The Ultimate Riding Jacket?

eVent is actually a very effective breathable fabric.

I moved from GoreTex PacLite to eVent recently. The PacLite would feel horrible and clammy very quickly on my commute and no amount of venting would help. I can now do my commute in eVent fully zipped up.

+1 for the Rab Momentum hardshell. It weighs 300g and is very breathable and completely waterproof. A great winter jacket. Best bit is the cut, I am 6' 3" and wear a medium, perfect length and snug on the chest and waist.

eVent is actually a very effective breathable fabric.

Yep I have the Rab Drillium which is an eVent shell. I was disappointed until I discovered that washing and treating it regularly with the Nikwax wash and re-waterproofing stuff regularly means it stays waterproof and breathable. I would not recommend ironing it as it says to do on the label!

The eVent shell is expensive but the breathability is pretty good and it's thin enough to actually wear when you are cycling in the rain (unlike most riding jackets which are really warm).

i have a Crux event jacket

tried it once for cycling and felt like a boil in the bag chicken

am with smyth on this, i cant understand how such jackets can be worn except in extreme cold

i never understand people in nodder yellow jackets all year round, they must be sweltering in summer

although, it seems to be all about Polartec Neoshell now

http://www.polartec.com/neoshell/technical-highlights.aspx

Also sizing and cut plays a part to it. The fit needs to be snug and layered so perspiration is immediately taken away from the body instead of lingering around on your skin.

+1 for Polartec Neoshell also, great material as it has more give in it than eVent. You can cut the jacket even more snugly as you don't feel the pinch across the shoulders when stretching. But the weight gain is noticeable. Equivalent Rab jackets in Neoshell and eVent are around 40% heavier in the Neoshell. Great material though.

I moved from GoreTex PacLite to eVent recently. The PacLite would feel horrible and clammy very quickly on my commute and no amount of venting would help. I can now do my commute in eVent fully zipped up.

:( just shelled out for my first ever proper waterproof and it's a goretex paclite. awaiting its arrival excitedly, albeit less excitedly now.

in other news, I've been borrowing my guy's Pearl Izumi Elite Barrier WxB and it's quite impressive. feels wierd and cold when it's very wet and against the skin, but with even a thin layer between you and it it's fine.

The problem with PacLite is that it has a shiny finish on the inside, so perspiration hangs off it. eVent has a textured finish on the inside so sweat is absorbed if the jacket is next to the skin. Also my PacLite was a size too big, which was a factor.

As long as it fits well and you wear a long sleeve base layer on underneath, it shouldn't be too bad. Gore Tex Active Shell is supposed to be pretty good. The Velum jacket by Berghaus was made with cycling in mind and has reinforced shoulder areas with Pro Shell fabric to stop wear from bag straps, worth a look.

http://www.campcraft.co.uk/shop/shopimages/products/normal/Velum%20Intense%20Blue-Redmain.bmp

I love the classic Berghaus blue/red but it comes in black also.

so what do people use to re-waterproof their jackets? My campag one is no longer waterproof, I tried some stuff I have to waterproof shoes but it only worked in patches. Is Nikwax any good?

eVent is actually a very effective breathable fabric.

I moved from GoreTex PacLite to eVent recently. The PacLite would feel horrible and clammy very quickly on my commute and no amount of venting would help. I can now do my commute in eVent fully zipped up.

+1 for the Rab Momentum hardshell. It weighs 300g and is very breathable and completely waterproof. A great winter jacket. Best bit is the cut, I am 6' 3" and wear a medium, perfect length and snug on the chest and waist.

I too am 6' 3". I always have trouble with jackets being too short on the torso. Is the medium Rab Momentum long enough over your bum when cycling? I also have long torso / short legs though... What's your inside leg?

i have an endura e-vent jacket and a rab e-vent 'outdoors' jacket. i only use then rab if if it's absolutely pissing it down as the hood fits over a helmet, the endura is in the bag but only gets worn in really bad weather, wouldn't take it on a road ride as it's too hot, a rapha windshell is far more useful and comfortable over a wider temperature range.

so what do people use to re-waterproof their jackets? My campag one is no longer waterproof, I tried some stuff I have to waterproof shoes but it only worked in patches. Is Nikwax any good?

Nickwax or grangers, both work well aslong as you follow the instructions. For general washing you can use the tech wash or just some pure soap flakes.
http://www.fmcgltd.com/brands/grannys.shtml

I too am 6' 3". I always have trouble with jackets being too short on the torso. Is the medium Rab Momentum long enough over your bum when cycling? I also have long torso / short legs though... What's your inside leg?

The Rab is about perfect length wise for cycling, long enough in the back to cover your arse, short enough in the front not to bunch up when on a bike, long arms too.

I have one of these.

http://www.pacecycles.com/?page_id=132

I have one of these.

http://www.pacecycles.com/?page_id=132

And.....?

Is it good/bad, hot/cool, long/short, sweaty/breathable, light/heavy?

And.....?

Is it good/bad, hot/cool, long/short, sweaty/breathable, light/heavy?

Yeah it fairs very well. The cut is, of course cycle specific as you'd imagine from a bike manufacturer. The tail is long and on the bike the Velcro adjustable sleeves are just right. It suffers from the familiar lack of venting which is a common oversight on waterproof jackets, that said there is a breathability to it, depends how hard your working to be fair. I always find unzipping helps to let some air in :)

Features are few, although there is a rear taped/zippered pocket and a very handy drawstring toggle at the neck, easily adjustable on the fly, to keep those pesky drips from going down the back of your neck.

The hem at the bottom is elasticated at the sides and back which keeps the fit trim but Id prefer a adjustable toggle arrangement there.

So no gimmicks, just a well made Event jacket only available in grey, mibbes not the best colour upon reflection.

For a shade under one hundred earth pounds I think its worth it, had mine for a a few years now, tbf I only wear it on foul days when it comes into its own.

Weight wise, not sure. Its not that heavy though. You can fit it in your jersey pocket, but ultra packable it is not, but then ultra packable's don't keep you dry in down pours. Horses for courses then.

I kind of want this for winter. Not for rainy days, I have a practical waterproof for real weather, just for cold days. It would be a good warm single layer to ride to college in I think, but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience of them and if they are actually windproof or horrible to cycle in etc.

"A traditional Carhartt style grey marl zip hooded sweat. It has the Car-Lux lining with a polyurethane foam outer layer and flocked nylon inner layer making it windproof and warm, helping take on England’s rugged seasons. 2 front pockets on the front to keep your hands extra warm on those cold days, hood adjuster cords for comfort and a square Carhartt logo sewn onto the front for style benefits. 50% cotton, 50% polyester knit."

And yes yes I know, hipster, artfag, chevrons etc

"...a square Carhartt logo sewn onto the front for style benefits."

I picked myself up a Rapha hooded jacket from the Paul Smith sale shop yesterday. Looks like this week will be too warm to get some good use out of it though.

Hipster, artfag etc. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

.

Scoot, If you want a top to ride in with some functionality, why not consider either one of the Surface hoodies - casual, windproof, some waterproofing. Or for classic cycling chic, a Tudor Sports top? I am rather fond of mine, it is fine for general usage, and at £40 direct from them a snip whilst supporting a small UK company.

Neither are exactly unltimate riding jackets though.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/orca-mens-core-element-full-zip-merino-hood/#more

http://www.mysportingtimes.com/product.htm?product=orca-element-full-zip-hood&source=googleps

been using this hoody for a about 6 months. very happy with it, i tend to boil in any jacket no matter how thin, but am able to cycle in this without usually getting too warm. I worn this in a few heavy downpours, and has kept me impressively warm. dries pretty quickly.

....Cathartt...Etc...

I know everyone's different and girls usually feel the cold more, but i'd look for something windproof and wear something like a thin merino cardigan underneath. Most of the cold comes from the wind/air passing through to your skin.

Plus I find stopping and starting at lights means anything jumper-like makes me fry.

What about Keela? An excellent Scottish company that really understand weather proof clothing. Just my humble suggestion. Good prices, and clothing that is used by those that climb Mt.Everest, and also by military forces around the world. Oh yes, and from what I have read, I doubt any modern designerwear (like Rapha for example), could ever last as long given the same hard treatment. Sizes, from whippets to St.Bernards like moi.

Base Layer
Men's ADS Long Sleeve Zip Top £19.95

Jackets
Zenith Softshell Jacket £79.95
Odin Multi Active Jacket £69.95

Review for a Keela Munro jacket. Most other reviews seem very similar to that.

3 Attachments

+1 for Keela.

Excellent product and service.

My ride from EC2 to SW4 last night saw me start off in the rain when it was really coming down hard, then cycle out of it, then get caught in it again for a second drenching.

I was wearing an icebreaker meriono long-sleeve, a Swrve Milwaukee, Swrve winter weight shorts, Rab gaiters, Shimano MW80's, and was completely dry and honestly quite enjoying being out in it.

For a while I was cycling along looking at the water that was pooling in the folds of my jacket, but it wasn't coming through at all.

Then the rain stopped, and I had to rip half of it off before I boiled to death in a heartbeat.