Waterproof advice please

[GarethR]

Nothing at all kept me dry this morning. My (admittedly, old) altura luminous jacket - wet round the arms and at the zip up the front. New 'sealskinz' socks - had to tip the water out of them. Nowhere was dry and I was bloody cold as a result.

What should I get? I want a jacket that keeps me dry. I want dry feet - and preferably dry shoes. And something to keep the rain out of my eyes a bit - the peak on my helmet is long since lost! I'd be really grateful for any and all advice on things that will keep me warm and dry(ish) on mornings like today.

Thanks

 

[BlackPanther]

Nothing at all kept me dry this morning. My (admittedly, old) altura luminous jacket - wet round the arms and at the zip up the front. New 'sealskinz' socks - had to tip the water out of them. Nowhere was dry and I was bloody cold as a result.

What should I get? I want a jacket that keeps me dry. I want dry feet - and preferably dry shoes. And something to keep the rain out of my eyes a bit - the peak on my helmet is long since lost! I'd be really grateful for any and all advice on things that will keep me warm and dry(ish) on mornings like today.

Thanks

I have a Tenn cycling jacket and trousers (£35) which are completely waterproof. I also bought some tenn overshoes, which aren't very waterproof, but I just carry a couple of bread bags to pop on before my trainers. I also have some D'arcs glasses for keeping the rain out of my eyes and to stop the cold, but have found that the far cheaper Bolle safety glasses are stronger, and are better for not misting up. A cheap Oxford neck tube helps keep me toasty warm. I know you can pay FAR more for kit, but these work fine for me....apart from the overshoes which are only 'showerproof'.

 

[HLaB]

As you've found out Gareth sealskinz socks are great at keeping you warm but if the water finds it's way in it can't get out. You might consider overshoes but if the weather is torrential and you are in it long enough nothing will keep you 100% dry unfortunately. Any good jacket IME (Endura, Altura, etc) will keep you dry the trade of is usually in cost to breathability folk say gore is great but my wallet has never stretched that far.

 

[mark barker]

I've found that most water proofs keep the rain out, but I get just as wet through the boil in the bag syndrome. I've found that ex army Goretex trousers work well, and they can be picked up fairly cheaply from surplus stores.

 

[ianrauk]

Nothing at all kept me dry this morning. My (admittedly, old) altura luminous jacket - wet round the arms and at the zip up the front. New 'sealskinz' socks - had to tip the water out of them. Nowhere was dry and I was bloody cold as a result.

What should I get? I want a jacket that keeps me dry. I want dry feet - and preferably dry shoes. And something to keep the rain out of my eyes a bit - the peak on my helmet is long since lost! I'd be really grateful for any and all advice on things that will keep me warm and dry(ish) on mornings like today.

Thanks

Ditch the helmet and wear a baseball cap.
The long peak keeps the worst of the rain out of your eyes.

 

[ufkacbln]

As you've found out Gareth sealskinz socks are great at keeping you warm but if the water finds it's way in it can get out. You might consider overshoes but if the weather is torrential and you are in it long enough nothing will keep you 100% dry unfortunately. Any good jacket IME (Endura, Altura, etc) will keep you dry the trade of is usually in cost to breathability folk say gore is great but my wallet has never stretched that far.

These socks are badly designed - they have a hole in the top that lets the water in.

In fact all my cycling footwear does...

How can they leave such a glaring design fault in the finished product

What purpose can it possibly serve?

 

[GarethR]

These socks are badly designed - they have a hole in the top that lets the water in.

In fact all my cycling footwear does...

How can they leave such a glaring design fault in the finished product

What purpose can it possibly serve?

You make a good point!!

 

[GarethR]

I have a Tenn cycling jacket and trousers (£35) which are completely waterproof. I also bought some tenn overshoes, which aren't very waterproof, but I just carry a couple of bread bags to pop on before my trainers. I also have some D'arcs glasses for keeping the rain out of my eyes and to stop the cold, but have found that the far cheaper Bolle safety glasses are stronger, and are better for not misting up. A cheap Oxford neck tube helps keep me toasty warm. I know you can pay FAR more for kit, but these work fine for me....apart from the overshoes which are only 'showerproof'.

Good advice - thanks

 

[GarethR]

As you've found out Gareth sealskinz socks are great at keeping you warm but if the water finds it's way in it can get out. You might consider overshoes but if the weather is torrential and you are in it long enough nothing will keep you 100% dry unfortunately. Any good jacket IME (Endura, Altura, etc) will keep you dry the trade of is usually in cost to breathability folk say gore is great but my wallet has never stretched that far.

It is only water, I suppose...

 

[GarethR]

I've found that most water proofs keep the rain out, but I get just as wet through the boil in the bag syndrome. I've found that ex army Goretex trousers work well, and they can be picked up fairly cheaply from surplus stores.

Warm wet versus cold wet!

 

[scouserinlondon]

Nothing at all kept me dry this morning. My (admittedly, old) altura luminous jacket - wet round the arms and at the zip up the front. New 'sealskinz' socks - had to tip the water out of them. Nowhere was dry and I was bloody cold as a result.

What should I get? I want a jacket that keeps me dry. I want dry feet - and preferably dry shoes. And something to keep the rain out of my eyes a bit - the peak on my helmet is long since lost! I'd be really grateful for any and all advice on things that will keep me warm and dry(ish) on mornings like today.

Thanks

I've looked into getting a decent jacket but for the number of wet commutes I couldn't justify the price. I have a montaine featherlite and an Altura softshell. This morning I got soaked to the skin, but I think any price point would have resulted in a soaking, and the bloke I sit next to has a £220 gore jacket, his kit was on the radiator next to mine drying this morning.

I figure that I probably get a soaking on the way into work about six times a year, and it's just not worth the cost to get proper waterpoofed for that. A soaking on the way home doesn't really matter imo. The worst parts about today were having to put wet kit on again to tavel home, and that my new bike is filthy. I toyed with taking the hybrid as the weather was so bad but didn't.

The bit of electrical style tape on the centre of the bars is already peeling off.

+1 for the baseball cap, though i wear mine under my lid.

 

[steve52]

i have found an answer to getting soaked!!! i have a towel!!

 

[GarethR]

Ditch the helmet and wear a baseball cap.
The long peak keeps the worst of the rain out of your eyes.

Not sure about ditching the helmet...

 

[GarethR]

I've looked into getting a decent jacket but for the number of wet commutes I couldn't justify the price. I have a montaine featherlite and an Altura softshell. This morning I got soaked to the skin, but I think any price point would have resulted in a soaking, and the bloke I sit next to has a £220 gore jacket, his kit was on the radiator next to mine drying this morning.

I figure that I probably get a soaking on the way into work about six times a year, and it's just not worth the cost to get proper waterpoofed for that. A soaking on the way home doesn't really matter imo. The worst parts about today were having to put wet kit on again to tavel home, and that my new bike is filthy. I toyed with taking the hybrid as the weather was so bad but didn't.

The bit of electrical style tape on the centre of the bars is already peeling off.

+1 for the baseball cap, though i wear mine under my lid.

Yep - almost satisfying getting home soaked; not so cosy in the office though.

 

[biggs682]

you will need it