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As above, I've got an uplift day in december at black mountain cycle centre and planning for the worst weather I've cycled in. Fingers crossed it'll turn out to be lovely but I want to be prepared.
I'm going to layer up with a thermal long sleeved base layer then a lightweight technical t shirt but could do with a waterproof and wind proof coat to go on top. I have an endura commuter type coat but it's not a great fit / cut for mtb.
What cheap / budget jackets are people using and what are your thoughts on them? I'm thinking £50 or cheaper. At that price I'm expecting wind proof / waterproof, but guessing it's very unlikely the material will breathe very well - so underarm vents would be desirable.
I've had a very quick look and can see Planet X have some on offer for £35 in a few styles - has anyone used any of these?
What size do you wear?
Do you never ride in the rain? It surely must be the one thing in the uk that you’d get some use out of if you ride any where near regularly
I've used the endura one to date and would use the new one going forwards.
Funds are a little bit tight to justify spending more on a Cycling Jacket at the moment.
I'm probably a medium - 38" chest but I have quite a short torso and arms.
For an uplift I'd just go for a £20 Decathlon number. I may have misinterpreted your plans for the day, but for an uplift you're either in the truck, back at the car or riding. I'd suggest something cheap for when you crash and good enough to keep the worst out.
Riding outside the bike park is a bit different though, I would agree with spending more for a jacket that will keep you comfortable all day and be up to the task if things go pear shaped.
Paramo torres gilet.
You might pick one up on eBay.
Doesn't mind wet weather.
My versions got a hood, but I believe that the other versions come in under 400g.
I used an Altura Nevis for a few years, till the zip failed. (It came free with an MBR subscription...)
They were really cheap but it stayed waterproof all the time I had it.
Decathlon do a few waterproof jackets, they work well enough.
But for crap / cold weather, bib longs are your friend.
Not used the planet X jackets but they look a safe bet for £35, if you're happy with a fairly roadie-style cut.
You'll probably just need one layer underneath.
The lads have £10 eBay biking waterproof specials...
So far they are doing ok - dry in rain, sweaty but meh, and I'm less bothered if they crash them.
I'm an struggling to see other than cut what the difference is between these and £60 jacket at the moment.
Dare2B are awesome.
Look online on their clearance section especially.
Also second Decathlon and also Aldi now and again.
Anyone tried the On One Weaver Hooded Jacket? £34?
Please Keep the suggestions coming, looking at all the jackets mentioned.
The on-one jacket says it's for post riding, so not sure I'd look at that for on the bike - might be good for throwing on after a ride though I suppose.
The Planet X hydrosphere jacket for £34 is currently top of the list - looks like it has a very high waterproof rating and is wind proof too. Claims to have some breathability but I'm not going to believe that particularly but doesn't concern me too much either.
In terms of road cut vs mtb cut do road bike jackets come down further at the back than mtb jackets as you're likely bent over a lot further on the bike?
Need to have a look at dare2be as mentioned above to see if there's anything on there.
Latest issue army MTP jackets are good.
Lightweight (paclite) ripstop goretex.
Size up pretty big though
Mine was £30 new off eBay , used for uplifts but not ideal for xc
Road cut = slim fit
https://www.dare2b.com/illume-jacket-black/
This looks like the only one on the dare2b site that I would consider. Lack of any reviews is the only slightly off putting thing.
The army jackets look fairly hardcore, not sure I could pull off that look!
for uplift days i always just used the cheapo pvc coated nylon workmans waterproofs from toolstation - mainly because my dad worked for one of the big sites there was a plentiful supply.
chief concern on uplift days was staying warm enough in the uplift.
sometimes when it was particularly bad at a winter uplift we would even use the cheapo all in one boilersuit style of waterproof.
not stylish but damn it was better than the cold for the next week.
As said above for uplifts something cheap will be fine, eg...
https://www.millets.co.uk/festival/073862-peter-storm-mens-packable-jacket-black.html
If you want a nice riding jacket the the Endura Singletrack can be had for just over your budget. BUt I'd still get a cheapo for shitty uplift days.
Is it a 'sit outside' uplift
I did BPW uplift in winter and it was fine. I wore a LS baselayer, SS jersey and a waterproof over the top. I was warm most of the time, although faffing abut at the top was chilly.
If I was doing the same again and likely to be standing around I'd have a warm synthetic fill jacket/gilet to lob over the top
I don't think you need anything technical or special, just something that you won't mind wrecking if you bin it. My mate did it in a buffalo shirt! You'd melt if you wore something like that for riding in
It's an outside uplift with a trailer towed by a tractor - also no shelter / facilities at the site other than a car park and portaloos. Feel like if the weather is bad it's going to be a cold day....
for rough and tumble duties?
Aldi special, chop off the sleeves = waterproof Gilet with a zipped pocket in the back...
Alternatively I have several cheap boil in the bag jackets and pac-a-macs... none cost more than a tenner
The last 'fancy' bike specific jacket I bought was an endura, overpriced rubbish (IMO); water proofing didn't last too long, Zip failed after a couple of years, functionally no better than a £5-10 basic waterproof...
Altura varium from merlin.
I have a PX Hydrosphere. Did sterling service on a couple of downpour days on my Scottish road tour in the summer.
Water and wind proof and actually reasonably breathable. Nice long tail but not a race fit, I'd defo wear it on the mtb as well. Worth it I'd say.
Good feedback on the PX jacket so far. As my endura jacket is a few years old now and has a slight scag in one arm I'm tempted to change hatbforbebuoliftnday and if I mangle it some more replace it with the PX hydrosphere.
trail_rat - Memberchief concern on uplift days was staying warm enough in the uplift.
sometimes when it was particularly bad at a winter uplift we would even use the cheapo all in one boilersuit style of waterproof.
Laughing at this, remembering loads of days like that, and going home and scraping and hosing mud off your gear before they cna be washed. I don't think other countries get the benefit of the UK/Irish winter uplift experience
Benefit to the U.K. Winter uplift experience??!!
I've got a Madison Roam.
Nice jacket for £55.
Come December, I'd be placing more emphasis on warmth and breathability.
Any precipitation is likely to fall as snow, so an actual pukka waterproof might not be necessary.
If you sweat, it's just going to condense on the inside of most cheap waterproofs as they won't be able to shift the moisture quickly enough..
That's going to give you a chill and potentially ruin your day.
maybe consider one of those buffalo 'belay' jackets, secondhand or something with a pertex/ pile combination.
A pair of those liner gloves that motorcyclists wear should keep your hands warm when worn under your gloves.