Jacket Recommendation (mid-weight)

[Jay]

In anticipation of spring, or at least riding in above 0C temperatures, I'm looking for a new mid-weight jacket.

My winter jacket is Gore, it's very warm.  My current mid-weight jacket is screaming-yellow, some Italian brand I can't recall, but it has zero breathability.  It's good for single-digit (Celsius) temps, but I sweat a lot inside the jacket and eventually get cold.  I have a thin wind jacket I can wear around 5C+ with sufficient base layers, and it breathes better.  

I'm looking for something between the warm Gore jacket and the wind jacket.  Would like some wind resistance (on the front) and some breathability.  Not racing-tight fit, but not baggie either.  I don't have any non-cycling jackets that fit the bill.

[Richard Rose]

I have two jackets that might fit the bill. I hesitate to recommend either as both are expensive. I got very lucky with both & would never have paid the kind of money these cost. But they are both nice.

Seven Mesh Revelation is the first. It is Gore but I swear it does breath & it has several zippered vents that do a great job of exhausting heat. It’s a slightly loose fit but not baggy & it’s a good wind breaker.

Second is the Search & State Jacket. I think they only offer two, the name escapes me but maybe SV1? This one fits a bit more snugly but is very comfy. It has no zippered vents but the fabric does breath. Some sort of miracle fabric that “opens up” to vent heat but stays “closed” when cold. Apparently this happens on a microscopic level but it is comfortable in a wide range of temps. I have had both for a while & have no need for any other cycling jackets. With appropriate layering these two cover my bases. Added benefit of Search & State is all of their stuff is MUSA, if you are into that.

Good luck,

Richard

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On Feb 28, 2026, at 7:21 PM, Jay <jason....@gmail.com> wrote:

In anticipation of spring, or at least riding in above 0C temperatures, I'm looking for a new mid-weight jacket.

My winter jacket is Gore, it's very warm.  My current mid-weight jacket is screaming-yellow, some Italian brand I can't recall, but it has zero breathability.  It's good for single-digit (Celsius) temps, but I sweat a lot inside the jacket and eventually get cold.  I have a thin wind jacket I can wear around 5C+ with sufficient base layers, and it breathes better.  

I'm looking for something between the warm Gore jacket and the wind jacket.  Would like some wind resistance (on the front) and some breathability.  Not racing-tight fit, but not baggie either.  I don't have any non-cycling jackets that fit the bill.

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[rlti...@gmail.com]

I like the Stio Dawner jacket.  It’s marketed as “active insulation” and I think it works well in that capacity. It seems to breathe pretty well and is extremely good at cutting the wind.  I have the hooded version but do want an unhooded version for bike use. It will shed light moisture but will wet through in constant rain. The back is not cut specifically for cycling so it may be an issue when riding in the drops. My cycling tends to be more upright these days so it works for me.

I took this to Japan in a non-cycling trip as my main warmth layer and it was not up to the task since it was colder than expected. But for use as an active insulation piece it works great.

Robert Tilley

San Diego, CA

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On Feb 28, 2026, at 4:21 PM, Jay <jason....@gmail.com> wrote:

In anticipation of spring, or at least riding in above 0C temperatures, I'm looking for a new mid-weight jacket.

My winter jacket is Gore, it's very warm.  My current mid-weight jacket is screaming-yellow, some Italian brand I can't recall, but it has zero breathability.  It's good for single-digit (Celsius) temps, but I sweat a lot inside the jacket and eventually get cold.  I have a thin wind jacket I can wear around 5C+ with sufficient base layers, and it breathes better.  

I'm looking for something between the warm Gore jacket and the wind jacket.  Would like some wind resistance (on the front) and some breathability.  Not racing-tight fit, but not baggie either.  I don't have any non-cycling jackets that fit the bill.

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[ascpgh]

I find myself circling back to layering versus single-garment solutions until reaching high 40°s-50°s. From 50° and up, the duration and vigor of a ride becomes key since my production of sweat or at least higher temperature, moisture-laden vapor. 

I think from the outside to the inside, based on temperature, wind, and humidity, as I dress. I've never lived in the specific climates that much of this market objectifies with their designs, and using my gear through my local dark season,  commuting from October through April.

The colder it is, the more breathable a shell must be, or the inner surface begins to run with condensate, which bogs down any breathability and becomes a conductive heat loss. Too breathable (like thick wool knit or fleece) is a convective heat loss. Insulative layers absolutely will begin to dampen with that condensing vapor as the temperature drops at incremental distances from your skin. That vapor carries body oils, too. In my week of below-zero temperatures, I wore my Patagonia Puff Ball jacket over a fleece midlayer, under my Veltile shell, and days later, I was surprised at how stinky it was.

Curious to see the solutions and settings from others.

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Patrick Moore]

I generally layer wool under a wind shell of greater or less thickness depending on the temp, wind, and presence of absence of the sun (35* air temp on shaded front porch at 8:30 am and shirt sleeves on back porch in full morning sun at 5K feet), and with my very lightly lined Leatt shell I had pit zips installed so that it’s good over layers from 18*F to (remove layers to single wool jersey) 60*F with neck and pits open.

But what I’d really like to find is one of those old-fashioned heavy knit wool zip up jackets with nylon wind panels on the front and the front of the arms, leaving the backs open for ventilation through the wool fabric. Those are IME truly the best of both worlds: very warm, but very breathable. 

Someone very kindly gave me an Italian one that he’d bought in the 1980s, but it’s too short — I have a 6’2” torso on a 5’8” width, and this is cut for a fat Italian. Does anyone know where to find such old-fashioned wool knit + nylon wind panel jackets?

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Patrick Moore

Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique, Orbis Terrarum

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[rlti...@gmail.com]

Mission Workshop sold something like that called the Mission Cardigan. It was merino wool and had a windproof front on the torso. It was disappointing that the sleeves were all merino and had no windproofing on them.  This shows what it looked like:

The pre-resurrection Ibex had the Breakaway jacket which was perfect. Decently heavy merino with windproof front. I have two still. One in use and one in the stash. My favorite cycling jacket of all time. Arc’Teryx made a similar jacket in their commuter line which was close but not quite as nice.

Robert Tilley

San Diego, CA

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On Mar 1, 2026, at 2:37 PM, Patrick Moore <bert...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Garth]

Having tried all sort of combos of wind jacket/vests and various layers underneath, I now much prefer wearing the modern cycling jackets that are really a hybrid jacket/jersey in one garment. While my needs are served by Sportful and their brilliant Fiandre line that use highly breathable Gore Infinium proprietary fabrics, I otherwise would try a Voler Thermal and/or Wind jacket/vests. These these have a combo of wind resistant panels(w/bonded fleece on the thermal) and stretchy highly breathable panels. Plus 2-way zippers. They have a 30 day wear and try return policy also. The thermal is a fitted jacket, meaning it's meant to drape over you without being too tight or baggy, room for some layering underneath if needed. I find though with such jackets though a single baselayer shirt of varying warmths work best to maintain a constant core temp without overheating. Even if you do briefly, unzip it just a little for a brief stint. This is where 2-way zippers are awesome ! I would say the thermal jacket is for about freezing to about 60F, depending on what's underneath. 

https://store.voler.com/products/1010p11?

[Richard Rose]

Patrick, I had one of those wool jackets with the wind breaker material. It was a Castelli, was Italian made & fit my then slim anatomy like a glove. I did love that thing. By the time I had “grown” out of it after several decades, the wool was thin & the nylon ripped. And the zipper was stiff. I think I sold it on eBay for close to what it cost me. As good as it was I think my modern layering is at least as effective but not as stylish.:)

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On Mar 2, 2026, at 1:15 AM, rlti...@gmail.com wrote:

Mission Workshop sold something like that called the Mission Cardigan. It was merino wool and had a windproof front on the torso. It was disappointing that the sleeves were all merino and had no windproofing on them.  This shows what it looked like:

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/FECD08DA-5923-4039-8291-F33ED7F3DCB1%40gmail.com.