Got rain?

[DJoos]

So the Burley jacket I bought last year began to delaminate, leading me to get soaked. A few days ago I picked up a jacket by Pearl Izumi, it is made with "Event" material. The thing works awesome! Showers Pass has an Event material jacket as well, other companies? Event is a name brand material like Gore-Tex etc... It dosen't come cheap (around $200), but I think it will be a good investment this rainy season. Thought I would share the info.

[nishiki]

$200... what a joke.

Rain ponchos work just as well for $10

[DJoos]

Sure, if you enjoy being soaked in sweat.

[cranky_pedaller]

you don't sweat in your gear?

I like to check out deek and brian's stuff... way cheaper. I sure as hell don't have $200 to blow on a jacket.

[brock]

I think 'breathable' fabrics like Goretex are a bit of a myth. I've come to this conclusion after a lot of riding, skiing, climbing. You are going to sweat just about as much in that $200 jacket as you would in a $10 poncho.

That said, I think a cycling specific jacket really is a good investment over a poncho:

- Fit is going to be better. Maybe not a big deal for short rides to the grocery store, but if you've got a long commute it matters. Also a safety thing as it's going to be less bulky and stay out of they way.

- It's going to have better venting and pit zips. You're going to sweat, but you can strategically vent.

- It's likely going to include reflective strips an fabric. This is huge. You can tape yourself up and have flashing lights, but when your entire backside and arms are reflective, that's a big safety advantage.

Of course, the hipsters will ridicule you for wearing something that looks so dorky, just like they'll ridicule you for wearing spandex or a helmet.

[mizake]

WOOL, I say!

[donnambr]

Does anyone have experience with that Carradice waxed cotton raingear? It appeals to me because you can reproof it, but I wonder how waterproof it really is.

[rainperimeter]

my burley jackets kind of suck also. i have a very old one that works better than the newer rock point jacket i got (i picked this up when working in a shop so i got the pro-form discount so i can't complain too much). the underarm zippers on both jackets leak after a good soaking. my ride to work isn't all that long, it's 6 miles from n.pdx down into SE. i'm tiring of having everything i'm wearing be wet by the time i get to work. i don't own a car, so $200, what's that? 4-6 tanks of gas? 2 months of insurance? being dry is nice and as i'm on my bike every day i'd invest the money in a good jacket, personally.

wool is awesome...under a jacket. i wear my wool sweater everyday, but not as something to stop the rain. it's great for all types of riding.

sweat. you know, once it gets down to a certain temp i barely sweat at all, rain gear or not.

djoos, what jacket did you pick up? i'm looking at Gore jackets the last couple days myself.

brock, i hear you about the breathable bit. i want something more breathable than a rubber rain slicker, but i don't want breathability to compromise it's water-proofness (proofness?). how breathable can something really be before it leaks?

do you wear rain pants? yes? what kind?

if the carradice rain gear is anything like their panniers (which are awesome) i can't imagine wanting to wear it.

[BillD]

Originally Posted by rainperimeter

....................................snip.......... ..
brock, i hear you about the breathable bit. i want something more breathable than a rubber rain slicker, but i don't want breathability to compromise it's water-proofness (proofness?). how breathable can something really be before it leaks?................snip...............

Breathable fabrics will pass water vapor... but not liquid water. The key to staying dry in the rain is the layer you wear under the raincoat/jacket. A good polypropylene or wool under layer will wick the liquid water (sweat) away from your skin and your body heat will turn it into water vapor so it can pass through the breathable fabric. The under layer is just as important as the outer layer.

After a ride in the rain, your breathable jacket will feel wet on the inside, your under layer will feel damp on the outside but fairly dry on the skin side. This is about the best you can do. There is nothing you can wear for a 6 mile ride in the rain that will have you arrive at your destination dry as a bone and fresh as a daisy.

Non breathable rainwear will work almost as good as breathable if you wear multiple wicking layers... of course this will make you hotter and you will sweat more but if it's colder and you don't work too hard it's a viable option.

Whatever you use, it's best to change into dry clothes at work.

Bill

[rainperimeter]

Originally Posted by BillD

After a ride in the rain, your breathable jacket will feel wet on the inside, your under layer will feel damp on the outside but fairly dry on the skin side. This is about the best you can do. There is nothing you can wear for a 6 mile ride in the rain that will have you arrive at your destination dry as a bone and fresh as a daisy.
Bill

right. i get all that. but my two jackets seriously leak. really leak. specifically at the underarm zippers. water starts to leak down my sleeves, filling my gloves. and down my sides. i'm hoping to get a jacket without underarm zippers as the 3 jackets (i actually got burley to exchange my first rock point because so much water would pool in the cuffs of my sleeves i thought my jacket was a defect. it was ridiculous) i've had all leaked at that spot, and i never unzip those zippers (or it's very rare that i do). the sweater that i mentioned i wear everyday is a tight weave wool sweater that's jersey-esque in fit and weave. and yeah, that does help keeping me feeling dryer than say, a sweatshirt.