Expensive fancy fabrics or Lidl specials?
I keep toying with the idea of shelling out on one of the high end jackets - even had them in my online basket...just can't bring myself to click "buy".
At the moment I use my bright yellow Aldi one - which is basically a laminated bag with vents. It's ok on the road but boy do I cook offroad...and a Nike Stormfit jacket which I think is actually a golf jacket. Does a reasonable job but wets out after really heavy rain...even after cleaning and reproofing.
Is there any real world benefit to the Goretex Actives and equivalents? Am I still going to cook? Just with a large dent in the wallet?
I use one of these
Brilliant on and off the bike. It worked well in 2013 doing the Passportes event in the pi####g rain.
Providing you follow the washing and reproofing guidelines they last ages. I use Nikwax to reproof.
i've got a gore path. packs down tiny, keeps me dry when its cold and wet but still doesn't breath enough if its warm and wet.
For me the important bit is pitzips, forget fancy fabrics, as none can keep up when your sweating heavily.
I have a fancy eVent and a cheap and cheerful decathlon softshell, the decathlon jobbie is the better waterproof jacket due to the pitzips.