[Closed] Replacement for MT500 Waterproof Jacket

They're pretty pricey now! I got my MT500 for £120 a few years back. The zip failed recently and I scared myself to death when I realised they're now more like £250! Luckily Endura fitted a new zip.

I fear any other jacket is only going to be second best. I love my MT500

https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/endura_mt500_waterproof_jacket_2020-ID_75980?sv_source=google&sv_medium=cpc&sv_campaign= [campaign_name]&sv_term=[keyword]&gclid=CjwKCAjwv_iEBhASEiwARoemvH9stpcf23QSoMlJdDK8BKGkFpJ9Gnnc2sA4C91JrABTCp6AJKLvsBoCn6YQAvD_BwE

I just bought a Montane Gore-Tex Pac-Plus at Cotswold (as I'm old fartie, i have an NT card and get a 10% discount, don't laugh)

Simply constructed, as few seams as possible drawstrings to snug it down, packs away into it's own pocket. really light weigh and comfy. I tried on quite a few, and this rather than Rab's weird sizing, or fits where it touches walking jackets, was the best of the bunch

Dull but good

Thanks Guandax good find.

https://mountain-kit.co.uk/men-c18/waterproof-c24

My go to is an omm kamelia smock

On my 2nd love it.

Get whatever three layer jacket you prefer from Decathlon. You can buy two/three for the price.

IMO it's not worth spending big money on jackets for MTB. They get trashed unless you are ultra careful, who can be arsed with that!

Spending big doesn't always guarantee better quality zips either! Seems to be the cost cutting du jour with a lot of these outdoor brands, cheeky money grabbing ****s that they are.

There’s a 20% off code for Showers Pass in the Members’ area. Their IMBA jacket (which I like) is already 20% off at the moment, so the code is no good for that but if you prefer one of their full price models it would save you a fair bit.

Get whatever three layer jacket you prefer from Decathlon. You can buy two/three for the price.

I am happy to recommend this too, but don’t be fooled into thinking the decathlon stuff is anyway as breathable as the branded gear. I decided to split from my normal decathlon jacket this year, for a reduced endura singletrack (same price in a sale as the decathlon AM) & by god it is so much better, such a nice place to be, great cycling features with no more sweaty inner. Considering how good the singletrack is, the mt500 must be nuke proof, if heavy weight.

Thanks All some nice jackets and yes Zippy the MT500 was really a good jacket hence why I would of preferred repaired but I did not get the option. Mt500 is still my No1 choice but unable to find at a good price unless I compromise on color which I am not prepared to do. The current model is £70 more expensive (in 2 years) but at that price gives me loads more options and I would personally like to try another brand.

Have you had a look at the madison clothing range, I'm quite taken with them lately got a zenith waterproof fits really nice and appears well made and it isn't astronomically priced.

suck it up and pay the extra. Its what I would do. Love my MT500 II jacket.

I am happy to recommend this too, but don’t be fooled into thinking the decathlon stuff is anyway as breathable as the branded gear.

I never said they are equal and the recent price increases make them less of a good deal. When they were 60 and 30 in sales, they were the best proper 3 layer (not 2 or 2.5 like many of the suggested alternatives) jackets with pit zips you could buy for the money. Buying two or three for the price of one jacket elsewhere was hard to beat! The lack of some MTB specific niceties and marginal difference, in on paper performance (I found no discernible breathability difference compared to a Madison Addict or Berghaus, forgot the model name) was not a massive gulf unlike the prices!

Breathability claims are both exaggerated and academic at best. In the real world they're subject to internal and external environmental variations that severely reduce any of the manufactures claims, that MAY be provable in lab conditions. Comfort seems to be more to do with the layers people wear underneath (varies a lot), a persons effort/amount of perspiration, amount of ventilation and how arduous the conditions are. Not to mention good fit and any wear (dirt and abrasion) issues from use. Get any of them constantly saturated, with you putting in some serious effort, close to freezing conditions and any breathability goes out of the window altogether.

BTW not tried the AM Jacket. There are other 3 layer jackets from the hiking range, slim fitting and good enough for MTB. If the price isn't right don't buy!

Sorry @chestercopperpot, wasn't meant to be a dig, I totally agree Decathlons kit has been my goto, especially their (cyling or non) coats, but as you say,they've started to increase their pricing. I think it's as much that the Singletrack is performing better than any other waterproof jacket I've previously bought (pitzips/eVent/goretex/Mammut DRYtechnology) & I am extremely impressed, so much so I really need to tell ppl about it..

I ripped an MT500 jacket and replaced it with a Singletrack one, got to say I'm pretty pleased with it. Its a better fit - slightly longer in the body and I prefer the feel of the material over the MT500 too.

Thanks Rich that's interesting and Poah yeah currently looks like I may have to suck it up although had some excellent recommendations but nothing that I like more than the Mt500 although I would love to try another brand.

Am I the only person who hates their MT500?
All the seam waterproofing is peeling off on the inside and I've never found it overly comfortable to wear. Looking back I wish I'd have bought a couple more Altura Mayhem jackets when they were reduced as that for me was miles better.

Can I ask about that breathability story. I've had some montane pertex shield jackets which weren't breathable at all, and am wearing a cheapo marmot goretex from sportspursuit which is okay at best. Their breathability #s, both sides of the equation look OK but don't really cope with sweaty climbs I find (but better #s than the showers kit) . Does anyone have experience with the rab kinetic jackets which are supposed to be the most breathable for active outdoors?

Sorry @chestercopperpot, wasn’t meant to be a dig

I know 😉

I wouldn't buy any of their cycling jerseys, too roadie focused. There a bit H&M/Primark "that'll do" looking as well!

@isitafox I’ve been very disappointed with mine too. Poor quality and poor fit compared to established mountain brands.

got a shower pass refuge when it was reduced ( still eye wateringly expensive) but a great jacket - took me a few months to pluck up courage to get it dirty though because of the cost.....

I've a Showers Pass refuge. It's bombproof, vents are in the right place, pockets useful, doesn't flap around but big enough to take armour, abrasion resistant shoulder areas for a pack, clever flappy arse covering thing. Hood that will either accommodate a lid or can easily be removed if you no like. Perfect for me.

I never said they are equal and the recent price increases make them less of a good deal.

Just checked this as my last couple of jackets have been from Decathlon. I'm not 100% sure if I'm remembering correctly but I think the 500 waterproof jacket I have currently (in no way breathable) was somewhere around £40 Christmas before last. The equivalent now seems to be £60. That's a huge price increase.

Up to 79% off at Showers Pass just now. I like my SP jacket.
There’s no such thing as perfect.
Just what you like that fits well
My older jackets a Sweet Protection Goretex Active and that’s pretty good too.

The DWR fails pretty soon on all outdoor gear now the constituents have been changed to be better environmentally. A twirl in the dryer (NOT too Hot) can revive DWR often tho.

My MT500 Endura always felt inflexible and bulky and the seam tape fell off pretty soon. It was a gift, so I contacted Endura and explained - and they, very helpfully, told me to take it back to the dealer it was bought from. They aren’t getting any more of my hard earned.

STW had a Showers Pass Refuge and an Endura MT500 in a FGF a little while back, maybe there'll be a review in the next issue...

OP can’t you just send it to a proper independent repair place for outdoor gear?
I have a gore bike wear Goretex event which is breathable and a good shape.

showers pass scyline or whatever it's called is awful, do not buy.

I don't think breathability is possible in a mtb jacket, so think it's pointless looking for it.

It's just going to get covered in mud and grit, splashed, the material is going to wet out no matter what coating is on it, then what ever membrane becomes pointless in terms of breathability.

I think the only real benefit to a waterproof is that it's windproof and doesn't get too heavy when wet.

The only real time you notice stuff getting sweaty is when it's no longer raining out the outer dries out, then you may aswell take the waterproof off.

I wouldn't bother with a waterproof for riding a bike, much too warm. Windproof softshell for riding with a shell for standing around. Then I do tend to run a bit warm normally.

@sandwich

Windproof softshell

such as?

Castelli Perfetto in a weight to suit the season. It's a bit road focussed but perfect (!) for my needs. The Alpkit Morphosis does a good job too if you want a jacket/smock.

Thanks but Sandwich but way to road focused and pretty looking for me, I think I am going to go for the new MT500 found priced at £189.99.

Any of the SP Refuge owners care to comment on the sizing? I seem to be on the dividing line between a medium and large. I'm usually a medium, and a fairly typical 5ft 9in/12.5st. Main problem is the waist size which seems quite small?

I’d probably go for a large in that case. I take an XL in everything and my refuge is borderline.

Don't know if the OP is already sorted but this Goretex is a bargain with an extra tenner off if it's your first buy at Sigma:
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Gore-Wear/C5-Gore-Tex-Trail-Hooded-Jacket/NWZI

I've always found Madison stuff to be well made, works well in our conditions and decent prices

Don’t know if the OP is already sorted but this Goretex is a bargain with an extra tenner off if it’s your first buy at Sigma:
https://www.sigmasports.com/item/Gore-Wear/C5-Gore-Tex-Trail-Hooded-Jacket/NWZI/blockquote >

I have the old version of this (C5 Active Trail), and it is excellent, and I have previously been an expensive-jacket sceptic. I don't have experience of the difference in durability between the full active (my jacket) and the paclite/active blend in the new model. I wouldn't want anything more fragile than Active for rolling around in the mud really.

 

Got a BNWT kingfisher blue MT500 in Large that I don’t need.