Wind/rain jacket suggestions?

[out_spokin']

Hi all,
I'm in the market for a new jacket. I'm narrowing it down but want to see if you all know of something I'm missing. Here are my criteria:

• Cycling-specific
• Wind and water-resistant (waterproof not necessary)
• Good breathability
• Pit zips!! - MUST have. I don't care how breathable something is, pit zips extend the range of a jacket in a way that works best for me.
• MUST be a visible color - yellow, orange, or bright color (not red)
• Fitted, NOT baggy/loose
• As packable & light as I can get given the other criteria
• Made in North America or as non-sweatshop as I can find

My top contender at the moment is the Shower's Pass Double Century, though I'm worried about what looks like a looser fit and some reviews say sleeve length can be short...I'm tall (5'10") with long arms.

What else should I consider/try? Thanks!!

[Biciclista]

showers pass. hands down.
TE sells it.

[out_spokin']

Good to know you're a fan! Alas, TE doesn't sell the Double Century...I think I found an LBS with one in stock to try the fit, but will look around a bit still based on my failure to be happy with one yet.

[out_spokin']

OK I tried the Showers Pass Double Century. AWESOME orange color, lightweight, and pretty packable. Also made in China. And not quite as form fitting in the body as I hoped -- I really don't want it to flap. They had something like 5 men's smalls and larges, but no mediums, so couldn't try that.

I'm starting to consider others that have some other underarm venting but maybe not pit zips. Aarg. Still looking...

[Biciclista]

the showers pass elite is what i have. It was made in Viet Nam but who knows where they are making them now.

[Cataboo]

I use the cutter event cycling jacket. There's a review here:
http://2cycle2gether.com/2010/09/cyc...north-america/


No, it doesn't have pitzips. But it's way more breathable & comfortable than my goretex rain jackets with their pitzips wide open.

[Kiwi Stoker]

The She Shell (or men's Storm Trooper) from Ground Effect fits your criteria.

http://www.groundeffect.co.nz/produc...il-SHE-RAI.htm

Bonus it is made in little old New Zealand! (no slave labour, minimum wage, etc).

There's also other jackets if you want lighter or less waterproof as well.

[radacrider]

For me, I've been using the Showers Pass Elite 2.0 all through our wet times in Portland. It has been great. Probably not as packable as the Double Century, though. Good luck.

[Xrayted]

I too am in PDX. The land of the unending rain. I love my Showers Pass Jacket. Breaths great, keeps me dry, gets noticed by cars and is all around the best jacket I have ever owned for biking. No others have even come close to this one.

[Catrin]

Have been considering a Showers Pass....but since I never MEAN to ride in the rain am trying to decide if the expense makes sense. I do see a hardtail purchase in my future...

[out_spokin']

@Cataboo - that's a really helpful link, thanks! I love finding people who care about and help get the word out about various options that are more "fair trade" than our typical gear. Unfortunately it doesn't seem like Backcountry/Cutter is making a jacket this year...at least I can't find one anywhere...

@Kiwi Stoker - thanks!! I'll check that out...if you have any experience with their fit I'd appreciate it.

And for you PDX folks...I know if I ever again live in a rainy place all my gear will come only from recommendations made by PDX commuters. Y'all KNOW rain. While I grew up on the (rainy/foggy) CT shore, I'm now addicted to Colorado sunshine, so my needs are more around a jacket that can handle the cold mountain air at the start of a ride, and the afternoon thunderstorm later on in the day...so the SP Elite 2.0 is more of a full on contender (and less pack & stash) than I need.

I love getting this kind of feedback! The forum rocks...

[Cataboo]

Outspokin, I think ebay's the only source for those cutter jackets now. I have a medium that's on the tight side for me somewhere in the for sale section. It is a "snug" cut.

[lph]

Outspokin', I missed this thread earlier but wanted to chime in. I commute by bike in a climate where it's wet and cool but doesn't rain that much, if that makes any sense. We have a lot of drizzle, damp fog, slush and spray, but not many thunderstorms or downpours. I've tried waterproof jackets, but ended up almost never wearing them or finding them way too clammy. At the moment I do have a "waterproof" softshell, Endura Stealth (british brand), which has vents and zips all over the place ...that leak. I don't even wear that one much, unless it's really pouring. And then I get a bit wet through the zips anyway, and once it stops raining I overheat like crazy

JMO. It depends on your riding style too and how much heat you produce. For touring I would def. bring a waterproof, for shorter training rides virtually never.

For that matter I've tried a superpackable Gore Xenon windproof jacket, even that felt like a (beautifully designed and cut) plastic bag. No vents though - and they really are important.

[Kiwi Stoker]

Ground Effect fit is pretty spot on- I have one of their Ice Queen Jerseys in size large and yes, it is designed to go over clothing.

I would say go down a size if you want something to be tight fitting.

About 10 people in my cycle club wear She Shells and Storm Troopers (all orange) and swear by them. My Ice Queen is really well made, does what it says it does and has lasted heaps of washes.

[out_spokin']

Thanks again, Kiwi Stoker, I'll see what I can try on here but may well order, their shipping to the US isn't bad.

LPH - thanks for your input...I was thinking of checking out Endura's stuff but your experience gives me pause. I know what you mean about not worrying about the training rides, I can usually tough it out and if it looks like I'm being stupid (hypothermia is real!) call in a favor for a lift home. The Ride the Rockies ride that's got me shopping averages around 75 mi/120 km per day, and it's definitely a mountain ride environment, plus I'm hoping to do more overnight/weekend touring, so getting something more rain-worthy than what I have is an issue.

O2 Rainwear has expanded their line, I'll be looking at them next....