Suggestions for a good but not too expensive winter jacket please.

[picstloup]

I'm getting back into cycling after several years away. I've discovered my fav jackets are too tight. I need something to get me through from February to mid April I guess. Eventually I'll get back down to my normal weight and my old and still good stuff will fit right again.

I'd like something comfortable. Not too tight. I'm not really concerned with wind drag etc. I'd love two to three outside rear pockets if possible. Most of mine have one larger pocket.

Want to get back in shape so just want comfort, try and stay relatively ok on the bike in say no lower than 30 degree weather. A lot will be more in the upper thirties to upper forties with some wind. Sometimes a lot of wind. I'm talking the south of france. So it ain't NY or Chicago weather. :)

thanks for any advice...
Morris

[weisan]

http://www.merlincycles.com/etxeondo-estalki-windproof-jacket-68916.html

Edit: Loose fit: Try REI.

[Cornfed]

I use a Gore Phantom 2.0 softshell. Great at blocking the wind and on sale now on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006URBL4G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[p nut]

This has worked for me down to 15 deg.

- Wool sweater
- Ultralight rain jacket

[93legendti]

http://www.performancebike.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductPopupView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10551&productId=1160315&parent_category_rn=&categoryId=1922509

Size up for layering...

[bcgav]

I use a Gore Phantom 2.0 softshell. Great at blocking the wind and on sale now on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006URBL4G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

+1 with a Smartwool long sleeve base layer.

[carpediemracing]

Are you ever stateside?

What size jacket you looking for and do you mind a (not-a-pro) team jacket?

[wc1934]

Purchased this the other day - dual purpose: winter running and cycling.
Happy so far - 20's Boston winter weather -warm enough with just an underarmour cold gear shirt -

http://www.rei.com/product/882017/louis-garneau-cascade-bike-jacket-mens-2011-closeout

[picstloup]

Wanted to thank you all for your suggestions. Have looked at all the links and with that info will go tomorrow armed to my local bike shop(s). I really need to try on. I can get gore brand clothing here, besides all the most popular stuff.

And the heads up about wool was welcome. I forgot about how good and comfy wool can be on the bike. I know I have some older wool jerseys here someplace, but they'll probably be too small now. Maybe i can re-purpose one of my wool sweaters.

carpediemracing : I just got back from Miami late Saturday. I didn't think to try on my jackets. Just figured they would work. What a fool. I bought several jerseys, two bib shorts, gloves, arm and leg warmers, a helmet, but no jacket.

I do make it back home to the US about two, three times a year.

I did try some vests on and nothing fit me right so I'm gonna look for something here as well. One was a Louis Garneau vest. Couldn't even get the zipper together on an xl size vest. Guy says it's made for the super small and thin pros. I should buy it and work towards getting it to fit. What a salesman :)

[staggerwing]

Love merino wool as a base layer for skiing and winter cycling. There are several performance brands like icebreaker, ibex and Smartwool which are nice, but little dear on the wallet.

This is the time of year that retailers start purging winter inventory. Just pick up a couple of merino wool sweaters off the clearance racks for 20 bucks and you are good to go. Then, pick either a wind shell, or a lightweight jacket to layer over top.

Patagonia and even Under Armor have numerous synthetic base layer options that work, although, for me, they tend to grab and hold body odor to a much greater degree than wool. Have no idea why this is so.

I have trouble with my eyes watering up when cold too. For low light, just pick up whatever wrap around safety glasses that best fit your face at the local Lowes/HD/Sears store. Both 3M and Dewalt see "reader" safety glasses too, in clear and yellow, which I find helpful. If below 40 degrees, I add the 180s exolite ear muffs. They're quite thin, and don't significantly muffle sound.

[saab2000]

Gore soft shell, as has been mentioned. And +1 on the Smartwool base layer. I wear this base layer, with a Wabi Woolens wool jersey as a mid layer and the Gore jacket over those two and I'm good to 30°F or so.

[cdn_bacon]

Any windbreaker shell and thermal layer below. As long as the shell remains dry, and no wind gets through you should be good for awhile. I rode in -11 with that same setup and I was good to go.