Best windbreaker

johnniet

johnniet

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Jul 12, 1999
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I need a breathable windbreaker, fairly waterproof, for bicycling and paddling.
Is it too much to hope that one jacket could do both?
 
I just bought a Red Ledge windbreaker from one of the large outdoor stores here in NJ. This is a new company to me so I was apprehansive at first. But, wearing it in the pouring rain last week was all it took to convince me. It's very light and packable, yet totally waterproof. Apparently, this company developed their own breathable, waterproof fabric. All inside seams are taped to retein full waterproofness. It has a hood, is comfy, cut snugly so as not to get in the way of the bicycle, has decent breathability, and best of all, it only cost $39. A great bargain for a totally waterproof, packable jacket. The only short coming is I wish the hood stowed in a zippered compartment for when I ride the bike and don't need it.
Lenny
 
For more information see Montane's Website and the Raingear Roundup and Windshirt Wars at www.backpackinglight.com. In the Raingear Roundup, they say "If you’re looking for a bare-bones rain shell that provides decent shower protection and durability for high levels of activity, the Sirocco Smock warrants serious attention." It's made of Pertex Triactive--basically microfiber nylon with a really good DWR. I have the Montane Featherlite suit in Pertex Microlight. It's provides great wind protection and some rain protection while remaining super breathable. However, it will wet out in extended precipitation. On the other hand the top and bottoms weigh about a half pound and each stuffs into a stuffsack the size of a computer mouse. It's a lot like Patagucci's new dragonfly shell, but way cheaper. Good luck :)
 
Buddy of mine just got a Pertex crew pullover for ~ $45. He hasn't tested it in a downpour yet, but says it keeps him dry in a gentle spring shower.

My wife and I just got Moonstone lightweight rain jackets. While twice the price of my buddy's pullover they have a stowable hood, large pit zips, cover your butt, zip pockets, elbow and shoulder seams designed for full movement, and YKK zippers all the way around. We used them in HEAVY rain in Puerto Rico's El Yunke rainforest national forest and they breathed well and kept us dry. MSRP is around $130, but can be found for ~$99.

Since you want something for biking and paddling I'd advise getting a slightly oversized pullover that gives you full freedom of movement so you can paddle and subvert everything else to that. Not much arm, shoulder, upper torso movement biking by comparison. Forget zips since they would leak if you rolled. A hood won't be much help biking or paddling so I wouldn't worry about it either (get a cheap dive beanie for paddling and your helmet handles biking. Good neck and wrist elastic/velcro closures are a good feature as well as an elastic drawstring bottom that comes well down on your hips so you can tuck it under your skirt paddling or down on your rear when pedaling.
Take a look at http://www.nrscatalog.com/product_list.asp?deptid=555 for an idea of what I consider good examples.

Good luck.

Mike
 
My buddy Rob can fart on demand; anytime, anywhere. He's the best windbreaker I know!;)
 
A lot of good links in this thread.

I have owned a thinsulate-lined LL Bean "Mountain Classic" anorak for years for cold weather use. I wear it literally every day from late fall through early spring, with an additional layer underneath on the coldest days. Because I had such good luck with it, I have been considering buying the unlined version for wear the rest of the year on rainy days. One of the biggest selling points of the anorak format is the huge kangaroo pouch in front and additional open pocket underneath. Great place to put stuff when my pockets overflow...:) LL Bean tends to be a little spendy and markets some yuppy-fied stuff, but I do like their outerwear a lot.

After seeing these links, I'm going to have to rethink my purchase. Definitely some additional fabrics to consider.
 
A few more links to check:

REI will have both paddling jackets and wind breakers/anoraks.

Campmor should carry the aforementioned $40 Red Ledge wind breaker, among others.

Backcountry Equipment has some nice rain wear and wind wear, if not a ton of selections, at least what they've got is good stuff.

Sierra Trading Post has selections that come and go, as they're a 'close-outs' shop. But if you find something you like, in your size...their prices can be pretty good.

Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) presents some good deals for our Canadian pals.

Orvis has some well made clothing for outdoor sports.

Lands End likewise, some well made clothing for outdoor sports hidden in among the button down shirts and knits. They bought out Willis & Geiger a few years ago and I bought a lot of GREAT stuff on closeout prices. All gone now, more's the pity. The last of the affordable Ventile cotton wind breakers.

I think the others have hit most of my other favorite links. So good hunting!
 
I have been wearing the LL Bean Classic Anorak just about every day for five years. I spray it with camp dry. I love it.
 
. . . but it took about 10 years to kill it. It's still useable, just REALLY faded with a few burn holes and tears and lots of abbrasion. If I wasn't a gear junkie, I'd still be using it. I couldn't resist the Montane Featherlite's weight and size, but the price is durability.
 
Went to the Montane web site, but there appears to be no way to purchase anything from them on line. Sent email asking about some way to buy product in the U.S., and have not (now 4 days) even heard back from them, so I'm guessing they don't pay attention to their email and/or don't care about U.S. orders.

For all that, Red Ledge seemed to get the best review from the "raingear roundup" link posted near the top of the thread, so I ordered one of those, and will report on it when I get it.

I'm new to this kind of gear though. Have always relied on a tarpaulin for rain, having the added advantage that it also protects my pack. But they weigh about 3lbs, compared to <1lb. for the wind shirt, and the stuff inside my pack is kept in waterproof sacks anyway...
 
www.thru-hiker.com carries the Featherlite stuff. I don't know where to get the Scirocco. You might try a Google search. Good luck :)

P.S. a company called Equinox makes a silicone-impregnated nylon poncho that weighs less than half as much as the lightweight ripstop GI poncho. Campmor also sells a regular and long version. Integral designs also makes something similar, which they call the Sil Poncho. Good luck :)
 
Mountain Hardware has some nice stuff. The Conduit SL is pretty lightweight and breathable...I have the vest and am thinking about getting the jacket. Stuffs into it's own pocket for storage.

Little pricey, but good quality.

Sierra Designs has some nice stuff too. Usually rates pretty high in magazine testing.

Some of the stuff on the previous posts are very nice too.

www.mountainhardware.com
www.sierradesigns.com
 
Got my Red Ledger from Campmore less than a week after placing the order, very good service. The jacket is very impressive looking with its taped seams everywhere, ultra light zippers, down the front, through the pockets, and under the arm pits. The latter are a little hard to access. So far I've learned to open them, but not close them while I have the jacket on.

Only test I've had it on so far was this weekend. Mother's day saw me cooking for 9 people with tables set up outside for dinner. As dinner wound down, I found myself sitting outside with only a lite shirt in a breeze with the tempreture dropping rapidly. I put on the windshirt which looks to offer very little real insulation, but it was sufficient, given its wind protection, to keep me comfortable for another hour outside. That was pretty impressive to me as hypothermia is usually my greatest problem in the wilderness.
 
I've found that a coolmax or polypro tee shirt/henley under a polypro shirt or vest with a wind shirt over all works as a good spring/fall no-brainer wardrobe. Unzip and you don't overheat, zip and you don't get cold. I have an older REI windproof/water resistant polyester windshirt that folds up into it's own pocket and fits in my buttpack or briefcase, so there's no reason to leave home without it.
 
The Red Ledge shirt is working out fine for me. Tested it yesterday by wearing it outside over just a shirt to see if it would keep me warm in weather that would normally justify at least a light jacket. It did OK. More over, I wore it while cutting down numerous low hanging dead branches of a plumb tree... This is very rough scratchy wood that likes to tear at things. While I didn't go running headlong into a thicket, the wind shirt emerged from an hour of work where it was scratched and pulled at constantly with no tears or punctures. I'm very impressed!
 
Some great input from all.., thanks for the great links and information...


"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"
 
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