Showers Pass Transit CC versus Elite 2.1

[HikeBikeCook]

I am curious, do people tour with the Transit or the Elite? Does anyone own both?

I have been waiting months for the Transit CC Jacket to come back in stock in yellow. My last investment in waterproof gear was for backpacking and it is all black - not ideal for visibility in the rain on the road.

Last week Bike Tires Direct had the Elite on sale at a great price and it was in stock. The Elite has a 5 Star rating for waterproof and breathability versus the 4 Star rating on the Transit. I ordered it on a Friday and they provided amazing service and it was in my hands on the other coast by Monday.

Sadly this jacket, yeah I should have read all the fine print on the Showers Pass site, is a disappointment. The cut of the jacket is for a model or a skinny track rider, not your typical touring guy in their 60's. Loved the jacket out of the box. However, here is my fit evaluation -

First up no side pockets, although the side vents could be used to get at pockets of an inner jacket

Second problem, cut too tight for an inner layer - this is a base layer jacket. Aside from rain I use my rain shell for warmth and wind proofing in camp. On super cold nights you need to layer up since you clothing options are limited if you packed light.

The zipper is a left hand zipper - not the right had zipper like every other jacket I own.

The waist is long in the back (good) but short in the front

The sleeves are really too long with a velcro closure, which works, but if you walk with the jacket unzipped the velcro on the sleeves snags the waist band.

Sadly,  at the end of the day, I am sending this jacket back and looking for an alternative or waiting until the end of the year and riding in black with a hi-vis vest.

 

[LouMelini]

HikeBikecook:  Sorry to hear about your experience with the Showers Pass Elite with its Race cut. Julie and I use Marmot Precip jackets for our bike tours and have been happy with them. We also use our shells for warmth. I happened to find my current Precip as a close-out at a local climbing store for $50. Julie, however, has recently been unable to find a Precip that fits her (also in the typical touring woman in her 60's) due to the cut of the jacket. Precip jackets can be reliable up to 5 years (depending on use) in my experience before they wet-out though with tech-wash and such I can extend the life. I used an Arc'teryx Beta Hybrid for our AT hike-great jacket, especially at 30% off. Golden/yellow would best describe the color of both of my jackets. My requirements for rainwear jackets are water-proof (not water resistant), pit zips for ventilation, a hood, and bright color. We have one car so I ride year-round to my volunteer job (I'm 70 and retired) so the touring jacket gets a lot of use.

[HikeBikeCook]

Thanks LouMelini -

I am familiar with the Marmot Precip stuff. I have their pants and rain hat from my AT thru-hike and my wife has their jacket and pants. I have a North Face very high end rain jacket for hiking now, but it is black and like the Precip Pants, a little looser than I like for biking. North Face was/is fantastic for warranty. I thru-hiked with a North Face DIAD jacket, that I got for 50% off at a store closing ($100 for a $200 jacket). Wore it many days on the trail and 5 years later the hood started to delaminate from the jacket. Sent it to North Face, said cannot repair and gave me a $200 credit for replacing the jacket I paid $100 for.

The Showers Pass Jacket is a beautiful jacket and everyone loves their products, but like Levi jeans, my body does not match their concept of the American male when it comes to the Elite jacket. When I went back and read the showers pass website they clearly say the Elite is cut like a base layer jacket and the Transit is designed for touring and layering.

[TCS]

My 'top rated' Showers Pass rain jacket is the one without an outside flap over the zipper.  Water  and cold wind come right through.

The Burley rain jacket I had previously and wore for years and years until the Gore-Tex layer disintegrated was really great, with flaps and vents and thoughtful touches, but, and it's a big but, the Velcro-ed neck opening was only about 80% as large in circumference as my neck - and I don't have a big neck.  My wife's women's model of the same jacket also had a too-small neck opening.  I've always wanted to see the models Burley used to tailor these.

Sigh.  And cyclists have been riding in the rain for 140 years.

[HikeBikeCook]

My 'top rated' Showers Pass rain jacket is the one without an outside flap over the zipper.  Water  and cold wind come right through.

I noticed the flap was on the inside on the Elite as well. All the trip logs I have read where people use Showers Pass jackets claim they stay 100% dry. Like any waterproof jacket used for any strenuous activity, it is a battle between venting the sweat out while keeping the rain from getting in. Backpacking is usually easier than biking since you are not moving fast enough to create a chilling wind and the rain tends to run top down. A good pack cover and a wide brim hat is usually enough until you get to camp. On the bike, your forward motion makes the rain come in vertically and the speed just drives it into every gap.

It is really all about the air temp, the rain temp, and the speed you are travelling. The search for the perfect bike jacket continues.

[RonK]

I have an Elite 2 and it has been a good, but not perfect jacket until one of the zippers parted at the welded seam. I had no issue with the fit although I could hardly be described as svelte.
Generally it did not breathe well enough to wear except in the coolest conditions, the detachable hood was very claustrophobic, and when I switched from full-dress touring to bike packing it was simply too bulky.
I am now using a Mountain Hardware Stretch Ozonic. It's bright red so highly visible, has three sizable pockets and is very comfortable to wear as the fabric is not only stretchable but it has quite a soft feel. It can also be packed into one of the pockets.
It has worked well keeping the rain out so far   - the hood is a little fiddly to adjust to avoid it catching the wind but it's plenty long enough.
Looks like red is no longer offered but there is an orange and a quite visible green.

https://www.mountainhardwear.com/p/mens-stretch-ozonic-jacket-1765071.html

[HikeBikeCook]

After all online retailers have been extending their "in-stock" date from October, to November, then December, now "unknown", I reached out directly to Showers Pass. They are saying they will not have stock until sometime next spring. Too late for my start date. I should have returned the hood when I returned the jacket. I now have to pay another $7.50 to ship back a $29 hood that fits a jacket that is no longer available. Without inventory I am not sure how a company like Shower Pass is going to survive. The shortages are all across the supply chain that depends on China for their products. COVID has damaged this country in ways that will take another 10 years to realize.

I decided to go with this jacket. 20% off members sale - measurements are better all the way around and does not have chimpanzee sleeves.
https://www.rei.com/product/175338/rei-co-op-junction-cycling-rain-jacket-mens?sku=1753380016

[HikeBikeCook]

My family got me a pair of Showers Pass rain pants for Christmas and again they are cut for some kind of anorexic male model a 36" inseam. I was so disappointed that I cannot use them. What is up with this company, and where do they come up with their measurements? I have all brands of outdoor gear and never had a brand that had such long legs and sleeves and such a tight cut for recreational clothing. They are a small company and I want to support them but they are not doing usability studies. Not sure why some people love them.

[jrswenberger]

My family got me a pair of Showers Pass rain pants for Christmas and again they are cut for some kind of anorexic male model a 36" inseam. I was so disappointed that I cannot use them. What is up with this company, and where do they come up with their measurements? I have all brands of outdoor gear and never had a brand that had such long legs and sleeves and such a tight cut for recreational clothing. They are a small company and I want to support them but they are not doing usability studies. Not sure why some people love them.

I agree with your take on the pants. I was in the market this year to replace my rain pants for commuting through the Oregon winter. My old REI rain pants that took me around the world and back finally stopped responding well enough to the wash-in DWR treatment. I ordered a pair of the pants in Large to go with my Elite jacket and I could barely get them over my thighs and butt. There was no way I would be able to sit on a bike and pedal. Not to mention, at 5'9" 205#, they were 2-3 inches too long. I settled on the only pair I could try on locally and decided I'd be happy if they got me through until next summer.

On the other hand, I love my jacket. I've had it for 8-10 years and it still works well. Yes it is a bit bulky to pack but I don't use the hood. I really don't like the way it fits. The jacket works as well, or better, than most I've used on the bike. I don't really use front pockets while cycling, just my work ID in the chest slash pocket, and I don't think I've used the rear pocket for anything but storing the hood. I would never be mistaken for a skinny track rider, or even a moderately fit rider, but I have no complaints about fit of the jacket.

As always, your mileage may vary.

Enjoy the ride,
Jay

[froze]

Just get the cheapest Showers Pass model called the Syncline CC, it will work just as good as the more expensive ones.  The more expensive ones are not more water resistant and more breathable; you can't have both!  which you will discover the ways of false marketing hype when you try the first time to ride a long way in the rain.

[HikeBikeCook]

I love the REI Jacket that I got. (link in the post above) Way cheaper with 20% members sale. As the the features I was look for and a perfect fit at less weight. Check them out.