The Ultimate Riding Jacket?

You get different laminates, one's Pertex Shield+ 2.5 layer, the other's 3 layer.

I have only ever seen one cycle-specific jacket that had a hydrostatic head rating on it. And I grabbed it right away. The Bont, RXL rain jacket. Great cut, long arms and still 'proof 4 years later.

I see now that 2m = 20,000mm - water column blah blah.

Just not sure which racer to copy - one has RAB one has Castelli. Both have raced last year's TCR. Both are skinnier than me by 20kg+ :)

I figured it'd be better to go with whatever has the best fit and least annoying features.

I've got a pile of waterproof jackets and in their own way they're all a bit shit, regardless of spec/price etc.

The search continues...

Have you looked at Montbell?
Very good price for the quality.

anyone care to share their thoughts about Paramo jackets? wondering about a Ciclo or similar from their range for the rainy times which are undoubtably ahead. I'm not bothered about tight race fit, more good stretched arm/lower back coverage. How do they cope with 45-60 minutes drenchings?
Ta

Looking for an arc'teryx atom - any in sale?

Went for the atom. Toasty af

Anyone had any experience with the lusso shell? Look good and pretty cheap at £30
Made in england too
http://www.lusso.bike/product/giro-rain-jacket-black/

packlite ... amazed at how well (compared to other stuff) it breathes for something that's totally waterproof

I know the whole forum has moved onto Gabba-ish textiles. But need something for commuting/errands, so will have to sacrifice stretch/breathability/racefit/wow.
I need to make sure that I will arrive bone dry and without wet patches on my office-clothes.

Can see that Gore have some sensible options in Paclite. Such as:
ELEMENT GT Paclite Jacket
ELEMENT GT Jacket

Thoughts?

I looked at these but ended up going with a Marmot Precip, as it was much less than half the price and it can be used for hiking and stuff as well. It's absolutely amazing on and off the bike and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

ariving bone dry is never going to happen, accept it and move on tbh

Oh do fuck off.
Good old eVent has served me fine for my commuting needs over the years. Even after years of use it can handle 30 min of the sort of rain that gets two droplets in the BBC forecast.
Doesn't have the breathability you get with the gabba type fabrics, but then again I never get up to high speeds on my commutes anyways.

Buy a riding cape

Less likely to get sweaty and breath ability is not an issue.

It's hard to find event now. Mostly all goretex which is not as good.
I bought a karimor alpineste sports direct. And very happy with it.
And a lovely ventile jacket too not ideal for cycling but fantastic material with out the rustling of synthetics and more breathable then waxed cotton.

Part of eVent's problem is the stupid name.

Got a 7mesh in Evans sale for £90. Water repels really well but it's noisy af and the back could go lower. For the money I paid its great though.

For commute and errands I've been very impressed with my Paramo Cyclo. No race fit or cut about it, but it handles wet stuff with ease, is a nice fabric to wear, and when the proofing fades, it comes back really well when washed in nikwax stuff. It's more than just a shell though, so maybe not so good for when the weather warms up.

sorry to be pedantic, but in terms of 'breathability', the eVent EPTFE (no 4 below) will be higher performing than the PU (no 4) of a Gabba-type fabric. These PU membrane fabrics are often married with regular knit non-laminate side/underarm panels to compensate for lower breathability performance. Advantages of PU laminates are high-stretch/recovery, great durability and (relatively) low price - and EPTFE are low/no stretch, need to be correctly cleaned/maintained, and will be in the upper price.

http://www.nemoequipment.com/pdfs/classroom/wbtechnologies_6-12-12.pdf

I'm looking for a jacket I can wear most of the year, whenever it's not warm enough to get away with just a jersey/arm warmers, which I can wear a few layers with when it's cold. It needs to be breathable, water resistant and windproof. Also, I'm not looking to spend a fortune, £150 is the absolute upper limit. I'd like it to not look too much like a cycling jacket (it doesn't need to be a cycling jacket at all really, my current one is meant for running). Any recommendations?

gabba

Get a softshell jacket. Rab, Arc'teryx, anyone of them. Just go to ellis bringham/cotswolds and try some on.

https://rab.equipment/uk/mens/softshell/

Or if you want to save bucks, I bought a quecha jacket 5 years ago, it's still going strong today.
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/windwarm-500-men-black-id_8370292.html

Looking at light weight down jackets for mountain trip in June. This will be for emergency use and most likely stowed in a vehicle at the top of climbs and used in case of grim, cold weather and to stop me freezing on long descents if needed.

I'd been planning on the Alpkit Heiko, which at £85 was about what I was hoping to spend. Alas, now out of stock.

Is something like the Atom worth the extra at over twice the price?

Hadn't considered Decathlon, so will also check out what they have.

I have a mammut broad peak light, and it is excellent, packs pretty small, and is surprisingly warm. However if it's to be stored in a vehicle, and to put on when you're all sweaty and possibly wet, I'd go for synthetic.

I bought my Rab Xenon hoodie cheaper than that brand new, packs down REALLY small within its own chest pocket.