Brooks Nightlife clothing

[mariposa]

Anyone here use the Brooks Nightlife clothing - for cycling?

First question, how well does it breathe?

Second question, how does it fit? I guess I'd like to try a "tight" cycling fit rather than a looser running fit. I have a smallish chest, narrow waist and wide hips. A size medium in most tops. Does Brooks run large or small?

Thanks!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Anyone here use the Brooks Nightlife clothing - for cycling?

First question, how well does it breathe?

Second question, how does it fit? I guess I'd like to try a "tight" cycling fit rather than a looser running fit. I have a smallish chest, narrow waist and wide hips. A size medium in most tops. Does Brooks run large or small?

Thanks!

I have many different pieces of Nightlife reflective wear for my biking.
They are all slightly different and fit differently, so I can't give you an all-inclusive lowdown on the sizes.
The good news is that I am shaped just like you: "smallish chest, narrow waist and wide hips. A size medium in most tops.".....so if you are interested in a particular Nightlife item, I can tell you the size that fits me. I'm 145 lbs, 5'5" tall.
I just LOVE my nightlife stuff- it keeps me feeling safe, and car drivers are always commenting to me that they could spot me a mile away down the road. :D

As to how well it breathes- well i'm not sure how to answer that because I am a big fan of merino wool which breathes really well. All poly/lycra stuff seems less breathing friendly to me. Nightlife stuff seems to breathe about as much or as little as any other polyester stuff I own.

[mimitabby]

Link, link?

[KathiCville]

Like Lisa, I'm a BIG fan of the Nightlife line. I have the jacket, the vest, the lightweight long-sleeved Podium-style top, the heavier long-sleeved half-zip Vapor Dry (see link below to a GREAT deal on STP), plus the form-fitting Equilibrium long-sleeved and short-sleeved tees. Love 'em all, but especially the jacket and the Vapor Dry top.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/p/310,88783_Brooks-Nightlife-Vapor-Dry-2-Shirt-Long-Sleeve-For-Women.html (Half price)

I feel much safer on the road when I've got at least a bit of the screaming yellow Nightlife on. Even when it's warm (70s), I'll partly roll up and tie the jacket around my waist, just to give myself extra visibility on the road.

In terms of fit, the Equilibrium tees are fitted, but the other items are pretty relaxed shape-wise. I wear a Small (or XS when I can find 'em); 5'3", 120 lbs.

If you really look around online, you can find terrific half-price-ish deals here and there.

[mariposa]

Hmmm, I guess I would have to agree with Lisa that wool simply breathes the best. Most every poly shirt I've tried to bike or run in ends up feeling a bit clammy.

So, if what I want is the visibility...maybe I should keep wearing the wool under, but consider a Nightlife jacket or vest?

How do they (the jacket or the vest) fit? I cycle and run, both, but would want it to be close-fitting so it doesn't flap around or catch air when I bike.

How heavy is it?

Finding a jacket or vest that I like has been such a frustration. :confused: I'm on the constant search for something that is: Ridiculously bright; reflective; form-fitting; lightweight; breathable; hopefully at least one pocket. I've been running/biking in a Pearl Izumi Optik vest, which meets most of my criteria except that it actually fits terribly! (Armholes constricting, chest way too big, too narrow at the hips, flaps around on top and catches air when biking.) The Optik breathes very well though. Other jackets I've tried for biking/running all have tended to be not breathable, however light or heavy they were.

How is the Brooks vest re: fitting my type of figure, and breathability? And not catching air during the ride?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Link, link?

A few links:

Go to Terry bikes apparel and punch in "Nightlife" in the search box at top:
http://www.terrybicycles.com/product.html?idc=b7515a0770&c=Apparel

More here:
http://www.holabirdsports.com/cgi-bin/search?showall=1&selection=menu&totalcount=15&productname=Nightlife


More here:
http://www.footlocker.com/catalog/advancedSearch.cfm?search=k&keyword=nightlife

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

So, if what I want is the visibility...maybe I should keep wearing the wool under, but consider a Nightlife jacket or vest?

I do that often.


How do they (the jacket or the vest) fit? I cycle and run, both, but would want it to be close-fitting so it doesn't flap around or catch air when I bike.
How heavy is it?

Mostly they are lightweight and fairly form fitted. Like I said they fit me well- small bust, smallish waist but large hips.
The vest fits me really well and is a true delight- probably my fave Nightlife item. It breathes well too, doesn't catch the air much, is very flattering to 'our' type of figure, and has some pockets. Very lightweight and well made. I've tried the Whisper Vest and a Louis Garneau yellow vest, they do not fit my hips well. I think you would love the Nightlife vest. I mentioned my height and weight above, and the medium vest fits great. Other item sizes vary a bit.
Yes, the 'Equillibrium' tops are micro thin stretchy fabric and form fitting, but are SO comfy and soft- you might want to order those a size up on those. I just bravely cut the short sleeves right off the T (no need to hem, it does not unravel) and make a comfy tank top for hot weather.
The regular long sleeve jersey is heavier material, big back pocket and well made- good for Spring and Autumn. Not form fitting and keeps me warm in the cold breezes. When it's like 40 degrees out I wear that with a merino base layer under it and it's perfect.
I also have Nightlife reflective tights and their knickers (i told you I have a 'lot' of it). I especially like the way I can have screaming yellow calves visible from behind, pedaling up and down! :D Good to wear on days when you don't have any other yellow stuff on.

[mariposa]

That's such a great deal on the Vapor Dry top.

What is it you love about it, so much?

How heavy is it? Do you use it as a standalone exercise shirt, or as sort of a jersey, or as a jacket over everything?

Looks like it could work for cycling...If it's bright and form-fitting!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That's such a great deal on the Vapor Dry top.

What is it you love about it, so much?

How heavy is it? Do you use it as a standalone exercise shirt, or as sort of a jersey, or as a jacket over everything?

Looks like it could work for cycling...If it's bright and form-fitting!

Oh, that's the top I described above- I have two of them in medium:

The regular long sleeve jersey is heavier material, big back pocket and well made- good for Spring and Autumn. Not form fitting and keeps me warm in the cold breezes. When it's like 40 degrees out I wear that with a merino base layer under it and it's perfect.
They are great all round type jersey, but a bit too hot if it's over 80 degreesF.

[KathiCville]

Here's a good deal on the Nightlife jacket:

http://www.shoebuy.com/brooks-wj451-nightlife-jacket/182116

And another place from which I've ordered Nightlife stuff on sale:

http://www.gazellesports.com/searchresults.aspx?s=nightlife

You asked about the Vapor Dry 2 top (the one at a very good price on STP):
I like it because it has some real style/shape to it, in addition to the visibility factor. And it's easy to wear a thin layer of wool (or something else) under it. Pocket on the back, too. That being said, it would not be "form-fitting" in your regular size, probably. If you really want it to have a body-skimming fit, I think you'd probably want to go down a size.

The jacket doesn't really 'breathe', I'd say. I was wearing it yesterday on a morning ride and as soon as the temps hit, oh, 70, I took it off, rolled it up partway and tied it around my waist. The Podium top, on the other hand, is pretty light---a waffle-type material, so that doesn't get hot quickly. The Vapor Dry 2 is heavyweight (in my opinion) and something I would only wear when temps are, say, 50 or below. I think of it as a late fall or winter top.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Another tip- don't bother with the Nightlife $20 strap-on vest with the open sides and velcro straps- way to annoying....shifts around and is flimsy.
The regular zip up vest is fabulous in every way.

By the way, for summer-
http://www.holabirdsports.com/cgi-bin/product?product=051193
this tank top is sturdy, like a well made bathing suit, and has a built in bra. Click "see more images" to see the back- it has sufficient yellow on the back for biking visibility. It runs a bit small so order a size larger than usual.

The yellow on all the Nightlife items is SO bright that you don't need that much of it to blind people from far away! ;) That's one reason I like the tights and knickers with the yellow on the backs of the calves.

[Red Rock]

How does the jacket compare to the PI Hi-vis jacket?

I have been looking for more of a winter fleece or windresistant Hi-vis jacket for the winter. Any ideas?

Thanks,
Red Rock

[OakLeaf]

Alternatively, if you don't mind the dorky crossing-guard look, the Xinglet (http://www.amphipod.com/440-448/440.html).

Shoulder and waist straps are slightly stretchy and fully adjustable, so you can wear it over summer or winter clothes, it doesn't flap in the wind, and it doesn't greatly interfere with your jersey and/or jacket breathing. Plus, since it's an over-garment, it only needs occasional washing.

ETA: I hung my Voler hi-viz jerseys (http://www.velowear.com/products/1020280PRTXSM.aspx) out on the line the other day in bright sunshine, and I literally could not look at them, they were so bright :D

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It took me a while to realize that there's a big difference between 'reflective' and 'hi-vis'. Reflective materials work at night by bouncing off of headlights, but the stuff is generally pretty dull looking during the daytime. Hi-vis (screaming yellow or green) material is not necessarily reflective in headlights but is HIGHLY visible during the day in any light.
I never ride in the dark, so I don't buy stuff because it has reflective strips on it. I buy stuff that's made of screaming yellow fluorescent colored material- like the Nightlife gear. It's shockingly bright during the daytime, when I ride. Nightlife items do have small reflective logos or strips here and there, but they basically work on the bright screaming yellow factor.

[mariposa]

"It took me a while to realize that there's a big difference between 'reflective' and 'hi-vis'."

Yeah. Exactly! I want/need something that provides BOTH.

A lot of my rides (and runs) start in the dark and end in full daylight. Or the other way around.

I love the "screaming yellow" blinding stuff for daytime. The issue I have with Pearl Izumi stuff I've tried in screaming yellow, is (besides the very poor fit on my body type) I'm not sure how reflective it is at night.

Nice to know about Brooks, and it looks like Voler is an option too? Do the bright yellow Voler provide a lot of reflective taping for at night?

Amphipod, that looks a little constricting to me...but I like Amphipod's other products. So...

Thanks for all the ideas so far...Love the look of those Brooks tights and capris, too. Oh no, wallet is in trouble...

[mariposa]

"The jacket doesn't really 'breathe', I'd say."

I am beginning to wonder if any athletic jacket really breathes. Jackets get bad going uphill on the bike and, much worse, when running. I've had that problem with all jackets, the PI Whisper Jacket, two Mountain Hardwear jackets (the ultralight Ghost and the rainworthy Epic), and an Outdoor Research jacket that was also marketed as "highly breathable." Not! :mad: Now I have a posse of jackets I hardly use (the Mountain Hardwear ones are high quality keepers for hiking/backpacking though).

For cycling I've jettisoned all jackets and I've been cycling with a vest, even in the dead of winter (well dead of winter here in northern California means rarely colder than 40 degrees). A couple of layers of longsleeve merino wool keeps my arms plenty warm even if there is rain. I have to admit my Optik vest breathes really, really well and if it weren't for the very irritating and uncomfortable fit, I'd just stick with it.

So, looks like I'll try that Nightlife vest. I thought I saw it in a store here on sale, I'll drop by there this weekend...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I am beginning to wonder if any athletic jacket really breathes. Jackets get bad going uphill on the bike and, much worse, when running. I've had that problem with all jackets....
For cycling I've jettisoned all jackets and I've been cycling with a vest, even in the dead of winter (well dead of winter here in northern California means rarely colder than 40 degrees). A couple of layers of longsleeve merino wool keeps my arms plenty warm even if there is rain. I have to admit my Optik vest breathes really, really well and if it weren't for the very irritating and uncomfortable fit, I'd just stick with it.


I agree 100%. Want a jacket that breathes? Get a vest. ;) OR, just use a merino layer or too as a 'jacket'. If you need rainproof, it's not likely to breathe very well. Merino however, not only breathes but keeps you warm and comfy even if it gets wet and/or cold.

[OakLeaf]

Do the bright yellow Voler provide a lot of reflective taping for at night?

Amphipod, that looks a little constricting to me...

Voler jerseys - admittedly not as much reflective material as I'd like. There's a 1 cm reflective strip around each sleeve, and just above the whole length of the bottom hem in the back.

Amphipod - since it's fully adjustable and a little stretchy, you can set it up as tight or as loose as you like. It doesn't have to be tight for it to not flap in the wind. It does trap a little sweat, particularly under the waistband in back, but since it's pretty minimal to begin with I don't find that to be an issue. I wear it for both running and cycling and I barely know it's there.

ETA, adjustment range of the Xinglet: I'm 5'3" and 123#, with a fairly short and thick waist (it's those highly developed obliques y'know ;) :p). I could make the Xinglet about 4" tighter or 16" looser in the waist, and about 6" shorter or 7" longer in the shoulder straps. And the non-reflective areas of the straps are hi-viz yellow, although obviously there's not a lot of surface area there.

[dachshund]

It took me a while to realize that there's a big difference between 'reflective' and 'hi-vis'. Reflective materials work at night by bouncing off of headlights, but the stuff is generally pretty dull looking during the daytime. Hi-vis (screaming yellow or green) material is not necessarily reflective in headlights but is HIGHLY visible during the day in any light.
I never ride in the dark, so I don't buy stuff because it has reflective strips on it. I buy stuff that's made of screaming yellow fluorescent colored material- like the Nightlife gear. It's shockingly bright during the daytime, when I ride. Nightlife items do have small reflective logos or strips here and there, but they basically work on the bright screaming yellow factor.

Good one. That's what I want, shockingly bright. I was driving in my neighborhood the other day and could not see a cyclist coming towards me. He had a dark blue jersey on. This is the color I like to wear. Yikes! It was late afternoon, hours before sunset. He blended in with the background. I wasn't close to hitting him or anything, but geeze... taught me a lesson.

So my next purchases will be loud and obnoxious, bright yellow... red... lime green.... or all three.