Waterproof & breathable jacket - what's the latest & greatest?

[CopperBrompton]

It's time to replace my cycling jacket as general wear-and-tear coupled to complete lack of care means it has a couple of holes here and there. Still, at £120 and four years of hard use, I reckon about 60p/week for keeping me completely dry and comfy in all weathers isn't bad.

My current jacket is a Montane eVent Stormrider. I've been very happy with it, totally waterproof and amazingly breathable. Would happily buy another, but I've been told there's a new type of Goretex which is even better than eVent now?

What's the latest tech in breathable waterproofs?

Also, I'm torn between hi-viz and black after getting oil on my current jacket. Has anyone made the switch from hi-viz, and did you find it made any difference to the number of SMIDSYs?

Ben

 

[vickster]

Similar thread here http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/en...erproof-commuting-jacket.126890/#post-2406295

 

[CopperBrompton]

Thanks, Vickster, though that thread seems to be a straight either/or of a cheap jacket and a less cheap one. And looking at the http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/clothing/jackets/product/review-endura-flyte-jacket-11-44384 comments, it sounds like the breathability is nowhere close to eVent (which is pretty perfect in breathability).

So the question stands. :-)

 

[Cubist]

Nikwax Analogy for breathability.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Thanks - wasn't aware of that one, added to the list of fabrics on the short-list. :-)

 

[Scoosh]

Interested n this thread, as I'm soon going to be needing a new waterproof and find my back does get very wetty/swetty on the 'bent.

 

[Nemesis034]

Showerspass Elite 2.1 and even 2.0

http://www.showerspass.com/catalog/men/mens-jackets/elite-21-jacket

You can buy them from http://www.bicyclinghub.com/showerspass1.html with cheap shipping.

 

[Cubist]

Thanks - wasn't aware of that one, added to the list of fabrics on the short-list. :-)

http://www.paramo.co.uk/en-gb/index.phphttp://paramo.co.uk/en-gb/garments/detail/index.php?pgc=NIKWAXANALOGYLIGHTJACKETQUITOUNISEX

http://paramo.co.uk/en-gb/garments/detail/index.php?pgc=NIKWAXANALOGYLIGHTJACKETVISTAUNISEX

http://paramo.co.uk/en-gb/garments/detail/index.php?pgc=NIKWAXANALOGYSMOCKVELEZUNISEX

 

[Andrew_Culture]

These jackets all look very nice but don't appear to be very useful for the summer. Mind you, in the summer I'm more inclined to 'just get wet' and put up with it!

 

[Crankarm]

Gore-tex or any other breathable material not the best for cycling unless it is 1) cold 2) very wet.

Wind proof shell with DWR coating is the best compromise for breathability and keeping dry.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Why do you say that, Crankarm? I've used my eVent jacket winter and summer. In winter, I add warmth layers beneath as required, in summer it goes over a Coolmax t-shirt.

 

[theclaud]

It's time to replace my cycling jacket as general wear-and-tear coupled to complete lack of care means it has a couple of holes here and there. Still, at £120 and four years of hard use, I reckon about 60p/week for keeping me completely dry and comfy in all weathers isn't bad.

My current jacket is a Montane eVent Stormrider. I've been very happy with it, totally waterproof and amazingly breathable. Would happily buy another, but I've been told there's a new type of Goretex which is even better than eVent now?

What's the latest tech in breathable waterproofs?

Also, I'm torn between hi-viz and black after getting oil on my current jacket. Has anyone made the switch from hi-viz, and did you find it made any difference to the number of SMIDSYs?

Ben

Black. Definitely.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Also, I'm torn between hi-viz and black after getting oil on my current jacket. Has anyone made the switch from hi-viz, and did you find it made any difference to the number of SMIDSYs?

Ben

Black, forsooth. For verily I say unto thee; hi-viz doth offend mine eye.

And makes no difference to Mr Smidsy. He ain't looking. He ain't gonna see you no matter what you wear.

 

[Cubist]

Autumn through to spring I love my Velez smock on the mtb. No need for a separate windproof. Its all about ventilation. You can ride with the pits open, and my vista jacket has full length poppers behind the zip for air ventng.
You can also roll up the sleeves ae long as you wear a decent wicking layer its fine
I'm with crankers though. In summer just a fuera smock with Tx Direct or a Montane featherlite with the same. You only really need total waterproofing in winter.

 

[skudupnorth]

I have a Goretex jobbie and i find it totally useless due to me sweating like a good one in it so i get wet either way !