Rain gear expectations too high?

[Arlingtonrider]

I love those $24 well vented Louis Garneau rain jackets for Spring and Fall. If you handle opening the velcro closure gently, they last a long time. I carry mine rolled up in a plastic newspaper bag to protect it in my pannier. They can get a little warm sometimes, but i just dress lighter to compensate. The armpit and side vents, high collar and long back apron are awesome. I have other more expensive rain jackets, but this inexpensive one is my favorite until it gets a lot cooler. I also like that I can just wipe it clean. Performance bikes carries them and had them in stock the last time I was there.

[GuyContinental]

My company (a major kayak/canoe manufacturer) uses the new Polartec Neoshell fabric in our top-line dry tops which are designed to keep paddlers bone dry while upside-down in a rapid. Performance is simply amazing- it’s light, breaths and the barrier is built right into the fabric (rather than as a coating or a membrane)- paddlers used to wearing nearly nothing under their tops because of the lack of breathability tell us that they are having to layer up because it breathes almost too well. Given what I’ve seen so far I’d totally try a Neoshell based jacket like the below linked one from Sugoi. However, I’m also guessing that it’s NOT cheap…

http://www.sugoi.com/usa/polartec

(you could also wear a paddling dry top but the laytex neck and wrist gaskets *might* be overkill…)

[dasgeh]

@GuyContinental 95395 wrote:

My company (a major kayak/canoe manufacturer) uses the new Polartec Neoshell fabric in our top-line dry tops which are designed to keep paddlers bone dry while upside-down in a rapid. Performance is simply amazing- it’s light, breaths and the barrier is built right into the fabric (rather than as a coating or a membrane)- paddlers used to wearing nearly nothing under their tops because of the lack of breathability tell us that they are having to layer up because it breathes almost too well. Given what I’ve seen so far I’d totally try a Neoshell based jacket like the below linked one from Sugoi. However, I’m also guessing that it’s NOT cheap…

http://www.sugoi.com/usa/polartec

(you could also wear a paddling dry top but the laytex neck and wrist gaskets *might* be overkill…)

Or, you could get your company to make top-line cycling rain gear!

[Harry Meatmotor]

@GuyContinental 95395 wrote:

My company (a major kayak/canoe manufacturer) uses the new Polartec Neoshell fabric in our top-line dry tops which are designed to keep paddlers bone dry while upside-down in a rapid. Performance is simply amazing- it’s light, breaths and the barrier is built right into the fabric (rather than as a coating or a membrane)- paddlers used to wearing nearly nothing under their tops because of the lack of breathability tell us that they are having to layer up because it breathes almost too well. Given what I’ve seen so far I’d totally try a Neoshell based jacket like the below linked one from Sugoi. However, I’m also guessing that it’s NOT cheap…

http://www.sugoi.com/usa/polartec

(you could also wear a paddling dry top but the laytex neck and wrist gaskets *might* be overkill…)

that’s just it – any cycling jackets that use super high tech waterproof fabric are generally $250+ msrp. i’m waiting to be convinced that they’re worth it. you’re stuck getting wet from the outside or the inside if’n you only want to spend less than $200.

[Arlingtonrider]

I think a lot depends on intended use. I think my LG plastic fantastic jacket is great for 8 to 15 mile commuting, but one of the more expensive ones is probably going to be better for longer or high exertion rides.

[KayakCyndi]

@GuyContinental 95395 wrote:

My company (a major kayak/canoe manufacturer) uses the new Polartec Neoshell fabric in our top-line dry tops which are designed to keep paddlers bone dry while upside-down in a rapid. Performance is simply amazing- it’s light, breaths and the barrier is built right into the fabric (rather than as a coating or a membrane)- paddlers used to wearing nearly nothing under their tops because of the lack of breathability tell us that they are having to layer up because it breathes almost too well. Given what I’ve seen so far I’d totally try a Neoshell based jacket like the below linked one from Sugoi. However, I’m also guessing that it’s NOT cheap…

http://www.sugoi.com/usa/polartec

(you could also wear a paddling dry top but the laytex neck and wrist gaskets *might* be overkill…)

Mmmm … yummy. Jacket is $250-$350 depending on which model you get and how hard you look online for a deal. Thanks for feeding my gear fetish!

[Steve O]

I have a Novarra rain jacket and rain pants I got for Christmas 2012. The first time I wore them I was totally stoked. I remember stopping at a light after 13 miles in a steady, cold rain and thinking “Hey, it’s raining out there, but I’m totally dry in here!”

Then within a couple of months my legs were getting wet when I wore them. It seemed that the places where there was the most movement–knees–lost their resistance first.
I did some research on line and discovered that you can restore the resistance by putting them in a hot dryer for about 15 minutes. You have to be careful to take them out while still tumbling so that none of the metal parts (if any) melt the fabric.

Today was the first day I wore my rain pants since last winter. I recall having given them the dryer treatment then, and they worked magnificently today (I wore my dress shirt and slacks under my rain gear). I actually am in the habit of doing this with the pants after every rainy day and with the jacket every 3-4 times. Seems to work.

You can check after you take them out of the dryer by throwing some water on to see if it beads.
Give it a try and let us know if it works.

[Dirt]

Nice to see you in your Flyte jacket last night, sir! I know that we’ve talked about this a bit.

1) Don’t despair. Your jacket can likely be brought back to life. I thought mine was dead for many of the same reasons you listed. I washed it in Nikwax Tech Wash and treated it with the Nikwax spray-on stuff to revive the waterproofing (I’ve forgotten the name) and it was as good as new. I’ve used the same stuff on my Assos, Pearl Izumi, Endura Ventury jacket, 3/4 and pants, and many other waterproof garments that I’ve got. It revived Jimmy’s ancient REI goretex jacket pretty dang well.

2) Yesterday and today are very difficult days for rain gear. It was very easy to overheat and sweat in whatever you wear. That’s why you saw me wearing a rain vest yesterday, instead of a rain jacket. I didn’t consider wearing my Flyte jacket today. For me, the Flyte does best below 50 degrees. Any warmer than that and I either have to open the zipper to ventilate, thus getting wet with through the open front, or leave it shut and sweat.

3) I rode in the rain most of the day today… from downpour at 5am through gentle mist in the afternoon. I was dry and comfy all day in my expensive rain gear. Assos Sturmprinz jacket and Endura Venturi 3/4. I just let my feet get wet. I didn’t wear gloves either.

I can’t wear cheap rain gear. I’d rather freeze than overheat from a jacket that doesn’t breathe. I might be able to deal with overheating for a brief commute, but for all day riding, I need a much better jacket.

[Phatboing]

@Dirt 95408 wrote:

I might be able to deal with overheating for a brief commute, but for all day riding, I need a much better jacket.

Oh yeah, I haven’t tried my non-breathy jacket for anything longer than a commute. On longer rides, or if I’m headed to the warmth of my home parts, I don’t usually mind getting wet. It’s only if I’m in a morning rain coming in to work that it matters, because otherwise my wet gear has to fester in the gym, and I have to wear that horridness on the way back.

[Dirt]

@Phatboing 95409 wrote:

Oh yeah, I haven’t tried my non-breathy jacket for anything longer than a commute. On longer rides, or if I’m headed to the warmth of my home parts, I don’t usually mind getting wet. It’s only if I’m in a morning rain coming in to work that it matters, because otherwise my wet gear has to fester in the gym, and I have to wear that horridness on the way back.

I’d also add that few people mistake me for species human. “Giant Sloth Bear” is probably the closest description to what I am. When I was just doing human-like commuting, I never bothered with rain gear (edit) ABOVE 60 degrees. I just got wet and then had dry clothes in a pack for the ride home.

[peterw_diy]

For dry feet with platform pedals, try cheap rubber “nuke boots”, ala http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001391PRO

[Harry Meatmotor]

@Dirt 95410 wrote:

… I never bothered with rain gear below 60 degrees…

I’ve tried to HTFU 45-50 degrees & rain with no real rain gear aside from a Castelli superlight rain jacket and wool baselayer, arm warmers & regular jersey a few times now and have been consistently rewarded a nice head cold for several days afterward – i’m done with that. how have you found the assos STURM-UND-DRANG or whatever it’s called?

[Dirt]

@Harry Meatmotor 95416 wrote:

I’ve tried to HTFU 45-50 degrees & rain with no real rain gear aside from a Castelli superlight rain jacket and wool baselayer, arm warmers & regular jersey a few times now and have been consistently rewarded a nice head cold for several days afterward – i’m done with that. how have you found the assos STURM-UND-DRANG or whatever it’s called?

Sorry. I’m really tired from today… I meant ABOVE 60 degrees. I’ll note that below too.

The Assos is the best jacket I’ve ever used. 130 miles from Boston to Hartford in 38 degree weather with a driving rain and my core was comfy. Hands were frozen, but my body felt great.

I also have no problems with my Endura Flyte, Endura Venturi, Pearl Izumi Pro-something-or-other or my Showers Pass Elite. The Assos is by far the best. It works well in higher temps because it breathes better. It better for the stupid amount of money that it costs.

[vvill]

I pretty much agree with dplasters and hozn on this stuff. If I was expecting to do longer rides in the rain I might look for more options, but as it is I just pack extra clothes for the ride home (shorts/bibs, jersey, socks) and make do with what I own already. I prioritize getting my shoes and gloves dry in time for the commute home.

I generally haven’t bothered getting any expensive rain gear, with the one exception being this Gore-Tex one I decided to try out from a couple seasons ago: http://www.backcountry.com/gore-bike-wear-oxygen-gt-as-jacket-mens
I still get sweaty in it but nowhere near as much as in other rain gear I have, and I love the cut/fit/design (well, other than the wrist/sleeve part), so it’s my go to if I want to keep my upper body dry. I admit I had higher hopes for it, but it’s not bad. My other rain jacket options were cheap and waterproof but definitely very non-breathable.

I don’t own any rain pants, and rain covers for shoes have never worked for me in a steady downpour.

[dkel]

I have the upper-level Novara pants and jacket, and I love them! I wear them in downpours and don’t get wet. They trap a little bit of sweat, but nothing compared to getting soaked by rain. Yesterday and today they were probably overkill, but I rode a little slower, and didn’t get too hot. Aside from rain use, I wore them all winter as my outer layer, and they kept the heat in through the polar vortex. At this point, they are due for a renewal of their waterproofing, so I’ll probably get some tech wash for them.

I just had a surprisingly long talk with Rockford10 about rain gear, and she and I don’t have the same feelings on the topic. It’s apparent to me that everyone’s comfort level and needs are different, so there’s no right or wrong answer, aside from what works or doesn’t work for you. Unfortunately, spending money is usually required before you can figure that out.

On a related topic, I went back to wearing my waterproof hiking shoes for the last couple of rides, after having switched to SPD Keen sandals this summer, and I hated not being clipped in! I was surprised, since I have about 3000 miles on those hiking shoes from last year. Has anyone tried the Shimano MW81 shoes? They look decently priced for waterproof clipless shoes.

[Author]

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