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Wind Resistant Outer Layer?

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#21 ·
I'm going to throw this out there even though its pricey. Kitsbow ICON Hybrid. Its their Pendelton wool flannel with windproof panels across the front core. Just got one for Christmas and its pretty darn nice. Its my go to top layer, whether its over a T for cool days or over a base layer for colder days. Read up on it before you scoff at the idea, made for biking for sure.

Don't get more casual than a flannel for riding...
 
#22 ·
Bassmantweed said:
agree. I got my Patagonia Houdini for $40 on sale at REI. It might be my favorite piece of riding gear. I’m always amazed at how good of a job it does when I need it. Excels at blocking wind and adding an extra quick layer for warmth when needed. It provides ZERO breathibility but that’s not what it’s built for. I’m sure any windbreaker would do the exact same thing.
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There are other windbreaker style shirts that offer more breathability for a touch less wind resistance. The MH kor preshell and the black diamond alpine start spring to mind in the lightweight realm and the OR ferrosi in the heavier duty one. I own/have owned windbreakers of various types from different brands. If I'm going to be wearing it for long periods of time I always reach for the more breathable ones, whereas a non-breathable totally windproof jacket like the Houdini stays in my pack and is thrown on as an emergency extra layer for when I'm stopped or unexpected light precip. I have trouble wearing a Houdini style jacket for prolonged exertion as it traps in so much heat and moisture and feels like a trash bag to me. YMMV.
 
#24 ·
Bassmantweed said:
agree. I got my Patagonia Houdini for $40 on sale at REI. It might be my favorite piece of riding gear. I’m always amazed at how good of a job it does when I need it. Excels at blocking wind and adding an extra quick layer for warmth when needed. It provides ZERO breathibility but that’s not what it’s built for. I’m sure any windbreaker would do the exact same thing.
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I can cram mine into a WolfTooth BRAD bag along with a light insulated vest and along with a long sleeve merino top you're set for just about anything down into the 30s.
 
Discussion starter · #25 ·
Bassmantweed said:
you may think this is a joke but its not. I don't really know what you consider technical looking so i go further in the other direction.

its wool so it wont stink and will work when wet, it also does a great job of blocking wind and it comes in long/tall sizes and will keep you warm in winter.

www.llbean.com

Men's Waterfowl Sweater with WINDSTOPPER by GORE-TEX LABS

Find the best Men's Waterfowl Sweater with WINDSTOPPER by GORE-TEX LABS at L.L.Bean. Our high quality Men's Sweaters are thoughtfully designed and built to last season after season.
www.llbean.com www.llbean.com
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That’s got “wealthy gubernatorial candidate out for a fall stroll” written all over it! 😉
 
Discussion starter · #26 · (Edited)
Harold said:
what kind of riding are you really thinking about using this for?

I occasionally wear a wool flannel when riding, but not really for high intensity riding. it doesn't block the wind quite well enough if I underdress with it, and it's a little too warm if I dress it up to block wind better. it works better for more relaxed riding when I'm not pumping out as much heat/sweat. it's also too bulky for putting in a pack when you get warm - which means you need to wear a bigger pack to fit it.

for more intense rides, I do the layering thing with more, thinner layers. none of them, specifically, is an insulating layer. but taken together, they insulate well enough when I'm putting forth some effort.
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I’m looking for a wind blocking layer. I’ve got the insulation side covered. I’ve got a ton of hard shells, soft shells, merino tops, Patagonia base layers, you name it. I found myself attracted to the Club Ride stuff because the build and spec are technical while the look is at least somewhat casual - flannels made from poly/spandex with pit vents, cool max fabric, wind blocking layers etc.

Also, I’m a sweaty SOB so I want something that‘ll protect me from a chill while riding. This is honestly just an excuse to buy something. I could easily cobble together a workable combo like pairing a merino long sleeve top with a Patagonia retro x fleece vest that blocks the wind.
 
Discussion starter · #28 · (Edited)
gdb85 said:
I'm going to throw this out there even though its pricey. Kitsbow ICON Hybrid. Its their Pendelton wool flannel with windproof panels across the front core. Just got one for Christmas and its pretty darn nice. Its my go to top layer, whether its over a T for cool days or over a base layer for colder days. Read up on it before you scoff at the idea, made for biking for sure.

Don't get more casual than a flannel for riding...
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I love it but for $350, nah…

I’m sure it’s very high quality but that price is eye watering.
 
#30 ·
OldN00b said:
I’m looking for a wind blocking layer. I’ve got the insulation side covered. I’ve got a ton of hard shells, soft shells, merino tops, Patagonia base layers, you name it. I found myself attracted to the Club Ride stuff because the build and spec are technical while the look is at least somewhat casual - flannels made from poly/spandex with pit vents, cool max fabric, wind blocking layers etc.

Also, I’m a sweaty SOB so I want something that‘ll protect me from a chill while riding. This is honestly just an excuse to buy something. I could easily cobble together a workable combo like pairing a merino long sleeve top with a Patagonia retro x fleece vest that blocks the wind.
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I've got a Specialized jacket that they don't appear to make anymore. It's a sorta stretchy nylon fabric with a DWR. It's water resistant and works fine for mist or light sprinkles, but won't cut it in a downpour. It has zipoff arms, so it can be worn as a vest. It has vents in the back. It has a fairly tailored fit, but isn't overly roadie technical. It is meant to be used as a layering piece with other things.

I have a full wool Kitsbow Icon. They make them just down the road, so quite a few mtbers here wear them. Around here, at least, you don't really stick out. And plenty of ppl who don't want to spend on Kitsbow wear other flannels, so it's hard to tell the difference unless you're super clothing-label-conscious. It's not bad to ride in. It blocks the wind some, but not quite as well as my windbreaker layer. It can also tend towards being a little warm. Oftentimes when I use it, I'll only wear it for the first 15min of a ride and then I have to take it off because I get too warm (and it's warmed up). It doesn't pack terribly small, so I've gotta have plenty of room in my pack for it. My windbreaker layer takes much less space.
 
Discussion starter · #31 ·
Harold said:
I've got a Specialized jacket that they don't appear to make anymore. It's a sorta stretchy nylon fabric with a DWR. It's water resistant and works fine for mist or light sprinkles, but won't cut it in a downpour. It has zipoff arms, so it can be worn as a vest. It has vents in the back. It has a fairly tailored fit, but isn't overly roadie technical. It is meant to be used as a layering piece with other things.

I have a full wool Kitsbow Icon. They make them just down the road, so quite a few mtbers here wear them. Around here, at least, you don't really stick out. And plenty of ppl who don't want to spend on Kitsbow wear other flannels, so it's hard to tell the difference unless you're super clothing-label-conscious. It's not bad to ride in. It blocks the wind some, but not quite as well as my windbreaker layer. It can also tend towards being a little warm. Oftentimes when I use it, I'll only wear it for the first 15min of a ride and then I have to take it off because I get too warm (and it's warmed up). It doesn't pack terribly small, so I've gotta have plenty of room in my pack for it. My windbreaker layer takes much less space.
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Thanks for the feedback on the Kitsbow. I live in Southern California and most of my riding is/will be here so I don’t need or want anything especially heavy or warm.

We’re planning a two day jaunt up to Moro Bay and I plan to ride Montana de Oro, which is wide open rolling hills right on the ocean so the chance of windy conditions is high but I’m not expecting it to be especially cold. I may just go with a solution I already own.
 
#32 ·
OldN00b said:
Thanks for the feedback on the Kitsbow. I live in Southern California and most of my riding is/will be here so I don’t need or want anything especially heavy or warm.

We’re planning a two day jaunt up to Moro Bay and I plan to ride Montana de Oro, which is wide open rolling hills right on the ocean so the chance of windy conditions is high but I’m not expecting it to be especially cold. I may just go with a solution I already own.
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since it sounds like you have plenty of gear to choose from, that's probably the direction I'd go. I don't own very much bike-specific stuff. What I do own tends to be just shorts. The vast majority of my riding clothing is just general outdoor gear that happens to meet my requirements for that particular day.
 
#34 · (Edited)
So, I went down kind of a rabbit hole on this, looking for something cheap, because I'm not convinced how much I will use it.

I mostly ride with fleeces of varying weights in cooler weather. At the start of a ride, the wind-permeability of them can be fairly excruciating, while at the end, you're grateful for it because the fleece has become too much and at least the breeze carries away some of the sweat.

So, I'm thinking a breathable windbreaker with maybe a long sleeve wicking baselayer might be a "goldilocks" combo in some conditions, and maybe over a fleece in others. The ability to remove it and pack it down to maybe pocket size would be a huge plus.

I have various wind and water-repellent garments, softshells, windbreakers, etc. none of which do I think would be suitable riding, particularly as things heat up. We don't/can't ride in wet conditions, so that's not much of a factor.

So, on the light backpacking fora, the "fauxdini" gets a fair amount of praise. "fauxdini"

It seems a strange garment, a "sun shirt" made of a meshy material that has some small amount of water repellance but is also very breathable, and appears to be pretty translucent. People estimate its permeability at about 70 cfm, which should be considerably less than a fleece. People compare it to the original Houdini, which apparently was more breathable than the current one.

I'll check back in after I get it.
 
#35 ·
Ok, so this Dooy "fauxdini" sun jacket is an interesting garment. Linky above.

It is feather light and gossamer thin. Some have weighed them around 70g. It is slightly translucent when there's some back light, but not so much that it looks strange wearing it. It packs down into a fist-sized bag or the chest pocket and it is still squishy, so it will fit in a shorts pocket. You could probably stuff it into a bag half the size and it would be pretty taut.

It is actually water repellent, about like a "regular" windbreaker (soaks through after a while and any seams let moisture through).

It breathes about like a face mask, so definitely breathable but would seem to retain some wind cutting ability. It's actually pretty comfortable, even against bare skin as the slight texture to the fabric and breathability keep it from being instantly cold and clammy like a plain nylon jacket can be.

Fit is decent. I got an XL and I'm 6-1 about 180 and it's fine, sleeves maybe slightly short relative to body, but still long enough for my 34.5 sleeve length. It is a trim fit, like many of these are, so may not go over bulky fleeces very well. Build obviously isn't Patagonia quality, but it's decent. Seams aren't taped, but they are "lapped" or "felled," so not just open stitching. Raglan sleeves, which are nice.

Like a lot of ultralight gear, it feels flimsy, but that is probably a bit deceptive. It's not going to withstand many encounters with greenbriar or other bushes, but how many of this type really are.

It should be mid-50s today, so I may be able to test it out over a long-sleeve poly base layer, which is where I'm thinking this type of garment excels. Or, I may get out earlier, in the 40s and try it over a fleece.
 
#36 ·
Well, still haven't tested it on a bike, yet, to my shame. But, it was 60 and pretty breezy, over 10mph and went on a walk wearing just a long sleeve poly tee underneath and was quite comfortable. Don't think I would have been nearly as comfortable without the jacket.

And, the XL that I bought, to my surprise, will accommodate the light, but bulky and definitely not trim-fitting fleeces that I normally wear riding on cool to cold days.

I'm pretty optimistic that this is going to be a good $20 purchase. Ref the Dooy "sun jacket" fauxdini above.
 
Discussion starter · #37 ·
TwiceHorn said:
Well, still haven't tested it on a bike, yet, to my shame. But, it was 60 and pretty breezy, over 10mph and went on a walk wearing just a long sleeve poly tee underneath and was quite comfortable. Don't think I would have been nearly as comfortable without the jacket.

And, the XL that I bought, to my surprise, will accommodate the light, but bulky and definitely not trim-fitting fleeces that I normally wear riding on cool to cold days.

I'm pretty optimistic that this is going to be a good $20 purchase. Ref the Dooy "sun jacket" fauxdini above.
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Glad it’s working for you. I know MTB shouldn’t be a fashion show but the photos don’t make it look especially attractive. 😉
 
#39 ·
OldN00b said:
Glad it’s working for you. I know MTB shouldn’t be a fashion show but the photos don’t make it look especially attractive. 😉
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It's perfectly normal looking in real life. The pix on amazon are definitely weird. I guess because it's sold as a sun protection jacket, they want to emphasize how light/thin it is. I wouldn't have believed it had any utility like this if it weren't for all the UL backpacker types singing its praises.
 
Discussion starter · #40 ·
TwiceHorn said:
It's perfectly normal looking in real life. The pix on amazon are definitely weird. I guess because it's sold as a sun protection jacket, they want to emphasize how light/thin it is. I wouldn't have believed it had any utility like this if it weren't for all the UL backpacker types singing its praises.
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Heck at that price, maybe I’ll scoop one up
 
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