wet weather gear
 

Hi peeps not had to make many posts as nearly all I ever wanted to know has been covered by threads found here, however what wet weather gear do most people use? I want to use something that I can take out of my top box when it rains instead of relying on something waterproof to start with (too hot, too heavy). I know the the Mondo men used Ponchos instead of waterproof textiles or leathers but I have been advised they are to "flappy". I have Revit gear but have found that it is better to stay dry than rely on a waterproof inner which means the outer gets soaked and takes ages to dry. I require something which is light, takes up a small amount of space and is relatively inexpensive. I have a pillion so will require two sets. Any thoughts or suggestions will be gratefully received.
Thanks in advance
GM

Redundancy works for me: two tops, two pants, all waterproof. I ride in textile pants and jacket, then add cheap backpacker rain suit as needed.

My Aerostich on its own fails miserably in sustained heavy downpours, and when I get wet I get cold, then stooopid. This is not healthy.

I don't know how to account for all the people who post about riding hours through torrential rains in identical suits, staying dry the whole way. The best solution is to do whatever they do and I do not.

Hope that helps.

Mark

Wet, wet, wet
 

We use Berghaus deluge pants which apart from having a really cool name have:-

Zips from top to bottom along the side so they are easy to step into
The zip is two way so you dont get hot
the legs are wide so fit over your leathers
press studs over the zip area for true waterproof luxury!
breathable
Waterproof

Deluge Overtrousers

Mine have not got the articulated knee the new ones have - don't think it would make much difference to the width

I use a lightweight armoured hein gericke toureg type jacket that is neither wind or waterproof in any way In warm wet weather open all the vents and a baggy lightweight waterproof over the top is very comfortable - i use it all year round and in all climates including the wet cold climates of Norway. Over the top of it I use any of several waterproof tops - a very cheap trespass make is super light and waterproof for warmer climates (eg uk northern europe in spring summer), a bright green aldi cycle top waterproof,windproof for commuting through the winter mists and rain and I also have a very good hein gericke two piece heavy duty jacket and trousers that is really well cut to go over a few layers of gear for the worst of winter riding. In my experience you are taking the best route here - most goretex type suits end up leaking just when its the worst time possible, this makes them an expensive waste,they are expensive if damaged in a fall, and sometimes for me worse is how they get very wet, cold and heavy on the outside they are also terrible if you then have to put some wet gear like this in a tent. A nylon you just shake off and put away.

If you don't mind wearing camo, army issue goretex stuff is cheap and effective.

To avoid looking stupid wearing the same camo from head to foot, I wear British trousers with a German jacket. It doesn't pack down as small as some stuff, but it's the most effective gear I've come across and crucially it's comfortable to wear. I used to hate riding in my pvc waterproofs so I'd put them on at the last moment, and take them off the moment the rain stopped - Of course this led to me getting drenched too many times when I misjudged. The goretex stuff looks and feels more like normal clothing.

You can get RAF blue goretex stuff, which might work if you don't want to wear camo, though I've never looked at it myself so I don't if it's the same/as good as the army gear.


Don't bother with ponchos, like you said they're too flappy - My mate relied on one on a Scotland camping trip and had to ride with a bungee round his waste to keep it in place, and the arms still flapped loads (and let in loads of water).

Dude...

All you need is a pull over 2-piece suit.

Just wear your usual riding gear and if it starts raining, pull out the waterproofs and suit up...

2-piece ones are MUCH easier to get on and off at the side of the road and pack up nice and small too...

Its a pain getting gortex liners in and out of your suit to match the weather.

Motorcycle Waterproof Clothing from Motorbike-Search-Engine-Shop.co.uk

All the local dealers will have something similar.

http://www.motorbike-search-engine-s...FS/RNW2PCB.jpg

We just use the small pack away trousers and jackets (like from regatta Regatta Packaway Jacket), paid about £5 for each.. although they are not breathable or anything, they pack to nothing. dont weigh anything.. and work very well..

Going for a waterproof outer layer that is easily put on and taken off i think is the way to go, after years of trying different types of textile jacket with removable liners etc, i have now settled on a leather jacket and i carry a waterproof to put on when required. If you are a larger size like me then the camping/outdoor kit may be too small to go over your regular kit, i use a Held Mistral jacket that comes in sizes up tp 7xl and has been 100% waterproof.
Cheers Ade.

Military issue waterproof suits. from surplusandadventure.com. around twenty quid for top and bottom. imho, i dont reli care nowadays if my pants get soaked, just my shoes. nothing worse than having wet feet.

Thanks for all the replies people. I have now worked out that 20 quids of gear should be all I need and if it is not suitable I have not wasted a fortune. I am off to MIllets to look at the regatta and Peter Storm gear. I will let you know what I got hold of and if it was any good. Once again
Thanks
GM

1 piece oversuits are pretty good I think I paid about £30 for my first one and the last one cost me about a tenner from ALDI. The good thing with these suits is that when zipped up you have no drafts for any cold air to get in.

For mucky stuff the Army goretex is great:scooter:

Hi again I know this is going to sound awfully picky but..... I paid a (fortune for me at least) a bright Revit jacket that could be seen from miles away by all those nasty motorcars in the hope they would give me a wide berth! I have now discovered that all of the waterproof gear I have looked at is very dark which sort of defeats the object of being highly visible, especially in the rain when visibility is not too good any way. Has any one seen any brightly coloured stuff that does not cost a second mortgage. I dont care if its candy pink with fluffy bunnies on it, well I do but you get the drift.
Thanks in advance and sorry for trying your patience.
GM
BTW I dont want to have to put a high vis jacket on top of the waterproofs its just another layer and one more item to carry around.

Be careful what you wish for....

https://www.candystripes.com.au/images/rainHSM-pink.jpg

Back to reality though..

I think you'r going to be looking at workwear/safetywear if you want high visibility rain wear..

This stuff is cheap and you can actually buy it in Birkenhead market...

For example: high visibility - rainwear

http://www.portwest.com/images/S461_tn.jpg

Don't know whether this will work for you, but I wear a cheap backpacker's rain jacket under my expensive, highly visible, leaky Aerostich jacket. The disadvantage is that when I'm cruising along and it starts to rain I have to take off the Aerostich to put on the rain parka--one extra step, during which I might get soaked. But the combination does work well.

I wear an extra large size of cheap rain pants outside my Aerostich pants, since in this case adding them underneath would be too much of a major project enroute (taking boots on and off, having stuff fall out of my pockets while fiddling with pants, etc.).

Hope that helps.

Mark