What Should You Wear When It Rains? | Softshell Vs Hardshell Cycling Jackets
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- Опубліковано 28 вер 2024
- So you’re going to ride your road bike in the rain, do you go softshell or hardshell jacket? You might keep the rain out with the hardshell, but will the softshell stop your sweat staying in? At GCN we’ve done our best to create monsoon conditions of the most epic proportions in order to answer this question.
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What's your go-to piece of winter clothing? Softshell or hardshell?
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Leave us a comment below!
When it's raining I wear my house.
😂
Hahaha noice
Brilliant
You are the real turtle. Rofl
and commute in the car... the roads can be damn slippery...
If I’d paid that much for a hardshell, I’d be wearing it even in mid-summer! 🤣😳
Same here: start with my beloved softshell but keep a hardshell in the back pocket. Additional advantage: you always need an extra layer to put on, if you are forced to stop for longer (e.g. puncture or other mechanical).
That advice can even be life-saving. If you're wet, and it's windy, and you have a puncture in some exposed surroundings then hypothermia is around the corner.
My scenario as well, why I have a stupid expensive water proof shell, shake dry.
My inner Nerd thinks this:
You'd have been better doing a 'dry' session (for each) first, then you could calibrate the weight of any sweat
content, before moving on to the 'rain' tests.
e.g. rain content - sweat content = effectiveness for hard / soft shell
With the added bonus that this would give you a sweat calibration for each clothing item, as well as the
rain protection factor.
Few aspect you could have mentioned in the video.
If your ride is one hour long, how much more will you gather up sweat in the hardshell.
And secondly how would a new, high end softshell comparison to the hardshell.
And as a bonus, it would be interesting to get a thermometer inside the jacket to show the heat accumulation. 😁
Rip out the "Water Resistant" tag on your Jacket & have a pro seamstress sew in a "Water Proof" tag in order to Feel much drier #marketing
I bought me a Rapha classic jacket with pit zips under arms and it works perfectly in any cold weather condition. I don’t know the exact fabric used but if I get too warm, I just unzip the arm pits to cool off. I have been in rain as well and it still works perfectly. I also just use a ls base layer for warmth and am comfortable on 50 mile rides with winds at 28mph. I paid a lot for this jacket but it works perfect in my winter riding sessions. I also ride all year long and am 68 years old.
Sounds like the perfect way to keep warm and dry
Both are necessary to own. I am most indoors now but for Canadian winters, I prefer the hard shell if I’m not stopping at a cafe or if it’s windy, wet, or both. The soft shell is great for cold days where layering comes into play and at the cafe stop, a fresh base layer and socks make all the difference. I pack mine in a waterproof bag and keep them underneath my jacket so they aren’t cold when changing into.
I’m not sure why this is so satisfying to watch 😂 but seeing Si get sprayed by sprinklers tickles me
I've run a few trail-based ultramarathons and purchased a Patagonia Storm Racer jacket. It is excellent in heavy rain and is quite breathable. The latest version has 2 zippers so you can have carry a hydration vest.
So much respect for your lonely quest to give us some insight.
However, softshells like a Gabba are magnificent, i ride it 6 months a year during my commutes,, but a softshell when soaked does noet give one the protection a hardshell will give. When you are totally soaked a hardshell will keep the cold wind outside and the heat inside. The soaked softshell will not. Trust me, i have experienced quiet some cold rides. My shakedry goretex is always a back-up..
Winter: Paramo Velez and just adjust venting as you go uphill/downhill. Summer: eVent highly vented Showerspass, vapour escapes out back vent blown through up sleeves. Your test is not valid as not moving so the air passing through is not there to push vapour through and out.
Thanks for testing Si. For myself for cold drizzly conditions or risk of light rain softshell for sure. In consistent or heavy rain I feel best about a full waterproof with big adjustable vents under the arms. Open before things get too steamy...
When the coating on a soft shell of even Gore-Tex stuff is gone the breathability is gone when wet. It's quite logical because when water vapour comes in contact with water it condenses and you will have a hard time getting an airflow through a solid water film.
I would like to see the results for the softshell when it is brand-new with the original coating.
I've used a Castelli Passo Giau since 2017 and it is still going strong, handled everything training in the Norwegian weather can throw at me. Use it whole year, but especially through winter with only a short or long sleeve baselayer depending how cold it is (I've trained in temps well below zero). I've never treated it with any DWR and it is still very good at keeping out the water. It does let some in, but it's never been uncomfortable. Never liked hard shells due to the fact I run hot no matter what the weather and they always feel "boil in the bag". Recently invested in a goretex shakedry, but it has still not been used on a ride, the trusty Castelli is taken every time, although it is quickly becoming smelly after washes now, so it may not last much longer.
I have the PNS shield jacket with Schoeller C-change fabric and it is marketed as a waterproof jacket but the fabric is supposed to breathe well, too. Same as the hard-shell in the video, the membrane is supposed to open at hot temperatures and close at cold temperatures. I guess it is categorized as a hard shell.
The thing I like about it is the side vents under armpits. If I'm going for a harder ride I layer less under the jacket, just a baselayer, and keep the side vents open. I do feel warm and at times a bit sweaty during the ride, but always warm and protected from rain and wind. When I get home and take off the jacket, I see moisture and wetness around the vents/zippers but no so much around the rest of the jacket. I think this is a good trade-off - a hardshell with vents to let the worst moisture out; however, the membrane fabric should be a bit breathable as well.
I did a 4-hour bike ride this morning a few light showers in the middle and the softshell did its job. And serious downpour in the last 20 minutes for which I needed my back-pocketed hardshell. Thanks GCN Science!
So now, funny detail: you needed a hose in the UK and I was riding in “sunny” California where it’s been raining for the past week. :-D :-D
If it’s cold and really wet, you will want the hard shell as was once you are wet, the cold will take over, with possible dangerous consequences if you are not protected. For most any other conditions, softshells are great. Super comfy, versatile in a wide range of temps and much more quiet and comfortable to wear. I backcountry ski in colder, drier weather than you have in Merry Ole, and would never trade my soft shell as out heat output is huge on a climb with skis. Cycling in the Pacific Northwest in the rain cold - hardshell protection!!
Good vid , temp, rain and WINDspeed which can make a big difference to exposure :) . Your personal experience is spot on me thinks. This winter to avoid boil in a bag ! Have been wearing a base layer, a cheap polyester hoodie ( my softshell) and a windshirt which works well.
Theres many different types of soft shell, ie the buffalo types. But the base layer choice can be important . Brynje baselayers for cycling in bad wet weather , as brynje is a mesh system creating air pockets keeping moisture off the skin. Use these for backpacking and it works great in wet wind cold. So a good base layer that properly removes water away from your skin will enhance the practicality of your soft shell! :)
Packability reigns king in cycling jackets.. If you can't stow it away once the weather turns/warm up it's a deal breaker.
Thx! I was so confused about the two options. You explained it perfectly!
Holy moly I'm in the first 48 seconds and he pops out hard question on us🤯🤯🤯. I'm too cheap to pay for a lot of the cycling gear and it's really expensive. So what I do if it's decent like 15 + I just put a hard shell on and if it's a bit chilly I usually have an Eddie Bauer first ascent polartec fleece on and in a hard shell overtop in the hard shell is Adidas it's like a football/soccer kind of it's like what a coach would where I guess you could say😅.
Soccer/football Whatever Gets you off at night use the term that applies to you.
well done Si, I do believe as near a scientific experiment as you can get and certainly interesting. A lot of soft shells are good i think and may protect you.
I used to be involved with BMW and goretex clothing. I did find a lot of people brought stuff back because they thought it leaked, but generally that was condensation, or sweat but on a motor bike the conditions are different. A lot of truly breathable materials need a temperature difference to work, the breathability goes towards the cold side from the warm.
When its raining I use Zwift ;-) Nice and warm inside...
I have to say that I loved this video. My own experience is that on the brown side of Washington State we don't get alot of rain but we do get below freezing temps very frequently in the winter. I usually layer under a soft shell. My favorite has become Pearl Izumi amfib material when it gets about 35 or lower. It works great and the cost seems more reasonable than most of the real cold weather gear from other major brands.
As I said that, I'm sitting at my computer and trying to decide if I do want to ride this morning. It's 32 degrees and, goofily, it did rain late last night. The roads are wet but don't look icy. I'm going to have another cup of coffee to help me make up my mind.
Here in California I’m rockin a MAAP vest and the occasional arm warmers. I find for colder mornings/ when it’s drizzling that set up works perfectly. I usually take my arm warms off mid ride.
All waterproofs I've tried have made me wetter than the rain from sweat,even with wicking layers underneath,I wear a very thin windproof which seems to keep a small amount of rain out but also breaths slightly
Hello Si, gonna check those jackets out. Happy holidays to all of you at GCN, your channel keeps me in the loop,and helps me with my healing process.
Thank you!
I’m a fair weather cyclist as I ride only for fun and don’t find riding in the rain fun. But occasionally you get the weather wrong especially when you check the local weather then ride 60 kms away.... But of course didn’t bring my untouched rain cape..... one of these days I’ll start sticking that cape in my jersey every time I plan doing a long ride.
I can say that my rain jacket I wear when walking the dog has definitely lost its water resistance after a few years of hard use and has become completely useless. It only keeps you dry for about 5 minutes. Time for a new one of those for sure.
Wonder if that’s the reason for the larger amount of water with the soft shell as it’s not as effective as a new soft shell would have been.
You forgot to add wind. I would like to know if you feel more confortable in a soft or hard shell when its raining, windy and cold. Also, the windy condition could have dried the fabric a little bit, but it would also make your body temperature drop faster.
The wind chill is major and cooling down is easier than heating up (unzip easy). Gore tex and LS jersey for rain / likely threat of rain, soft shell for cooler weather / unlikely chance of rain. Never starting a 100 mile + event without a packer jacket - lesson learnt / hypotherma had.
Caught a few times in rain, sometimes full on sheet rain. Every time in a soft shell which has been treated with Nikwax, the rain has beaded off. The new shake dry jackets are pretty good too and I have been very surprised by their breathability which is getting better than a plastic bag finally!
Thanks for this awesome video - it helps me a great deal! Now, I will definitely have my hardshell as a backup for long rides!
After 3 years of use the water repellent performance of the softshell would be degraded, or did you apply repellent before the test?
@@dsdf_fdp1858 i mean, if it repels water initially it takes longer to soak. For a short shower of rain like in the test it might make all the difference. For sustained rain, I agree, no difference.
Try Gore Windstopper products for softshell testing. Its really comfortable and breathable with nearly 100% waterproof.
Like most I ride with a softshell and pack a very light waterproof jacket. Actually, I would like to know the difference between the light waterproof jacket and proper heavy waterproof ones
it comes down to the weather and as always do i want to ride , will leave with a soft shell , and a light water proof jacket, i have a castelli hard shell , will help keep your warmth in, and the wind ,cold and rain out however you will probably end up being as wet inside as out depending on the effort you are doing , you will end up wet one way or another , cold and miserable , its up to youand th weather,
If it’s cold rain I always wear the hard shell. At temps above 55 my base layer will be drenched, but if it’s colder I usually stay fairly dry.
I just watched an REI video telling us that we have to use a dryer to restore the water repellent properties of Gore-tex. That might be what the 2nd jacket needs. See if it says to put it in the dryer.
In winter wear a soft shell and carry a packable rain jacket. Extra warmth and rain protection if needed.
Wear a brynje right said fred baselayer under either , keeps you dry regardless 👍😀
I always use a hard shell when it's raining at all, and it works well for me. However, in the rain I tend to ride much more slowly (for survival reasons), and for shorter distances if possible, so sweat is less of an issue.
I'm curious about the effect on heat management and comfort. One obvious problem with hardshells is that you get moisture trapped inside, but it's not directly against your skin, so it will cool rapidly after an effort (mechanical, descent, etc).) and be very uncomfortable. A good base layer would probably help with that. I would expect a softshell, with it's tighter fit, to provide an experience more like a wetsuit, where moisture is a absorbed into the shell and base layer and kept warm right next to your skin, keeping you warm and comfortable after an effort.
I'd rather be wet and warm than wet and cold.
Entertaining for sure
Key to riding in wet weather: wear expensive jackets, trackies and over shoes that keep you drier during rides without compromising speed...just might be around 100 g heavier though.
there is one thing that needs to be taken into consideration. each person sweats different. so for someone who doesnt sweat easy, the hardshell would be even more important for this person to stay dry. for this kind of person, it could possibly be even less in weight than what you found for yourself personally. and in cycling, weight does matter.
What about comfort level? You can be wet and comfortable. Or dry and uncomfortable if the jacket doesn't breath and it feels hot in there.
I would go for the softshell. If heavy rain is underway, I would pick the trainer indoors and the issue is solved.
Si ... the hose rain ... and just lovely and appreciative mates you have in the GcN office ... to get back at Olly just cut to that video of him carrying that cyclecross bike up that hill again ... that'll show'em :D ... jk ... totally enjoy your videos guys
Good science, but needed a powerful fan to represent the speed of forward motion. Yes.
Why didn’t have the rain more from above? Surely, that would have been better as jackets often use different fabrics front and back...
Should have done a control test, what were the weights after no rain....?
Hate being cold, so I take both. Or if it’s really bad take out the mountain bike and stay in the woods - slower and therefore warmer!
I live in the US in Florida and I'm going to tell you that it just doesn't get cold enough to use any rain jacket here. What was the outdoor temperature there when this was done?
Sorry forgot to ask. You said hard shell roles up well? Does soft shell not role up well?. Hard shell dryer though. So your hard shell should be sized with a jersey under or base layer. Im a newb. Trying to decide, both are wind proof? Thanks sorry so many questions.
Recently just came back from a wet ride. It started one hour before finish. We were so miserable and when I got home, the rain looked so light which did not translate into the wetness I was experiencing.
Brilliant video Mate
10:38 wind conditions, real conditions make your jacket dry a bit, as well dry out a little of your sweat... by the way how much of that wet is water how much is sweat?
Solution. Wear a rainproof bicycle rain cape. It is waterproof and yet you do not sweat.
i only use sportful no rain equipment. yes you get wet, but you still stay warm.
What about a gortex soft shell?
A long jacket that extends to the seat will keep the seat of your pants dry and a double breasted trench coat with DWR will keep the rain off the legs.
Good tips
Any luck with rain capes?
Was this really filmed in the UK given you had to fake the rain?
Honestly, great video idea. But i do not care about the gr diff.. but how warm of cold the are keeping me. 🤷♂️
Maybe test ponchos.
Super fun
Couldn’t agree more..👍
I haven't laughed this hard in a while. thank you. good informative video as per usual too
You're welcome Michael, cheers for all the support
Excellent video
I go for a gilet and castelli neo arm warmer
Turbo for sale, rarely been used never been outdoor
is turbo trainer WATER RESISTANT? all the electronics is not sealed...
I think there needs to be more testing.
This time comparing cycling with a water proof jacket in a really heavy duty blizzard with extra snow going over an Alpine pass, verses cycling whilst using an umbrella for the same route.
The demands of science never rests.
Rain ponchos for the win
What did Sean Kelly wear in rain back in his day?
The hat and helmet also help to simulate real world body temperatures.
“I didn’t want to get a wet head” - like you’ve always displayed good hair?! Lol
You forgot About wind, the killer or healer
Wind chill is the biggest hurdle for us cyclists when trying to stay warm
Turn an fan on, an 80 cm... will fix the issue of lacking head wind 😉🤔
RAINING AND RAINING :D
Really bad is water ingress in the hands and feet and the head cooling too much.
your English man are so crazy ;-) I love your videos so much fun.... :-)
I wear a longsleve thermo-trikot and a rainjacket in my pockets
Beeing Si, the sweaty levels should not be considered as a standard.
Answer You need both
Matt would have done the experiment with you!!!
I wear a velomobile
What is with the helmet
Ohh sometimes I forgot that there are places where it usualy rains in winter!!
I apologize for being a year late with my comment. Now, after conceivably having my apology accepted, the important part: there is no doubt that in the rain the softshell jacket absorbs more water than the hardshell, which makes the situation even less advantageous towards the former.
Artificial rain in UK........winter hasn't been that good!
I knew it was going to be OLLIE! :D
Good test, but you should have used a less-used softshell. It's time to replace your softshell, mate.
Are the results scientifically valid? I think quite YES. Good presentation!
I have a better idea. If it's raining just ride on Zwift. Why bother getting wet or sick from the cold.
I really thought they would have let James do this experiment! Or maybe he was out doing an even harder experiment
Assos pose. Nice.