Looking at getting a soft shell for the winter, what's the current flavour of the month with the collective/gang/massive/Minitrue?
Aldi
As with a lot of things, Sombrio are the bestest!
Endura Stealth or for £££ then go for the Rapha Classic softshell. That said, my Rapha jacket is nearly 10 years old now and still as good as new so £26 a year is good value by me. 🙂
It depends whether you want protection (wind, water, warmth) or breathability.
For 80% of my riding, an uber light, less than weatherproof Montane Dyno is ace, with layers below as needed.
For more warmth and weather proofing, something shelled in Pertex, like my Montane Krypton is brill - properly windproof, warmer, but mega breathable.
Both work really well in rubbish, wet weather under a waterproof, as they 'pump' moisture out, and it ends up in the layer between softshell and waterproof.
Take a look at Rab Vapour Rise as well.
Aldi, this will be the fourth winter mine has had and is still going strong, £4 a winter is bloody good in my book.
Aldi workwear softshell is also an option for when (if) it gets proper nasty. It's pretty heavy, but you don't need loads of layers under it. Proof any cheapo one with Nikwax or Grangers and it will be pretty near as good as a bike-specific one.
Stupid idea, the softshell- nothing competes with layering for mountain bikes so why combine 2 of your most important layers? I like them off the bike mind.
Stupid idea, the softshell- nothing competes with layering for mountain bikes so why combine 2 of your most important layers? I like them off the bike mind.
Good point. I am so stupid. I must have been dreaming the last time I combined it with a light base layer and was toasty without feeling like the Michelin man.
Pretty much proves my point, if it'd rained and you'd put on a waterproof you'd have burned alive. The point of layering is flexibility, whereas softshells only work well in certain conditions.
The point of layering is flexibility, whereas softshells only work well [s]in certain conditions[/s] having struck a balance of breathability and protection, for 80% of the time, although I personally have not found which one yet.
FTFY
Pretty much proves my point, if it'd rained and you'd put on a waterproof you'd have burned alive. The point of layering is flexibility, whereas softshells only work well in certain conditions.
Depends what you mean by 'softshell', but for me the point of softshells is that they work in most conditions.
For me a softshell is something like a Montane Dyno, or a Rab Vapour Rise Lite or something. How people can wear things like Endura Stealths in anger is a mystery to me!
Yep my aldi special is approaching it's 3rd winter. If it gets trashed, well, it does.
That said, if it's at all prone to be raining I'd stick with a base / jersey/ waterproof combo and swap the waterproof with a wind proof gilet if things dry up.
Pretty much proves my point, if it'd rained and you'd put on a waterproof you'd have burned alive. The point of layering is flexibility, whereas softshells only work well in certain conditions.
Yes, but I've proofed it with nikwax softshell proofer.
For big days out layering is key, I agree, but for winter blasts I quite like just sticking on a base layer with the jacket over the top. Ventilation from having a bit of space inside the jacket is quite nice in my opinion, and you don't feel as restricted in your movement.
Big days out in winter involves layering for me, with a lightweight waterproof to be added if necessary. Shorter rides (sub four hours) I like to just pop the bigger jacket over a base layer and ride myself warm, if too hot, just undo the zip a bit, loosen the cuffs and let out the waist tabs.
I bought a Hincapie Gradient Softshell Jacket in the sales and found I wore it a lot on road rides last winter - would only choose something more waterproof on really wet days as fine in lighter rain.
Surprised nobody's mentioned Gore stuff. My phantom was vastly superior to the Endura Convert that replaced it. The convert just doesn't breath anywhere near as well, and the stiching is already coming out so that the cuffs are falling apart.
I find my Endurance Stealth (the first version they did) is almost too hot for about every occasion. With a camelback on and more than 30mins of biking, I get too hot with a base-layer and the jacket.
Despite proofing it with Nikwax soft-shell spray-on proofer, the rain finds its way in if I am out for more than an hour.
Not really surprising as wanting the level of breathability you need to keep cool while stomping up a climb and wind and waterproof is a huge ask. Bit of a balancing act between waterproofness breathability I guess.
Stealth over a base layer when air temp below 5 deg. Endura wind chill when its between 5 and about 10, works well for me
Base layer and Intrepid Apparel jacket got me through winter nicely. Never too hot, wet or cold.
Living right on the northeast coast & riding to & from work 5 days a week my gore wind stopper soft shell does the business. I've had it 3 yrs. washed tons of times. Keeps the north sea blasts at bay. Only issue is wearing a waterproof on top. No breathability ( if that's how ya spell it
Gore Phantom.
A bit expensive but mine looks like new after 3 winters. For around 4 months of the year I wear it every ride and it gets washed after most of them. Start wearing it with nothing underneath before moving to a thin base layer and for the worst of the cold a merino base. Sub zero is not a problem. Just carry an emergency packable shell if you think its going to rain - it copes okay with drizzle on its own though.
