I'm looking for one of those "size of a tennis ball" type pertex wind-proofs that can live in the bottom of the pack. Yesterday all I had was my waterproof, which was windproof enough, but lordy there was some sweat. This time of year I can't be doing that again.
would prefer full zip, not bothered about hoods.
Montane Featherlite
https://mountain-kit.co.uk/men-c18/windproof-c61/montane-mens-featherlite-trail-jacket-p161
I don't own one but there's a Castelli windproof that I saw on offer recently & I keep looking at indecisively about whether to get one....
Reduced to £49 on the website
I have a Montane similar to the above and it's great.
magic mountain have some mountain equipment sample windshells for £40 a pop at the moment. The Aerofoil is probably only 90% windproof, Aileron is 100%.
Yep Montane Featherlite - could be a bit more breathable, but just wear even less underneath. Bit flappy for the road perhaps.
THat Castelli looks good at that price
Endura Singletrack durajak . Carry mine everywhere.
magic mountain have some mountain equipment sample windshells for £40 a pop at the moment. The Aerofoil is probably only 90% windproof, Aileron is 100%.
The Aerofoil is great for active use, for that reason. Bit fragile even by lightweight windproof standards, so I wouldn't use it for MTB or climbing. Not handled an OMM Sonic but I imagine that'd be even more fragile.
For cycling I prefer the Fox Ranger Wind Vest.
Awesome @jamiebkc
I’ve been looking to buy the Mountain Equipment Aerofoil jacket for a while, since reading This review but couldn’t stomach the £90
Never heard of magic mountain before, but £41 delivered with discount code SATMAP is great
Many thanks for sharing
I use a Ron Hill pertex jacket picked up in a local running shop sale for £30.
Replaced a Montane jacket where the zip went.
Have always intended to replace it with a Galibier equivalent:
https://www.galibier.cc/product/ventultra-ii-windproof-cycling-jacket/
I've just picked up a Castelli Squadra fof £30 from Merlin
Am hoping it's less sweaty than the ancient Endura windproof it replaces...
13thfloormonk
I’ve just picked up a Castelli Squadra fof £30 from Merlin
Good spot! Even more tempted now!
EDIT - although saying that - the Galibier one has DWR coating as well for not much more money.
I've got their Tourmalet jacket which is very good & a pair of their glasses which I rate highly too.
Rapha Brevet Flyweight jacket - only 90g.
Makes a huge different wearing it in terms of warmth. Not cheap though...
The strips are really effective at getting you noticed on the road on a murky day - which is odd as it's 90% black..
https://www.rapha.cc/eu/en/shop/mens-brevet-flyweight-wind-jacket/product/BEE02XXBCA
The Squadra Stretch Jacket is Castelli’s entry-level wind jacket
The Castelli jacket sounds excellent but describing it as entry-level suggests not to expect too much from it. Although I'm not sure in what way.
Blimey, some of these are pretty racing snake, I do want to wear mountain bike jerseys under it.
Blimey, some of these are pretty racing snake
By design, with a light weight wind shell, you don't want a baggy cut as it will just flap like hell and make a complete racket.
Alpkit do one (Arro) that’s decent enough and not expensive. Had one for a few years although it’s up to £49 now.
you don’t want a baggy cut as it will just flap like hell and make a complete racket.
Uh-huh, on a road bike maybe, I'm doing MTB speeds so y'know 10-15kph over a ride, it can be as flappy as it wants. Plus I'll more than as not have a pack on so that'll tie it down. What I don't want is to have to squeeze into it, and be all sweaty where it touches, eeeeuch.
A lot of these recommendations are very thin and not really designed to last well under a pack - especially if there's going to be mud involved. The Endura windjacket I own is definitely a thicker, heavier option than the Featherlite.
I have used an Endura Pakajak for years, but just got one of these which looks ideal and very compact
https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/mens-explore-lightweight-jacket/product/ELJ01XXMBS
Uh-huh, on a road bike maybe
The best windproof jacket I have ever owned is Specialized one. It is extraordinarily stretchy so can go over layers without being flappy and it scrunches up no bigger than your fist.
However it is really not suitable for off-road, I almost cried the day I ripped it on a branch. I got it repaired, not easy as it is so stretchy, but I like it too much to sling it and I have never found another one similar. I just use it on road rides, I've had it probably 15 years.
I think most highly packable windproof jackets are designed for roadies with limited carrying capacity.
Stealth ad - I’ve just listed 2 of the aforementioned Rapha jackets. Both the wind proof one and the slightly more waterproof Explore jacket….
Another vote for the montane featherlight, they used to do a featherlite velo with a dropped tail which I've used for about 10 years now, can't see them in the current lineup though
Thoroughly recommend this. 40% off here if there's a size to fit you.
https://7mesh.com/en-EU/products/northwoods-windshell-jacket-sale
Keela neutronic.
Just perfect for windy showers.
I've looked at windproof jackets before and have come round realise that it's actually a wind permeable jacket that is what is best. Which essentially what Pertex is.
Unfortunately most if not all of these jackets are called windproof which as I've found can mean they're like wearing a plastic bag, which is not pleasant.
I'm currently wearing a 7mesh Northwood jacket and a rapha one. Unfortunately they're both quite old and are not the same as the current ones.
Have Montane made their zip more robust? If so then they're decent. Shame they don't do a cycling version anymore.
I think you really need to see these types of jackets in the flesh. For such a simple concept it is amazing how wrong some companies get it.
I wasn't particularly impressed with any of the current "windproof" jackets on my last visit to a Rapha shop.
Either theyre wafer thin see through roadie type or they're baggy rustly mountain bike types. The best windproof they had was the commuter one. It was the best cut and nicest feeling material but was only available in black or pink.
https://www.rapha.cc/gb/en/shop/mens-commuter-lightweight-jacket/product/TLW01XX
Another one to avoid is this one.
https://www.giro.co.uk/cycling-c45/giro-chrono-expert-wind-jacket-p1494
It's a proper boil in the bag jacket. One I keep as a backup for the colder weather.
I find the cut of the normal Montane Featherlite to be too generic. The arms aren't long enough for me. I have a Montane Featherlite Velo which was a bike version of the featherlite but now discontinued. I have both, as well as the the Montane Lite Speed.
The more bike specific ones I find to be better. I'm a big fan of windproofs and must have at least eight long sleeve ones (gilets also a useful item). I carry some form of windproof on nearly all rides and wear them in preference to a waterproof if poss
Favourite ones are made by Rapha, Gore and Montane
Does anybody know of a windproof jacket with Pit zips?
I bought the Fox Ranger wind jacket to use on chilly days for a 4 mile commute and the best way to describe it is 'boil in the bag'.
I run hot and just can't wear a jacket on the mountain bike (unless it's an uplift day), even in the depths of winter.
For me a gilet is much better. I've got a Fox Defend Wind vest which has a windproof front and fine mesh back to let the sweat out. I wear this on most autumn, winter and spring rides.
Simon
I run hot and just can’t wear a jacket on the mountain bike (unless it’s an uplift day), even in the depths of winter.
For me a gilet is much better. I’ve got a Fox Defend Wind vest which has a windproof front and fine mesh back to let the sweat out. I wear this on most autumn, winter and spring rides.
I run hot too, but I can wear the Northwoods happily on cooler days.
Will second the Defend vest though, that's my go to. They seem to have somehow gone form about 40 euro to 90 recently , but if you can grab one in a sale they're a great bit of kit, and tiny enough for a shorts pocket.
but I can wear the Northwoods happily on cooler days.
Is it massive like all other bits of 7mesh gear? I love their stuff, but it really is cut for fatty Yanks isn't it? I've one of their new alpha-a-like vests and it's about 5-7.5cm too long and cut for a beer belly.
I've just ordered a vest as I don't mind having my arms out - the Ranger from bike-discount for much cheapness. You do need to spend 165e though. So I've just got a pair of Freerider Pro's, this and some IXS Flow light knee pads for £170 inc shipping. Let's see how much I get hammered when they arrive
Great pit zips? Buffalo Curbar pertex. I believe Hamish at Buffalo was the first to use pertex this way.
breathes great. smock so goes over the head. Great vent zips. Not “bike style” is the only downside. Love mine. Carry it always.
gave away my Montane light. Too flappy and not very protective. So thin. Bought a Fabric brand Pertex. Way too hot. Never wear it.
go Buffalo.
7mesh have different cuts for different ranges. I've a roadie gilet from them in medium that is tight yet have a mtb long sleeve jersey in medium that is pretty baggy. My Northwoods jacket in medium is a perfect fit.
I wish clothes companies did a simple fit guide like Gore do.
Rab vital for me. Unless it's the heat of the summer it comes on most rides the rest of the year. Has stood up to mountain biking use very well, has some spinnaker tape on covering a rip on one sleeve from a crash that would rip most jackets. One of my best bits of kit that I would replace with the same again tomorrow if the need arose.
I just picked up a pearl izumi one off Sportspursuit for £30
https://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/2556692
