Showers Pass Elite Rain Jacket

Choosing the right jacket for your bicycle tour can be a difficult process. There are a number of jackets to choose from and selecting the one that’s right for you can be a bit tricky.

Luckily, there is a company that makes rain jackets specifically for cyclists. The company is called “Showers Pass” and they specialize in rain related products for people who like to bike. The company makes rain jackets, vests, pants, and shoe covers.

Today, we are going to take a detailed look at the Showers Pass Elite – a jacket that the company claims to be “the ultimate rain jacket that also works well in cool dry weather.”

I’ve personally been using the Showers Pass Elite rain jacket for the past few years, so I have quite a bit of experience with this particular product. I’ve worn it in light drizzly rain and in complete downpours. It’s lasted through hail and snow and everything else I’ve thrown at it. But before I get into all that, let me point out some of the jacket’s main features.

Product Features:

· First of all, the jacket is made of 100% nylon. The material is incredibly waterproof and certainly does its job. According to the company, the material is refered to as eVent™ fabric. “eVent™ fabric is a highly breathable waterproof fabric. eVent has about a 100% increased vapor transmission compared to standard Goretex, as documented by US military testing at the material science laboratory in New Jersey, USA.”

· The jacket also features fully taped seams. Without this feature, you’d be getting wet in a heavy storm. You can physically see the sealed seams in the photo below.

· One of the best features of this jacket are the Velcro adjusted gusseted cuffs. The elastic banded cuffs provide a flexible fit and the Velcro straps allow you to really buckle yourself down in a heavy storm. The cuffs are comfortable and fit extremely well.

· The main zipper on the front of the jacket is a two-way mountaineering style waterproof front zip. It allows you to zip down the jacket from the top or zip up the jacket from the bottom. This can be especially useful when trying to regulate your airflow and temperature.

· I have an older model of this jacket, but the newer model features armpit zips that allow you to greater control the jacket’s ventilation.

· The rear vent on the back of the jacket is the main feature allowing airflow and ventilation, therefore preventing you from overheating. Above the main vent is a large strip of 3M reflective tape.

· When riding in a storm, it is important that passing motorists can see you. To remain visible in a rain, hail, or snowstorm, Showers Pass has sewn 3M Scotchlite reflective tape onto the back and arms of the jacket.

· There is one large pocket on the rear of the jacket. This pocket is perfect for storing the optional rain hood or other essential item(s).

· Like just about every jacket Showers Pass produces, you have the ability to attach an optional rain hood to the collar of the jacket. The hood attaches via three small Velcro patches.

· On the bottom of the jacket is one large drawstring enclosure, allowing you to tighten or loosen the bottom of the jacket around your body.

· Finally, Showers Pass suggests that the Elite jacket be worn in a temperature range below 55 degrees in dry weather and around 65 degrees in rain

Advantages:

· The best thing about the Showers Pass Elite rain jacket is that it folds up to a very small size and fits inside your panniers or trailers with ease. Most of the time my jacket is stuffed down at the bottom of my bags (until I need it) and I will often times forget that it is even there. When looking for a jacket for a bicycle tour, you want a product that doesn’t take up a lot of space, especially if you aren’t going to be wearing it on a regular basis.

· Secondly, it is a great rain jacket. It works and it does a very good job at keeping you dry when on your bike.

· The Elite rain jacket also lives up to its promise of being able to be worn in cool dry weather. Showers Pass claims it to be one of the best jackets for riding in such conditions and I would have to agree. The many options for ventilation make it one of the best cycling jackets around. I’ve personally worn this jacket in both rain and snowstorms, but I’ve also worn the jacket in the extreme heat to keep from getting burnt by the sun. Even in 90+ degrees I was able to remain relatively cool.

· The option of adding the hood is nice, especially if you want to keep your head dry. Also, having the pocket on the back of the jacket to store the hood in makes this option extra nice.

· Finally, the reflective tape and bright fabric colors ensure your safety when visibility on the road diminishes.

Disadvantages:

· Sadly, the Elite does have its drawbacks. The main one being that this jacket has become slightly dated. Showers Pass has now introduced the Elite 2.0 which comes with the following additional features:

 The back pocket is welded rather than sewn and taped. This reduces bulk and weight.
 The Elite 2.0 has a Napoleon pocket on the left breast with waterproof zip and audio port.
 And finally, there are two waist pull closures instead of one.

· My biggest complaint about this jacket is that it is excellent for use when cycling in the rain, but as soon as you try and use the jacket off the bike, it just doesn’t work. The large winged rear flap looks strange and instantly makes you stand out as a cyclist (something I typically try to avoid). Secondly, the colors are so bright and flashy that I’d be embarrassed to wear this jacket almost anywhere except for when I was on my bike (i.e. I wouldn’t wear the jacket to walk to the Post Office or pick up some food from the supermarket). I wish the jacket worked just as well off the bike as it does on it. I’d also like to see some different color options. Preferably, I’d like a jacket with colors that blend in better with normal society. I understand the need for bright colors when safety is an issue, but off the bike I’d rather not look like the stereotypical neon yellow (or red) cyclist.

· Finally, the optional hood is almost entirely useless. Showers Pass suggests that the hood be worn under the helmet, but I’ve tried it and found it to be hot and uncomfortable. I’ve tried using the hood when on the bike and have always ended my endeavors by opting out of the hood entirely. Off the bike, the hood works, but looks pretty silly (as you can tell from the photos below).  As far as I am concerned, the hood needs a total redesign.

Conclusion:

In the end, I like the Showers Pass Elite rain jacket. It meets the needs of any traveling cyclist and definitely does its job when you are on your bike. It keeps you dry; allows you to control your temperature; and keeps you safe with its reflective tape and bright flashy colors. For what it was designed for, it is the perfect cycling jacket. I just wish it weren’t such an obvious bicyclist’s jacket. I’d prefer a jacket that could be worn both on and off the bike… and currently; the Elite just isn’t doing it.

Click here to purchase a Showers Pass Elite rain jacket or view the other
Showers Pass products available to bicycle travelers

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