Which is the best wind/water proof jacket?

[azir]

Ay up all,

Sorry if this has been done to death but I'm looking for a new jacket for commuting and weekend rides. Have some birthday money so somewhere in the region of £150 is the budget - is there such a thing is a wind and water proof yet breathable jacket available at this price point? Is it worth going female specific? I'm afraid it has to be available in some sort've eye-bleedingly bright colour too - not necessarily yellow but yes, bright enough to sear your eyeballs please - is the Gore Element any good?

az
x

 

[uclown2002]

Castelli Gabba LS.
Outstanding piece of kit!

So good I bought the SS for wet summer rides.

http://www.hargrovescycles.co.uk/castelli-gabba-ws-long-sleeve-jersey-black.html

 

[jayonabike]

If you can go up to £200 this women's specific rain jacket is worth a look. I have the mens version and it's fantastic. It also comes in nuclear yellow!
http://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/women's-rain-jacket/product/WRJ01

 

[summerdays]

Depending on your build you can get away with a mans jacket, I'm using one at the moment (only because I stole it from Mr Summerdays), but I prefer the cut of a ladies jacket.

 

[azir]

Both these suggestions look pretty awesome (and also ones I hadn't found myself so far so good work!) - overall I think the Rapha one looks the best, both in terms of fashion (if such a thing can be said about bike wear generally and nuclear yellow in particular) and performance. Lots of reviews of the Castelli one seem to indicate that it's not that good in a long downpour and I'm not sure how I feel about the jersey style vs. more obvious coat style....Not sure why really.

@summerdays yes, I think I would prefer a ladies jacket because otherwise you end up with flappy arms and a 'boxiness' that I'm not in love with. I just also hate vagina tax and the relatively narrow choice for women's stuff - case in point, summer/autumn 3/4 bib tights which I cannot find for girls but could have my pick of over 100 if I wanted boys ones. I just don't like showing my knobbly knees!

 

[Andrew Br]

@summerdays ............ case in point, summer/autumn 3/4 bib tights which I cannot find for girls but could have my pick of over 100 if I wanted boys ones. I just don't like showing my knobbly knees!

Have you looked at DHB's women's bibs ?
My GF has just bought her 2nd pair and she's very pleased with them.
Not too expensive and a similar price to the men's (I think).

FWIW, I also have the Rapha men's waterproof and I can't praise it enough.

.

 

[azir]

Ooh good call @Andrew Br - clearly I didn't look very deeply as dhb do 2 lightweight 3/4 bibs for ladies. Score! Thanks for the tip

 

[lejogger]

Find the link to the Rapha Survey or get someone with an account to do it and let you borrow their code and you'll get a 20% off voucher for Rapha purchases until June 6th

 

[Fab Foodie]

Paramo Velez light smock. There's a zipped version called a
Parito or similar. @User has one.

Downside is they are a bit bulky.
Upside is they are comfortable, well ventilated and breathable, absolutely utterly waterproof and very adaptable, not just biking. Walking camping casual.
I find whilst others are donning and removing jackets all ride I just open and close the vents.

Expensive? sure, worth it? Absolutely. You can keep your Gore Tex now.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Th

It is a Quito, for days when you are going to be out in the wet for hours. Where was it when I went to Paris the other day? On a peg in the hall. Bad decision.

Thanks Adrian, half way to Madrid I remembered what it was called!

 

[azir]

Mmmm - I'm all confused now. Was dead set on the Rapha jacket, especially given the 20% discount (thanks @lejogger !) but I went to try one on yesterday and I'm not sure that I like it in reality. Lack of pockets will annoy me (it has one but you could probably get a tube of smarties in it if you tried really hard) and I didn't like that the elasticated cuffs, whilst snug and awesome in many ways, wouldn't let me pull the sleeves up.... Tried to find a Gore jacket to try on but usual lack of women's versions in stock stopped that idea although I might try again today. Maybe I should go the non-cycling specific route! Buying a coat shouldn't be this hard!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Mmmm - I'm all confused now. Was dead set on the Rapha jacket, especially given the 20% discount (thanks @lejogger !) but I went to try one on yesterday and I'm not sure that I like it in reality. Lack of pockets will annoy me (it has one but you could probably get a tube of smarties in it if you tried really hard) and I didn't like that the elasticated cuffs, whilst snug and awesome in many ways, wouldn't let me pull the sleeves up.... Tried to find a Gore jacket to try on but usual lack of women's versions in stock stopped that idea although I might try again today. Maybe I should go the non-cycling specific route! Buying a coat shouldn't be this hard!

This was my issue. I couldn't find a cycle specific coat that fitted me well (you really need to try these things on), had the right combination of ventillation (I need a lot of that) and pockets in the right places. Also the fabric needed to feel comfortable and if something fitted the bill it was unlikely to be cheap if truly waterproof ... so multi-use was a big benifit.
Finally I didn't want to look like a big cycling bowl of custard.
I went for the smock design as the large front pocket is very usefull when cycling, but the Quito is probably more flexible.

Do have a look at the Paramo kit. You can use it for anything, the hood design is fabulous.
http://www.paramo.co.uk/en-gb/garments/detail/?pgc=NIKWAXANALOGYLIGHTSMOCKVELEZADVENTURELADIES
OR
http://www.paramo.co.uk/en-gb/garments/detail/index.php?pgc=NIKWAXANALOGYLIGHTJACKETQUITOUNISEX


EDIT: a further bonus is that unlike many shell-type jackets these keep you warm when you stop cycling on cold days, whereas with many others you chill quickly.

 

[Himal]

As I just talked about Gore on an other post, I can say yes Gore items are pretty good (I don't work fore Gore - unfortunately).
As they are sold in a lot of shops / websites it's not so difficult to find discount and then I consider it's the best ratio value/price.
I have several items and their sizing is stable, I mean once you know your size it's fine for al their clothes (cycling or running).
I have a rain jacket (Oxygen I think). Good quality, nice details, much nicer than other I tried or have.
But it always has a sport look (ie color, cut), less trendy than Rapha, and having usefull pockets for commuting might not be their main feature.
For the trendy side (it's not a criticism, I like Rapha but too expensive), check Vulpine (expensive as well) or Café du cycliste (a little bit less expensive).

 

[Helidoc]

Tricky one

Something has to give on the on the waterproofness front for ventilation, and really protective shells don't breathe so well. Gore stuff is excellent, but Gore-tex is not totally breathable; it's a compromise.

I prefer windproof and showerproof and have two, one race cape and one more commutable.

The commutable and nuclear orange one is Howies Dyfi, the princely sum of £39 pounds direct from Howies, or 10% less from Wiggle. Consider the following. 2 weeks ago I went to work in combination of the Howies DyFi, Castelli Trasparente, DHB shorts, DHB leg warmers and vented shoes. I was on my summer road bike with no mudguards. The heavens opened on the way back and I was stuck in it for 50 minutes. My shoes, socks, feet, shorts, pad, gloves were all soaked. My body stayed dry, although my arms were soaked, as the DyFi has ventilation panels on the arms. I don't think the most waterproof jacket would have saved the rest of me from a soaking, and the real difference between the DyFi and a full waterproof was wet arms. The other advantage is that you can were it off the bike without looking like a cyclist.

Compromises, compromises...


David

 

[Big Nick]

I've just ordered a Planet X packable waterproof jacket and a relatively modest £29.99

It looks good on the pictures but its 'boil in the bag' rating will be reported back after I've road tested it!