Jacket needed... waterproof and very breathable

Just popped into Evans on Waterloo Cut as the velcro storm seal on the cuff of my Endura eVent jacket had died.

They swapped the jacket for the Endura Stealth which looks interesting- it's a softshell that is 100% waterproof, so I am hoping that I will not need the softshell plus waterproof jacket combo that I have been using so far.

I will experiment and report back.

Very happy with the customer service I got in Evans also- exchange with no questions after they'd seen the offending seal and they gave me a £160 pound jacket in exchange for a year old £150 pound one.

tokyofixedgear.com have nari furi jackets on sale.... who said that??

I really like the look of that Alexander Lee Change jacket, but even with the price drop, I just cannot justify £215 on a cycling jacket. Take another 50% off, then maybe ;)

http://www.tokyofixedgear.com/productdetails.asp?productid=00319

My Milwaukee proved its worth today again, riding into work in heavy drizzle at 0615 then sitting on my arse at london bridge for 50 minutes waiting to meet someone. Good kit.

I am going to try an Endura Helium next week and will let yall know

My Milwaukee is the reason I'm actually looking forward to winter (I believe I posted something similar this time last year). Absolutely first rate piece of kit. I will never grow tired of singing its praises.

endura fusion looks good, anyone used it?

Assos Fugi. That's all..

Who's paying?

I'd prefer something lighter. I don't need a wetsuit nor goretex :-/

Bought this yesterday for trekking in Nepal, could fit the bill here though. It's an ultra-lightweight weatherproof running/cycling jacket.

Montane Jetsream Pertex jacket, weighs 70g. Outer shell layer for warmth, breathable + water resistant + Scotchlite, 70g. £26. RRP is £50.

It's really thin, not sure how this sort of jacket would stand up to repeated use under a backpack.

http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/montane_jetstream_jacket/?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=directory&utm_content=GBR&currency=GBP&country=GBR

Cool. How sweaty I'm going to be after 10 miles. Have you tried it yet?

Bought this yesterday for trekking in Nepal, could fit the bill here though. It's an ultra-lightweight weatherproof running/cycling jacket.

Montane Jetsream Pertex jacket, weighs 70g. Outer shell layer for warmth, breathable + water resistant + Scotchlite, 70g. £26. RRP is £50.

It's really thin, not sure how this sort of jacket would stand up to repeated use under a backpack.

http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/montane_jetstream_jacket/?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=directory&utm_content=GBR&currency=GBP&country=GBR

Bit OT mate - but I wouldnt bother with that in Nepal (if you are trekking in the Himalaya) apart from possibly as a windproof. Get a massive poncho instead - no need for the fabric to be breathable and it will keep you dry in the mental rain storms you occassionally get. I had cause to use it a couple of times on a 3 week trek and was very glad of it - as it was near enough full length it keeps the rain off your trousers too. Even the best goretex/event/mega breathable fabric will struggle in Nepal when you are trekking due to the heat (as if its warm enough to be rain rather than snow then it will be VERY humid)

Yeah it's more as a breathable windproof really with a bit of rain protection.

Not sure what I'm gonna be doing out there and the topography is pretty varied.

I'm focusing mainly on covering all bases with absolute minimal weight. I have a shit load of merino which is breathable so great in the cold or when when warm, also merino stays warm even when wet so if I do get drenched and it's cold it's not the end of the world. Plus with the Merino it doesn't smell so I can get away with two pairs of Merino undies and wash alternate days but if I miss a day or two it's not a massive deal. =)

The Pertex is an addition to act as an extra layer + partial windbreak mainly. Yeah I'd take a poncho or proper rainproof but those or similar, especially gortex stuff can be HEAVY. I think mostly if I do get hit with a downpour I'll soon dry out, and given the type of clothing I'll have won't be cold and wet. And worst case, if i do find I desperately need rainproofing I'll buy some of that fake Northface shit that's rife out there, ponchos don't have to be high quality or well made.

Cool. How sweaty I'm going to be after 10 miles. Have you tried it yet?

Sorry no idea, I'm happy to get when when cycling, only do 6.5miles each way and there's a shower at the other end. In theory not at all due to the breathability but in practice I dunno sorry.

Here's the labels if anyone's interested :

http://i35.tinypic.com/iqc1up.jpg

http://i36.tinypic.com/fbx9ie.jpg

As I say it'd be the durability I'd be concerned about if your carting a backpack/messenger bag around.

I'm nowt to do with the company I linked to btw, it was just significantly cheaper there than anywhere else for that particular jacket!

Where do you get merino undies? Do they also sell merino socks?? eBay is coming up short on merino gear :(

There's a Merino thread knocking around somewhere on LGFSS you might not have seen.

For undies, I ordered Taranakis from Chocolate Fish, waiting delivery. http://www.chocolatefishmerino.co.uk/taranaki/boxers.html

Other options I'd scoped out are Icebreaker 150 boxers, plenty of places sell those if you Google. Both the Icebreakers and the CFish ones seem to come highly recommended if you scope forums and such.

For socks there's quite a few places, I ended up going for Smartwool ones, still waiting for delivery atm. http://www.smartwool-socks.co.uk

These things aren't cheap though, you can spend a bomb on Merino shit if you so desire. Like £25 for a pair of undies! They don't even say Gucci on them or anything.

Update to the Endura Stealth waterproof soft shell- so far it's great.

I always used to carry both soft shell and eVent jacket, now I have just one top to worry about.

Apparently, the Blacks in Fenchurch St has 30% of all the shop stock for today (as they are closing down) might be worth a look

Update to the Endura Stealth waterproof soft shell- so far it's great.

I always used to carry both soft shell and eVent jacket, now I have just one top to worry about.

I think it is, but just to make sure i'm not being stupid: is it the kind of waterproof that you'd stick on over a warm coat, or a warm and water proof coat? I just need something that packs small to carry in my bag to stick on over my izumi warm coat when it rains.

Bought this yesterday for trekking in Nepal, could fit the bill here though. It's an ultra-lightweight weatherproof running/cycling jacket.

Montane Jetsream Pertex jacket, weighs 70g. Outer shell layer for warmth, breathable + water resistant + Scotchlite, 70g. £26. RRP is £50.

It's really thin, not sure how this sort of jacket would stand up to repeated use under a backpack.

http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/montane_jetstream_jacket/?utm_source=froogle&utm_medium=directory&utm_content=GBR&currency=GBP&country=GBR

That is some seriously light weight jacket! As you say durability could be an issue for a day to day bike wear. Never been to Nepal (you lucky barstard) but I picked up a cheap poncho from decathlon about 6 months ago and as long as the wind is not to strong it's quite good. 350 g I seem to remember,

Forgot to add go lite to a ponch 280 g double as tarp. More expensive though.

http://www.hike-lite.co.uk/Tents/One+Person/Poncho+Tarp.html

I think it is, but just to make sure i'm not being stupid: is it the kind of waterproof that you'd stick on over a warm coat, or a warm and water proof coat? I just need something that packs small to carry in my bag to stick on over my izumi warm coat when it rains.

It's a replacement for a seperate soft-shell and waterproof jacket.

To give you an idea I did have a Cannondale Carbon series softshell plus Endura eVent jacket to wear over the top.

I have replaced both with the current jacket, and so far so good- lots of room in my bag as there is no longer any need to stick the eVent jacket in there.

So in essence it's a warm jacket that is waterproof, going by your posts criteria.

If you already have a warm layer then it might not be best for you as it would be duplicating one thing you already have.

OK, received the Montane Jetsream Pertex jacket today and I'm well pleased with it. Good quality to value ratio (£26). Very very light, packs small, soft, windproof, reasonably waterproof, fabric feels nice on the skin if you wear a jersey only underneath (doesn't have that Liverpool Shellsuit roughness).
The only downfall is lack of pockets - there could be one shielded pocket on the back :-(
I wanted Altura Reflex originally, but this one will do for now.

It's a replacement for a seperate soft-shell and waterproof jacket.

To give you an idea I did have a Cannondale Carbon series softshell plus Endura eVent jacket to wear over the top.

I have replaced both with the current jacket, and so far so good- lots of room in my bag as there is no longer any need to stick the eVent jacket in there.

So in essence it's a warm jacket that is waterproof, going by your posts criteria.

If you already have a warm layer then it might not be best for you as it would be duplicating one thing you already have.

cheers man, very helpful.

I have replaced both with the current jacket, and so far so good- lots of room in my bag as there is no longer any need to stick the eVent jacket in there.

I take it you wear a backpack when commuting, if yes, how durable is the jacket? Am looking for a softshell which is waterproof, lightweight and durable (not too much then!) but I'm a serious sweater so has to be breathable as well. The Stealth sounds ideal but I'm worried about the shoulder straps eroding the jacket...

I wear a courier bag as I am a fixie-skidder.

I'll update when I've worn the jacket and bag for a decent length of time and have a verdict on the wear rate.

Looking at the softshell that I wore for the last two years with the same bag I'd say wear is minimal- but that one did not have a waterproof surface.

Nice one. I'm a singlespeed rider with a dual strap bag so might be a tad different. Still any waterproofing will wear off eventually I imagine...