Recommend me a hi-vis windshirt

[mdskids]

My beloved hi-vis Montane Featherlite Velo windshirt is on its last legs. It's probably the item of cycle clothing I wear more than anything else. Perfect for when there's a bit of a chill, fine for most showers (it gets wet but then dries very quickly), very breathable, packs down to nothing.
It's still functional but is so faded from the sun it's not so much hi-vis as medium-vis.

Unfortunately Montane don't seem to do these anymore - what is the best alternative?
My criteria are:

• Must be hi-vis (for commuting)
  Must be super lightweight is it lives in a small handlebar bag most of the time
  Must be VERY breathable/well vented - I tend to overheat with even the slightest bit of effort...
  Preferably full length zip (see overheating comment above)

I'm not interested in a waterproof - even if it claims to be very breathable, in my experience that's rarely the case, but I do appreciate that most things come with some sort of DWR coating. Pertex would be an ideal material, as that's what the Montane is made from. I'd appreciate an ideas for windproof tops you have personal experience of. Cheers.

[pjclinch]

My beloved hi-vis Montane Featherlite Velo windshirt is on its last legs. It's probably the item of cycle clothing I wear more than anything else. Perfect for when there's a bit of a chill, fine for most showers (it gets wet but then dries very quickly), very breathable, packs down to nothing.
It's still functional but is so faded from the sun it's not so much hi-vis as medium-vis.

Unfortunately Montane don't seem to do these anymore - what is the best alternative?
My criteria are:

• Must be hi-vis (for commuting)
  Must be super lightweight is it lives in a small handlebar bag most of the time
  Must be VERY breathable/well vented - I tend to overheat with even the slightest bit of effort...
  Preferably full length zip (see overheating comment above)

I'm not interested in a waterproof - even if it claims to be very breathable, in my experience that's rarely the case, but I do appreciate that most things come with some sort of DWR coating. Pertex would be an ideal material, as that's what the Montane is made from. I'd appreciate an ideas for windproof tops you have personal experience of. Cheers.

Rohan currentluy have their Nimbus jacket in the bargain bin, see https://www.rohan.co.uk/mens/jackets-ni ... set-orange. Not technically hi-viz but still pretty bright.
Not clapped eyes on one myself but have various of their windproof things and have been happy with them aside from a tendency in recent years for the sleeves to be a bit too narrow to roll up, but if you don't want to roll up the sleeves on your jackets a bit of a moot point (and they'll flap less).

Another option (again, afraid I've not tried it myself) is this Rab jacket, https://www.trekitt.co.uk/outdoor-jacke ... ker__44942 which may be bright enough even if not technically fluorescent.

I use (and like) a Buffalo Windshirt, see https://www.trekitt.co.uk/outdoor-jacke ... ker__44942 which isn't hi-viz as standard but Buffalo will do custom work, but you'll have to wait a bit for that (mine took 8 weeks, and though it's a standard colour it's quite a bit longer in the body than the standard model). Doesn't have a full front zip but has armpit-to-hem side vent zips both sides as well as a neck zip.

Pete.

[JohnR]

The Galibier Tempest Pro jacket https://www.galibier.cc/product/tempest-pro/ may be worth investigating. It makes no claim to have any water resistant treatment, unlike their Tempest 2 jacket https://www.galibier.cc/product/tempest ... ng-jacket/.

[pjclinch]

About DWR coatings and breathability... The former doesn't directly affect the latter.
Once out of the realm of waterproofs, breathability is really a function of how much air can move through the weave, generally measured in volume over time for a given area. Adding a DWR doesn't really change this value.

However, the DWR will work with liquid sweat on the inside in much the same way as it works on rain on the outside, encouraging it to form droplets rather than soak in to the weave and subsequently wick through and/or evaporate, so while breathability is the same a DWR garment may feel clammier.

You can get coatings that do the opposite, breaking surface tension on droplets so they soak in, for example Rohan's "Dynamic Moisture Control". It seems rather harder to find that sort of thing in a windshirt as some degree of water resistance is considered a better marketing tick, but if you can find a Rohan "Goa" or "Essential" top or jacket on eBay that's a nice not-clammy windbreaker with venting pockets. Doesn't pack down as small as a simple Pertex top but isn't stupidly big either.

Pete

[mdskids]

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll check them out. That Galibier Tempest top in particular looks interesting...

I'm not opposed to DWR coatings - in fact every so often I give my Montane windshirt a wash in Nikwax TX direct. It's just that I rarely actually need a 'proper' 2 or 3 layer waterproof when cycling in the rain. Fortunately I have my own personal waterproof layer (skin) and given the amount of heat I produce, I rarely get cold when wet. I do have a Proviz waterproof jacket which I normally to wear on my dark winter commutes, whether its raining or not. I always get dampness on the inside of that, which I used to put down to lack of breathability, but maybe that's more to do with the cold - ie the water vapour from my skin condensing when it hits the cold outer layer of the jacket?

[pjclinch]

I do have a Proviz waterproof jacket which I normally to wear on my dark winter commutes, whether its raining or not. I always get dampness on the inside of that, which I used to put down to lack of breathability, but maybe that's more to do with the cold - ie the water vapour from my skin condensing when it hits the cold outer layer of the jacket?

Almost certainly the former and possibly the latter too.
There's no breathable/waterproof coating or membrane that comes close on breathability to even the most tightly woven "normal" fabrics and most people can easily out-sweat the ability of even the most breathable to vent out moisture vapour, so the excess tends to condense.

Pete.

[PH]

This from Alpkit might be of interest if you're a medium (All other sizes out of stock)
https://alpkit.com/products/cirrus-mens ... 8670120041

I have an older version windproof from them, it's been fine. I've had a couple of other windproofs over the years, I've found them much the same, the big difference has been fit. I used to wear them a lot, but more recently I prefer a softshell and gilet which I find offers more versatility.

[mxg01]

I have the Galibier Tempest and find it a bit boil-in-the-bag in anything other than very cold conditions when I'm too cold to sweat. However, their Ventultra wind proof is excellent. It's fairly high-viz too. https://www.galibier.cc/product/ventult ... ng-jacket/

[pjclinch]

This from Alpkit might be of interest if you're a medium (All other sizes out of stock)
https://alpkit.com/products/cirrus-mens ... 8670120041

I have an older version windproof from them, it's been fine. I've had a couple of other windproofs over the years, I've found them much the same, the big difference has been fit. I used to wear them a lot, but more recently I prefer a softshell and gilet which I find offers more versatility.

The main problem with a softshell is pinning down what it actually means!
It usually boils down to "something that'll keep the worst out, without being formally waterproof like a hard shell", but looking at it that way a windshirt is actually a flavour of softshell...

Some use a membrane (e.g., Windstopper/Infinium from Gore) and these are more water resistant but less breathable and slower to dry out than tight-woven fabrics without a membrane. Some are stretchy, some aren't, some have insulation built in, some don't...

In summary, it's a marketing term and you need to judge on a garment-by-garment basis how "soft" it is and how "shelly" it is.

Pete.

[Bmblbzzz]

In summary, it's a marketing term and you need to judge on a garment-by-garment basis how "soft" it is and how "shelly" it is.

Pete.

This one's both Shelly and Pete, but almost always just a jersey: https://youtu.be/4TIueuJtN1g?si=pjeKzt4lBeSWbTMz

Sorry. I'll get my Paramo and pedal off over the horizon...

[pjclinch]

Another option. it's merely Bright Green rather than BRIGHT GREEN! but has reflective detailing.
https://www.inov-8.com/windshell-windpr ... olours=720