Cycling rain jacket - BUT with pocket & hood

El Tarangu · 11-11-2019 2:40pm #1

Hello,

Based on the previous recommendations of this forum, I bought a Galibier Tourmalet jacket a couple of years ago. Since then, I've crashed a few times and now one arm is all patches, so it's time to invest in a new one.

While I found the Galibier jacket great in terms of water resistance and how light it was, I found it quite inconvenient that it didn't have any pockets. I mainly use the jacket for commuting, so if it starts raining, I have nowhere to stick my glasses - I have to stop and fumble about to put them in my rucksack, so less than ideal. Also, it would be handy to have hood; I wear those snood scarf yokes, but they would only keep off the lightest of rain.

So, anyone have any recommendations on a very light, very water resistant jacket, but one with pocket(s) (on the side instead of the back), and a hood?

Thanks,
El T.

Miklos · 11-11-2019 2:55pm

Sounds like the Rapha Commuter Jacket is up your street. Waterproof, hood, side pockets. Job's a goodun.

TheBlaaMan · 12-11-2019 8:40am

Altura do a few..

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/altura-attack-180-waterproof-shell-jacket-aw15/rp-prod177747

https://www.cyclesense.co.uk/m3b0s139p22892/ALTURA-Urban-X-Waterproof-Jacket-2017%3A-Charcoal

...though a hooded jacket wouldnt be my choice.

Pinch Flat · 12-11-2019 10:09am

Own Preference would be to avoid a hood on a cycling jacket - going to be a pain trying to shoulder check, Especially in rain when you’ve got to be super alert. A beanie under a helmet will keep you dry.

Edit - I use a Montane velocity and find it excellent. Great waterproof / breathability balance. Pockets in the rear as well.

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/montane-velocity-jacket/rp-prod72789

Seweryn · 12-11-2019 11:25am

A cycling cap + head band when cold works best for me as a head protection. A hood may be inconvenient in bad weather.

Brian? · 12-11-2019 12:17pm

Seweryn wrote: »

A cycling cap + head band when cold works best for me as a head protection. A hood may be inconvenient in bad weather.

Agree. Possible a helmet cover if you really want.

droidus · 12-11-2019 12:59pm

+1 for the anti-hood cru. Ive wished for one many times, but the loss of peripheral vision and difficulty with shoulder checks is too much.

mo_bhicycle · 13-11-2019 3:03pm

A hood is great when the rain is really heavy or you're going to be out in rain for a long time.
I ditch my cycling waterproof jackets for my running jacket (Montane Minimus) when the conditions are bad. The hood is designed so that it doesn't block any of your vision (works great) and it can be closed tight enough that it doesn't catch much wind, it's also got a peak on the hood which is very handy. It stuffs nicely into one of its pockets and fits into a jersey pocket when not needed.
I'd probably go a size smaller if I didn't want it for both running & cycling.

tomasrojo · 14-11-2019 12:29am

I've used two Montane jackets (more lightweight rain smocks really), and if their other products are as good as those, I'd be happy to buy them.

The only real cycling jacket I have, as opposed to a rain smock, is an Aldi one I got as a present. It does have three pockets -- two side, and one at the small of the back, and a hood. I mostly use the hood when I'm just doing a local trip and it's not raining that much and the traffic isn't heavy. It's not bad at all, but when it finally gets wet, it tends to stay wet, while the rain smocks will dry if hung for a few hours.

I mostly use a rain hat, as it obscures your vision less. On the negative side, it's quite a funny-looking hat.

Cycling rain jacket - BUT with pocket & hood

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