I’ve got some central pieces of clothing that keep surfacing – no matter the season, no matter the sport. One of those is a Pearl Izumi Optik Jacket which I use for biking, running, and even backcountry ski touring. But what I don’t see is why so many companies make so many niche-focused pieces for each of those individual sports, when they all seem to require similar performance. Lightweight, compact, breathable, warm. So…why isn’t someone making something billed as a cycling-to-skiing crossover mid layer? Sure, a bike jersey or jacket might require a shorter cut in front than a ski jacket. Same with climbing (I learned that the hard way when I bought a Mountain Hardwear climbing jacket for skiing, and the front always rode up above my belt buckle). But I think having a form-skimming thermal cycling jacket that’s a little long in the front is a small price to pay to make it worthy of skiing cross over.
So this year I’m looking for a great versatile base-to-mid layer for ski touring, trail running, and even a bit of cold weather cycling. I want it to be bright-colored for when I’m in avalanche country. And I keep coming back to cold-weather cycling jerseys and jackets as my best options. Check out the Forza Thermal Jacket, or the Capo Atlas Thermal Jacket, or even this cycling jacket by Castelli.
Maybe I’m just uninformed, but for now I’m thinking that cycling gear is the first place to look for versatile base and mid layer items. So that’s where I’ll keep searching. And to all you clothing manufacturers out there — if you have some mid-layer jackets and such that are designed to be crossover items for multiple sports, let me know! Sorry if I’m just missing them.
11.21.2009 at 8:42 pm - by Joe Mako
The Marmot Minimalist Jacket looks like it can do the job.
11.22.2009 at 10:48 pm - by Brig Graff
I agree that the Marmot Minimalist is a great shell, but I’m talking about a mid-layer jacket that’s more shirt-like (for wearing under a shell, or as an outer layer when skinning up). I don’t think I’d want to wear anything over the Minimalist shell, so it wouldn’t cut it as a full-zip mid-layer for me — even though it could be a great shell outer layer. Maybe the Arc Teryx Accelero, now that it is full-zip?
Here’s a link to the Minimalist:
http://www.gear.com/p/marmot-mens-minimalist-jacket
And the Arc Teryx Accelero goes full-zip in 2010:
http://www.gear.com/arcteryx-accelero-jacket-goes-full-zip-for-2010/
But the Accelero looks like it has no standup collar like the cycling ones at right do. If it did, that might be a killer option. Other candidates?
11.29.2009 at 3:05 pm - by Bicycle Clothing: What Cycling Gear to Wear and When | WoodBury Cinema
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