Just an 'armless question about the rain

[lejogger]

I've owned two packable, light, 'water resistent' jackets in my cycling life; an Endura Rebound, and my current one is a Sugoi Hydrolite.

Both were/are moderately water resistant, certainly for a decent period of their life, but the problems come when they inevitably require washing, and their repellent qualities diminish, most noticably in the arms... I get bloody soaked arms.

Cycling home from work yesterday I felt like the unlucky third baboon who didn't get chosen for the ark. (apparently he was a cycling baboon).
It was teeming down, and not only that, the spray from the cars literally saturated me, driving me to the brink of just sitting down in the gutter and weeping into my soggy mitts, just waiting for the flood to rise and carry me away to my doom.

It goes without saying that the Sugoi Hydrolite was no longer up to the required standard. When I bought said garment, I decided that a translucent colour would be perfect, enabling me to show off my club jersey colours through, and possibly a race number if I was ever stupid enough to TT in the rain. However all it achieved on this occasion was to cling to and highlight in a rather homoerotic way my wet hairy forearms, thereby violently turning the stomachs of anyone driving or walking in the vicinity.

I do have a winter cycling jacket from dhb that copes with the rain quite brilliantly. However, if I ever wear it above temperatures of -35 degrees celcius, I inevitably die as my blood literally boils me alive from the inside.

I've read enough 'what jacket' threads to know that there's often a trade off between breathability and water repellency, but what I want to know is whether it possible to buy a jacket for around or under one hundred English pounds that is small and light enough to be packed in a jersey pocket, that actually manages to keep you dry in severe rain, AND doesn't result in a medium to well done liver?

I'm guessing 'No'... So what would I have to spend? What's a great piece of kit that would fulfil my requirements?

Or, is there a product I can spray on to make existing water-resistant products water proof? If you use it are you just clogging up the jacket's breathability?

Or do I just have to carry on getting wet?

 

[Archie_tect]

Probably easiest to just say yes. Never had any clothing that keeps the wet out which doesn't make me sweat inside making me as wet as if I'd not bothered.

 

[fimm]

When you washed your jacket, did you wash it with tech wash and then wash it with reproofing agent? Or did you just chuck it in a washing machine?

 

[HLaB]

I've an earlier version of this jacket, but with drawstrings, IME excelent waterproofness and reasonable breathability, I messed up on the fit though and bought a medium rather than a small so its a little loose for me round the chest

 

[lejogger]

When you washed your jacket, did you wash it with tech wash and then wash it with reproofing agent? Or did you just chuck it in a washing machine?

You make me feel stupid for not selecting option A.

I'm ashamed to say I went for option B.

However, in those sorts of conditions will not all cheaper (<£50-60) light breathable jackets let in the rain even on initial usage?

To put it another way, does anyone use any of the super dooper jerseys/jackets such as the Castelli Gabba, or Sportful Survival, or Rapha hardshell etc.
Are they really worth £150 plus?

 

[Crackle]

You're right, the answer is no. I've never come out of a real downpour or wet day on a bike, dry. I've had two gore-tex jackets, one a.n.other and currently have a Gore one, which is a great jacket but doesn't keep me dry. The a.n.other was the best actually. A Keela Odin but it never got really tested like the others. My mate has a Castelli one, around a hundred, I'll ask him if it works. He does look like he's wearing a large condom though.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Don't have a jacket to suggest, only want to say that @lejogger 's post made me

 

[lejogger]

I've an earlier version of this jacket, but with drawstrings, IME excelent waterproofness and reasonable breathability, I messed up on the fit though and bought a medium rather than a small so its a little loose for me round the chest

Cheers HLab. What's the fit design? Is it race or casual?

 

[HLaB]

Cheers HLab. What's the fit design? Is it race or casual?

If Id bought the right size it'd lean more to a race fit.

 

[gbs]

Montane Featherlite jacket - well recommended by old hands on this forum. Has performed well for me, certainly better and cheaper than Castelli.

 

[Sara_H]

I just tend to get wet.

 

[palinurus]

Cape / poncho

Really good in a decent downpour, also keeps legs dryish and stops rain wicking down into your shoes.

Interesting in strong winds, for sure.

 

[palinurus]

Keeps your hands dry too.

 

[palinurus]

And makes you look like a weirdo.

Love mine.

 

[Svendo]

I have an Endura Evo Flyte, funny short front cut but works well, only thing I'd add is a neck drawstring. Also has thumb loops, brilliant idea. waterproof enough in proper rain, small enough to pack into pocket or spare bottle cage. It does benefit from a reproofing spray with Nikwax once or twice a year.
I think the breathability of any material is always compronised when you actually need it (i.e. when it's raining) as the humidity gradient between inside and outside can be insufficient for much osmotic vapour pressure (That sounds good and might even be scientifically correct. Got a B in O level chemistry! you get the gist though). Other problem is that if covered with a film of water running off the outside no vapour can pass through the fabric. For me this means the arms are wet on the inside!