Any down filled, cycling designed/cut jackets out there?

Veloo · #1 10-29-2021, 07:35 AM

My Descente Bobolink jacket is probably ready for retirement very soon. It's more casual looking so I can wear it for non riding trips which will be the main purpose of the jacket.

Looking to replace it with something down filled since the synthetic stuff seems to wear out quickly.

Are there any light, down filled jackets out there with cycling details? Back (zipped) pockets are nice to have. The Bobolink has a front zip chest pocket with an inside opening for earphone wire. Jersey height collar to keep the wind out but not choke you.

Don't need the rear to cover the butt area. That just looks weird and the fenders take care of that.

AngryScientist · #2 10-29-2021, 07:41 AM

The most interesting cyclist in the world's brand comes to mind here.

Veloo · #3 10-29-2021, 07:48 AM

Can't make out what's on the patch. What band is it?
Hopefully not $500.

AngryScientist · #4 10-29-2021, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veloo

Can't make out what's on the patch. What band is it?
Hopefully not $500.

https://www.cafeducycliste.com/en_us...ts-gilets.html

$307 USD

RobJ · #5 10-29-2021, 08:30 AM

https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/shop/m...uct/BDJ02XXMBS

https://pedaled.com/eu_en/men-insula...t-lime-odyssey --> synthetic down..... Plus other jackets listed there too

RoosterCogset · #6 10-29-2021, 08:38 AM

TPC has these insulated Mavics. I think real down may be hard to find though, polartec insulation and comparable is more likely. No idea also if the hood can fit over a helmet, so maybe not ideal.

https://www.theproscloset.com/produc...k-puffins-bill

.RJ · #7 10-29-2021, 08:40 AM

https://www.albioncycling.com/produc...dry-grass-men/

RobJ · #8 10-29-2021, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoosterCogset

TPC has these insulated Mavics. I think real down may be hard to find though, polartec insulation and comparable is more likely. No idea also if the hood can fit over a helmet, so maybe not ideal.

https://www.theproscloset.com/produc...k-puffins-bill

Those are pretty cool. Reversible and rear pocket. Decent price too.

EDS · #9 10-29-2021, 09:36 AM

Castelli used to make a synthetic down insulated jacket:

https://www.tourcycling.com/castelli...SABEgL9pfD_BwE

Black Dog · #10 10-29-2021, 09:50 AM

Real down for use in a high output and sweaty setting is not a good idea. Down and moisture do not mix well. There are good hydrophobic treatments for down but would not work well for the type of moisture levels that hard riding would generate. Go synthetic for this application. IMHO.

gdw · #11 10-29-2021, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Dog

Real down for use in a high output and sweaty setting is not a good idea. Down and moisture do not mix well. There are good hydrophobic treatments for down but would not work well for the type of moisture levels that hard riding would generate. Go synthetic for this application. IMHO.

+1 Down doesn't insulate when it's wet so it would be a poor choice for form fitting cycling jackets so any manufacturer with real world experience will use synthetic insulation instead. If you want a quality down jacket for casual wear check out some of the established outdoor companies, Montbell, Rab, Mountain Hardware, etc.

benb · #12 11-04-2021, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Dog

Real down for use in a high output and sweaty setting is not a good idea. Down and moisture do not mix well. There are good hydrophobic treatments for down but would not work well for the type of moisture levels that hard riding would generate. Go synthetic for this application. IMHO.

This.. down seems pretty much NOT suited for cycling unless it's an ultra casual ride to the Cafe to look cool. Even for bike packing and you're only going to wear it at the end of the day you better be sure you can keep it dry if you get caught in the rain, cause if your bag leaks the down becomes a big liability vs a similar less expensive synthetic.

I have Primaloft & Down jackets/inner layers and I struggle to ever find a reason to think the Down is better other than snob value. The Primaloft one I have happens to be cut better if I was to try and wear it cycling but again still pointless. It's about 100x too warm and not breathable enough for hard cycling even if the temperature was below 20F. The cut of the down one is tighter and more fashionable which of course makes it far less useful for actual activewear and sports.

My main cycling jacket is a soft shell type thing and it works just perfectly down as far as I care to ride which is low 20s fahrenheit. Below that you start having to wear stuff that's so expensive I don't want road grime and grease getting flung on it. (E.x. gore tex Pro shell type thing that costs a ton). At that point maybe you're out on the Iditabike or something and in a 100% snow environment and you no longer care about grease stains.

IME synthetic vs down and how long it takes for the insulation to wear out or the jacket to fail has far more to do with brand than synthetic vs natural. The more fashion oriented the brand is the worse it seems to perform and the faster it stops working/falls apart and it really doesn't matter what the insulation is.

Some of the cycling pictures of garments posted look like silly marketing. You don't need down if it's warm enough you can ride without a face mask or helmet cover and you're able to ride with knit gloves. The colder it gets the more keeping the wind off every possible square inch of skin becomes the critical thing.

Davist · #13 10-29-2021, 10:00 AM

How cold does it have to be to need a down bike jacket? I've ridden in the 20s in "standard" softshell type stuff, at that temp it was the feet and hands that became the issue.. Just curious!

Ozz · #14 10-29-2021, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davist

How cold does it have to be to need a down bike jacket? I've ridden in the 20s in "standard" softshell type stuff, at that temp it was the feet and hands that became the issue.. Just curious!

this is what I was thinking......any colder than that and I am staying in!

AngryScientist · #15 10-29-2021, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozz

this is what I was thinking......any colder than that and I am staying in!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Davist

How cold does it have to be to need a down bike jacket? I've ridden in the 20s in "standard" softshell type stuff, at that temp it was the feet and hands that became the issue.. Just curious!

...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veloo

It's more casual looking so I can wear it for non riding trips which will be the main purpose of the jacket.