Budget Textiles for Road and Off Road use.
 

I've had Hein Gericke's Tourag jacket and trousers for 3 winters now. First winter they were 100% water proof, 2nd winter a good coat of Nikwax and they stayed water proof, but this year I've Nik waxed twice and they start to leak after a few weeks (I do 30 miles daily). Can't complain as I have covered a lot of miles on them.

As they are starting fray a bit and the zip is going and vecro is past its best, I am going to replace them.

Budget wise I am looking around £130-150, but am flexible.

Want something that's warm enough for winter is essential, Ideally cool enough for use in summer when off road, but I guess only MX/Enduro gear will do then !
Also hi-vis of some kind would be a help.

If anyone has any recommendation or spotted any bargains let me know.
Happy to buy good condition 2nd hand or new, or mix and match (eg army gortex jacket and trousers with thermals and armour)

Cheers Nick.

I would just buy a good quality light waterproof jacket and trousers and wear them over the top of your Tourag gear.
I would look at Gortex army jacket and trousers but I have only seen these in camoflage,they are very good and water proof. You can normally buy them from auto jumbles or the BMF type shows for about £15 to £20 each.
Also look out for post office waterproof trouser a bit like gortex very good again secound hand but unused about £20.( Ask your postman if he has any spare)
You can also get HiViz second hand waterproof jackets they are ex police jackets with the police badge taken off they some times still have blue and white cheques at the bottom I take this off as they look to much like police jacket. I think when the police use them they are only aloud to be washed six times as they begin to fade but are still perfectly ok for you and I.
There are different types of police hiviz the best ones are slightly thicker and the zip goes high up your neck these are used by the motorcycle police. the other type have a big wide neck not good for motorcycle use and a bit thinner.
I have spent alot of money on waterproof motorcycle gear and none of it is waterproof after 12 months.
Yellow oil skins not pretty and will make you sweat but fully waterproof when worn over other gear.

HG are having their sale right now according to their blurb.

Before you buy some more kit you might want to check with HG about the full procedures for gortex maintenance, assuming that the Toureg stuff that you have is using gortex (they have that sheltex material as well, but it does not seem to be as waterproof) - if the local shop staff don't know what they are talking about it is worth checking with the head office - in summary, gortex leaks when the pores are dirty, but it is re-newed by the correct washing procedures.

If this doesn't float your boat, then I also use the non-waterproof version of the toureg jacket with a "Held" (another german manuf) brand of waterproof over jacket which works just fine. The Held jacket is fully waterproof and windproof with a high collar, belt around the waist to stop it blowing around in the wind etc, just like Bolla describes - just a few quid on ebay (where else!!?).

Frank Thomas "Aqua"
 

I wear a Frank Thomas "Aqua" year round..... it has Armour :thumbup1: in Shoulders, Elbows and Back... a Removeable lightweight 'Bomber' type Jacket liner and keeps out ALL the worst weather.:stormy:+:rain:+:freezing:=:mchappy:
I have worn this Jacket through Snow, Sleet, Rain and High Winds and although maybe not 'Toasty' warm haven't been :freezing: to Death!

In Summer it is a little Too Hot! :Beach: but I don't care, it has Armour and love the thing.
It retailed @ about 249 quid but I got it for 99.99 at a sale when Carnells in Milton Keynes were shutting Down a few years ago... It is Orange/Grey & Black Size XXL ( Im not a small guy) .. no one else seemed interested in it, so I bought it! I have worn it for about 5 years now. Best Jacket I have ever owned by far!

Martyn

Most of the stuff...
 

....for my motorcycle riding I got from this company in Germany:

www.louis.de - Motorrad & Freizeit

They got some pretty good deals and for me, even including the postage to Japan, it is still much cheaper than the stuff they sell over here! Maybe you want to check it out!?!

Greetings from the "land-of-the-not-always-rising-sun",

Klaus

i also do have Frank Thomas and I am quite happy with them. They are fine in the rain (also in the hard rain) and wind and freezing cold.

I bought them for 20 pounds each (coat+trauser) in BMF show on 2005. I also have a summer coat from Frank Thomas which keeps me cool in the summer time.

all of them have armors, pads, inner linings etc....

Mines shelltex, not goretex. Will have a look at the held stuff :)

Well, it might be worth asking HG about how to care for that, but I suspect they will point you to the Nikwax that you have already used.

The Held jacket I have is bright red - I figured if it was raining enough to put that on, then it was probably poor visibility as well.

Welkom bij Evolutionmotorsport

Been using these previosly. Check the 3-in-1 concept textiles, one of the best price/quality kits you can find.

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I have spotted the Akito Desert Jacket Akito Desert Texile Waterproof Jacket - Bici Motorcycles, Clothing and Accessories. Alpinestars, Arlen Ness, Berik, Bering, Husqvarna, Gasgas and matching trousers.
Seems a good spec, 3 layer, extra vents - more suited to off road use than others. Also I know Akito stuff holds up well in a crash as my colleague had a lowside and broke his ankle and 2 fingers and the jacket did not bust any seams and no spots of excess wear.

Not good experience Akito..
 

Kitted our family out with Akito jackets - all but one has busted a zip.

They're not as breathable as more expensive jackets - bad enough to make a difference!

Lots of gaps for wind to enter - collar, cuffs.

Waterproofing is good - however, thats probably why its so bad for evaporation and breathing.


PERSONALLY - I'd rather buy a GOOD QUALITY, USED suit from ebay. There are a LOT of people with too much money, who become bikers for a season, kit out on the good stuff, and then flog it for next to nothing on ebay.

While we're on the subject can anyone recommend anything without armour, but with good waterproof/windproof ability?

We don't need the armour as we're in (shhh) buggies, but aside from that bike stuff seems to suit best.

you wont need any skid prtection either.....
 

well seeing as you cant fall 'off' a Buggy ( and if you do you had better have it on Video cos it would be a winner on youtube!) you wont want or need any abrasion resistance then either i presume? IE knee reinforcing etc..
if so take a look at any Hiking catalogues or on-line they always have good quality stylish, (sometimes) & HI VIZ, waterproof clothing.

Martyn

Any of the all-in-one waterproof rain suits that lots of bike clothing stores sell - I reckon they are all much the same in performance, but they vary in the detail, such as ease of getting them on and off.
Also, of course, they come in two piece suits if you prefer.

I've been looking at all in one suits and they seem to lack something in the fabric front, great and waterprrof as hell, but total sweat buckets as I've never found a breathable one.

I've looked at hiking gear too, but I'd really prefer something one piece, the buggies are very open to the elements and I know that at 60 the wind can happily force the water up your jacket.

And while it doesn't (I hope) have to cope with me sliding down the tarmac at 50 it does need to be fairly wear resistant to cope with the inevitable times we'll have to push and shove and dig.

Ah, you didn't say that you want to breathe as well!

How about the Aerostich kit?

I agree, however, there is nothing yet available which is perfect in every circumstance. You could wear an all-in-one suit and take it off for the heavy work.

managed to find a couple online which could be OK for me, and I you never know minght interest other people who don't want the armour.

First-up Helly Hansen. It's a one piece breathable drysuit. Perhaps a bit over the top but you never know, I tried one on this morning and didn't get too sweaty even after six jogged laps of the shop. (Fun too moving you mouse pointer from the big picture to the little one and back and make the man do start jumps). Also THIS, but perhaps a bit over the top.

Second-up Aigle. I tried both the SeaFax jacket and the Triton trouser/salopette. Not one piece admittedly but the high trousers should keep the water out.

Both makes are used extensively in off-shore sailing, so whilst not much good for protecting you whilst you slide down the tarmac, the fabrics should stand repeated wetting in all sorts of dirty water. I know one of the Goretex killers can be mud/dust, which gets in the outer fabric weave and abrades the waterproof membrane.

Personally I'm angling towards a two piece outfit, HH do one like Aigle. I figure it's more practical as I can wear the jacket alone for walking etc. I'm off to another HH shop this weekend with more stock so if people are interested I'm happy to report back.

I got the Akito Desert jacket and trousers last week of Jan.

I've used them to commute every day apart from the days it snowed (yes I rode in the storms - was not fun ).

Build quality and finish is faultless (eg no bad stitching, not fallen apart in 1200 miles of bad weather use).

Been warm (including the sub zero days) and water proof. Fit well. Jacket has nice long arms and reasonable length body, plenty of air vents (obviously not needed to use yet), definitely been designed with some amount of off road use in mind.

Trousers fit over my road boots zipped up, off road boots unzipped. Include brace hooks and a straight forward zip together to jacket extension with padding protrudes up. Also has air vents.

The front external pockets (4 decent sized ones) are water proof, which is great.

Only thing missing is they do not come with any back protector (but only an extra £15).

Inner linings are a bit fiddly to zip up, both the thermal and water proof linings are removable, eg I am currently riding without thermal lining but with my water proof lining, in summer will take out my water proof lining for better air flow.

Seems very good value for money, just depends on durability now, I would be not be happy if they do not last a full year, hoping for 2 full years (I ride to work and pleasure) use, which is what my Hein Gericke stuff lasted before loosing their waterproof-ness.

I've searched high and low for some decent bike gear. Ended up with Spada Turin Jacket (£60 from bike-gear) I was so Impressed I bought the Adventure trousers £100) (new model at full price).

Great stuff, not all black (not so hot), built in waterproof membrane (practicality), mesh lining (polyester linings 'orrible & sweaty) with lots of big ventillation zippers front & back.

So far very warm in winter, waterproof and cheap.

Phil