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Hi,
After a particularly inclement weekend in the Lakes I've come to thinking there must be a better clothing choice than a full on waterproof. But is there?
With a bit of warm sun and the occasional heavy downpour I was cooking in my MT500 jacket, even though it's well vented and great for cooler riding.
Would a thinner lighter waterproof be any better, or is a water repellent softshell the way forward? All suggestions gratefully received!
Cheers
We've had some unusual humid, warm and torrential downpour weather recently. I'm not sure anything can cope with that.
The answer is to keep taking a layer off and popping it back on as needed.
I keep my Pertex alike windproof jacket with zip off arms treated with a DWR, and that means it is more adaptable than most, but it both wets out eventually and keeps me too warm some days.
I’m using a Paramo Fuera for this spell of hot and humid weather
Lighter than a full on waterproof, but you can reproof it with Nikwax for the occasional down pours
As mentioned, this weather is hardest to dress for, but I’m comfortable with a quick drying base layer most of the time and using the thin paramo as and when it’s required
Thin material is what helps, because the showers are short lived and the ability not to be boiled in a bag and to dry quickly afterwards are for me more important than attempting to stay bone dry throughout
I bought a Rapha goretex infinium jacket for those damp/humid rides. It was on sale so it wasn't too painful on the wallet. Very breathable. Rapha might be a roadie brand but their kit is very well thought out.
I've got a Patagonia Dirt Roamer jacket. While it's not perfect (it could do with a chest pocket IMO) but it's waterproof enough for the odd rain shower and spray from wet ground, but breathable enough for me to wear all the time on mixed days. The fit works well for me and it packs up small when I don't need it on.
If it's warm and a wicking t-shirt is all that's needed when dry, a lightweight pertex jacket or even gilet should be enough. Won't keep you dry but keeps the worst off
So much depends on how high and for how long you are going.
For the majority of people IMO you can cope with an almost waterproof cheapy, possibly just a Windproof that will keep the worst off.
For me, in these conditions I use a full zip long sleeve base layer that allows me to push the sleeves up, and then either a Gilet or a decathlon cheap light waterproof.
If it's high mountains and all day I might up this. Waterproof shorts are also great.
Shake dry in the back pocket of a cycling jersey - take on and off as needed.
expensive but worth it - wait for a sale
bit fragile though
Personally I'd mostly go for a non-membrane, wind-resistant lightweight softshell and live with getting damp, but it depends on how hot you run, how much you stop, how warm it is, how windy etc. Pretty much all waterproof fabrics struggle with high intensity activities in hot conditions. I often carry both a lightweight windproof/softshell and an ultra-light waterproof, one of those 100g Berghaus ones and make a call on the spot. In proper mountain conditions, you can get cold very quickly even when it's ostensibly quite warm.
skin is pretty waterproof, hence a base layer and get wet. its been circa 15-20 degrees , the wind chill is the only problem with that. got a dhb /nukeproof mesh vests earlier this year, they are great under a tee
i always run hot so i'd tend to wear a windstopper/dwr , or with a packable waterproof for longer rides.
i find running gear tends to be less boil in the bag
and agree pertex or a gilet work well too
or get an ebike and wear a thick goretex
I've tried a few lightweight waterproofs and each one I've caught on a branch or the like and ripped them, how rip-resistant are the likes of that Rapha?
My experience more as a runner but this is moon on a stick territory. I havent tried every product but owned most at some point over the years and none come anywhere near keeping you dry when you are moving. Maybe I sweat more than most but I dont think any allow moisture to pass through nearly quickly enough to stop you being just as wet inside as out. They keep the wind off and do keep you warm which is fine if you dont intend to stop until you can undress and replace with dry clothes.
In this weather I carry a waterproof jacket to pull on when I stop and wear a HH Lifa when I am moving. IMO one of the best pieces of clothing you can buy. I do think it is a victory for marketing that so many alternative next to skin products have come on the market (most much more expensive) that are simply not as good or long lasting as Lifa. Wicks and drys better than anything I have ever worn and when layered is extremely warm. Old ones got a bit whiffy but newer ones dont have that problem.
skin is pretty waterproof, hence a base layer and get wet. its been circa 15-20 degrees
+1, unless properly in the middle of nowhere and then I'd just wear a proper jacket to know I'll be dry
I think you've cracked it with the thread title OP.
Either a pretty water resistant softshell OR a lightweight waterproof will do.
I was wearing an MTR emergency shell, the lightest waterproof Endura did, in the Cairngorms in the summer rain. Current version is GV something or other IIRC.
And I have a Rapha City waterproof jacket I wear for MTBing, which is very breathable and reasonably lightweight.
If it's not going to be torrential or I'll be under trees most of the time, I'll generally wear a softshell instead though.
Thanks all for the advice. A lot to go at there.
I think the lightweight quick drying but not necessarily fully waterproof Softshell makes most sense for me. Don't want to be stopping all the time on these days with the on/off heavy showers. Probably just carry my trusty waterproof if it looks like the heavens will open!
The alpkit morphosis looks like reasonably good value, but not seen one so not sure how heavyweight it is. Patagonia dirt roamer looks good, but bit of a dear do!
Cheers
It's the Goldilocks jacket of course, there just isn't the perfect garment for those conditions. I switch between pertex top and haglof lim goretex but as good as they both are they are never completely right. Weirdly wearing the two together is quite good but not for high exertion stuff.
alpkit morphosis
And is fleece lined. Just waaaaaay too warm.
You want an Alpkit Arro.
No ones mentioned the Rab Kinetic range, 2.0/ or Alpine yet - so I'm going to. It's as close to your moon on stick as available at moment, its a very waterproof softshell or alternatively a very softshelly waterproof. being a new generation of spun type fibres its not technically as high a hydrostatic head as Goretex, but it's good enough - the plus side is it has as high a MVTR as any waterproof garment is going to have currently. Plus it feels really soft to wear, is quiet, stretchy, lightweight, and has nice feeling inner face. I'd happily carry one as the only waterproof for short day usage in UK conditions outside of winter, while accepting that its not intended as an absolute big mountain storm fortress type garment, which can end up a bit OTT for our relatively dinky hills and mild climate. A week walking in Scottish rain however would likely see one straight back in the Gtex. These are really similar to the North Face's Futurelight fabric, which if it ever manages to live up to its initial marketing hype, could be a bit of a revolution... it's early days for these fabrics and there seem to be some question marks over durability, and also the fact that for proper high mountain usage the high MVTR and tiny percentage of air permeability seem to not be protective enough as it allows body heat to be stripped too quickly in extreme conditions.
Or just get a simple non-membrane soft shell like the Rab Borealis and keep a minimalist Paclite shell buried in the pack for the rare occasions you need it.