View Full Version : Rain jackets for bicyclists used for hiking
I was looking online at rain jackets for bicycling and I discovered quite a few rain jackets offered pack down small.
For example,
http://www.indiebike.com/louis-garneau-modesto-jacket has DWR
http://www.indiebike.com/louis-garneau-climate-grid-2-jacket
http://www.indiebike.com/castelli-sottile-jacket
I have worn a bicycle windproof vest with a mesh back instead of a windshirt for hiking because I had one for bicycling and the backpack protects my back, and so I was looking at lightweight rain jackets for bicycling for my next lightweight rain jacket for hiking.
Has anyone had experience with a rain jacket for bicycling used for hiking?
Monkeywrench
05-29-2012, 10:39
I was looking online at rain jackets for bicycling and I discovered quite a few rain jackets offered pack down small.
For example,
http://www.indiebike.com/louis-garneau-modesto-jacket has DWR
http://www.indiebike.com/louis-garneau-climate-grid-2-jacket
http://www.indiebike.com/castelli-sottile-jacket
I have worn a bicycle windproof vest with a mesh back instead of a windshirt for hiking because I had one for bicycling and the backpack protects my back, and so I was looking at lightweight rain jackets for bicycling for my next lightweight rain jacket for hiking.
Has anyone had experience with a rain jacket for bicycling used for hiking?
I've no experience with the particular jackets mentioned, but in general garments for cycling tend to be cut short in front and long in back, and sometimes have pockets located on the back. They also tend to be form-fitting, precluding wearing much in the way of insulating layers underneath them.
Somewhat OT, however I met a couple of people last week in the Smokies hiking with very light-weight umbrellas velcroed to their packs. Don't laugh. Think about it -- light weight; not pressed against your body creating perspiration; plenty of room for ventilation, etc.
rocketsocks
05-29-2012, 14:26
Somewhat OT, however I met a couple of people last week in the Smokies hiking with very light-weight umbrellas velcroed to their packs. Don't laugh. Think about it -- light weight; not pressed against your body creating perspiration; plenty of room for ventilation, etc.I like that idea,especially since I plan to section/day/weekend hike, so the added weight will only be for a short time.......I'm down with it!
Umbrella? That's a very old Ray Jardine trick......."The Ray-Way"
http://www.getoutdoors.com/goblog/index.php?/archives/272-Ray-Jardine-Is-The-Man.html
http://www.rayjardine.com/index.shtml
Well, these have mesh in the back for ventilation. I see no pockets.
These jackets do not have the big back pockets like traditional bicycle jerseys.
I am not keen on pockets anyway, since I first got a pack with pockets on the waistbelt. Now, those are handy!
I have used a bicycling mesh back windshirt vest, satisfactorily. In fact, I like it!
I want all the ventilation of my back under the pack I can get.
I am thinking, this could work with my silkweight half-zip top or my merino half-zip top. I could ventilate in front, as well.
The short length in front is a consideration. However, I am moving over to a rain-skirt past my knees idea.
Of course, there is always my poncho. But the poncho flaps in windy conditions.
We get windy conditions, frequently, around here.
Maybe I will "go for it" and give a report?
shelterbuilder
05-29-2012, 22:54
Umbrella? That's a very old Ray Jardine trick......."The Ray-Way"
http://www.getoutdoors.com/goblog/index.php?/archives/272-Ray-Jardine-Is-The-Man.html
http://www.rayjardine.com/index.shtml
I think that Ray got this one from Guy and Laura Waterman - they were doing this back in the 70's, I think...maybe not with the velcro, though.
Make sure that you buy big enough that heat produced by your body can rise up through the neck opening, drawing (theoretically, anyway) cooler air up from underneath.
Most of the bicycling rain jackets I've seen don't have hoods. I like to wear a hood over my baseball cap so the bill of the cap keeps my glasses dry (longer, at least).
Cycling jackets are usually made without pit zips. Some have side ventilation (mesh fabric). I guess they figure that you'll get wet from either rain or sweat, so might as well let it happen :confused:.
I dislike jacket hoods, unless I have a warm puffy down jacket.
I wear a Sou'Wester hat on backwards (longest bill in front) to keep wind-driven rain off my eyeglasses.
We only have wind-driven rain around here, that or "fog" of wet clouds in the mountains.
I have a bicycling rain jacket with mesh running under the arms and down the sides. The back is solid, however, and it gets too warm under my backpack.
It is my experience, my mesh back bicycling windbreaker vest is comfortable under my backpack.
That is how I happened to be looking at the mesh back bicycling jackets, the mesh may or may not go down the sides.
Some bicycling rain jacket fabrics are breatheable. I think these three I mentioned are breatheable, however, not PU coated.
One is DWR.
I really like DWR because I can renew the DWR myself with a spray-on product.
I think I have talked myself into trying it.