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Windbreaker, rainproof, softshell jacket - comparison. Get to know the pros and cons!
The period of cold or winter days is always a dilemma how to dress for a bike. Cycling jacket windbreaker, rain jacket or softshell what to choose?
The weather in our country can be very capricious. Every person who spends time actively outdoors knows this perfectly well. Regardless of whether we are hiking in the mountains, spending time on a hiking trail or riding a bike, strong wind and humidity can take their toll.
No wonder that manufacturers of outdoor or cycling clothing try to offer their customers clothes that are designed to effectively protect against unfavorable conditions. One of the most important elements is undoubtedly the jacket. Currently, we can find many different proposals on the market. So let's check which one is worth choosing.
Offer cycling jackets It is very wide to protect against wind and rain. Among them, we can mention, among others, the popular ones cycling windbreakers, rain jackets and bike softshell. Below you will find a list in which we have included the most important features of each type of jacket.
Windbreaker cycling jacket
This is one of the most popular models of outdoor jackets that we all know. This type of jacket has been available on the market for many years. Windbreaker jackets are usually made of one hundred percent polyester fibers. The windbreaker is a very light jacket that does not take up much space when folded. Some consider that its disadvantage is the lack of a layer that protects against the cold. However, this is also a strong point of this type of clothing. Windbreakers can be worn both on warm days (then it is enough to wear, for example, a sports T-shirt under them) and during low temperatures (then we combine it with thermal underwear or a warm sweatshirt).
- Breathability: very good, the jacket provides comfort, allows the skin to breathe.
Water resistance: low, windbreakers do not protect against rain. - Ventilation: very good, jackets of this type dry quickly, do not cause increased sweating.
- Thermal comfort: does not protect against cold, requires additional layers of clothing.
- Packability: thin, lightweight material makes it take up little space.
- Suggested season of use: spring, summer, autumn.
Rainproof cycling jacket
People who want to protect themselves not only from unpleasant gusts of air but also from water should be interested in buying a rain jacket. Jackets of this type are made of a membrane, i.e. a thin layer of plastic. To increase its resistance to moisture, it is additionally protected by lamination, i.e. adding two layers of fabric - external and internal. Thanks to this, rain jackets not only effectively protect against rain, but also allow us to feel comfortable and comfortable.
- Breathability: jackets, despite being waterproof, effectively remove moisture from the skin and clothes, allow the skin to breathe.
- Water resistance: high, the highest in the case of double-layer laminated jackets.
- Ventilation: limited, depending on the membrane used and the type of lamination. Ventilation improves at lower temperatures.
- Thermal comfort: the jacket does not provide protection against the cold, on colder days it requires a layer of thermal clothing.
- Packability: slightly heavier than an airgun, takes up more space when folded.
- Suggested season of use: spring, autumn.
This model comes from the Trekking series but is perfect for urban cycling or cycling.
Softshell/winter cycling jacket
Another proposal that protects not only against wind but also against cold is a softshell jacket. This type of jacket is perfect especially during colder days. What is? Softshell jackets consist of two layers of material. The first of them is a soft material (e.g. fleece) that protects against cold, the second, located on the outside of the jacket, is a dense fabric that reduces wind penetration. The advantage of softshell jackets is undoubtedly the fact that, compared to other winter jackets, they are light and take up little space. The disadvantage, however, is that they do not provide full protection against rain. Fortunately, on the market we can find models with a membrane and those whose outer layer is covered with a special agent that reduces water penetration into fabrics.
Winter cycling jacket KAYMAQ - windproof, breathable, insulated with fleece on the inside.
- Breathability: very good, provides comfort during physical activity.
- Water resistance: low, slightly higher in the case of jackets with a water-repellent coating or softshell jackets with a membrane.
- Ventilation: very good, allows the skin to breathe.
- Thermal comfort: effectively protects against cold.
- Packability: lightweight jacket, when folded it does not take up much space.
- Suggested season of use: late fall, winter, early spring.
To sum up, each of the cycling jackets has its strengths and slightly weaker sides, which means that it will not work always and in all conditions. Therefore, when deciding on the choice of a specific type of clothing, it is worth being aware that there are no universal solutions. When choosing a jacket for yourself, we must take into account the season and the weather conditions prevailing during it, as well as the type of activity during which we intend to wear it. Thanks to this, we will be able to find the perfect solution that will provide us with full comfort.
