Windproof Jacket Suggestions

[KTeach]

I have to get something windproof (lost my old LL Bean jacket) for March training. What fabric is best for wind block? It doesn't necessarlily to be super warm... I have a Sheebeest jacket I can wear underneath a windproof shell... but would like suggestions. I saw a Gore jacket online. Whaddayathink? Thanks!!

[SnowMouse]

Go almost anything in Gore Windstopper and you'll be happy. I ride/ski/walk in mine and could be happier with it...sure beats a shell in light rain too :)

[VenusdeVelo]

I've been happy with my Craft jackets...rainproof (though I try not to get stuck in the rain...) but it's ability to shed wind is quite good. Any reputable bike clothing mfr softshell biking jacket is great too if you are looking for something warmer.

[Karen London]

I quite like Pearl Izumi jackets, there is definitely some windprufe effect (depending on which jacket). Sometimes at the end of the season coloradocyclist.com discounts them. I also have a Patagonia shell in yellow which feels nice to wear and also seems to be windproof.

I have heard Craft gear is really good.

Lots of people really like Birley (Burley?) raingear. For what I understand, they are not expensive relative to how good they are. They also make those pull-along trollies.

Good luck!

[jobob]

I recently bought a Pearl Izumi Vagabond jacket, and I think it's super. The sleeves zip off to make a vest, so it's much more versatile than a regular jacket ,which made paying about $100 for it a bit less painful (it retails for $110 but my LBS gave me a 10% discount since I purchased my bike there). It comes in a nice shade of light blue, and a red they call "fire" which is more of a salmon/coral red than a true red. I opted for the red since it's more visible than the light blue. It works like a champ on my damp & chilly morning rides!

I just found it on coloradocyclist.com for $70 - suchadeal! But it's only available in the blue in size M (which would be equivalent to about a size 10).

[missliz]

There's windproof, then there's super sealed windproof; How much ventilation does everyone else like?
I have a great Nike winter training jacket (old old!)with pit zips- which doesn't fit right now, but I liked the variable venting. I've seen mesh linings with slit backs, grommets in the pits, or is Gore tex the stuff?
My current jacket is such a hothouse I turn into a big sloshing bag of sweat, and I'm going to remodel it with vents- just need to decide how. Eyelet/ grommet hole things are easiest to put in, but I'd need to place them right... So the wind doesn't roar in!

Suggestions?

Lizzy

[Dogmama]

I had a vented jacket & the vents were placed on the side seams. They were about 2" wide & ran the entire length of the side seam under the armhole. It was nice because there was just enough ventilation on my back (where the sun would shine & I'd sweat) but it didn't balloon out like a parachute.

[missliz]

Dogmama-
Hmmm, that's very doable. This over priced monster is meshed lined. So were these vents open mesh? or with flaps over them to keep the slipstream out? I've seen both sorts, but us on the Gulf coast get very confused about winter clothes! :p This my in the 40s with wind jacket, and if I could get it comfortable and get by the good one will fit next year.

Lizzy

Tired of too cold, tired of too hot... Oh jesam, I made the HUGEST score on Ebay! Been dancing around all morning! :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

[Dogmama]

These were open mesh.

Obviously, we in Arizona are extremely confused about cold weather riding - witness my post about riding during the superbowl! I'd forgotten about our snow bound sisters!

[missliz]

That'll work. And it's a trade off- here our off season is August, people die of heatsroke. I spend August and part of September holed up inside; the really tough do training rides at nite when it's only 85 out...
Besides, look at Irulan! She's on those skis, and I'm awesome green jealous!:p They have fun stuff to do in the snow.

Lizzy

[Dogmama]

You're right about the trade off. From late May to late September, the only time to ride is at the crack of dawn until about 8:00 AM. After that, it is 90 degrees and rising rapidly. Forget about riding in the evening - that's our hottest part of the day.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot: "It's a dry heat..." (Then how come I'm sweating bullets?) The sun is relentless. It burns holes right through you. Sunglass companies test their sunglasses here. We're the skin cancer capital of the U.S. Imagine turning your oven onto 450 degrees and sticking your head in it. That's what going outside feels like.

So, this is the time of the year that I can kick back & be glad I live in Arizona. Rattlesnakes are hibernating. If we could get rid of the snow birds, this would be a decent place to be. Gotta watch those little Q-Tips behind the wheel - they haven't a clue what a bicycle is and why they can't just swerve right in front of us. After all, we can stop on a dime, right?

But, that's a different forum

<soap box off>

[KTeach]

After ordering a couple of different jackets that just didn't work for a variety of reasons... too bulky, not enough wind resistance, etc. I found a great jacket at Nashbar of all places. Gore Tex, lightweight, removable hood, vented underarms, men's small fit very well, and it was under a hundred bucks. Plus the yellow and black matches my bike! Thansk for the advice.