Waterproof breathable uninsulated jackets are not that warm! (Temp = 55F)

[JEDI]

i had on a t-shirt, a long sleeve shirt, and an uninsulated waterproof breathable jacket.

it was slightly windy but by definition waterproof = windproof.
I wasnt cold but still felt a little chilly, which surprised me.

 

[shortylickens]

Umm, they shouldnt be warm.
And no by definition windproof is NOT waterproof.

I have many breathable windbreakers and all of them suck water like a sponge. Wear a raincoat and you can tell the difference.

 

[lxskllr]

No clothes are warm. they insulate, or reflect heat that's provided elsewhere. An unlined jacket does little of either unless it's mylar, or something like that.

 

[JEDI]

Umm, they shouldnt be warm.
And no by definition windproof is NOT waterproof.

I have many breathable windbreakers and all of them suck water like a sponge. Wear a raincoat and you can tell the difference.

no no no.. if it's waterproof, then it's windproof, but not vice versa

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Damn that pesky outdoors and it's unregulated weather!

 

[waffleironhead]

its called layering. The jacket you had on is only a shell. Without an underlayer, it is mostly useless for colder weather. Get a fleece jacket to insulate and the shell to keep the wind from blowing heat away.

 

[brblx]

why are you wearing that life preserver, calvin klein?

get something stuffed with down instead of lightweight foam. or man the hell up, because i wear t-shirts when it's 55.

 

[Newbian]

What the hell... anything for 50 degrees here is shorts weather.

 

[Bignate603]

its called layering. The jacket you had on is only a shell. Without an underlayer, it is mostly useless for colder weather. Get a fleece jacket to insulate and the shell to keep the wind from blowing heat away.

This. A good waterproof outer shell is a great thing to have but you'll get the most out of it if you use layering. By changing the clothes you have underneath you can use that same jacket for summer rainstorms or winter snowstorms. This sort of stuff is a favorite for people like travelers or backpackers that want to minimize the amount of stuff they need to carry.

What you wore underneath (thin shirts without any insulation) would be ok for warm weather but if you want to use this jacket for colder weather you should go buy some warmer things to wear underneath. A fleece zipup or pull over would be ideal. If you really want to get fancy you could get one lighter weight fleece and one heavier weight fleece. Use the the lighter one underneath for cool days and the heavier one for really cold days.

 

[qliveur]

Waterproof/breathable shell + heavy fleece jacket or hoodie = winter parka.

 

[jman19]

Umm, they shouldnt be warm.
And no by definition windproof is NOT waterproof.

I have many breathable windbreakers and all of them suck water like a sponge. Wear a raincoat and you can tell the difference.

Pretty clear that is not what OP meant.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Wow I thought this was common sense... if the jacket isn't insulated it won't keep you much warmer. It's supposed to keep wind and water out, not keep you warm.

 

[Imp]

i had on a t-shirt, a long sleeve shirt, and an uninsulated waterproof breathable jacket.

it was slightly windy but by definition waterproof = windproof.
I wasnt cold but still felt a little chilly, which surprised me.

That's actually not true...

There are a bunch of building wrap and insulation products that are water proof, but vapor permeable; air barriers, but vapor permeable;etc.

If the jacket's waterproof but "breathable", it's probably vapor or air permeable.

 

[qliveur]

IIRC, Gore-Tex is supposed to be windproof.

 

[jman19]

IIRC, Gore-Tex is supposed to be windproof.

 

[Jeff7]

Yeah, that whole "uninsulated" thing might just be the culprit here.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Yeah, that whole "uninsulated" thing might just be the culprit here.

Looks at OP and it all makes sense.

 

[xgsound]

Also note , if it's goretex, when it gets dirty (any time in rain at 55 MPH on a bike) it is no longer waterproof either.

Jim

 

[irishScott]

You're surprised when uninsulated jackets don't insulate... so I've got this bridge in New York City up for sale, very affordable price. PM for details.

 

[JEDI]

Yeah, that whole "uninsulated" thing might just be the culprit here.

it's still a jacket. it should have kept in some warmth.

just surprised how little at 55F.