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

[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....

[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

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.