Canari Jacket Steam Room

[KnottedYet]

I've had a Canari Biovent jacket for about 4 years. The only reason I haven't thrown the darn thing out is because it's screaming lime-yellow and makes me visible.

It's about as breathable as a Zip-loc bag. The inside will be running with sweat after a 20 minute ride.

Does anyone know of a way to make a jacket breathe more? Cutting or sewing tricks? Something special to wash it in? Poke it a bajillion times with a pin?

I think I want a Pearl Izumi Whisper vest...

[Dianyla]

I think I want a Pearl Izumi Whisper vest...
I love my whisper vest. The entire back is mesh, and the front fabric is very nice and soft feeling.

[uk elephant]

could you cut air vents in your jacket? For instance putting zippered arm-pit holes (very useful even on my breathable goretex rainjacket).....

[KnottedYet]

I bought a Whisper vest. Niiiiiiice. Instant gratification.

One of my workmates does a lot of sewing. I'm gonna ask her if she can put pit zips or mesh bits on my Canari.

[Starfish]

I have a Canari biovent that has zip-sleeves to convert to a vest. It has the back vack, and I can partially unzip the sleeves for venting, too. It is STILL a steamroom when I really sweat. I keep it because it does help with wind and rain, it is handy to have the jacket/vest, and it is bright yellow. I wish it packed down smaller.

I long for a higher end jacket that is VERY water resistant and still actually breathable. Sometimes I wonder if this truly exists -- how can it really breathe and be waterproof?

This year on sale I got a Novara (REI) soft jacket that is windproof a lot on the front and has breathable stuff on the pits, back, etc. I really like it a lot. I'm thinking maybe I will keep that and get a taped-seam, packable waterproof shell to stuff in the pocket for the bad rain.

I would love to know what people like for hard riding in climates that are often nice/rain/nice on the same ride (when windproof only doesn't cut it, but you're working hard and really sweating).

[Nanci]

I bet it would be pretty easy to put a back vent in it. That's what my Showers Pass has, it's just a slit straight across the whole back, I _think_ with one attachment point in the center, but maybe not, and the slit is at the level of the center of my shoulderblades. There is mesh on the inside of the slit. Air scoops in through the neck, and out the back- it works great.

[Nanci]

I don't think anything that is waterproof can NOT be somewhat of a steamroom, though.

[Selkie]

I just bought an awesome lightweight orange Gore Bikewear jacket from Terry. To use Veronica's phrase, it was "wicked expensive," and I nearly sent it back because I had second thoughts. My husband told me to keep it. Anyway, I rode it today because rain was predicted. Light rain started after the first 5 miles or so---continued until it started pouring the last 7 miles (I rode 26 miles today. When I got home, the only places I was dry were what was under the jacket! It vented pretty well---definitely NOT a sauna, which surprised me. The design is wonderful. Pretty close fitting but not too close; long "tailored" butt cover to keep your tail dry from tire washup; velcro at the sleeves so you can custom fit at the wrist; plenty of reflective strips; and a beautiful bright orange color. My only beef with it is lack of pockets, but it's got this cool storage pouch -- about the size of a glasses case -- into which you can store it if the rain stops. It's the best rain jacket I've come across.

[Geonz]

anything like one of these? (I'm also shopping... maybe I'll get a good jacket and still borrow the sleeping bag http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=11990 (http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=11990)

[KnottedYet]

Oh my goodness! I had to get out my Terry catalog to look at the miracle jacket. Yup, it's wicked expensive, but sounds like it's worth it.

Nice reflective stuff, and love that looooooong tail.

Dang, that's a nice looking jacket. Too bad my 4 mile commute just can't justify that. I'll find a way....:D

[Selkie]

Knotted---It was worth the cost. Don't you live in Seattle, where it rains all the time? Now if I could only find glasses that had discreet wiper blades on them.

[Jo-n-NY]

I have the PI Whisper Jacket and love it. I know it isn't water proof just water resistant which may be why I don't get heated. It does have great wind resistance and it is creaming yellow for visability which is what I wanted.

~ JoAnn

[Selkie]

anything like one of these? (I'm also shopping... maybe I'll get a good jacket and still borrow the sleeping bag http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=11990 (http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=11990)

I have that one in red, and the fit is much more roomier than the orange Gore jacket. The Red one can get sauna-like and the tail cover isn't as nice (isn't as "tailored" and sometimes comes unsnapped when you don't want it to have it down). Also, the pocket-into-storage-compartment has all these straps that are very annoying if you try to dig something out of the pocket.

That said, it's an OK jacket and I found it good for riding in unclement weather when it was colder outside. The material is heavier than the orange jacket. Both jackets have their place in a gal's cycling wardrobe

[Dianyla]

Embarrassing gear-wh0re confession time:

I own both the red Goretex jacket and the mango Shower's Pass. I love both of them to death. The Red Goretex jacket has no pitzips and doesn't breath as well, but it is fabulous for very cold wet riding or serious torrential rain it is the only thing that will keep me truly dry. For all other rainy conditions from medium-cold to just cool to mild/warmish temperatures, the Shower's Pass jacket is the best. The pit zips are smallish but the huge back vent makes a big diff. Also, that eVent fabric is nice.

[Starfish]

Knotted---It was worth the cost. Don't you live in Seattle, where it rains all the time? Now if I could only find glasses that had discreet wiper blades on them.

Dang I've been wanting that jacket! So glad you posted about how much you like it...maybe I have to reconsider. I live 3 hours west of Seattle! Is it big enough that in the winter a thicker thermal jersey would fit underneath it? Can it do dual duty for outer winter-wet layer and spring/summer rain shell?

[Selkie]

Dang I've been wanting that jacket! So glad you posted about how much you like it...maybe I have to reconsider. I live 3 hours west of Seattle! Is it big enough that in the winter a thicker thermal jersey would fit underneath it? Can it do dual duty for outer winter-wet layer and spring/summer rain shell?

Starfish - It's pretty lightweight, so I don't think you could wear it in winter without some serious layering. It does have good windblocking ability, though. Unless your layers are thin (capilene), I don't think you'll get much under it and be able to ride comfortably. It is fitted but not tight. Keep in mind, too, that it's a bit cut short in the front, falling to just below the belly button (my jersey stuck out about an inch below the jacket, but that didn't bother me). You could consider sizing up, but one of the appeals of the jacket's design is it's "aero," streamlined cut.

[Starfish]

Starfish - It's pretty lightweight, so I don't think you could wear it in winter without some serious layering. It does have good windblocking ability, though. Unless your layers are thin (capilene), I don't think you'll get much under it and be able to ride comfortably. It is fitted but not tight. Keep in mind, too, that it's a bit cut short in the front, falling to just below the belly button (my jersey stuck out about an inch below the jacket, but that didn't bother me). You could consider sizing up, but one of the appeals of the jacket's design is it's "aero," streamlined cut.

Thanks. I've been a little frustrated at the large number of wind-stopper jackets I see in the catalogs, with fewer (it seems to me?) higher-quality waterproof AND packable jackets. I'm wanting a thin, very packable, waterproof/windproof jacket that somehow doesn't become a steambath. Maybe it's not out there.

[Dianyla]

Keep in mind, too, that it's a bit cut short in the front, falling to just below the belly button (my jersey stuck out about an inch below the jacket, but that didn't bother me).
You must be longer-bodied than I am, for sure. I'm a smidge under 5'4" with a 30" inseam, and the front of the red goretex jacket ends exactly at the crease between my torso and the tops of my thighs.

I bet that Craft jackets would fit you really well, every time I try one on it comes down about 4" more than I'd like.

[Selkie]

You must be longer-bodied than I am, for sure. I'm a smidge under 5'4" with a 30" inseam, and the front of the red goretex jacket ends exactly at the crease between my torso and the tops of my thighs.

I bet that Craft jackets would fit you really well, every time I try one on it comes down about 4" more than I'd like.

The orange jacket is the one that's cut short. My red one is much longer in comparison.

[Squirrel 2]

I have both the Craft & the brand-new orange Gore. I have owned the Craft for a couple of years now & have been unhappy with the steam bath experience. I don't just get sweaty in it, I overheat terribly, have to take it off & then get chills. It has a back vent, but the fabric simply does not breathe. If you check out the web site, it makes no claims of breathability. That type of fabric is older technology windbreaker stuff. It is not designed to breathe because it is designed to keep wind out.

The new Gore Xenon is fantastic. This is new technology & it makes a huge difference. The fabric really does breathe. I have used it in temps in the 50's on very hard rides working up a sweat but didn't overheat. The sleeves have mesh, which makes a bit of an air pocket to keep the fabric from sticking to your arms when you are working harder. And yes, it is cut short in front. This seems to make sense as I lean forward riding a road bike, if it were longer in front it would bunch below your waist. The design is all about being aero-dynamic, even the elbows are shaped for being slightly bent.

I you want more rain protection, Gore makes a similar jacket that is more waterproof. This one is marked as water resistant. I have yet to test that feature, but I didn't really buy it with that in mind. I wanted wind protection for spring & fall riding.

Forget about getting this one to do winter duty as well. Winter is a whole world unto itself where you will want more air block due to the cold temps. This is a very lightweight, highly breathable shell that is form-fitting & packs down to nothing.