Favorite Rain Jacket?

I just laid my REI waterproof bike jacket to rest after 5 years of use, and replaced it with a Patagonia Jetstream. What an improvement! Lightweight, keeps the rain out, the hood fits over my helmet, and it has pockets. Plus, it's multi-use and looks nice.

Also, the 40% off sale at Patagonia made the price more palatable.

I use a Marmot Precip and it has been serving me well for over 7 years. What I really want to know about are rain pants. Anyone own a pair that they like? All of mine wear out in the seat and it looks like I wet my pants by the time I get anywhere. (Though maybe a pair of fenders would solve that problem.)

There is a fundamental tradeoff between the breathability of a garment and the level of water protection a garment provides.

The membranes that provide the best balance between the two are GoreTex membranes and eVent. GoreTex membranes are widely available in outerwear. W.L. Gore even has it's own line of cycling apparel and outerwear under the Gore Bike Wear name. Their Alpine and Alp-X series of GoreTex jackets are available in men's and women's, are very lightweight, and come in plenty of visible colors with lots of reflectivity.

Locally, Showers Pass is using eVent in it's top-of-the-line Elite 2.0 jackets for men and women. You may have seen the company's distinctive yellow-orange (they call it "goldenrod") jackets around town. Pit zips make this jacket a great choice for the PNW, where we have plenty of wet, but not necessarily cold, days. The pit zips, adjustable cuffs, and back vent make this a jacket you can wear in many temperature ranges. It also has great reflectivity.

Seems like many of the shops here in town carry it, as does my company (in women's only). Showers Pass has a new chili pepper red available now too, that is very sharp.

I have both GoreTex and eVent jackets. I prefer the versatility of the Showers Pass jacket in warmer weather, and the styling of the Gore Jacket in cooler weather.

However, if it's a typical PNW day where it mists more than truly rains, I prefer to go with a Gore Windstopper piece instead. WindStopper, while not technically waterproof, is very very water resistant. Since it's more breathable than GoreTex, it keeps me dry without overheating, in a broader temperature range. Unless I'm going to be out all day in uncertain conditions or it's truly raining hard, I prefer my WindStopper pieces over anything else.

Hope this helps.

Susan

Tell me it's not true! Burley jackets are supposed to last forever.... Mine is going on 15 years.

I like the Burley. Get another.

Is that guy for real? 15 years on one jacket? I am pro-durability, but that just sounds unrealistic. Can anyone else verify a 15 year stint with their Burley? If so, I heading to a bike shop to get one TOMORROW.

I, too, would be interested in rain pant advice. I was wanting to ride in the winter but I am considering it for this year but I know you have to have rain pants to make it through our winters in the area (I am in Vancouver) so please tell me more! Thanks everyone.

Sadly Burley is no longer making their formidable jackets.. :(

I have a Novara jacket from REI that's taken quite a beating and is still ticking. No frills, but it keeps me dry and warm.

My Burley jacket is 8 years old...giving way...

I've used Gill pants and Burley booties for quite a while. The pants work well but could be more breathable...ditto for booties & sizing is weird for those of us who wear 'normal' shoes.

I'll be throwing down for a Showers Pass this year, I do believe. I'll probably get their pants as well... oh, Burley, we barely knew ye

[Burley no longer produces clothing; just trailers]

I came across a nice Nike Clima-Fit ACG shell for about 8 bucks at Good Will. Climbers use them, and they are light as silk. My Old Snow Lion rain parka with artificial latex lining lasted me 11 years until the zipper broke. Eddie Bauer fleece-lined nylon jackets are also good for warmer weather. I had a Gortex Bike Jacket 30 years ago but the fabric blistered and separated. I was given a new one under warranty , but I skinned the fabric doing a forward somersault snapping my right crank at 2:00. Check out Burlington Coat Factory at Jantzen Beach. The 20 dollar coat racks have excellent selections.

well I guess that 15 year burley owner better hold onto it cause he ain't getting another one any time soon. why did they stop making them?

Ok come on, why does rain gear have to be so ugly? I can't be the only one out here who is disgruntled because I cannot find good looking rain gear. Does it exist? If so, lemme know cause I'll buy it and I'll pay more for it even.

I'm a firm believer that waterproof and breathable is an oxymoron. I use a Showers Pass Elite 2.0 and it'll keep ya dry, but only if it's cold enough. Otherwise I sweat too much. I always have the pit zips full open, sleeves loose and the front zip half zipped from the top and 4-6" from the bottom. That's the biggest helper right there, unzipping from the bottom a few inches really helps with ventilation!

As someone else said, (it really doesn't get that cold here in PDX and most of the rain is more of a drizzle, as I say in a whisper), so I normally just wear a light wool sweater along with my wool knicker and wool socks. OK, I like wool, that's because it works! I'll throw the S/P on during a downpour, or on the way home in the pm for extra visibility.

One downside to the S/P is I really wish it had mesh running the length of the sleeves because if it's wet enough to wear it, but warm enough for only a short sleeve shirt, then your arms cling to the sleeves, yukky!

I'm going to throw my ditto into the Showers Pass pile. It works particularly well for me because I don't tend to sweat much. I've been through one season with it, through any number of 3 hour club rides in downpours or five hours of errand. I get home dry every time.