Best Ladies Waterproof Jacket?

[badkitty]

Right folks, I need your help again.

I've been trawling around for days now looking for a new winter jacket, and am really getting nowhere.

The one I used all last winter - a howies Whoosh jacket - has been ripped to shreds by too many brambles and branches, and i suspect was really too thin for the job I asked it to do anyway.

What I'm looking for is :
something girly, ( So kill me - I like pink! ),
or high vis,
woman specific,
breathable,
waterproof
(windproof is nice too),
that won't rip easily.
My Budgets pretty open, but not assos kind of open..sadly...

It's hard to tell just reading and looking online, how tough the fabrics are.
And to be awkward, I don't want a massive heavy thing either. Just something a little more substantial than my current whispy Howies jacket.

Sorry to be so demanding, but hopefully someone else who rides in all weathers (and I mean all weather... ) will have come across my dream jacket, and be able to point me in the right direction.

(have been to minx, loved the pearl izumi in flamingo, but think it's not waterproof enough, and a bit too whispy..
and also looked at Corinne Denis, and would be interested to hear from anyone using one of her jackets everyday...)

Thanks!

 

[ttcycle]

Gore's paclite jacket or something thereabouts (have two forgotten the names of them) are really good- comes in red, black, purple and fluorescent yellow...not overly girly I'm afraid but really good for ticking all your criteria off...!

I do layer up if it's pretty frosty weather but I get cold easily- so you might need some base layers etc when it gets fully into winter but the Gore jackets should sort you out for the wet and windy autumn time. They do tend to lose a bit of waterproofing around the shoulders over time but it would be possible to waterproof them again- I just don't have a tumble dryer.

 

[wafflycat]

You want pink...

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Altura_Ladies_Night_Vision_Evo_Waterproof_Jacket/5360044970/

 

[soulful dog]

It's only available in the two sizes but this Gore Sportive ladies Paclite jacket (£60) will certainly be waterproof and breathable. Pale blue, not pink though.

Speaking of pink jackets, jeez, the price of the Altura Night Vision has jumped a fair bit!

 

[Crackle]

I have a Gore paclite, excellent jacket but no jacket is going to manage brambles unless you get a full on mountaineering jacket. The Paclite is a close fit though with room in arms and shoulders and a long back. It's also smooth and toughish so unless you do the full on 'dragged through a hedge backwards' look, it might survive. No hood with it, that's an extra, breathable, as you'd expect Goretex to be and a high collar.

You might also look at someone like Keela who do a multi-activity jacket which is heavier and tougher but still folds small and isn't silly money. I've had a mountaineering jacket of theirs for years and used to have the one I linked to until I lost it.

 

[Fiona N]

Have a look on Girlsruntoo for a few more choices.
You're right about the Pearl Izumi Vagabond (I have it in orange/grey) it's like fine taffeta - it does the job of keeping the wind out and the removable arms are very nicely done too but waterproof it isn't.
I have a Gore Sportive and it seems to be as tough as you're likely to get in a bike jacket. I've had an Endura waterproof and a Gore men's jacket previously and neither were any heavier (in terms of toughness of the material - they were much bulkier jackets) than the ripstop Paclite of the Sportive.

 

[badkitty]

Thanks everyone! Am off to start going through all the suggestions.
Most helpful.

 

[rich p]

Mrs rich p got a Gore Sportive on advice from Fiona and she absolutely loves it. Light, waterproof stylish cut and bright bright pink!
I think they may have stopped doing pink though!

 

[badkitty]

It's glorious sunshine and I want it to! Why?

Because my new jacket arrived today!

I went with the Altura Night Vision in Raspberry (thanks Wafflycat) - and it's beautiful, fits perfectly, and screams "Girl" just the way I wanted it too.

So I just wanted to say Thanks for all the suggestions and forgive me for wishing away the sun...

 

[Crackle]

Wot sun?

 

[summerdays]

It's glorious sunshine and I want it to! Why?

Because my new jacket arrived today!

I went with the Altura Night Vision in Raspberry (thanks Wafflycat) - and it's beautiful, fits perfectly, and screams "Girl" just the way I wanted it too.

So I just wanted to say Thanks for all the suggestions and forgive me for wishing away the sun...

That's the one I'm going to get ... where did you end up getting it from ... I thought it wasn't stocked yet. I've had 2 Night Visions - the first a yellow definitely faded alot, and the second a grey one is OK, but loosing its waterproofness but I do give waterproofs a hard life and like to have a spare one so that I can change coats rather than having to put back on a soggy one if I come home for lunch - or I have been known to tumbledry it .

 

[summerdays]

Wot sun?

Glorious sunshine ... bare arms... ankles and daps... lovely

 

[Crackle]

Glorious sunshine ... bare arms... ankles and daps... lovely

Sun smun shun

It's grim up North, today.

 

[badkitty]

I got it from Evans..Wiggle haven't got them yet and I was tooooo impatient to wait.
Evans don't have the larger sizes in Raspberry , but say they are due in in a week, but they do have all the other colors in all the other sizes..

It's lovely. Am gonna put it on again. And have a play with the strange Night Vision Lightstrip which came free with it...





ps..Poor you Crackle. It's grim up north.
Now there's a surprise...

 

[wafflycat]

I went with the Altura Night Vision in Raspberry (thanks Wafflycat) - and it's beautiful, fits perfectly, and screams "Girl" just the way I wanted it too.

Glad to be of service