The Ultimate Riding Jacket?

So my search for the perfect winter jacket (which is suitable on the commute/pub and occasional longer ride) has led me to try on a few with not much luck. I'm not looking for something waterproof as if it rains that much I'll hit the pub or stay inside so it is more important to be water resistant & windproof:

1) Endura Urban - really liked it, good fit and weight but not keen on hoods. It gave the impression to be very windproof and water resistant
http://www.cyclesurgery.com/pws/client/images/catalogue/products/cend0173kk/large/cend0173kk.jpg

2) Endura Fusion Soft shell is an option too, seems to be similar to the above without the hood
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/s?q=endura+fusion+soft+shell+jacket

3) Gore Phantom 2 - too "cycling" fitted for what I am looking for, liked the pop off arms idea but the wife also gave it a big thumbs down

4) Gore Alp X 2 Soft shell - very strange cut, tight under the arms. Tried both large and XL but just an odd cut for me. 5 star review on bike radar but sent back
http://www.bowlandoutdoors.com/acatalog/gore-bike-wear-alp-x-so-zip-off-jacket-splash-blue-black.jpg

5) Next stop is to try the Vulpine Soft shell (rather than rain jacket) but getting more expensive at nearly double the price (£175) http://www.alwaysriding.co.uk/vulpine-men-s-softshell-jacket-2255.html

6) If I am going that high would it then be worth going even higher and all in for the Rapha Soft shell which comes in at £240 which is steep. Actually looking at it again it is a very severe, uniform style which I'm not keen on. Great if I wanted to be a James Bond bad guy henchman though
http://www.rapha.cc/classic-softshell-jacket

Kinoko had another soft shell in but I was in a hurry so didn't get to try it on so will probably swing by there again

stay away from the rapha softshell, looks great but has no functional fabric,
you can wrap yourself in a bin bag and get the same effect.

Those Vulpine rain jackets are reduced by about £50 at alwaysriding, and there's a further £10 off for the next week with code JAN10.

Just ordered the vulpine trousers, code appreciated

After getting a look at a gabba yesterday that where I'm putting my money when I get a new jacket.

After getting a look at a gabba yesterday that where I'm putting my money when I get a new jacket.

you will not regret it!

http://arcteryx.com/product.aspx?language=EN&gender=mens&category=Jackets&model=Gamma-LT-Hoody
Had this for a few months now, would reallly recommend. Great quality, breathable and surprisingly water resistant. The hood also can fit over your helmet and still allows you to turn your head, which is nice.

After getting a look at a gabba yesterday that where I'm putting my money when I get a new jacket.

My mate came out this morning with his Sportful No Rain Fiandre, which is the same but cheaper (Castelli owns Sportful) and available much more easily.

That said, I have SS Gabba with Nanoflex arm warmers and love it.

http://arcteryx.com/product.aspx?language=EN&gender=mens&category=Jackets&model=Gamma-LT-Hoody.

Blurb on web page says inner surface 'adds a touch if warmth'. Would you say it's mostly a cold weather jacket?

I'll rep for the capo lombardia too in the aero-waterproof-gabba-likes bracket, tho doesn't come in LS

it is italian fit tho

and on sale, just ordered one
http://www.kinokocycles.com/clothing/jerseys/capo-lombardia-dwr-jersey.html

Blurb on web page says inner surface 'adds a touch if warmth'. Would you say it's mostly a cold weather jacket?

Err yeah I guess so, if the temperature is under around 10celcius it's ideal at an average sort of pace/effort. The fabric wicks a little if you don't wear a base layer but quickly gets sweaty without one.
It is brilliantly wind proof though and good for general use

kinoko's blurb says the lombardia is perfect down to 10 degrees but I've had no problem down near 2/3 degrees w/it and a heavy under-armour winter base layer. prob recommend adding a gilet for good measure

great piece of kit; though think it needs re-proofing now. there was some discussion on the rapha thread iirc about gabba's need for re-proofing too

I'd vouch for Gore Countdown jacket - it is a softshell but been through some horrid cycling conditions and done me proud. I rode in this morning with just a t shirt underneath and it was fine, colder days thrown on amerino top and so been good with that.

Rain wise not waterproof but got caught in a proper (biblical) down pour and it only just started coming in the seems after 15-20 minutes

Evans had them on sale down to about £80 which is a bargain

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/gore-bike-wear/countdown-20-windstopper-soft-shell-jacket-ec053076

Not so much of an 'ultimate' cycling jacket but I really rate the Levi's Commuter Parka for anyone doing less than say 50 miles a week. I just got one in the sales and it's the best thing I've ever had. Not really, but coming from a Superdry windbreaker... I just hope it performs as well as it does now in a few years.

Yeah about this Levi's Commuter... Started leaking round the arms after 3 weeks using it everyday. I mean like 10 minute rain and my arms were soaked. After going through this thread I'm not surprised now as it's just a waterproof coating they use and not specific materials/technology. Levi's were kind enough to give me a refund though.

Saving up for this beaut now.

Not seen it mentioned all that much bar a few posts. Perhaps the price put people off? I'm hoping that like their bags it comes with some sort of (hopefully) lifetime waranty lol.

Or maybe I'll just go Rapha, Or eVent of some sort. I dont know. bah.

Mega want for that mw jacket, I think their marketing is getting the better of me.
For that price I would also consider Outlier, superb quality and they make a jacket call the freeshell that looks rather nice

^^ bought my MW Orion just under a year ago. Have worn it pretty much every day - it's easily the best bit of kit/clothing I've ever bought. Great cut & material, functional and versatile. It's pricey but worth every penny.

I bought one off edscoble a while back for a bargain price. wicked jacket. i tore the sleeve riding through traffic, annoyingly.

^^ bought my MW Orion just under a year ago. Have worn it pretty much every day - it's easily the best bit of kit/clothing I've ever bought. Great cut & material, functional and versatile. It's pricey but worth every penny.

got my rapha classic softshell yesterday. feels rly solid. I am 181 and 75 and got L to add some winter layering possibilities. M would probably be more "right", but dont want it skin tight

I've had couple of other softshells prior to this (rab and endura), but the fabric feels a bit better. Will see how it rides. Most likely (hopefully) really well.

Ah that settles that then. I'm going to stay away from this thread until I have one. In case I change my mind ha.

Fuuuuuuuuuck, £300+ for a jacket!

Well worth it if it's good. I've been buying £100 jackets for ages that were never properly waterproof or of good enough quality. Spent £180-something on a proper gore-tex jacket a few years ago, it was down from £350-400 I think, and it's been worth every penny. Staying warm and dry whilst skiing in -20 celsius, or sailing in scotland where it always rains makes it worth it.

Easier to keep warm whilst sailing as its less exertive? (although my experience of sailing is somewhat limited).
That said I've been impressed with the cheap Goretex Packlite jacket that I got recently, having been boil in the bad with every other waterproof I've used

My £30 army surplus jacket gore tex jacket is 100% waterproof and great in winter with a couple of layers underneath. It's in no way breathable or well fitting though which I guess would be where you'd spend the extra money but I definitely can't justify spending ten times the amount to avoid sweating as much whilst cycling.

I've lost more money than that before being stupid so dont mind spending it on myself for something that I'll be using to its full potential. As kboy says hopefully it'll be more of an investment lol.

Horses for courses and all that.

Edit: If it turns out to be shit then I'll be even more stupid haha.

Also looking a riding jacket not looking to pay silly prices anyone got 1 for sell?