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Junior needs to buy me an Xmas pressie and I'd like a softshell jacket for cold by dry days on the eeb. Max budget is £75, less is better. Biking specific is preferred for the drop tail primarily.
Only small and medium left.
I'm an XL in Endura for reference.
Second the blackline.
I’ve got the Madison one linked above, its nice - a bit too nice for biking in imho but a great buy at £35.
If you can find one, their DTE hybrid jacket is great (got one of these too).
Nice and warm, DTE coating keeps the worst of a shower off (though by no means fully waterproof) and nice and stretchy.
Size up one in it though, I’m L in almost all tops/jackets and an XL in this.
https://www.freewheel.co.uk/madison-dte-men-s-hybrid-jacket-varcl002
Another for nukeproof blackline , really good jacket . Very waterproof.
I've got ,3 black lines and 3 endura hoodies.
I rarely wear anything else
Nukeproof. Is that 4thed?!
It's really surprisingly nice
There appears to be a few versions of the Nukeproof blackline.
What's the difference?
Ive got the green nukeproof one in the black friday deal (same price as it is now)
Its very nice.
their DTE hybrid jacket is great
I got one of these in the sale as well, and am very impressed with it for real cold weather.
Do you heat up less on the eeb? You might get more use in moderately cold weather?
Get one of them and the normal Madison softshell for £75?
The Nukeproof one looks really nice, great minimalist design. Scotroutes' Polaris one if you want to go way off in the other direction 😳
Nukeproof kit is really great, I have a few bits myself.
But the Madison stuff is half the price and also very good.
I have the waterproof version of the Madison Roam (older version of https://www.cyclestore.co.uk/madison_roam_2_5layer_waterproof_jacket_2021-ID_83295 ). It’s very comfortable on and off the bike, with the added benefit of not worrying about showers if the weather is a bit iffy.
Got 2 of the NP softshells, as soon as it's below 10C, they are what I wear with various layers.
like them very much, sometimes wish they had pit zips, in fact thinking of getting a seamstress to fit a pair for me.
Surprisingly waterproof too.
I have the previous version of this, without the little arse flap. Best bit of cycling clothing I've ever had. More of a road fit though
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/rc500-waterproof-cycling-jacket/_/R-p-301771?mc=8502439&c=BLUE
I be got that Madison soft shell as well. It’s not that warm, more like a zip up hoody. On my bike I use a Madison Zenith soft shell which is warm and waterproof in heavy showers. I like it very much.
Ive got the roam softshell. defiantly not great for rising. Basically a nice hoodie. not that windproof either!
Decathlon RC500 here as well - I sized up for a looser fit on the MTB. Really good, and suitable for freezing conditions with just a base layer under.
Similar (almost identical) to the NP softshell is the DHB equivalent: https://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-trail-hooded-softshell-jacket-1. Not sure how much overlap there is between those brands but they really do look very similar. Different colour options.
I've got a fair amount of DHB and NP clothing - shorts, merino baselayers mainly - and impressed with the fit and quality.
I've ordered a couple of NP Blackline's from the link above (the EXMAS10 code is nice sweetener, giving another 10% off an already reduced jacket).
I'm right between X & XL so went with both with option to return.
Cheers for the link @Tracey
Ive got the roam softshell. defiantly not great for rising. Basically a nice hoodie. not that windproof either!
Yeah, that's my experience as well. Nice top but I won't be setting out across the hills in it.
@tracey - how does that blackline fit as a woman? Female specific softshells for the mtb are few and far between (I ended up wearing road kit!)!
Fits me well, I tend to just go down a size in the men's compared to ordering women specific. Most of my biking stuff tends to be mens as there is far more choice about
Thanks v much
I got a Blackline delivered next day for £68 and took it out on a very claggy 4 hours over the Dales. The top of the arms of the small are a bit baggy for me as a woman, and it is a loose cut (I need a waist in it really), but overall it worked well. By the end I was warm and damp as it had got pretty wet, but I decided to not bother getting my waterproof covered in mud. Overall happy though it is definitely for cooler days, or needs careful layering. Quite bulky for putting in a bag, so it’s put it on at the start and just wear it type jacket. I crashed and despite loosing some skin on my elbow the jacket held up. Much better than crashing in my Castelli!
I think there's a good point in there @ahsat, a jacket that's not too warm, not hugely waterproof, and pretty bombproof, works for a lot of riding in autumn and winter.
Softshells fit that description IMO.
Think that’s a perfect summary tbh.
I ordered a blackline, in blue on the back of this thread. Its pretty baggy for bike use (ordered an L as Large in Endura) and I prefer my Endura Windchill which is better fitted. The Blackline will do for dog walks and off bike use I guess.
I went with the Endura Singletrack Softshell 2 in the end, mainly because I know what size fits me well and I liked the colour.
iainc
Full MemberI ordered a blackline, in blue on the back of this thread. Its pretty baggy for bike use (ordered an L as Large in Endura) and I prefer my Endura Windchill which is better fitted. The Blackline will do for dog walks and off bike use I guess.
Posted 1 hour ago
REPLY | REPORT
Or if anyone wants it at a tenner off the CRC price, so £60 posted, then let me know please !
I got a Fjern Grenser softshell on eBay recently. I have a couple of their fleeces and a down gilet so thought I'd take a punt on the softshell. I bought it more as a general jacket but it's quite thin and close fitting so it looks like it might work well on the bike. Not been biking much for the last few months but hopefully get a chance to try it this week. Like you say, not too warm, waterproof enough and not too fragile.
I don’t get all the hoods on biking jackets - it’s just useless bulk nearly all the time. (Maybe because I’m tall I’ve never found one that works either under or over a helmet either).
Rab borealis tour. Very lightweight windproof only. No hood. Recent purchase but liking it lots for winter riding in the dry.
Just ordered a Giro Ambient soft shell. Sign up to newsletter for an extra 10% off sale price. Bringing it down to £53 posted.
Cheers @prezet, just ordered one of these myself, bargain at £54. I’ve got an Arcteryx Gamma hoody which has been my riding jacket now for years but it is finally falling apart after a decade or so of hard use. Was prepared to buy an identical replacement but the price of Arcteryx kit is eye watering so this at less than a quarter of the price will be more than good enough I’m sure.
I’ve ordered a couple of NP Blackline’s from the link above (the EXMAS10 code is nice sweetener, giving another 10% off an already reduced jacket).
I’m right between X & XL so went with both with option to return.
According to their size guide I'm slap bang in the middle of a L and an XL, alas both will be going back as the L hangs off me like a sack. The quality is great and the sleeve length is bob on but it really needs a waist pull as I could get a cushion up there. I think it'd be ace if I was pregnant, but its unlikely as I'm nearly 60. And I'm a bloke.
I bought a Blackline about a year ago as replacement for a Sombrio softshell that had put many years faultless service in
It pretty much immediately became my default jacket for cycling, hiking, nipping down to the shops, anything really. And I own quite a few jackets.
It's absolutely brilliant. The fit is spot on. Its long enough at the back to properly cover your arse while out riding and I love the longer cuffs.
And after a year of getting covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, it still looks as good as the day I bought it.
A top quality bit of kit! I'd happily pay full price for another in a heartbeat, so at the offer price its an absolute bargain
I bought a Blackline about a year ago as replacement for a Sombrio softshell that had put many years faultless service in
It pretty much immediately became my default jacket for cycling, hiking, nipping down to the shops, anything really. And I own quite a few jackets.
It’s absolutely brilliant. The fit is spot on. Its long enough at the back to properly cover your arse while out riding and I love the longer cuffs.
And after a year of getting covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, covered in mud, bunged in the wash, it still looks as good as the day I bought it.
A top quality bit of kit! I’d happily pay full price for another in a heartbeat, so at the offer price its an absolute bargain
If it fits you.
I think it’d be ace if I was pregnant, but its unlikely as I’m nearly 60. And I’m a bloke.
to be fair, I do look about 6 months pregnant 😃
iainc
Full Memberiainc
Full MemberI ordered a blackline, in blue on the back of this thread. Its pretty baggy for bike use (ordered an L as Large in Endura) and I prefer my Endura Windchill which is better fitted. The Blackline will do for dog walks and off bike use I guess.
Posted 1 hour ago
REPLY | REPORTOr if anyone wants it at a tenner off the CRC price, so £60 posted, then let me know please !
Posted 1 week ago
They are now out of stock in this size/colour..
Re the Nukeproof Blackline - sounds just like what I need. I'm a broad shouldered type with a torso that is slimish (could be slimmer these days tbh). Sounds like I might need to eat more pies to get a good fit....
b33k34
Full Member
I don’t get all the hoods on biking jackets – it’s just useless bulk nearly all the time. (Maybe because I’m tall I’ve never found one that works either under or over a helmet either).Rab borealis tour. Very lightweight windproof only. No hood. Recent purchase but liking it lots for winter riding in the dry.
Just a cheery thanks to @b33k34 for opening my world up to the Rab Borealis Tour.
On the back of his (or her) words (and with the option to return) I ordered one from Facewest and it is indeed an unbelievably wonderful jacket. Light, comfortable and incredibly windproof. Just come back from a half hour walk in the freEeEeEezing wind and my top half remained at room temperature. Great bit of kit that I will probably never take off.
Cheers