Thinking about buying a Waterproof Winter Jacket?...

Here in the UK at the time of writing of this (mid-October) Autumn and Winter are firmly setting hold so you might be considering your wardrobe options to keep warm and dry on outdoor rides. 

If you're thinking to purchase a Winter Jacket then we wanted to suggest a possible alternative.  At INVANI we are all about trying to get the most out of clothing and to give more choice and flexibility. 

Firstly, and briefly - what is a Winter Jacket and what is it for?  In summary it's a bulked up Jersey that has one or two insulating layers and then a waterproof outer to keep you warm and dry in temperatures anywhere from freezing up to about 10 degrees.  You would likely wear a Base Layer beneath this jacket and it'll be constructed with a membrane fabric that fuses together different fabrics.  Offerings from top brands can cost anywhere up to £300+.  Note, we aren't talking about either  (1) warm Jerseys or (2) simple Waterproof jackets which are both for slightly different purposes. 

What could you wear instead, and why?  We think that you can very easily re-create the same benefits of a Winter Jacket with different layers.   In doing so you have a lot more flexibility to wear each layer in different conditions, so you get much more use out of the individual layers.  What's more, you can save money as well.

So, what layers would we suggest?  Sit down, you're in for a shock - we are actually going to be recommending some products from other brands here!

Layer 1: the Base Layer.  As mentioned above you may well wear this under a Winter Jacket in any case.  This could be anything from a long-sleeved, thermal version all the way down to a Sleeveless lightweight version.  Hopefully you'll have seen the range of INVANI Base Layers, currently we have Short-Sleeved and Sleeveless versions.  If you are looking to purchase a long-sleeved version then you might consider for example an Endura Pro SL, which can be picked up for around £30 where discounted.

Click here for INVANI Base Layers

Layer 2:  the Mid Layer.  Here we are biased but we think you won't find a better option than the INVANI Long Sleeve Jersey.  It's constructed of a wonderfully comfortable, wicking and superior quality Italian fabric that customers love and makes a perfect mid layer in cold conditions. Of course, our unique reversible feature also gives you more colour choice when the Jersey is worn as a top layer.

Click here for INVANI Long Sleeve Jerseys

Layer 3: the Waterproof Layer. There is a massive spectrum of products here, ranging from around £30 to £300+.  We aren't actually massive fans of the cheapest fabric products which are almost transparent and cling to you when wet and flap around in the wind, but you don't need to break the bank either.  We've had a good experience with the Shimano Variable Condition Jacket which has an RRP of £100 but you might be able to pick up for more like £50-60.

So what are the advantages and disadvantages of going for a combination of garments versus a Winter Jacket?

Disadvantages

• Obviously it takes a few more seconds to get dressed with a few more layers
• Rain Jackets frequently don't have pockets so it is a little harder to get to your Jersey pockets compared to a Winter Jacket with pockets (arguably winter riding probably requires less use of pockets and its less of an issue to wait until a stop)  

Advantages

• Cost.  Even if you were to purchase premium versions of all three layers new you can easily spend less than buying a good quality Winter Jacket  
• Washing.  With separate layers you will only rarely have to clean the top Waterproof Layer, which would lose it's effectiveness if washed after every ride, as you might do with a Winter Jacket
• Wardrobe flexibility.  The three layers can be used in so many different conditions, meaning that you can use the items for almost 12 months a year rather than just for say 3 or 4 months.  As a few examples:

+ Base Layer under a Jersey in Warmers conditions or on its own for indoor training

+ Mid Layer on its own or with a light Base Layer when dry and cool.  Pair with a Gilet when its cold but dry.  Obviously the INVANI reversible Jersey gives you two colour options as well...

+ Waterproof Layer as packable rain protection even in warm conditions 

• Mid Ride flexibility.  Being able to strip off the Rain Jacket mid-ride when conditions allow or to unzip the Waterproof while keeping the mid-layer closed etc etc

You may well already own one or more of these layers so you don't necessarily have to purchase all of them afresh to create your own Winter Jacket.

We hope this might been of interest and hopefully helps you to a good outcome ahead of some safe, comfortable and enjoyable rides over the colder months!