Reddit mentions: The best cycling jackets for men

Keeping your bike in shape:

• Rust-proof your frame/fork if you ride steel. Salted, slushy streets are bad news for damn near everything on your bike.
  
• Get some lube designed for wet/gritty conditions. Again, salty slushy streets; your chain'll be going through more than it usually does in the winter.
  
• Fenders are awesome. You already have some, but to anyone else who's reading this and doesn't, get at least a rear fender. SKS makes a few cheap, solid seatpost-mount ones for $14 or so for road and mountain bikes.
  
• Tyres: This one's optional, really. Knobbies help when the streets are so oversalted that it's like gravel, but if you've got wide tyres then you'll be fine on slicks. My housemate's done winter on his 23s, came out of it fine. Obviously, MTBs have a tire width advantage here.
  
  Keeping yourself warm:
  
  
• Base layers are great. You don't have to go all-out on these, just get something snug and comfortable. Something like this will do you just fine, and may even be overkill on some days. I used MEC's T1 and T2 tights throughout last year, and had no trouble. Was even pretty toasty on most days!
  
• Softshells are also great. I'm a fan of the Gore Bike Wear stuff, specifically their Phantom jacket. I realize last winter was pretty mild, but I only donned this and a simple long-sleeved shirt (usually polyester, occasionally cotton) and much like my bottom half, was nicely toasty. Shameless plug: I'm selling a grey medium-sized Phantom for $80 (got it as a gift but only wore it for a week in the fall, bought a small instead)
  
• Tights are nice, but optional. Any kind of waterproof/resistant pants should do you alright. Look into Craft brand stuff, or swing by REI if you're near one. They've got plenty of cheap stuff.
  
• Gaiters/shoe covers/plastic bags: Whatever keeps your feet dry. Wet shoes/socks are, if not the start to getting frostbitten feet, at least pretty damn annoying.
  
• Wool socks: Because your feet are going to get cold, possibly wet, and wool both insulates nicely and dries quickly. On that note, keep a spare pair of socks on you during your commute. Nothing sucks like biking to work/school, getting wet feet, and having to deal with it all day.
  
• Gloves: If you're getting some simple softshell gloves, go one size larger than your usual; wear some cheap mittens under those, and voila, instant double-layered hands on the cheap. If it gets really frigid, throw some wool mitts over that combo and you're set for anything. Alternatively to all this, just get some gloves meant for skiing/snowboarding. It's easy to keep most of your body warm since it's moving all the time, but your hands are just sitting on the bars getting hit by wind. Easy for them to get chilly.
  
• Shoes! Riding on platform pedals? Salomon makes some damn nice waterproof/resistant shoes/boots. Riding clipless? Five Ten makes some great, heavy-duty shoes that have some decent weatherproofing thanks to the "action leather" they're made wtih. Check out their Cyclones.
  
  Tips:
  
  
• Remember, you've got to dress for both being active and not. Sometimes you'll be pedaling hard, sometimes you'll be pedaling lightly or walking around. Find a good balance in layers that won't have you being too hot with the former, or too cold with the latter.
  
• Lights are always a good investment, be it winter or any other season. Winter especially, since the sun's not out for quite as long. Keep visible. For a powerful front light, get a flashlight and a handlebar mount. I use the Fenix TK-21 and this cheap mount. for commuting, touring, mountain biking, you name it. And then you've got yourself a flashlight off the bike too!
  
• "Cotton kills" is a bit of an overdramatic statement, but cotton's generally good to avoid. It doesn't dry particularly well, meaning if you get wet, you'll be wet for a while. Wet + cold is a nasty combination, too. Polyester and wool stuff is nice.
  
• Head to Village Cycle Center in Old Town. They know their stuff and they'll talk winter biking (or any biking, really) with you for however long you like. Good folks.

I've been bike commuting for a while in Denton. I used to do 6-7 miles one-way, but since my move, I'm down to 2-3 miles one-way :( I do it five days a week, 52 days a year, with maybe 5 days skipped a year due to severe weather.

You can definitely do 4 season commuting in Denton, but there's nothing wrong with 3 season. Winter commuting in Denton is great, as we rarely have ice or snow. Since you don't have to worry about road conditions, the thing to worry about in winter is going to be wearing proper clothing to keep comfortable. Dress in layers for your body, and get a balaclava/face mask/scarf/etc for your face. Winter commuting is great, in my opinion.

Summer is going to be the worst, as we will routinely hit a heat index of 100°+ F, but for a short commute like that, you can totally make it happen. It's best if you can shower when you get to your destination, or you can do a shower right before you leave and let evaporative cooling work in your favor without sweat. If you can't do that, get a [giant wet wipe]( https://www.amazon.com/10-pack-massive-biodegradable-residue-free-substitute/dp/B01NB09UJI ) to wipe yourself off before you get to work. Remember to stay hydrated, and bring a change of clothes for any weather where you will work up a sweat.

Rain is not fun, but I have a [rain suit](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CPDJ4TW/) and some rain boots/galloshes/Wellingtons, and that keeps me mostly dry through the torrential downpour. If you don't want to bike in the rain, that's totally fine! But on light rain days, it's rather enjoyable :)

For a 6 mile commute, an eBike might be overkill. If you haven't been riding your bike much, your first few days of bike commuting will suck, but you will get used to it quickly. Just stick with it for 5-10 rides before you commit to any major changes or purchases. Denton is pretty darn flat, so we don't have any giant rolling hills to work against (but you'll probably find some flatter routes if you try), so you won't need an eBike to help you up the steep climbs.

If you haven't yet, check out /r/bikecommuting for some more in-depth information and people who can provide more help as well :)

Ride happy!

Yea it depends on how winter is like for you.

Im in Chicago so things can get pretty dicey around here. I used to commute on a road bike with 23's. I would probably go through at least a handful of wipeouts every season. Its just hard to ride snow in them. It looks like you have some room for nice grippy tires on there though so you should be covered on that front.

If temperatures are <-5C I would seriously look into something liek a snowboard helmet with earflaps and a pair of good goggles. They make a big difference in keeping you warm. Standard things like balaclavas are recommended.

There are things called bar mitts that will go over your bars and you can stick your hands into them and operate your bike. I typically see them on bikes with road hoods but its possible they make something similar for your flat bar setup. Keeping your hands warm is important though you need to be able to operate your bike.

I would highly suggest some sort of cold weather cycling jacket. I ride with a pearl izumi elite escape softshell. This jacket plus base layer(s) can take me down to temperatures below 0C. I started with a normal snowboard jacket (which I still use when it starts getting closer to -10C) and it is less than optimal. The venting isnt the best and you spend a lot of time putzing around with the vents while riding to regulate your temperature. The venting on a dedicated cycling jacket is much better and much more comfortable. It also wont be a wind sail.

Neck Gaiters are fantastic little pieces to have. They are super light and can be used to seal off around your neck (Which makes a difference) or you can pop it around your head to use as a makeshift cap in case you need one.

Definitely be sure to grab some wool base layers.

I think the best thing I did for winter cycling is making sure I had gear for all the different temperatures that I would need to cycle in. I have gloves that I swap around for every 10-15 degree change in the temperature. different base layers + light jackets that I throw on underneath as the temperature drops. A light wind break jacket if its windy. A heavy snowboard jacket if things start getting crazy cold. Scarfs/balaclavas for my face and snow pants when things get real dicey.

If you just get out there youll get the hang of it though. Pick up things as you need them. Cycling in the winter isnt all that scary as long as you are dressed right.

Arm and leg warmers are a small pain, but allow a lot of flexibility and are just about all you need around the East Bay. If you used that with any standard wool base layer, you'd be fine.

I highly recommend long sleeve jerseys that are meant for spring/fall weather. They typically have much more insulation up front, and not much in back. This keeps you warm and is amazing for minimizing sweat. I have a capo jersey that's great for this, but I'm not sure about any other brands. This looks about right. Just put on a thin layer under that and you're ready for lots of conditions. These jerseys allow for much better regulation of temp because unzipping halfway gets a lot of fresh air inside the jersey so you can cool off and dry off really well.

A thin hat under your helmet is great, and you probably don't need booties. If you ride up in the hills, bring lights with you. It gets foggy as hell up there all the time and you need to be visible. A waterproof shell is really helpful. Even when it's not raining, once you get up there the fog is thick enough to soak you quick.

Woo! I'll see you there, man. That'd be amazing if you get some gear given to you. The more the better! Try hard with that - why not? Don't bank on it though. Have you been on whiteblaze.net? It's an AT-based website and has a ton of information on cheap hiking. You gotta think outside the box, because if you live in America the box is definitely spending money on brand new equipment. I say screw that. Just remember to think simple and light! Here are some tips I've seen and used:

Make your own gear. There's more than enough information on the internet to help you make your own gear - shelters, backpacks, shirts, gaiters, stoves and more. Here's a good gear-making resource, here's where you can buy fabrics (or you can find fabric for free on craigslist, or use fabric from old cloths, sheets, etcetera. I would stay away from cotton for the AT, though.), here's where you can get some sewing ideas, here are some patterns, and here's the wonderful penny stove (you could also consider a simple wood stove, or just go cookless). Many swear by their homemade tarptents. Making your own clothes is easy and fun; if you have a sewing machine or can borrow one then I strongly suggest fashioning some clothes for yourself. It feels good to wear or use something you made yourself! You can buy wool, synthetics and patterns for very cheap online. I wouldn't make my own backpack, because I want my backpack to be well-built and very comfortable. I'm not sure I could guarantee myself that haha. I have the ULA Catalyst, and I bought it used for $200. See what you can do for yourself... you can surely get something good for less than $200.

Visit nearby thrift stores. Why not? It can't hurt. Maybe you could modify an old backpack they have laying around. I found a nice ragg wool sweater that I backpack with. Thrift stores have hats, gloves, shoes, jackets... just remember to think simple and light. Don't buy a big rain jacket. Make a poncho or buy this.

Buy used gear. Hit up backpacking forums. Nearly every backpacking or hiking website has a section in their forum for buying and selling used gear. That's how I got my ULA backpack.

Go dumpster diving. This is becoming increasingly popular. Not related to hiking, but related to frugality in general.

Speaking of frugal...

Please know that you don't need the most amazing, state-of-the-art, astronaut-worthy equipment. Remember Grandma Gatewood!

To OP /u/SirNoodlesworth and you,

For Winter:

Thermal and Windproof jacket by Przewalski

Neck warmer, unless it's super duper cold, then try full Balaclava

Windproof gloves, and if you want extra padding, try Pearl Izumi from LBS. They're pricier, but may be worth it depending on your comfort tolerance levels.

For Florida/summer:

Best "cheap" bibs! Double stich and will handle lots of washes.

Comfy jerseys with high quality zipper (the zipper is usually the first thing to break on the cheapies).

For ladies, my wife loves these kits. Comfortable and durable.

I am going to suggest investment (especially if you live in Chicago and want to ride outside) into a decent winter jacket.

https://www.amazon.com/ARSUXEO-Thermal-Windproof-Waterproof-Breathalbe/dp/B01MXQE3UK/

this is very cheap for what it claims to do, so it's worth the chance in IMHO.

Beyond that I would suggest you look into a couple of pieces that will make your life MUCH more comfortable on the bike

• under helmet scull cap
  
• one or two neck warmers in a pile backed lycra or merlino wool
  
• long sleeve base layer for winter
  
• two winter gloves sets one for very cold, one for moderate cold
  
• nice insulated cycling tights
  
• winter cycling shoes
  
  Each of these will allow you to regulate your temp much better than other alternatives. Feel free to message me if you have other questions. I'm originally from Texas, but the first time I invested in proper cycling gear for winter I was super impressed at how it made my life much better. Now I live in Europe and can ride full year round comfortably.

Hi, welcome to the club :)

• Actually the way your saddle is set up is best for cycling, and on stop lights most people get out of the saddle to stand down or tilt the bike to the side to tip-toe-stand. Just a matter of getting used to it. By the way: Make sure the saddle post doesn't hit the spring of your suspension, I just checked your bike and that could happen. That being said if it really is too high there is nothing wrong with cutting an inch or two off the bottom.
  
  
• Frankly just practice. Sometimes you have to just brake and get off, it's just something pedestrians do. It can be confusing, but after a while it became quite fun for me to try and judge who goes where and so on.
  
  
• Depends a lot. If you were racing in groups there are clear rules, but otherwise it's basically just common sense like you would use when on foot. People don't seem to like being cut off, and if you see someone is faster than you don't get in front of them at lights only to be overtaken a minute later. Running red lights is good ediquette, at least all the cheers I get from the cyclists who wait seems to say so. Maybe they are yelling obscenities, but I never hear it exactly because they are so far behind me.
  
  
• Invest in cheap waterproof pants and a jacket. I have had this set until I lost it somewhere, it did a fine job of keeping me dry. An extra set of shoes can't hurt if you use it to get to work, wet shoes suck. Get a strong clothes pin for your right pants leg so it doesn't get chain grease all over / stuck in the chain. If you want to upgrade at some point there isn't much you can upgrade on a folder, but a Brooks saddle is something I never knew I would love this much, super comfortable and transformed my 300€ singlespeeder into my daily driver of four years and counting.

Amazon is a great spot to find cheap cycling gear, especially if you go with the "made in China" route. You can use a men's chamois to start with; something like this one in US size 3X would likely fit OK!

https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07BBMX2F7/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_ryqSCbHCCP43J

Light-weight windbreakers are good for riding, you can totally start with something from the thrift shop. A cycling-specific one will be longer in the back (to cover your buttcrack) but I got started with an oversized one I got from the local Goodwill.

Maybe you could go for something like this as your outer layer, then layer warmer tops (especially thermals) underneath:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Santic-Cycling-Jersey-Bicycle-Windproof/dp/B01C5GLXZW/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=cycling%2Bjacket&qid=1555105397&s=gateway&sr=8-1&th=1&psc=1

What kind of riding are you thinking? Just commuting or road riding?

Waterproof pants are tough, I actually found these Old Navy pants after using the shorts version all summer. Haven't had any supremely wet weather, but I've commuted with them and they're comfortable, and slim enough that they don't flap in the wind.

I have some old faithful Grundens that I use in the winter to commute, because it's so dark, the Hi-Viz is nice to have.


For jackets, I have a few rain jackets that work well for road riding (Search and State and a 7Mesh one). I plan to get a Showers Pass jacket at some point for commuting and longer road rides. It's supposedly good for hiking, where as my road ones today aren't great for hiking.

> The stereotype that all Asians are short is just that, a stereotype.

They're not really trying to refute that stereotype though when I have to order XXXL Chinese size clothes to fit my North American Medium to Large body.

Edit: Some downvotes but here's my experience: I ordered this jacket in XL earlier. I had no problems putting it on and zipping it up but the sleeves went half way up my forearms and the waste line was just near my bellybutton. Normally a large would fit perfectly but from China I'll need to order an XXL or XXXL. Shorts from China sized XL were a good fit.

I'd be nice if we could ditch the whole M, L, XL sizing and just go with centimeters. Less confusion that way.

I like a poncho more. They usually roll pretty small and can just be brought with you even if you just suspect rain.

https://www.amazon.com/Leger-Durable-Unisex-Reusable-Raincoat/dp/B07S621BX6/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?hasWorkingJavascript=1&keywords=rain+coat&qid=1562212801&s=gateway&sr=8-9

Also sweet bike! Love the look of the klunker bars.

Been loving this Gore Running Wear windstopper jacket:
http://smile.amazon.com/Mythos-Windstopper-Shell-Jacket-Splash/dp/B00B35QFFU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416977714&sr=8-2&keywords=gore+running+mythos+jacket
It got me through the polar vortex this past winter and now I'm not scared about this coming one. Definitely worth the money.
There is an updated version this year which costs the same. I presume it is somehow better -)

1. Gloves - Bar mitts are a necessity below 20F. I am able to wear light MTB gloves down to 20F with the help of bar mitts and medium gloves get me down to 0F.
   
   
2. face wear - Balaclava below 20F and just a skullcap from 20-35F
   
   
3. weatherproof pants / jackets - I just recently got some showers pass transit pants for rain/snow but if that is not in the forecast I just wear some thermal leggings under jeans when temp is below 20F. Otherwise my jeans are heavy enough to keep the cold out
   
   
4. lightweight winter wear - Also just recently got a Pearl Izumi Escape and it feels like it should be good down to around 25 with a t-shirt and much colder with proper baselayers.
   
   
5. socks - Now here is why I have struggled in the past. I have usually switched over to waterproof hiking shoes when things get cold but this year I am going to try to stay in my clipless shoes and use overshoes as the temperature drops. For socks, you can't beat some Darn Tough socks
   
   
6. wild card - When temperature is below 10F I have to wear contacts and ski goggles to save my eyes. This is also because I am usually going into a 20-30mph breeze in the morning.

I've been very very happy with this cheap ($35) rain suit from RockBros: Rockbros High Visibility Cycling Rain Jacket Men's Windproof Rain Coat Motocycle Rain Suit Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073WQ68BW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_41naCb1P6QH74

My commute is 11 miles each way. Don't know that I'd want to go further than that in them... I'm pretty damp on the inside by the time I get home. But that's true for me for anything. They're light weight but durable. Highly highly visible. If my current set gets ripped it something, I'll buy this suite again, easily.

It’s not a vest, but I use one of these in cold weather. Comfortable in about 10F to 40F riding:

BALEAF Men's Windproof Thermal Softshell Cycling Jacket Water-Repellent Lightweight Windbreaker Winter Jacket Size S https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N3PUX0M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Jhg1Db4TX6G46

Underneath I just wear a thin long sleeve workout shirt like Nike Dri-Fit.

I got this one: ARSUXEO Winter Warm UP Thermal Softshell Cycling Jacket Windproof Waterproof Bicycle MTB Mountain Bike Clothes 15-K Orange Size Small https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015H1SNGO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Fwx0Db2H9EF9Q

It does the job, keeps me warm and has nice vents. I'm a broad shouldered lady so I was happy it fit there but could be better.

Don’t forget the the bell mounted on the stem! 😜
(I call it my “pedestrian bell”)

I ride my bike daily to/from work. I’ve been using this back pack for several weeks now and I absolutely love it. Not huge in size to where it gets in the way, but big enough to carry my essentials - lunch for the day, jacket, U-lock, saddle bag that has some tools in it (throw it on my saddle for longer dedicated rides w/o my backpack + with my clipless pedals on) + any other misc. small things that I may need to bring along with me to work.

For larger loads, I have a different back back that I use on occasion.

From head to toe:

• Thermal Headband and Ear Warmer
  
• Long Sleeve Thermal
  
• Cannondale Neon Yellow Outer Layer
  
• Running Gloves
  
• Black Running Tights (not necessarily Under Armour)
  
• Thick Running Socks
  
  Basically a thermal, a thin wind-breaker, running tights, gloves, headband, and warm socks. Supplement if extra layers are needed.
  
  I don't change what shoes I wear. Call me crazy and I'll agree with you, but I like running in my normal running shoes year round. They don't have great traction, but I like a little challenge on the slick roads of winter.