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I'm looking for a decent quality waterproof jacket. I run pretty hot so breathability is very important here. For mountain walking I have a Montane GoreTex Pro jacket which is fantastic, but I'm a little reluctant to hack around the woods in a £300+ jacket. So where should I look to get good breathability for a reasonable price. I like the look of the Endura MT500 jacket but that's £210 which is till a bit rich. Showers Pass are offering 10% discount if you sign up for their newsletter which would make the element jacket £140. I know people have recommended Madison and Decathlon jackets but I can't remember which ones they were.
Help plz!
Whatever is cheapest in the sales.
MTB is too hard on even the best mega bucks shell jackets - the DWR last about 5 minutes are they are too easily overwhelmed.
I run hot too and your best choice is to find a water repellent windproof, saving the waterproof for those times you're out in a deluge.
Much better for 90% of your riding.
The MH500 is the jacket that was recommended to me when I asked the same question a few weeks ago. If I hadn’t happened upon a Dirtsuit I would have bought one.
Freewheel have some pretty decent discounts on some of their clothing at the minute (Madison and pearl izummi) There are few jackets in there that might be worth a look if you can find something in your size.
https://www.freewheel.co.uk/clearance/clothing
find a water repellent windproof, saving the waterproof for those times you’re out in a deluge.
Much better for 90% of your riding.
+1
I very rarely wear a proper waterproof for MTBing.
Whne I do, it's a Rapha commuting jacket (which I got in the sale obvs) or Endura MTR emergency shell.
Based on the latter, I'd suggest the normal MTR shell...
https://www.google.com/shopping/product/3356676759424390149
MTR is my current jacket. I managed to pick one up for 80 quid about a year ago. Ive used it twice!
My Rab Downpour for £80 is OK. Has pit zips which are far more effective than the 'breathable' material. Have never found anything perfectly waterproof and perfectly breathable.
The Rab seems to be a decent compromise.
I got a Vaude Lierne from Ebay for about £40....pit zips and a good cut. Keeps you dry and packs down small as well.
Freewheel have some pretty decent discounts on some of their clothing at the minute
Nice, thanks for Freewheel link, scored some cheap merino liner gloves.
They have an interesting business model, asked me to select my local store from a drop down list so they could get a percentage of sale? Am delighted that my LBS gets a cut of my beery Friday night impulse purchases! 😁
Freewheel used to be Madison, not the same today?
Keela Saxon. Made in Scotland, repairable locally at the factory. Fair wage employer.
Light, reasonably breathable, waterproof. Highly recommended.
Being direct sales, it's a very reasonable price for the high quality.
Keela build a lot of goodwill through supplying high quality kit to MRTs, Services, ski operators etc.
Another plus one on a decent windproof.
You can get a decent amount of water repellency on them if you look after them with the right aftercare etc and they are generally way more breathable.
Pace jacket. eVent fabric, £100, no frills. Does what it says on the tin.
Fell running kit...
Omm kamelia. Prefer the smock.
I got the Kilpi 30,000 one off that there SP. Under £70. Seems good.
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/2093842
I tried various and gave up, nothing would let my sweat out when riding - I do tend to ride zone 2 or more rather than pootle. More of a fair weather rider these days tho. Curious about shake dry.
Am delighted that my LBS gets a cut of my beery Friday night impulse purchases!
BikeTrax were "overjoyed" when I bought a pair of reduced Madison tights and picked them up from their shop...
I have a GORE shell bought a few years ago. Have worn it, I think, twice on the MTB and a couple of times touring. Prefer lightweight pertex style jackets. Have one of those things Howies did for a short while. Got one of the last ones for about £15 years ago and it's always in my bag.
I am absolutely loving my Nukeproof Nirvana jacket. I’ve been wearing it all summer and as a hot runner my self, I have found it to be really really breathable. There is a great review on this site of it. I bought it for £120 in the sales, but given its performance I will happily pay full price for another one.
It’s packs down really small as well and has kept me completely dry in some shitty north wales rain last month.
If you want breathable and cheap, Sport Pursuit has an in-house brand called Fjern which includes a couple of eVent jackets. I've used the Orkan and it's okay. There's a lighter one called the Skjold which is also eVent at 125 quid. It's not a bike jacket, but the fabric is what it is and good value at that price:
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/1820497
There's a 20% Showers Pass discount in the members area, which might make the Element jacket cheaper (depending on the price/place you saw it)
Marked as I’m looking for one as well.
Best jacket i've ever had for a bike was my gore shakedry. Wouldn't wear it for anything other than XC (and then avoiding thorns like a plague).
On the mountian bike I tend to either take a small windproof or just wear my outdoors jacket because I don't care about aero.
Im interested in getting a decent priced MTB waterproof jacket after this mornings very wet ride.
Another fan of the Nukeproof Nirvana here. Packs really small and can easilly fit in my hip pack, plenty waterproof and makes a handy lightweight windproof too. Use my all the time for riding and walking.
I’m seriously considering a British army lightweight MVP jacket (paclite) £30ish on the bay
I bought a Keela Saxon for walking and cycling duties a few years ago. For the price I paid, £80 and the packable size I like it a lot.
Quite fond of my Alpkit Gravitas - very light and packable and breathes well to - managed to run in it as well as ride. Only concern would be how robust it would be in an off due to the lightweight fabric.
Would probably avoid Gore-Tex shake dry off road. They're superb jackets/fabric on the road, but since I've manage to put holes in my Castelli Idro from simply having it rolled up in my back pocket, I dread to thing what gritty mud would do to one!
The Fjern Skjold jacket mentioned above is pretty good albeit doesn't have pit zips.
Wiggle are currently doing a deal on their in house Fohn brand jackets - I bought the £125 Polartec Neoshell jacket and it's really good for the money - nice and stretchy and has a couple of pit zips.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/fohn-mountain-polartec-waterproof-jacket
I bit the bullet and went with the Showers Pass Elements jacket. Using the Members Area code I got £31 off which I felt was pretty good. Further updates once it arrives. Probably get an Indian Summer now...
I bought a Keela Saxon for walking and cycling duties a few years ago. For the price I paid, £80 and the packable size I like it a lot.
hate the baggy flappy arms on mine
Pace jacket. eVent fabric, £100, no frills. Does what it says on the tin.
Is the correct answer
They’re superb jackets/fabric on the road, but since I’ve manage to put holes in my Castelli Idro from simply having it rolled up in my back pocket, I dread to thing what gritty mud would do to one!
Scottish Mountain Gear did a superb job of patching mine after the cat tried to sharpen her claws on it... 🙁
Just curious (so I can avoid same fate) how did you put holes in yours whilst in the back pocket?
Picked up a MH500 jacket from Decathlon at the weekend.
Cracking jacket, fits well and would recommend.
Not sure it's a cycling jacket, certainly not for road but might be OK for MTB though I suggest it may be a little sweaty. Works great for walking which is what I wanted it for.
Just curious (so I can avoid same fate) how did you put holes in yours whilst in the back pocket?
Erm, I'm not totally sure. I've two ideas, either its being rolled up tightly and the main zip rubbing on the outer fabric, or its where it's shared a pocket with the case I keep my phone in, again rubbing on the zip. I did ask Castelli, given the delicate nature of the face fabric, whether it was worth storing it inside out. We're not talking major holes that leak, but noticeable.