Wind / showerproof jackets - best not to bother?

[PaulSecteur]

I popped into Evans in Brum yesterday and saw these at half price...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products...oogle&utm_medium=froogle&utm_campaign=froogle

When researching jackets I remember these getting decent reviews, so I thought at half price it would be worth a go. I was looking more for functionality and breathablility rather than outright wind protection and with all the vent hole down the side and under the arms that seemed to be what this was offering, a bit of extra summer protection, but not winter warmth or insulation.

As it was a bank holiday I knew I would get to test it out in some drizzle, just done a 5 miler to the gym and back and to be honest, im not that impressed. I was wearig a dry-weave t-shirt and to its credit the front stayed mostly dry - if clammy. But my arms were soaked! It wasnt the rain getting in, it was sweat. Lots and lots of sweat. Im sure on a ride with a few more miles It would be the same all over.

Is this the same for all jackets of this type?

Is there anything I can do to improve the situation?

Would wearing a base layer help?

I see there are arm warmers, but is there such a thing as "arm sweaters" made from base layer material to keep the skin off the material and allow some wicking?

Thanks for any help,

Paul.

 

[black'n'yellow]

Would wearing a base layer help?

I see there are arm warmers, but is there such a thing as "arm sweaters" made from base layer material to keep the skin off the material and allow some wicking?

that would be a long sleeve base layer then...

If you want a bit of protection on cool mornings, wear a gilet. Rain jackets (or indeed anything else effectively 'windproof') are pretty much useless for anything - even rain. The only thing they are any good at is stopping you from getting a chill if you are marooned at the side of the road.

 

[amaferanga]

You need to wear either a l/s baselayer or s/s baselayer with arm warmers underneath the jacket. THen it'll be better, but you will still sweat.

Gilets are better for summer.

 

[potsy]

+1 for gilets, I find even my very lightweight Montane jacket has me sweating buckets, horrible with a short sleeved shirt, better with long sleeves but much prefer a gilet.

 

[StuAff]

Cycling jackets, even the best ones are a bit like another version of Keith Bontrager's dictum on wheels- waterproof, breathable, light- pick two. Good waterproof jackets do work very well. Got a DHB EQ 2.5 to replace another DHB jacket (after three years of hard use, the inner lining has cracked/come off in parts so water gets in). Just like its predecessor, it's excellent. Yes, it can be a bit boil in the bag when you're working hard, but that's the nature of the beast. It keeps water out very well indeed (dry as a bone in heavy rain like the Emsworth FNRttC, let alone in the other night's drizzle), excellent in cold and wind too.

 

[Andrew Br]

Recently I had cause to wear a tubigrip bandage on one arm (sore elbow) with a waterproof/breathable jacket* and SS shirt. The tubigripped arm was much less clammy than the other. It was so good in fact that I'm thinking of taking tubigrip along on rides instead of my arm-warmers.
Bare skin and waterproofs aren't a good combination IME.

*Howies Long Way Home jacket, best waterproof that I've had. So far.



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[Norm]

I prefer windproof to waterproof. Skin is waterproof but it doesn't take kindly to cold and windy.