Rain jackets intended for road cycling tend to be just jerseys with a waterproof membrane, which sucks in every other situation of life. I’m looking for something more versatile.
MTB gear is usually quite fully featured, often just not very packable. E.g. I really enjoy my Endura MT500 II rain jacket. It has pockets, ventilation zips and a helmet compatible hood. In my vision the perfect travel jacket would be similar but from a more lightweight/packable fabric.
The best I’ve found so far is Montbell Versalite, which checks all the boxes except over the helmet hood, as it’s not intended for helmet wearing sports. (Sure one can wear the hood under the helmet too, but it would be nicer to wear it on top.)
Are you aware of any alternatives that would have a helmet compatible hood? Or just otherwise good jackets with different compromises?
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I have a marmot precip. Just the rain jacket i have, didn’t buy it for cycling specifically. Not sure if the hood would fit a helmet tbh, probably not although it feels kinda big.
It has pit zips, you can also open the zipper and just velcro the front, has pockets too. It will eventually get wet beneath it if it rains long and hard enough, belly area, pretty sure it’s not just sweat. Even if it has good ventilation options, it is still too warm as a windbreaker only, or not breathable enough. I have only encountered this to be a problem now in norway, where it was often warm but the wind real cold, blowing the whole day. Had to buy a real (non water proof) windbreaker there. Never experienced this as a problem in other climates before.
I still like it and would buy it again.
Seems like Marmot also has a (really expensive) model with a mountaineering helmet compatible hood, which would probably fit a cycling helmet as well: https://www.marmot.com/men/jackets-and-vests/mens-gore-tex-mitre-peak-jacket/AFS_195115162368.html
No claims about packability, but given it’s low’ish weight it’s probably ok.
Scott Explorer Dryo. I saw a that Clothaire Mendel from lepedalistan recommended it and without further research I bought it and I am happy with it.
I ended up getting the Montbell Versalite. It sure packs down small, and is lightweight.
The only complaints I have are that the hood has to worn under helmet, and the lightweight fabric can be a bit flappy in hing speeds. The latter is probably an weakness problem of ultralight jackets. My heavier jackets handle winds much more gracefully.
All in all, it’s an ok compromise.
