Cycling UK Forum

Looking ahead to the cold, windy and wet days ahead of us fills me with dread. That being said, I really need a jacket to cope with those wet, cold morning commutes and freezing day rides.

The last jacket I had for such scenarios was an Altura Nevis, but that was not very breathable and I sold it on to a mate a few weeks ago.

My budget is around £100. I'd prefer to spend less but would also consider spending more for the right garment.

I'm unsure whether I want a full waterproof jacket or a good windproof (that is also water resistant)

I'm thinking probably the latter, as I have a Dhb minima which is great to throw on when the rain starts.

Protection from the cold is the main priority here as I'd prefer not to slap on layer after layer just to keep warm.

So - recommendations on good winter jackets would be really appreciated

Thanks

Endura Windchill http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/endu ... -prod91341 waterproof front and arms but does not get steamy because the back is Roubaix so breathes well. This will do nicely except in heavy or long spells of rain when you would really want a full waterproof. I'ev used one for the last 4 years or more.

I like the look of that Endura.

In rain, doesn't the back soak through quite quickly though?

chris3vic wrote:In rain, doesn't the back soak through quite quickly though?

Showers and light rain are fine, heavy rain you need a waterproof or ride fast enough that the rain only hits the front

Seriously though - you have to weigh up your own experiences. How many tens/hundreds of hours do you ride in cold weather where you want a wind proof/waterproof front versus how many tens of hours do you need a full waterproof. If the equation works out in favour of the Windchill then you could invest the change in a cheap waterproof for the times you need it.

I wish I'd have realised this a few years ago when I splashed out on a Goretex Paclite for a £100. It's really good for stuffing in your back pocket for if it starts raining, but it's very sweaty after an hour or two.

The Endura sounds great.
I now have to convince Mrs Mick F that I should buy yet some more bike kit!

Not cycling specific but I highly recommend Rab's Vapour Rise range of jackets/smocks which are made with Pertex Equilibrium which is very breathable and highly wind resistant. I recently bought a Vapour Rise Lite Pull On for £65 and it's ideal for chilly and/or damp days either on its own or over a thin base layer. I also have an older original style VR smock but it's reserved for proper winter i.e. sub zero temperatures, as I tend to run hot.

Another thin windproof layer (Montane Featherlite or similar) put on over the top when it rains proper is enough for me to remain comfortable as I find full on waterproofs too sweaty.

There will only be a handful of times per year when I cycle a long way in persistent rain. Probably when I'm touring and a rainy day hits.

Rest of the time it'll either just be me caught out by a downpour on a day ride or coming to and from work.

I really like the look and feel of the night vision evo as a solid waterproof. However, its pricey, and I don't know whether I'd bother wearing it when it's just cold and layering up would suffice.

I will certainly check out the Rab stuff. I have a hiking jacket by Rab and it is excellent.

I do have a montane feather lite. It's a great jacket. I actually forgot I had it! Certainly good enough for a cold winters morning over a baselayer and long sleeve jersey.

I bought a Paramo Velez about a year ago, and cannot recommend it highly enough. It is a fantastic product. It is hard to believe that something so comfortable and easy to wear can be so waterproof. I have a number of waterproof laminate breathable jackets that I no longer ever wear.

They are expensive but you can get around that problem by buying direct from Paramo from the eBay site where they sell off last years colours, special small batch runs, and what they call seconds. We can never actually tell what makes them a second.

I paid around £88 for a old colour which I prefer anyway. They seem to be a little dearer just now.

The Velez works brill for cycling. Lots of zips for cooling if needed. Long back to tuck down to the saddle.

We have bought the longer Cascada for walking and both wear no other jackets all winter.

Brian

I think you need a selection of clothes - it's very rarely freezing cold and wet at the same time, so you need a jacket that copes with the cold and a jacket that copes with the wet.

I have a Decathlon jacket that I wear when it's really cold (i mean around freezing). It's actually too warm to wear if the temp is much above freezing, so I don't actually wear it that much, but it only cost £35.

I'm still looking for the holy grail of the waterproof jacket that doesn't make you sweat. I'm too tight to buy Goretex and I'm not convinced it works anyway.

Edited for spelling.

I think you're right Big T. Knowing I have to cycle to get to work whatever the weather means I've been thinking "do I have the right selection of clothes to cope with all weather scenarios"

The answer I think is - maybe

If its very, very cold, then a merino baselayer, midlayer like a normal jersey and a windproof or fleece lines jersey will probably suffice. I could wear my montane feather lite also to keep the chill off.

In rainy commutes, my dhb minima would suffice. It's only 4 miles each way so not too worried about boiling in the bag really.

If I get caught out on a day ride, the feather lite is good enough to cope with a minor downpour, the minima would be ok for a short while too.

Rarely will I spend a day in the saddle in a constant torrent of rain unless I get caught out while I'm away. In which case I'd just have to grin and bare the minima. Also, I'm only planning on two two night trips between now and December, probably one between Jan and March.

Wondering now if an expensive jacket is overkill. The night vision evo, for example is £90. I honestly can't imagine getting the value out of it...

Maybe my money should go towards a very nice baselayer....

The wife has just informed me Aldi's good ol' cycling special starts on Thursday (26th)

Winter cycling jackets (claiming to be both windproof and waterproof) for £20, plus Merino baselayers for £15.

Worth a look!

I wouldn't bother with the Night Vision Evo jacket - it might be twice the price of your existing Minima jacket but I bet it won't be twice as good, or twice as breathable. The only problem with the Featherlite is that even it's not that breathable - sometimes I just wear an extra base layer, say lightweight merino + heavier merino + fleece lined jersey and that keeps the chill out and lets the sweat out at the same time. If there's any moisture in the air though that's when I'll use one of the Rab VR tops, and the Featherlite is my wet weather jacket. Like you I won't be going out if it's going to be all day rain but I do commute by bike and need to be able to cope with a sudden downpour.

Paramo jackets look good too but I'm always disappointed when I try the stuff on and discover it doesn't fit me at all well.

I reckon I'll make do with what i've got until the weather gets cold enough to make some judgements.

I might add a new merino baselayer and a gilet to my wardrobe though, just for kicks. Never had a gilet, but a windproof one might be a good outer layer over a fleece lined jersey and a baselayer on a chilly day.

chris3vic wrote:Never had a gilet, but a windproof one might be a good outer layer over a fleece lined jersey and a baselayer on a chilly day.

Do as we old timers (well, almost) used to do and some still do. A sheet of newspaper or brown paper forms a very nice wind proof layer when put between your upper body layers. Just like a gilet, the difference is that it is free, recyclable, you can afford to throw it away on a ride if you cannot be bothered to fold it up when removing it. Funny that a number of gilets have mesh backs - just like a piece of newspaper. Put the money saved into your fund for a jacket. I have a some of large brown paper bags I've been using for a couple of years for those times when I want a windproof to start out with but not a winter jacket. Tight fisted - who, me?