For the race I'm doing this summer I'm looking for a waterproof and windproof jacket. I'm taking a small rack bag on the bike as the mandatory kit list is fairly large (first aid kit, sun cream etc) and I hate wearing a backpack. Keeping the jacket small and light leaves more space for some lunch. Any recommendations? Ideally after something fairly bombproof I can also use for commuting.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Stuff
Packable Jackets
(12 posts)-
Posted 10 years ago #
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Altura Night Vision Flite
Not my most expensive jacket, nor my most technical, but it keeps the elements out without becoming 'boil in the bag'. It's the one I pack more often than any other. You can squash it down further, but I put it into its mesh bag, then into a jersey pocket, measuring 14cm tall by 23cm circumference.
Bombproof? Well, it is a lightweight jacket so it will rip or tear on thorns or if you hit the deck and slide (probably). I would use my Night Vision Evo for heavier duty riding, but the Flite would do fine if you treat it well (and don't crash!).
Posted 10 years ago # -
I bought an emergency waterproof in December - for those days you are commuting in windproof and it starts hosing it down - of which there are many.
Basically because I don't like waterproofs, even my "good" one is not properly breathable on a bike.
Works very well for my 30 min journey, definitely would be boil in bag on longer journeys, but short of spending £200 IMO they all are.
Wow, now down to £9.99 !!
Posted 10 years ago # -
If you don't sweat much the £200 jackets might be breathable if you have to keep them on. But for me as a big sweater none of them work. I have a similar one from decathlon, has pockets and zip vents so was a bit dearer, needed jacket to pack small into seat post bag. (Ortlieb one litre bag) I find soft shells are nicer but they do not squash down so well, someone should invent a compression sack for soft shells?
Never really properly tested my altura varium from Leckies, certainly showerproof and no need for anything but a t shirt as warm as toast, so I guess will be sweaty under pressure.
We are all looking for light, breathable, pack able waterproof but there isn't one product. you can check manufacturer's claims. Thus decathlon and similar cheaper cagoules might get up to 5000mls, whereas a jacket for hill walking might easily tip 35000 mls.
Generally, the breathability goes down as the waterproofing goes up. Gore claim otherwise but their most waterproof products tend not to pack so well same as the Rapha heavier jacket.
Decathlon measure their waterproofness on a European scale known as Schmerbers
If this is not enough variables then reproofing can introduce further things to think about.
I think the tipping point will be on the packing. a jacket for your commute likely to be a different item than one for an event??
I would probably go for the one I got from decathlon, it was 25 quid, has taped seems as well as the vents under the arms, quite long zips. Also two front pockets. Is just about chunky enough for commute, will pack, is showerproof (3000 schmerbers) but a bit sweaty for me. It did not come out of the seat post bag over two days as no rain.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Well I've just sorted the commuter jacket as Millet Sports have the Altura Evo in black for £50 with 7% quidco and free delivery if you add somthing to make the order up by a few pence. That leaves plenty option for something light for racing.
Has the men's Flite jacket become the Pocket Rocket? Only seems available in ladies at the moment
Posted 10 years ago # -
You'll get as many opinions as responders...
For my 2p, unless the weather is insanely wet and you go quite slowly, you'll be at least as comfortable with a windproof - I'd just go for something like the dhb Wisp, very packable and extremely breathable.
It sounds like your event is quite fussy, so you might just need to go for whatever they command. FWIW, since discovering windproofs I've never taken a waterproof on any event, even multi-day ones.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I have a Montane Fetherlite H2O, which has ben used twice. Its about the same size as a fist, and cost around £40 I think.
Handily enough its for sale too! Size large. Black with silver detail/piping etc...
Posted 10 years ago # -
montane feather lite good as used to come with bag with Velcro strap so could be stuck on bike at corner of crossbar and down tube. (If you wanted to). A brand of good pack able waterproofs that often gets a mention Is Craft. They appear to have the schmerbers but I haven't tried. Crane is LIDL? They will have nylon jackets for 9.99 in May.
I have two white nylon jackets from Aldi, they are identical, the second one is cleaner and newer and was branded as a woman's waterproof. Don't know why, cut same as the year before which was not branded as woman's. Cut certainly not flappy. They ride up a bit. £9.99. I washed the older one and looks ok. My kids say I am wearing a poly bag. But....
I was at apple pie bakery Carnwath one day and Jocky ( he has very expensive bikes with Jocky decals, could be Jocky Allan or maybe just Jocky, he is senior) came up towards me and said OOOh nice jacket, is it the Mavic one, lovely, ah no it is cheap crud from Aldi.
Slightly showerproof and microwave you if on longer than a minute but good for cold descent or hanging about at apple pie bakery. Folds up tiny.
Posted 10 years ago # -
I use a Pearl Izumi PRO jacket. I think it's the Barrier Lite. In winter it makes my six year old Rapha winter jacket fully windproof and showerproof. It's close-fitting and packs down enough to go in a back pocket. It has pit-vents and no pockets. It doesn't flap in the wind. I paid about £80 for it in Velo Ecosse about three years ago but it's been discontinued in most sizes (XXL available at Evans for £38).
Posted 10 years ago # -
@ tk
"Has the men's Flite jacket become the Pocket Rocket?"
No, different jacket. The Pocket Rocket is less technical and with fewer reflectives, but lighter. The collar is lower so may provide a little less insulation. I haven't tried a Pocket Rocket though.
It's strange Altura don't seem to have replaced the Flite with anything.
Posted 10 years ago # -
Any recommendations?
The Endura Equipe jacket is very good, it's very tailored for the racing cyclist physique (which I'm currently not sporting!). It's about £60 quid or so.
Posted 10 years ago # -
@Focus out of interest, does the Altura Night Vision Flite jacket have poppers at the back of the neck to attach a hood (like the Night Vision Evo)? I may try tracking one down if so, but my Marmot Mica jacket has been doing a pretty good job of keeping me dry on the bicycle during the warmer parts of the year so far...
Posted 10 years ago #
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