Hi, just wondering if anyone has seen a waterproof jacket appropriate for cycling that is zipped underarm? Or has air vents.
Some options I’d been looking at that doesn’t have this are:
Castelli Idro
Maap rain jacket
Assos
But they’re mega expensive and look like they’d be very hot.
Under arm vents are interesting. I like them and the 2 waterproof cycling jackets I have had for years I got specifically because they have them but you can’t get those anymore.
I think it used to be the case that Goretex jackets weren’t allowed to have under arm vents because they thought it implied that the material wasn’t breathable enough. No idea if that is still true. But if someone knows at least that helps narrow it down.
I am pretty sure some Endura and Showers Pass waterproofs have them.
Another way of doing it is to have a waterproof short sleeve jersey or gilet with waterproof arm warmers.
I have an Endura jacket with under-arm zippers. It’s a really nice quality piece and has a built in blinky light and lots of reflective bits. It packs into itself, but i wouldn’t call it “packable” since it is still big when it’s folded up. It’s also pretty flappy in the wind, so i only wear it while training.
For fast and waterproof, I’d go with Castelli Perfetto for sure. It doesn’t have armpit zippers, but it does have vents on the front. They are race cut, so fit really well and don’t flap around.
For something that packs really small, the Patagonia Hudini is nice. It doesn’t have vents so can get a little swampy inside, but it’s a nice jacket that easily fits into a jersey pocket.
I vote Showers Pass.
I’ve got 2 (one for road and one for mtb, different cuts / different vents etc.). Both have big pit / side vents.
The ‘Spring Classic’ for road. It packs small enough to go into a Jersey pocket (and I’m in an XL size).
The Elite 2.1 is a bit heavier weight fabric and a looser cut. That’s the one I’m using for mtb.
Was out in a sideways monsoon last week and I had a perfectly dry body. V happy.
I’ve previously had much Endura kit over nearly 20 years. But was totally fecked off with the distain they showed for me as a customer when a waterproof jacket had a gaping 10" hole down the side where the seam had never actually been properly sewn (just trapped by friction. It had been worn maybe 3 or 4 times before the panels came apart. Eventually reluctantly they let me spend £10 post to return it… it was sent back to me with a ‘can’t fix’ about 5 seconds after it entered their building. Clearly ‘can’t be arsed’ more like.
(The retailer was 200 miles and a ferry trip away, so couldn’t take to them practically. They subsequently closed anyway).
I actually got it repaired at AlpKit (excellent people). Showing that Endura just were uninterested and couldn’t give a toss about me as a customer.
Never ever again.
Hence why I now have Showers Pass stuff (and their customer support in the UK was excellent too when buying / sizing etc).
Thanks for the info re Showers Pass. I was just about to order some rain gear from them for my bike packing kit.