Good stylish medium-weight waterpoof/breathable cycling jacket?

[oxford_guy]

Hi - I'm looking to by a good, medium weight waterproof (not just shower-proof), reasonably stylish breathable cycling jacket, my budget is up to about £200. I'm 5' 8" and 11 stone, and normally take a Medium size. My last jacket was an Endura Venturi jacket, made out of eVent material (think the current version is made of something different). I liked it a lot, it was reasonably waterproof and breathable, my only gripes were that the velco cuff fasteners tore off on both arms and the tail was too long - my wife was always complaining about this, said she thought it looked ridiculous, and wants me to get something with a shorter tail! Anyway, I managed to lose the jacket whilst shopping a few weeks back, and now need a replacement.

When I tried on a number of waterproof cycling jackets last time I found that many were far too long in the arm (even when cycling on drops), especially the Montane jacket I tried.

The Chrome Storm Cobra jacket looks really nice and stylish and probably won't get complaints from the wife in the looks department, but the sleeves look very long and I'm unsure how breathable it would be. The Mission Workshop Orion looks great, but seems to be hard to get in my size, and is over my budget.

Some of the Gore Bike Wear products look good, are any of them worth trying? What would be their equivalent to the Endura Venturi?

Anything else worth trying?

BTW would prefer something without a hood, although a removable hood would be nice to have.

 

[oxford_guy]

Is Goretex Active fabric good? The Gore Fusion has this and the tail, whilst a little extended (which is good), doesn't look massively long (which is also good). It does seem to have a strange toggle/strap at the base of the tail, though - does anyone know what this is for?

 

[mrmacmusic]

Hopefully someone will chip in re the merits of GoreTex Active Shell fabric, as I'm curious about that too (looking at Alp-X trousers). I suspect it does what it says on the tin though, so to speak...

Don't forget to check out tgstore.eu for Gore Bike Wear stuff – I got a Phantom 2.0 Windstopper jacket from there after I followed a link that had popped up in the bargains thread last year. Their prices are great – especially if you can pick up something you're looking for in their clearance section – and I can't fault their service either having had to return a pair of overshoes.

 

[carolonabike]

I have a Gore Oxygen Shell jacket which is great. I wore it all last winter. It's breathable, waterproof and windproof and packs up really small. Even in the summer I carry it with me. It looks good too.
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/gore-bike-wear-oxygen-goretex-active-shell-jacket/

 

[Berties]

i have a endura stealth,great coat,large vents,and wear it as a general sports water proof,i am quite a fan of endura products,they wear well

 

[Milzy]

ASOS

 

[Fab Foodie]

Hi Oxford Guy
I searched for years to find a suitable (for me) waterproof jacket and eventually an Audax thread/review on yacf provoked me to look at this:
http://www.paramo.co.uk/en-gb/garme...pgc=NIKWAXANALOGYLIGHTSMOCKVELEZADVENTUREMENS

I paid £180 at Go Outdoors at Redbridge.

I never found the fit of 'waterproof' cycle tops to be great, too tight under the arms and not enough ventilation options unless you spend a great amount money, which I found hard to justify for cycling alone. But the Paramo top is comfortable on the bike (I've not been out in any great rains yet), ventilates well on the bike, and it feels like your not wearing it, it's soft, the clever sleeves roll-up like a shirt and it's bizzarely - warm when it's cold and coolish when it's warm and muggy.
BUT, the great thing about it (and it is a great amount of cash) is that I can wear it on the bike, walking the dog, walking in mountains, camping and walking down the high street and it looks good ... like a regular casual top, not like a cyclists jacket. For touring it would be perfect.

 

[oxford_guy]

Thanks @Fab Foodie, the Paramo stuff does look good, but can be a bit heavy and doesn't pack down that small. Also I would much prefer a full-length zip.

I'm definitely interested in something with Gore Tex Active Shell fabric, I think, as it's light but has good waterproof protection, as well as being very breathable. I'm even considering the non-bike specific Mountain Equipment Firefox jacket, though the large non-removable or stow-able flapping hood (as described in this, otherwise very positive, review) might be an annoyance when cycling, though like the lack of a long tail. Am still also considering the Gore Bike Ware Fusion (has side pockets, but no hood, though I'm not keen on the strange toggle at the base of the tail) and the Gore Bike Ware ALP-X 2.0 Active which has a detachable hood, but no side pockets, though it look like both have fairly long tails. Are there any other good Gore Tex Active Shell jackets available?

The Chrome Storm Cobra Jacket also looks interesting, and nicely styled, though I've not seen many reviews for it, so am unsure how waterproof and breathable it is...

 

[lejogger]

Rapha hardshell?
Slightly over budget but an excellent piece of kit by all accounts.

Or is a hood a definite requirement?

 

[oxford_guy]

Rapha hardshell?
Slightly over budget but an excellent piece of kit by all accounts.

Or is a hood a definite requirement?

A hood would be nice, but think I'd rather have no hood if it doesn't have a removable or stow-able one. The Rapha looks nice, though am not so sure about the asymmetric zip,as think the jacket would hang awkwardly when opened. Also only seems o be available in yellow, red or dark blue - would prefer black, olive or green. Also the sleeves look very long, but my arms aren't. The fabric used looks nice, though.

 

[oxford_guy]

There's also the Rapha Rain Jacket, though the fold out pink bum-flap tail looks a bit bizarre!

 

[User482]

My Gore paclite is ten years old and still works well.

 

[oxford_guy]

My Gore paclite is ten years old and still works well.

When I've tried jackets made with Gore Paclite material in the past I've found that I sweat too much in them and get wet from the inside, unfortunately

 

[DrLex]

There's also the Rapha Rain Jacket, though the fold out pink bum-flap tail looks a bit bizarre!

I've had one of these since the start of the year - more a "ride & destination" jacket and I've probably worn it more off the bike than on. Fine for short rides in drizzle, but I've had dampness through the front yoke & arm seams in hard rain, and it's best to wear a wicking top or go at pootling pace. For wet weather cycling, I prefer using Ground Effect's Flash Gordon in a more noticeable orange.

 

[User482]

When I've tried jackets made with Gore Paclite material in the past I've found that I sweat too much in them and get wet from the inside, unfortunately

If you're working hard, no jacket in the world will stop sweat build up unfortunately. Event seems a bit better than paclite, and good base layers help. Tbh, on long rides I focus more on trying to stay warm rather than dry.