Living and cycling in the Pacific Northwest I perhaps get too many chances to test foul weather gear. The Ultra Marathon Cycling Association (UMCA) decided to tap my expertise and had me write about some of my favorite bits of nasty weather gear. I chose to write about the Rainshield O2 jacket, Rainlegs and the Marmot DriClime Windshirt. You can read the full reviews:
http://www.ultracycling.com/equipment/foul_weather_gear.html
As always, I advise supporting your local merchants.In the case of Rainlegs, however, everyone I know in the US who has these wound up ordering them from Rainlegs UK site at:
http://www.rainlegs.co.uk/
If you'd like either a Rainshield O2 jacket or a Marmot DriClime Windshirt and can't find those locally, you can order them via Amazon.com. As always anything you order via one of my Amazon links does kick some money back to me, but I only recommend products that I have found to be worthwhile. By the way, when I say anything, I mean anything. If you enter Amazon via one of my links and then buy something completely unrelated to cycling like a CD or a book or whatever, I still get a small referal fee.
Keep 'em rolling,
- Kent
Here's another vote for the O2. Best thing about it, to me: the size. I'm a more-than-slightly height-to-weight-ratio challenged cyclist, and normally have to buy 2XL or 3XL cycling gear. My O2 is a size XL, and while snug, is not uncomfortably so.
ReplyDeleteI've also developed a little tear in the fabric in the armpit area, but nothing which affects the performance of the jacket. And all for under $50 at my LBS a couple of years ago.
mike
I have found my early O2 jacket to be quite waterproof and comfortable, but as mentioned not at all durable.
ReplyDeleteThe Rainlegs I find to be a very effective design, but the waterproof coating started delaminating within ten uses and now they work more as Windlegs, with water seeping through quite quickly. With a more durable waterproof material, they would be fantastic!
The company offered me a replacement pair, so I have no quibble with them whatsoever.
The quick deployment feature is quite nice for those days with passing showers.
I think these are the same jackets you are talking about:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.qbike.com/cgi-bin/find.cgi?meant=1&wst=rainshield&auct=on&st=rain%20shield
I ride the Pearl Izumi type of jacket like this - and love it. I was in Seattle last week and really NEEDED the genuine O2 jacket!
Great article! Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDelete