproof jacket.

[PedallingSquares]

My usual 3 season garment was for many years, a Buffalo mountain shirt. I used to live in a ms twixt Oct and March, pretty much. I discovered it rolled up in the back of my wardrobe the other week and have started to use it again for local journies. It suits me well for shorter, mixed weather, use when it's under 10 degrees. Love it. There was for a while, a picture of yours truly on the maker's website, in my original green, torn and darned, Buffalo...
They have a few pluses: cosy, hard-wearing, inexpensive, rain-resistant up to a point, comfy to wear when wet. Tend to Marmite reaction.https://www.buffalosystems.co.uk/produc ... ain-shirt/

I quite like the look of those.Not for cycling but general walking/dog walking.
Not cheap but is anything thesedays?

[Richard123]

Thanks, I've tried the buffalo system, and simply cannot get use to having a wool/cotton type fabric next to my skin. I gather that's how they work in wicking the sweat away. But how often should you wash them, after every trip?

[slowster]

I quite like the look of those.Not for cycling but general walking/dog walking.
Not cheap but is anything thesedays?

Montane offer similar pile/pertex clothing (I think Montane's products are not made in the UK, whereas Buffalo's are). It is recommended to wear pile/pertex next to the skin or over a base-layer for best performance when working hard, and therefore to choose quite a close fit. If you want something to wear over your everyday clothing, you might find that you needed a larger size. Montane also make a smock, but for dog walking etc. you might prefer a jacket, e.g.

https://www.sportsshoes.com/product/mon ... sku-mon470

I think I would prefer a hardshell waterproof for low intensity activity in prolonged rain. Pile/pertex works best in rain if you are working hard and generating enough body heat to stay warm while the pile gets damp (it's not very absorbant, but it will hold some water). When the rain stops, water and sweat wicked to the pertex will spread across the pertex and be evaporated, and so the garment dries very quickly, even more so the windier it is.

[SimonCelsa]

Buffalo mountain shirts are the business. I wear mine with a cheap base layer underneath, but you are recommended to wear it against your bare skin.

However, the majority of my cycling now is solo, thus I go at my own pace and am not trying to break any records. When I go out on a ride with a mate then I do find the buffalo a bit warm due to enhanced effort. I find the pertex material fairly good at remaining fresh and it dries quick. I only wash mine every few weeks or so Unless other family members complain about a pong, which they haven't yet..

I wouldn't say the mountain shirt is cheap, looks to be about £150. Mine is from my old fella who died a few years ago, and he had it for over 10 years (but he definitely washed it!!).

I quite like their advert: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=bu ... M%3DHDRSC3

I think the main advantage is that they are windproof - not waterproof, so if you are soaked to the skin the wind won't penetrate and cause you to freeze (guaranteed upto 50 mph I think, so grab some brake if thrashing down a big hill to stay warm).

[simonineaston]

They work at their most efficient when worn next to the skin, however the benefits from so doing may not always be applicable to those in a domestic situation. They are much endorsed by mr teams & military personnel who don't tolerate fancy or ineffective kit but to whom the potential inconveniences of the next-to-skin advice are less relevant. For example, you'll read on army forums about how to get the best out of them and advice includes removing the garment overnight and sleeping with it in a dry bag so that it retains warmth for when it's put back on. Hardly the sort of practice we civilians are going to follow.
Personally as a rock climber, I would typically avoid continual rainy conditions and so when I used to wear mine over a light cotton T, that worked for me 90% of the time. The ms was less successful when I started to cycle tour more often, as I realised I was going to be heading down the next-to-skin thing if exposed to day long rain. For one reason and another, I swapped to using lightweight GoreTex garments.
The other aspect that folk who don't get on with Buffalo garments often raise is the appearance, which is not necessarily a look most people want for going round museums, cafes, pubs, yadda yadda... and if you do go the whole hog and wear it next to the skin, you are certainly limiting your options.
However, as a hard-wearing, effective outdoor garment that's going to keep you functioning in mixed & wet weather, the fact remains they're hard to beat.

[Jdsk]

From earlier this month:

"Recommend me a budget winter cycling jacket please!"
viewtopic.php?t=154198

Happy Christmas

Jonathan

[Pendodave]

I'd always be pretty loath to wear down if I thought there was even the slightest chance of it getting wet. However good a waterproof, I'd never trust it when cycling in any decent amount of rain to keep it dry. I know there's some clever stuff they do with it nowadays, and you can stick them in a tumble drier, but once down is wet it has the heat retaining properties of wet newspaper ime.
I'd use one of the various man-made insulating layers that are slightly less heat/weight efficient in the dry, but work at least a bit when wet.

[Jamesh]

I layer with base layer, mid layer, thermal cycling jacket and a waterproof jacket on top.

Either a Lidl commuting jacket or a fitted boardman jacket for faster rides.

[Garry Booth]

I swear by my Montane breathable waterproof jacket. Big zip pocket in the back and two small zip up on the front. Velcro closure around the neck and cuffs; low back.
I got a size that allows me to wear just a base layer when it's warm or 3 layers when it's cold. Doesn't pack down tiny - more like a small portion of chips.
Waterproofing is renewed by a warm wash in the machine with the rest of your clobber.

[wheelyhappy99]

I think much depends on what you are doing. As others have said, something that isn't boil in the bag can be preferable for a relatively high intensity outing, particularly if it ends at home or somewhere warm and dry. OTOH, I prefer a fully waterproof jacket that's as breathable as possible for prolonged rain if I'm ending on a campsite. The best I have found is a lightweight Endura Exoshell 40 fabric jacket. Several years old now and very effective.