Seeing some deals on Neoshell at the moment and have always fancied a Neoshell jacket as I imagined it would feel nicer and be less flappy than a conventional hardshell.
How durable is it though compared to e.g. a Goretex paclite or similar? I'm think if used in winter for muddy gravel and CX type stuff where it might get snagged, or under rucsac straps in case I started commuting.
Ta
and be less flappy than a conventional hardshell.
That's as much down to the cut as the fabric, I have a couple of Rapha waterproof jackets with zero flap as the cut is quite close fitting.
Rain Jacket II
Men's Classic GORE-TEX Winter Jacket
I have an old-ish (8 years?) Rab Neo Guide jacket that I love. Like you say, less rustle, nice and soft. It's not particularly lightweight, though.
Trouble is, in a few places the general friction has worn the fabric to the point where no amount of proofing will fix it. Worst on the shoulders, and even a small bit of velcro on the hood has rubbed on the upper back and worn the fabric.
I have a couple of Neoshell jackets, a Sportful cycling jacket (stretchy roadie fit) and a hiking jacket (by Fohn / Wiggles own brand). Both seem pretty hardwearing and id say more robust than previous Goretex Paclite jackests ive had.
I've a couple of Sportful Fiandre's. They're cut like Gabba's, stretch like Gabba's and feel like Gabba's but are warmer and keep the rain at bay. Waterproofing is a combo of laminated layer and DWR (I think). The DWR needs refreshing like every jacket I've ever owned but the laminate is pretty robust (~5 years and counting). Obviously, if you fall off, it'll rip and let water in 🙃
Rab neo shell here, lovely jacket ideal for mountains and bike use due to the cut and stretch. Excellent hood, and neck with hood down. Downside is the laminate is goosed, it's just worn away on shoulders and usual contact points. I have a couple of haglof paclites, they seem to wear differently but I'd say they are more robust. But we are talking degrees, not night and day.
To be fair I think the Rab wore quicker as it was so nice to wear, and it got a lot of use. The paclites only go on if raining. But like all light weight kit, you aren't really paying for longevity. I think since 2013 I've had 2 paclites and one neo, they all leak now. So I'd say 2 years dry, then a year of damp before a new jacket is purchased in a sale
Ok, sounds promising!
Bizarrely I've ended up with two Shakedry jackets but now don't have anything for general rough and tumble cycling so need a backup jacket as well... 🙄
Ha! When they announced death to Shakedry, I bought a couple of spares as it's the best lightweight breathable waterproof I've ever used.
I checked my 5 year old one the other day against a strong light. Don't. It looked like the Milky Way. Cue a session with little spots of sealant...
I checked my 5 year old one the other day against a strong light. Don’t. It looked like the Milky Way. Cue a session with little spots of sealant…
Urgh! My cat had a go at mine twice, then I snagged it on a poorly erected HERAS fence that the builders next door had put up (convinced them to pay for a replacement then had the original repaired). Maybe I won't sell the spare one after all! 😂
How durable is it though compared to e.g. a Goretex paclite or similar?
I've a Acre/Mission Workshop neoshell jacket, and while it's very well made it s by far the easiest damaged of all my wet weather riding gear, and has the most stick-on gore-tex patches on it. It rips as easy as looking at it. Now, I do ride in Calderdale, and it has more than its fair share of gritstone walls and such, but crashes that my goretex would've shrugged off, does seem to tear the neoshell.
