There are not many conditions you can’t ride in… assuming you have the proper gear. When the temps drop, the piece of gear central to any ensemble is the jacket that protects your core. Bontrager continues to grow its massive collection of soft goods with new high-tech jackets to suit about any condition.
Click through to see the various levels of protection for both men and women…
If it’s just plain bad out and you question if it’s even worth it, the answer is, of course, yes. It’s always worth it. As long as you have something like the Amundsen jacket in your arsenal to motivate you over the fence snow bank. Having left sunny SoCal for the Wisconsin wonderland, Bontrager developed the Amundsen to be the goto for surviving the home of the “Frozen Tundra” on or off the bike. The Amundsen uses a wind resistant Profila Wind fabric and a heavy dose of 150g 3M Thinsulate Platinum insulation in the body of the jacket and 120g in the arms. If you were at Cross Nats, you likely saw KFC’s pit crew wearing the red limited Trek Factory edition one. Both versions retail for $199.99.
The Earhart women’s jacket is made for casual commutes on the bike, but still looks good if you’re stepping out of your climate controlled vehicle rather than off your commuter bike. Its lightweight wind resistant Profila Wind fabric and 80g 3M Thinsulate keeps you cozy and there is a hidden zipper on the back that, when un-zipped, reveals additional reflectivity for additional safety. Retail is $174.99
For those days when winter is more wet than frozen, even if it’s mid 50’s out, letting moisture in can make things miserable. Though its primary job is to keep you dry, having something like the Lithos Stormshell with Profila Stormshell fabric for those wet winters can be a valuable tool where you can custom tune the layers based on the temps, shedding them when needed. The Lithos Stormshell has some smartly placed, hydration pack friendly zipper vents that allow you to easily air things out if it gets a little steamy. The Lithos Stormshell retails for $299.99
I have a jacket that doesn’t look like much, but once you’re warmed up, it will bake you in anything above 35°, and similarly, the RXL 360 jacket is designed for those mornings where riding is a must regardless of the temperature. Using a heavy-weight Profila softshell fabric, the RXL 360 is windproof, water-resistant, and breathable to protect you from most anything you could run into. The RXL 360 comes in Yellow (L), Firebrand (R), Bonty Red, & Visibility Yellow and retails for $199.99.
When things are not so bad but cold enough where a simple wind breaker won’t cut it, the middle-weight Bontrager RXL 180 Softshell women’s jacket may be just what you need to remain comfortable once you get warmed up. The Profila soft shell fabric keeps the wind at bay, but has a more breathable protection on the front & sides in addition to vents on the back to allow you to adjust how much warmth you keep in or out of the jacket. The RXL 180 Comes in Maui Blue (L), Sorbet, (R) and a high-vis “Volt” and retails for $149.99.
On days when temps are friendly but you still feel better in a jacket, the more casual canvas Bontrager Morrissey “garage” jacket, (L). It’s a nod to the brand’s origins, named after the street (not this guy) where Bontrager started in his garage. The similarly constructed Women’s Breese jacket adds a removable quilted Profila Thermal vest for some added warmth. Both jacks encourage you to “pop that collar” during your ride to reveal some reflective pieces under the collar and have some subtle reflective material on the cuffs as well. Both the Morrissey and Breese retail for $199.99
