Showers Pass, as the name alludes to, makes quality rain gear. Based in Portland, OR, they know a thing or two about riding in the rain, and have tailored a line of jackets, pants, and gloves designed to keep you dry and warm (or cool) in any season. While Showers Pass makes many pieces of strictly technical outerwear, they also have a few items that work both on and off the bike as casual everyday wear. Zach recently posted his initial impressions of their Amsterdam commuter jacket. As for me, I have been using the Rogue hoodie this season in and around Portland.
On the other side of the country, Tyler’s been testing the Crosspoint Hardshell Outdry gloves, their top-level hand warmers.
Stay dry on the other side for the full review…
ROGUE HOODIE REVIEW, BY NICK
The Rogue Hoodie is a weather resistant softshell that aims to be both a casual jacket and technical riding gear. It’s made from a fleece lined three layer Artex material that is both water resistant and breathable. The seams are not taped however, so in a heavy downpour some of the wet stuff will seep in. The jacket has one rear zippered pocket with a light loop and two front hand warmer pockets with zippers. The right hand pocket features an audio port pass through. The jacket is lacking a chest pocket, which I do wish was included for keeping things like your ID and transit pass handy. There are elastic wrist gaiters with thumb loops that do a good job at keeping cold creep at bay. The waist and hood each have an adjustable drawcord, and the hood fits under or over the majority of helmets. The jacket is intended for use in 55 degrees and below.
My time with the Rogue Hoodie has been very positive. The winters here in Portland, OR, are admittedly more mild that many of our readers experience. The advantage for me is that I can wear this jacket daily throughout the fall and winter with very few exceptions.
I have the XL size, and at 6’2” I do wish it was just a tad longer. The jacket stops at my waist in the front, and thanks to the cycling oriented cut, the rear comes down a bit more. The rest of the fit is perfect. The arms are long enough so they don’t ride up when you are down in the drops. The shoulders are not too bulky. The jacket isn’t loose, but there is enough room for a layer or two of warm clothing underneath. The neck and zipper are high as well, keeping the cold from going down the front of your jersey, or allowing you to ventilate well when it warms up.
The construction of the jacket is solid. So far this fall and winter it has held up great, with no visible wear and tear. The durability is high, and I expect the Rogue Hoodie to last for a good long while with near daily use in the cold weather.
The style of the hoodie, I feel, is a nice blend of casual and technical. I never feel out of place wearing it off the bike. On the bike, it works well commuting in jeans, or over a winter base layer and bibs on a road ride. The reflective trim is a nice touch. I know, it’s not high viz, but to be honest, I ride with a backpack most of the time so you won’t see the jacket from behind anyway.
When it comes to performance on the bike, the Rogue Hoodie has been great. When the temperature is in the 40’s and 50’s, this jacket and a short sleeve t-shirt or jersey is all I need to stay warm on the bike. In fact, for some it may even be overkill at that point. As a bonus, the fleece lining is soft and feels good against the skin. When the temperature dips, I simply add more layers, and combined with this jacket I am comfortable down to around 25°.
The jacket does an excellent job at keeping you dry in the rain. In a serious downpour you are going to get a bit damp, but anything short of that and you should be nice and dry. As the zippers are not completely waterproof, I would suggest keeping items such as your cell phone or other electronics in a waterproof bag in heavier rain. It’s never been an issue for me, but I always play the “better safe than sorry” game.
Over the years I have obtained quite a few jackets, both technical and casual. This fall and winter however, the Showers Pass Rogue Hoodie has been the one I grab daily, whether I am heading out for a long road ride or driving to the store. It is the perfect blend of performance and casual wear, and it comes highly recommended. MSRP is $160, and the jacket comes in black or brown.
CROSSPOINT HARDSHELL OUTDRY GLOVES REVIEW, BY TYLER
Showers Pass Crosspoint collection spans from a simple liner up to these hardshell gloves, with a Wind Glove (using the same Artex material from the hoodie) and a Softshell waterproof glove in between.
The Hardshell is their most impervious model and upgrades to a Merino wool interior that’s soft, warm and comfortable. The outside isn’t as crunch as the name implies, offering easy finger movements even in very cold temps. The main feature of these gloves is the Outdry technology, which is a waterproof, air-permeable membrane that’s bonded directly to the outer shell. This keeps water from saturating an outer shell that can then chill (or freeze!) and bring your hands temps down to an uncomfortable level. So far, it seems to work, as these are some of the warmest gloves I’ve used. Good into the 30º’s (F) for my decidedly cold-averse finger tips.
I routinely wore these even on dry days just because they’re so warm, hence the pics with them mated to a standard long sleeve jersey. Aesthetically, the bunched cuff looks better when paired with a jacket, but I’ll tempt the fashion police to keep my digits working properly.
The entire outer surface of the thumb is a soft micro terry fabric for wiping snot. The palm is a grippy, leather-like material with a bit of padding. I found they worked equally well on road and mountain bike rides. Retail is $95 and they come very highly recommended.
I also tested the liners, which are exactly that. Soft liners that keep fingers a bit warmer when necessary and keep them covered when you just have to type something on your touchscreen phone thanks to conductive threads on the thumb and two fingertips:
Silicone grips provide traction, so they work on their own on cool days or just hanging around off the bike. These run $30.
