Jacket dead – which one now?

My Altura Reflex is now useless. After a year and a bit of great service, I washed it with Tech Wash and TX Direct – and killed the breathability completely. Sent it back to Nikwax (service excellent) who re-treated it (after cleaning) but it’s still not working – almost zero breathability. I suspect Nikwaz stuff and “React” fabric simply aren’t compatible.

Anyway time for a new jacket – around £100ish, breathable, waterproof, bright (yep I do cycle on roads), packable and preferably just a shell type thing.

Is it worth stretching to a Gore? Can push a bit further than £100 if it’s worth it but £200+ is a no no for a cycle jacket.

Any brands to look out for?

For next time, don’t use the wash-in stuff on a breathable jacket. It makes the inside waterproof too – meaning your sweat can’t escape. You need to use the spray on stuff on the outside only.

Ourkid – yep, lesson learned. The stuff works fine on my Nikwax fabric jacket (made by Finisterre) but not this jacket.

Erm won’t a detergent wash sort the jacket then you can re-proof it?

Al – I’ve tried everything – washing it with just water then it was sent of and fully lab tested. It’s dead – waterproof but not breathable so useless to me. I was soaked this morning – it used to breathe really well.

Time to give up on it.

pace 3×3, about 100 i think.

Interesting. Maybe I’m just a sweaty **** but I haven’t found any waterproof to breathe well enough to make a difference.

Al – I used to be pretty much sweat free after a ride with this jacket however hard I rode – this morning (and since I “proofed” it) I was drenched!

tang – Member
pace 3×3, about 100 i think

If this is the eVent one, then +1 from me, I’ve had one for a year now and it is superb as a waterproof, really breathable to the point where I’ll just use it as a windproof on a colder day.

Tang – the 3×3 looks good. Might well get one!

Errrmm – where can I get one from?!

Direct from Pace I think.

ourkidsam – Member
For next time, don’t use the wash-in stuff on a breathable jacket. It makes the inside waterproof too – meaning your sweat can’t escape. You need to use the spray on stuff on the outside only.

according to Altura the Grangers wash in cleaner/proofer is the right product and does not adhere to the inside of the jacket

Altura Crosslite – <£50 from Cyclestore. Made from the same stuff as the Attack jacket, but 2.5 layer instead of 3. Kept me dry in the p*ssing rain for 3 hours, not too hot either. Buy 2, one for road, one for mtb at that price!

I have a Crosslite and an Attack – very similar breathability and both very good. They have also both been washed a few times with Grangers 😛

Anything made with eVent. I’m more than happy with my Endura eVent jacket.

Bah! I have a paclite jacket, old but little used, it’s crap!

I’ve been very happy with my Endura Venturi II jacket. They claim that it’s more breathable then eVent and while I can’t confirm this I can say that I’m normally quite sweaty and I’m fine in this jacket…

http://www.endura.co.uk/Product.aspx?dept_id=122&prod_id=354

Well I’ve just bought a lumo yellow Endura Stealth.

I will look like something from Tron!

I shall also be informed that it’s cr4p and I’ve wasted my money!

Tried a few on and this just felt “right” and is a cool stretchy material. Pricey (to me – cheap to some) at over £160 but hopefully worth it.

Just ran in it – definitely breathes well!

Bought a new Altura Rush off someone on here – it’s not the flashiest or lightest but it seems tough – it’s been through brambles, gorse bushes, hawthorn etc and it’s still fine.

Well I fell AoT on the run (at 5ish – tripped on an unseen fallen sapling and went flying!) and the jacket is unmarked despite a heavy fall onto my arm.

Impressive bit of kit – a “softshell” that fully breathes and is waterproof. Feels a bit freaky but I like it!

Altura Nevis reduced to £30….bargain, almost throw away!

Velo – had two of them. Decent but not breathable enough.

+1 for the Endura Stealth

but not in Tron Yellow

Kona – sadly the wife insisted on a yellow one. I could have bought a £250 jacket as long as it was hi vis!

TBH I’m not bothered. Do a lot of night riding so handy to be seen.

Well I’ve just bought a lumo yellow Endura Stealth

I read this as an Endura Sheath, and wondered when they got into the contraceptive game……….

TBH I’m unlikely to ever “pull” in it (happily married too…!) in that colour anyway – so kind of a contraception device.

Doh!

What’s the sizing like on the Stealth? skinny, tight, baggy, short etc. Do you need to be a racing whippet for it to fit?

**** me, £160 for a cycling jacket? That’s a lot of money.

I bought a Paramo Velez smock for hill walking and use it for cycling. Detachable hood and dropped back, with reflective trim. Outstanding but not available in fluorescent yellow, if that’s your thing….

The c**nts will either knock you off or not, I don’t think the jacket will make any difference. It’s just the luck of the draw.

Leffe – I’m 40-42″ chest, 29″ waist, 5’8″ tall and the Medium fits like a glove. Longish in the arm but that’s fine for riding. Also close fitting in the butt area (it has a silicon “gripper” section) too – anyone with a huge jacksy might not fit it well.

TBH I think it’s made for slimmish riders – it’s a closeish fit but then you only need one thin baselayer under it!

Arrgh – double post again!

TM – it was wife’s orders. If I tow the line, I can spend much more 😉

We have equal purse string control. Once she’s riding (horses) again (currently 7 months preggers), the financial balance will swing again!

£160 is a fair bit but it should last well and fitted perfectly. Happy to spend if I think it’s worth it but top dollar is not always best.

Sounds like it’s all good at your end mate. I live in an isolated hill top fort, if you get my drift.
Being under the thumb isn’t all bad… and a £250 allowance sounds pretty good to me!!

+1 for Stealth

Medium fits me too – and I am 5′ 7″ and 39″ chest (sadly 33″ waist :cry:)

Its a warm jacket mind – wouldn’t use unless 10 degrees or less And yes definitely just a thin base layer underneath

MC

Thanks for the info SM & MC, that’s perfect. I was looking to replace the Altura Night Visions which only seem to last a year for me. Could be a good choice

Well the jacket got a pretty “extreme” test last night – pelting, freezing rain, hail, hub deeps puddles, deep deep mud (often had to pedal hard downhill to keep moving), etc and it performed flawlessly. My legs, feet and hands were drenched and freezing, cold, my boy and arms were bone dry. Temps were just above freezing and I wore a Finisterre merino base layer. Also got caught by a number of bramble branches – not a mark.

Only comment is that is might be hardish to keep clean – doesn’t wipe off as easily as hard shells.

Very very impressed.