Anyone ever own a Showers Pass rain jacket?? I see great things online about um but don't know anyone that owns one. Or any recommendations on a solid rain jacket? My commute is 11 miles and live in NW.

Use the thread search Luke.

Until then, yeah, I have been using Showers Pass gear on commute and long rides for several years. It can't be beat by anything that I have found. Period. It fits better, breathes better, and has better features, right down to the hood option which has turned out to be the best money that I ever spent in terms of staying dry come what may.

:thumbsup:

Had not heard of Showers Pass before your thread. I am also searching for some good rain gear. Showers Pass jackets seems like a pretty technical bike jacket. Hard to get a sense of the venting features from their website, however. I read a review of the Marmot Precip jacket on a bike blog and I tried one on yesterday at REI. Seems like a decent jacket which would look decent off the bike as well. Especially like the very long vent that runs all the way up the arm and halfway down the rib cage.

One of the questions I have is, is it better to get something with an integrated hood (like the PreCip) that can be worn under the bike helmet, a rain proof cap (similarly worn under the helmet) or purchase a helmet cover? Any experience or ideas with maintaining visibility with either of these options?

I have used an REI jacket for a few years. I Scotch-Guard it every once in awhile and it's fine. If it's really pouring I'll wear a helmet cover.

I've got a marmot PreCip and it's great as a rain jacket but pretty lousy on the bike- it's cut pretty big for layering, so it's like wearing a sail.

I learned the hard way last month that a hood is really important for staying dry when riding- all the water that hits your helmet ends up flowing right down your back if you don't have one...

Rainshield works well in terms of breathability and waterproofness, and it's very light. A non-woven material, it's kind of fragile, but it's $35.

Use the thread search Luke.

Until then, yeah, I have been using Showers Pass gear on commute and long rides for several years. It can't be beat by anything that I have found. Period. It fits better, breathes better, and has better features, right down to the hood option which has turned out to be the best money that I ever spent in terms of staying dry come what may.

:thumbsup:

I'll 2nd rule's post. I don't have a hood, but I may have to get one for mine. Showers Pass are expensive, but worth every dime if you value staying dry AND breath-ability. I love mine. :thumbsup:

Rainshield works well in terms of breathability and waterproofness, and it's very light. A non-woven material, it's kind of fragile, but it's $35.

They've worked well for me. And i just ran across this story of someone who wore one for a very rainy PBP. That's a pretty good testimonial.
http://sheldonbrown.com/pbp-emily-obrien.html

Rainshield works well in terms of breathability and waterproofness, and it's very light. A non-woven material, it's kind of fragile, but it's $35.

Everything under this product remains dry, no question. It is very cheap at $35. However it breaths like a plastic bag IMO.

Everything under this product remains dry, no question. It is very cheap at $35. However it breaths like a plastic bag IMO.

If it breathed like a plastic bag, wouldn't a person excercising under it be soaked with sweat, rather than "remaining dry?" IME it has worked well. YMMV, of course.

If it breathed like a plastic bag, wouldn't a person excercising under it be soaked with sweat, rather than "remaining dry?" IME it has worked well. YMMV, of course.

It keeps the rain out and the sweat in; you nailed my experience exactly.

+1 on the Showers Pass. The key to it is the Event fabric. Blows Gore Tex away. Best money I've spent on any clothing and this is from a year round Seattle commuter.