Emergency/packable warm jacket

I’ve realised on a couple of bigger gravel rides recently that I was a long way from home with no extra layers should anything go wrong or if the weather turned.

Also planning a ride which will require a long, late train journey home with a 90 minute wait in Glasgow so think I will appreciate something more than my gilet to keep me warm!

I could get a Mac in a Pac for £50 which seems to fit the bill, just wondering if there might be anything that packs up smaller?

I’ve always got an emergency foil blanket/poncho in my bike bag, its so small and light I forget its there, size of a playing card. A few quid from a camping shop

Ah sorry, I didn’t really mean ’emergency’ like that, more like for unplanned stops.

Although it’s a good point, I do have one of those foil jackets that I could carry for genuine emergencies 👍

Foil blanket and maybe emergency bag do-dah.  Not expensive and I carry at least a foil blanket on my rides (not for me) having come across someone injured badly from a silly fall.  I got a pack of ten foil blankets for less than £10, and two emergency sleeping bag things for £10. It’s like the chain breaker tool you have that never get’s used, then a mate breaks a chain.

Depends how much you want to spend!

I’ve got one of these for bike packing, long gravel rides, audaxes etc

https://cumulus.equipment/uk_en/men-down-jacket-inverse-21.html

My go-to on wintry rides is to stuff a Montane Prism in a Decathlon 2.5l saddlebag which I can just leave on the bike but is quick to swapover if needed to other bikes.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/2-5-cycling-watertight-saddle-bag-black/_/R-p-342837?mc=8767564

Something similar in down especially if no hood would pack down a fair bit smaller but this seems a good compromise on warm-when-damp and so on.  I got it after being caught out with a unfixable flat in the middle of nowhere and getting quite hypothermic.

Inevitably with this sort of stuff there’s a cheap, light, durable compromise to be made.  I’ve got some patagonia nano-air stuff which is very light but it’s neither cheap nor really durable.

I’m also wary of down for emergencies because it’s almost inevitable that bad things happen when it’s raining…

Good points re: down.

The Montane prism looks to have been replaced by the Icarus. Would ultimately need to be stuffed in a saddle or frame bag so I could live with a slightly bigger packed size…

Normally I find a waterproof enough. If I know it will be dry then just a windproof.

There are loads of options there. Cheaper ones tend to be sweaty so it depends if it is an emergency layer or something you’ll wear.

I’d probably look at decathlon or see what was on offer at a bigger online shop. I got a castelli thing in the sale years ago.

Given that I’m (almost) always likely to have a lightweight/packable jacket with me then I find an insulated gilet works as an added warm layer. Endura have a synthetic one which rolls down very small.

Agree with scotroutes. Insulated gilet with a long sleeve windproof or waterproof to go with it. Winning and very versatile combo

Fjern down jacket on sport pursuit, warm and windproof, packs small. Wear inside out for hi vis color so mountain rescue can find you

Patagonia nanopuff does this job superbly.  As does a Uniqlo ultralight down jacket… (Standard STW “recommend what you have” applies here)

I tend to take the synthetic one on bike rides, as even if it’s not raining I’ll be sweating or getting covered in spray.  The down is great for walking, climbing and just being warm!

Best warm / weight / price clothing I’ve got is a lightweight down jacket from Decathlon. I use a small drybag as a stuff sack for backpacking and it’s survived carrying through proper Scottish weather but not worn in the rain. For less weight get a gilet. I have a PhD one which is the best warm to weight but a bit expensive and fragile so I usually carry a battered synthetic craghoppers one I got in a sale but packs quite well as a spare when biking.

I think the craghoppers gilet is about the same size (packed) as the decathlon jacket but a lot less warm. The PhD is smaller than both but much warmer in the body than the decathlon jacket. Cold arms though.

Have to decide which compromise.

£10 bought in the sale Quechua down gilet from Decthlon. under my waterproof, which i always carry.

perfect .

 I find an insulated gilet works as an added warm layer

This is what I was gonna suggest.

Or perhaps a nice thin merino top? I took a Sweet Protection one for a multi-day ride in the Alps and it was perfect for the evenings.

I had this for a tenner but at full price still a great buy.
Decathlon
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/men-s-synthetic-mountain-trekking-hooded-padded-jacket-mt100-5degc/_/R-p-312478
I thought I’d use it as a festival/ garage knock about kind of thing. Ended up wearing loads as it was very light, warm and breathable.

Patagonia nano air lite for me. It’s one of those things that just works. Surprisingly water proof too. But, yeah, the price!!!

I believe Sir requires and Emotional Support Jacket.

Mine is an old-ish DHB minimalist Waterproof that packs down to the size of a couple of tennis balls, but I have also carried a Alpkit syntetic insulated jacket that compresses down quite small at the bottom of a bigger bag when riding/hiking at night/proper mountains/dodgy conditions.  Synthetic fill means it retains warmth when damp.

I’ve got a Galibier insulated gilet that goes under a waterproof if required.

Endura GV500 insulated jacket packs down pretty small.

I believe Sir requires and Emotional Support Jacket.

😂

+1 for some sort of synthetic puffa style jacket.  I’ve got a down one that I pack on longer winter rides but keep meaning to get a synthetic version to replace it as it’s obviously only good in the cold and dry.  The weight / volume is unnoticeable as I’m easily carrying that much less water on winter rides.

The Decathlon / Van Rysel roadie jacket is also a work of budget witchcraft for keeping dry whilst riding.  It’s probably not Gore Shakedry, but it’s bloody good for £40-£50.

I have the Endura GV500 insulated jacket for autumn/winter/bikepacking etc. I bought one in the sale a couple of years ago. Its a good warm jacket, I like it.

Down packs a bit smaller, but in these thin garments, it doesn’t really save much weight. Add to that the fact that you are likely to be sweaty when you pull it on, and it might be wet out too, and synthetic is far and away the better choice (yes, I have both).

I assume you are in the UK?
Here in the US Enlightened Equipment is both less expensive, lighter and warmer than Patagonia et al. And you choose custom colors, fabric weight and sizes.

Unfortunately I assume shipping and tax/duties will make it very expensive to the UK.

For warmer weather a vest/gilet is a great option, it offers the best in warmth : weight/packed size ratio. Of course I assume you will have long sleeved, wind/rain shell all ready.

The big thing is to save weight and packed size by minimizing features like pockets. The next thing to look at is fabric weight. Ideally, for something like this you’d go ultralight: a 7 dernier fabric. That will be (very) hard to find in big commercial brands. 10d would be ok too, but 20d or thicker is really a waste of space and weight for something like this.

Are there cottage brands in the UK that make stuff like this?

If not, check the usual brands:

decatlon for cheap.

Montane, RAB, Montbell, Karpos, Haglofs etc. Often these can be found on sale too.

I

Montane Prism was my first thought. Other brands are available. Mine comes everywhere with me now for exactly the purposes you say – emergency, waiting about, later evening pint on a ride.