Fortunately there are a ton of good products out there that keep you on the happy path. Fabric technology has come a long way providing performance which works for you.
I will be evaluating the following gear with a few criteria in mind.
- Waterproof.
- Breath-ability
- Fit
- Overall features and functionality.
A few questions to ask yourself:-
- How often am I going to be riding in the rain?
- What am I going to be riding for? commuting ? training?
- Whats my budget?
Technologies & Fabrics
There are garments manufacturers (Showers Pass, Gore) who use specific fabrics developed by others who specialize in performance material for example Goretex and Event. Then there are garment manufactures who develop their own or rebrand a technology for example Pearl Izumi or Sugoi
Within garments there are two types:
Soft Shells - these are soft jackets, that normally are a bit thicker material and normally have more insulation properties. They look more like a regular jacket. Material technology has enabled these materials to have waterpoof coatings or waterproof membranes sewn into the fabric.
Hard Shells - this is what is more traditionally thought of as a waterproof material, it makes a crumpling noise when gathered together and looks like a shell, more ridgid than a soft shell.
The choice between a soft or hard shell is a tough one. I have used both and I have found that the best softshells are not as waterproof as the best hard shells. Also hard shells retain the water resistance for a longer duration with respect to life of the garment, this maybe due to the fact that some soft shells use a treated fabric wear the treament wears off after time. Nowadays material science is changing and there are some soft shells on the market now that are supposed to be as durable and water fast as the best hardshells, a good example of this is the Trainer Jacketby Showerspass, which is a high end, high performance Soft Shell with taped seams. One thing to note is that a Soft Shell will have more insulation, so if you are in a balmy environment, where it can be warm and wet, you may want to stay with a Hardshell so you can run the most minimal layer underneath when it's warm and wet.
Here's a quick feature table to compare:
| Hardshell | Softshell | Membrane(thin hardshell) | |
| Weight | Light | Light | Lightest |
| Windproof | Yes | Yes | Moderate |
| Waterproof | for sustained periods | for short periods | Lightest |
| Packable | Small | Not really | Smallest |
| Insulation | None | Some | None |
| Waterproof | Sustained periods | Short periods | Light shower |
| Breathability | High | High | High |
Burley Rain Rider (Hard Shell) $130
I have had this jacket for many years, at the time of purchase it was considered one of the best rain jackets of it's time. It's made in Eugene, Oregon from quality materials and with great construction quality which makes for a durable garment. I'm not fully sure that they are manufactured anymore, but you might find one on craigslist or e bay. This is by far the most waterproof jacket I have had, this is at the expense of breath-ability, for which it has none. If you do any uphill riding in this jacket where your body temperature rises, the vapor will stay in the jacket and condense on the inside. Ventilation is built into into the jacket but the material itself will not breathe, Ventilation is provided by an air vent on the back and two chest air vents along with armpit zippers which can be fully opened to vent. There is also a zippered front pocket, soft neck material and velcro flapped arm cuffs. The jacket fit's looser so you can wear it over street clothes if need be. The jacket is cut for a cyclist, (low in the front and long in the back). This jacket is idea for a casual commuter, going into work maybe wearing work clothes underneath on a fairly mellow commute (read flat). I have only seen this jacket in Yellow, but I think it may come in Blue also.
Sugoi Helium (membrane - thin hard shell) $100
This is a thin membrane jacket, it's designed to stuff in your pocket or bag when you go out for a ride and the weather is fine, but it may turn, maybe showers maybe rain. It is geared more towards the training / racing type of person, but due it it's low weight and ability to cram in to a very small space, it could be ideal to keep in your bag all the time as a commuter. 90% of the time I carry this jacket with me everywhere. The jacket will easily crush up and fit in a single rear pocket of a typical cycling jersey. It folds up very small, think the size of a tennis ball. This is a very breathable jacket which is very form fitting. the jacket has minimal pockets and minimal reflective elements. The jacket features a small side / rear pocket with internal routing for your headphones to pop out the collar, a nice touch.
I have found that this jacket is not really what I define as waterproof, it's a lot more water resistant, good for drizzle or passing showers but will saturate easily when the skys dump rain on you. This jacket is great to run several layers under and makes as a flexible addition to your wardrobe.The Helium comes in a ton of colors, red, black, neon, blue, white, grey and so forth.
Pearl Izumi Gavia Jacket (Soft Shell) $160
I have used this jacket for over 2 years, This soft shell is very versatile, it's highly water resistant, breathes well and has some thermal insulation to it. It's like a heavyweight jersey / think lightweight jacket with insulation, the material has some thickness if you pinch it between your fingers. The jacket can be layered up with several underneath, so you can use it down in cold conditions. This seems to be a great Chicago jacket for the cold with not a ton of rain. The version I have does not have taped seams unlike some. Taped seems ensure the waterproof aspect. In this case long wet rides or large downpours, water will get in and at a point the material will become saturated. The jacket comes in a few colours including the mandatory yellow / goldenrod.
Showers Pass Elite 2.0 (Hardshell) $220
At $220 it seems a tad steep, and it is, but this is the bees knees, the high end of all breathing all waterproof jacket. This is my latest addition, it's a hard shell with no insulation, it's designed very specifically for cycling, shorter front longer back, like the other jackets here. All seams are waterproof taped and it is constructed from a high quality Event fabric which is highly waterproof and very breathable (the spec's I cannot remember) The jacket has a nice high neck with a soft lining. On the back is a waterproof pocket with an angled zipper for easy accessibility. On the chest is a small pocket and on the inside an opening so you can feed your ipod wires up to your ears keeping the cables on the inside. A vented back flap with reflective stripe and logos, reflective band stripe on the sleeves. Zipped armpits round off the package as far as venting is concerned. The jacket packs down surprisingly small despite it's rigid feel. Available in Goldenrod, Black and Red.
** Update **
I just used my Showers Pass Elite 2.0 for approx 3 hrs in constant rain this morning. I have nothing bad about the jacket to report, the fit is great, the material performance is close to brilliant, it breathes and leaves you totally dry. The front pocket is a nice touch, great for an iphone. Now if only my shoe covers and spandex on my legs performed like the Elite ! Highly recommended jacket and i'm glad that I can see the high value behind the $220.
Seeing how impressed I am with the jacket; I might have to plump for some of these, they seem to have a list of awesome features and are constructed with the same great waterproof Event material as in the Elite 2.0 jacket .....the Roadie Waterproof Pant
P.S. If you think the price is high on the jacket, you should check out some other high end gear - Rapha gear, very expensive , I have not used this, so cannot comment on performance of their products. Anyhow, for the $220 in Showerspass, you get a lot of performance and a jacket that's seems like it's going to last.