Morning all.
I’m looking for a new riding jacket to replace a really old and quite tight Endura singletrack.
I’ve got a budget of about £100 for a jacket but not sure what to look at.
Obviously needs to be fully waterproof and wind proof etc.
Any recommendations
Thanks
Road bike? Mtb? Both of which would be different recommendations.
Road bike? Mtb? Both of which would be different recommendations.
Sorry yes purely Mtb.
My las jacket was an Endura Gridlock not singletrack
I don't think fully waterproof is a thing anymore even if you spend considerably more than £100
I bought one of the sale Strada jackets recommended on my similar thread, and am very happy with it. https://singletrackworld.com/forum/bike-forum/winter-is-coming-non-packable-awful-weather-jacket/
a like for like to the old gridlock is probably the hummvee.
https://www.endurasport.com/hummvee-waterproof-jacket-blueberry/13952684.html
they do a hoodless or hooded version.
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/4440802/
Sportspursuit have a few - this Fox one caught my eye
I got a Rapha core rain jacket in the sales & it's very good. The cut is pretty slim so had to go up a size.
A mate replaced his old Fox jacket with a new one & has been unimpressed with the quality.
My general strategy, if £100 is your budget, is go on Vinted and find something in your size. There's LOADs of options for decent brand waterproof jackets on there.
I ended up doing that as I didn't wanna spend £200+ on a new jacket that's gonna get very mucky all the time, or £100 on a jacket that will be fairly basic (I prefer to avoid 2.5L jackets as they feel really sweaty to me).
I got a Fohn 3L Supercell jacket for £50 which is absolutely class for bikes. It doesn't have much of a droptail but other than that I'm a huge fan! Plenty of stuff like that on there.
Keela Saxlon an option for £100 but no pit zips which would put me off or Galibier Courcheval. I normally use Quecha mh500 from Decathlon which worked great on the bike but sizing changed recently so don't fit me anymore but worth a look.
A few things to consider..
What kind of riding will you be doing?
Technical stuff where you might be binning it and (potentially) trashing jacket.
Almost gravel,light xc.. I just wear my road gear (which is good kit) on the low risk trails/paths.
All dayers or short local laps?
If I go out on any sketchy trails or big days, I pack my good jacket in a bag as backup for any mechanicals/ long stops.
I'm going to agree with some people above, you don't want proper waterproof unless riding in heavy rain.
Not only will you sweat yourself just as wet within it, but frequent washing required of winter kit means it wont be waterproof for long.
I've really got 3 tops for winter -
an old Gore soft shell which is very roadie cut but does have reflective bits good for night riding.
a lightweight Rab hoodie - generic outdoor rather than MTB - which is good down to about 5 degrees (dry) or 10 degrees (wet) over a short sleeve merino tee. very quick drying.
heavyweight DHB hoodie - good for when the above is not enough. 5 degrees in a short sleeve tee, 0 in a long top. high "collar" for warmth. stays warm even when wet though it does get heavy.
the fourth, an old endura waterproof is my least favourite, least used, and was the most expensive.
Agree, waterproof only for rainy rides - my not raining winter jacket is, erm - an Endura Singletrack
If I go out on any sketchy trails or big days, I pack my good jacket in a bag as backup for any mechanicals/ long stops.
I couldn't imagine taking a jacket on a ride that I'll only wear if I stop
I bought one of the Strada jackets. It's ok for £30-40 but it's pretty basic. Quite a boxy cut and not very breathable. I bought it more for working in so it's fine for that. I really like my Gore Lupra jacket but it's not fully waterproof, waterproof panels in some places and windproof for the rest. I wore it in the rain the other day for an hour or so and was dry.
I can whisper this quietly because me and most of my riding buddies have already got one, but...
If you are the right size, the remaining ones in Spada's sale are a no-brainer.
£35 delivered for that quality is a steal.
but frequent washing required of winter kit means it wont be waterproof for long
Not really, if it has a waterproof membrane it will stay waterproof (unless you damage it washing with high temps or something). DWR is there so water beads off the outer shell that protects the membrane, if that outer shell wets out then the jacket isn't breathable anymore but it's still waterproof (assuming it has taped seals etc.). That said I do agree only wearing DWR coated stuff in wet conditions if you can help it as retreating is never going to be as good as when it left the factory.
Endura MT500 £119. Various colours Endura MT500 Waterproof Jacket II Aubergine
My general strategy, if £100 is your budget, is go on Vinted and find something in your size. There's LOADs of options for decent brand waterproof jackets on there.
I ended up doing that as I didn't wanna spend £200+ on a new jacket that's gonna get very mucky all the time, or £100 on a jacket that will be fairly basic (I prefer to avoid 2.5L jackets as they feel really sweaty to me).
I got a Fohn 3L Supercell jacket for £50 which is absolutely class for bikes. It doesn't have much of a droptail but other than that I'm a huge fan! Plenty of stuff like that on there.
Very much agree with this.
I got a Scott ExplorAIR Light WB windproof jacket on Vinted for just over £20 BNWT. I think RRP on them was around £70-£120 depending on sales. It's not a rain jacket, just using it as an example of the bargains you can find.
For wetter days I'm using a Columbia jacket I got from SportPursuit, but it needs re-proofing so I might have to go on Vinted and look for something to replace it.
if that outer shell wets out then the jacket isn't breathable anymore but it's still waterproof
you are right.
not the first time I've fallen foul of confusing being drenched in sweat with the coat leaking - which happens if you wear a good condition/still beading coat in actual heavy rain
technicalities aside, you are still wet.
Endura MT500 £119. Various colours
I currently have one of those thats on its last legs after 5 years use, I'd said I wasn't getting another one but its very tempting at that price, paid around £200 for my current jacket
I've just bought one of these to try as they're heavily reduced, it sizes up relatively slim on the fit so depending on your sizing you might be out of luck but it seems pretty good and rugged. Not worn it riding yet but was good for a very rainy walk the other day!
I just use an old softshell. The DWR treatment keeps out most of the wet and it breathes better than any hard jacket as even top end jackets just become boil in the bag when riding in the rain. The soft shell seems to shrug off crashes, etc better than a hardshell as well.
If I’m going out of DH/bike Park in absolute biblical rain (with no uphill pedalling) I just wear my Gore-Tex jacket that I use for mountaineering (or go to the pub/gym instead).
Mini psa, Lupra 2 back in stock and discounted at gorewear, and if you use code WHATEVERSAHEAD30 you get ANOTHER 30% off. £252 reduced to £164 reduced down to £115. Bosh.
I ordered the purple one last time and the colour was a bit much so black this time. Large size as expected. Returns process no bother.
https://www.gorewear.com/en-uk/lupra-20-gore-tex-le3-jacket-mens-101327
Mini psa, Lupra 2 back in stock and discounted at gorewear, and if you use code WHATEVERSAHEAD30 you get ANOTHER 30% off. £252 reduced to £164 reduced down to £115. Bosh.
I ordered the purple one last time and the colour was a bit much so black this time. Large size as expected. Returns process no bother.https://www.gorewear.com/en-uk/lupra-20-gore-tex-le3-jacket-mens-101327
Ordered a purple one, or amethyst grey as they call it 👍
Arrived today and had I seen it hanging on a rack in a store I don't think I'd have bothered.
Not the most technical of jackets, actually looks about as breathable as a bin bag and feels a bit crinkly and cheap.
Will keep it and see how waterproof it is, glad I didn't pay full price though
Ive just taken delivery of a Rab Cinder Phantom. I just can together over how small it is. I can’t testify to its breathability or waterproofness, although the Rb website would lead me to believe that both will be very good. But it’s so unbelievably small that it will fit in the smallest of packs!
@theartistformerlyknownasstr: look forward to a report back on how you find the Lupra. If I hadn’t already bought the Rab, I’d have been very tempted.
@theartistformerlyknownasstr: look forward to a report back on how you find the Lupra. If I hadn’t already bought the Rab, I’d have been very tempted.
Wore it today as a bit of rain was forecast.
Wasn't expecting great things - felt like I was putting a crisp packet on.
But... It looked good, I didn't boil in it (but it was cold and I was on an ebike, so we'll see on that one). Got hit with high winds, sideways rain, sleet and hail. Nothing got through. Tiny bit of wetting out where I had camelbak straps, but didn't end up wet inside and everywhere else beaded up nicely and ran off.
My very good Madison dungarees were soaked - as in wetted out but not much got through - they probably/definitely need some tlc though.
Early days for the Lupra and most things are waterproof for at least the first ride, but first impressions were decent
I bought a Lupra as well , wore it at FOD on Wednesday, I can vouch that it's definitely a Spring / Autumn jacket ! I needed a gilet underneath, in the end I put on my Madison DTE winter jobby , did I mention it was 🥶🥶🥶🥶