Too Many choices on jackets and boots. Need Help Please!!
 

I'm so overwhelmed by all the choices of jackets and boots out there. All the reviews say pretty much the same thing about all of them. I need something for dry hot climate, money isn't a problem. Any suggestions for this age old question? I prefer something non-leather for jacket sake. Please and thank you.

Matty:helpsmilie:

It really depends on your budget. I like Revit and Rukka mesh gear, but they are pretty expensive.

If your budget is lower take a look at Joe Rocket or Tourmaster.

Revzilla have excellent video presentations of most of their products and pretty good customer reviews. For outright reviews take a look at webbikeworld.

I often buy used gear on advrider.com. I recently got an excelent pair of Rukka mesh pants for $200. They are $700 new.

Edit: I ok just read your post properly! Go for Rukka or Klim if you have the coin. The Rukka pants I mentioned above are easily the most comfortable piece of motorcycle gear I've ever worn, and since I'm a gear whore, I've worn a lot. I'm planning to ride from the middl east back to the UK in the spring, and I've pretty much made up my mind to buy a Rukka Armas suit. My friend here has a Rukka jacket that's 14 years old and looks brand new despite daily use. I prefer European sizing as I have spagetti legs and no arse so American stuff can be too baggy in the nether regions.

Money no object.. I'm assuming you want gear for travel/adventure..

I've been looking into this a lot lately as I'm updating my battered kit.

Boots = Sidi Adventure. Best out there if you can afford them. I've got W2 Adveture boots as they're cheaper.

Jacket = RST Adventure 2 jacket £250 , matching trousers £200.

They have fully removable waterproofing and thermal lining. True four season. Lots of vents.

Helmet = X-lite 551 My new lid. I love it.

Ted

The RST gear looks interesting; worth a look. I've heard people say good things about the Rev'it gear. In the past, I used their mesh jacket and a normal Goretex Berghaus jacket for cooler / wet weather. Rukka's supposed to be good, too. What about the Klim Badlands / adventure gear? Personally, I went with a Stadler jacket and trousers. They're mesh with armour underneath, and have Goretex over counterparts that zip together when the weather's pants. The only real downside is having to carry the outer gear, but I'm happy to live with that. I wore this set up on a recent Moroccan trip - 43*C on one day! It was a heaven sent! When back in France, the Goretex came in handy, too :innocent:.

You DID say cost not an issue!

As for boots, I would love the Sidi Adventure, if only they weren't leather! It sounds like a winner, though, for the majority.

I used to work in a dealership that sold A LOT of Revit gear.

50% of it came back. As waterproof as a teabag..

However, that was in 2009. Things might have changed.

I never noticed this, possibly due to only wearing it in the Sun! When it rained, the Goretex came out! :clap:

I have sidi way mega rain boots they aren't leather full waterproof don't seem to get too hot. I read reviews of them online before ordering and they're pretty much all good and deservedly.

Comfy all day even walking. Discontinued but I think replaced by the tour rain or you can still find them online some places.

Best boot, lasts forever as well.


Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

If you are going to an area where sun is shining all the time, avoid black clothing. Light grey etc is best and looks reasonably clean longer.

I just purchased new gear for heat. I have rain gear for rain, so I don't care about that. I came down from Canada and now I don't want to be hot, so I picked a touring jacket and pants off the clearance rack that had a bunch of mesh sections on it. Still thick and strong, but the air comes through.

I got an Alpinestar Cape Town Air Drystar jacket, and it came with a waterproof insert that I'm sure is not waterproof, and a thermal insert for that. It can be warm, but if I take all that stuff out, you can feel a breeze pass right through :)

The pants were FirstGear HyperTex Air. Mostly mesh, with a waterproof insert. No complaints so far.

RST..........
the adventure jacket is brill , just bought one myself . If you bargain hard you can get the first version for £170.00 :innocent: As Touring Ted said , loads of good vents , very long in the arms - which is great if you are tall like me and if you dont put a camel back bladder in the rear pocket then you have a huge waterproof area to put cash/docs /tickets etc in .

I wish I had too much choice. Sadly manufacturers don't seem to realise that real women who ride real bikes may have big boobs, wide hips and aren't always 5'8+ :(

I just bought what is said to the the older RST Adventure Jacket. Anyone experiences with that? It was going cheap on eBay so fingers crossed it's was a good buy. I think he's got another, LARGE, for sale if anyone's interested.

http://i.ebayimg.com/t/MOTORCYCLE-JA...S1cAq/$_12.JPG

Blimey that is the old version :eek3: Think my one is the "alot newer than the old version but older then the new one version " !!

Have to say Pheonix there doesnt seem to be anything wrong with your measurements what so ever :funmeteryes: and seeing as you love bikes and travelling , you are halfway to being the perfect women IMHO .

Retro! I figured it must be old as I was unable to find any matching jackets on Google images - any RST aficionados out there care to elaborate? In any case, said jacket only been worn a few times so hopefully getting a good deal. The other jackets I looked at tended to be winter/autumn only and I'll probably be experiencing both warm/cold climates.

There are a lot of guys with the same problem too.

Go to any Harley Davidson bike meeting and you will see them all in their splendor

:Beach:

Ahhhhhhh thats where they all hang out then . Didnt know you hung around HD meetings Ted - doesnt make you a bad person ?c?

I really really don't... haha

Can't let this rumour get out of hand now ... I'll have to start wearing a Harley Davdison bandana at the weekend...doh

Nowt wrong with Riding a Harley Ted , I think you would find that same at a BMtroubleyou Rally :mchappy:

I'm going to borrow one of our massive 'gay as f**k' Harley ultraglides from work and ride it down to the hu meeting.. I just need a pair of chaps.. :)

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

If I do the HU meeting this year I will come down on my Harley Davidson. So that will make at least two of us. But your on your own in the Bar if your in Chaps :blushing:

You'll hear me coming. I'll be playing BORN IN THE USA on full blast from the speakers... I'll have my Terminator glasses on and a stars and stripes bandana..

Chaps are part of the uniform..... I'll leave the arse'less ones at home to be safe...

My Halvassons jacket is still waterproof 2.5 years and 100000kms later. Unfortunately they do not have light coloured gear, and not enough vents (enough for a scandinavian summer).

After riding through hot places, I would have loved more vents. And agreed as above, grey/light brown doesn't show the dirt so much...

Waterproofing- i'd avoid anything with a waterproof liner- this means that the bulk of the gear will be heavy and sopping. I took an extra waterproof jacket on the road for the worst days and can wear it around the campsite, nothing worse than setting off the day already soaked down the neck..

I like my Klim Traverse jacket as it's waterproof if you do the vents up, but allows quite a bit of venting if you open them up. So it works well in the Scottish summer, ie very wet or quite warm to down in Croatia in September. Has no linings, which helps in the hot weather, but means you need a fleece, or two when its cold.

The Traverse has been replaced by the Overlander I think, and details of it here:

Overland Jacket

I have a Halvarson, but do not like it. Too many pockets, in the wrong places and too much Velcro. The whole thing is over complicated and over engineered
I bought a Klim ( from a chap on this forum ) and its the best jacket I've had for years.
Totally waterproof and draught free. Simple pockets in the right places and zips and cuff that are easy to use and vents likewise.
So that's my side by side view of those 2 brands.

Blimey i take the weekend off and come back to discover that i frequent a cruising web site !!!!!!!! Ted , you are a dark horse - when you say you are going to wear some chaps i take it you dont mean literally :( Having worked in Brighton anything is possible especially the "bottomless " version .
As for bandanas - please dont do it :helpsmilie:otherwise im cancelling my subscription to the "Touring Ted Fan Club " immediately .
Off to thread my eyebows now ?c?

I wouldn't inflict that imagine on anyone.... Fear not :smartass:

Is that an image of :
1) You on a Harley
2) You wearing a bandana
3)You getting on comfy terms with a "pair of chaps" in village people gear
4) Or a combination of all three above :funmeteryes:

Any of the above is sacrilegious... Unless under the influence of mind bending substances. Then who knows what could happen.

Maybe I'll make a special entrance at Donnington :scooter:

Special would be one word doh
Anyway about this jacket thread.................................

Clothing
 

I agree with touring ted, Sidi boots are the most reliable boots you can get in my opinion and as fir jackets have you had a look at any Spada jackets?

I bought one last summer for when it was hotter but I didn't get to use it that much due to the typical UK weather, :rain:

As for helmets it depends really because you want one that is going to be ideal for all weather situations, I would personally look into getting a flip up helmet, Shoei are great for them if you've got the money or Caberg have a decent range as well

I have to disagree with Sidi Adventure (goretex) quality.
I had those when I started my RTW, around 6 months later seams close to the toes had completely failed on both shoes.
I think there is design (or material) problem because seam is exactly where shoe will bend when you walk.
Another annoying thing with Sidi is that they are loud. Not just a little, but extremely LOUD (squeaking). If you like attention, then these are good boots for you :)
If they would be quiet and last longer, then I could agree.

Good competitor for these is Alpinestars Toucan.

... two pages later and the OP hasn't been heard from. Ironic that no one asked the OP what sort of riding he intends to do and what his current gear is.
Details Details! :rofl:

Also ... I see about 90% of posts are from the UK, suggesting gear that is not available in the USA. Yes, we get KLIM, Rev 'it, Rukka but some of the other more obscure Euro or UK brands we do NOT get.

I'm guessing the OP is planning a TAT (Trans America Trail) ride. This ride is typically done in Summer. So yes ... can be brutally hot in sections. But also rain can happen.

I'd keep it simple and just get typical dirt bike gear with good strap on armor. Boots? No street boots ... that's for sure. But full dirt bike boots are out too as you can't walk in them. So a nice compromise boot is what I would go with, like these:

TCX Track Evo Waterproof Boots :: MotorcycleGear.com

or these:
Gaerne G-Adventure Boots - RevZilla

Neither are hard core Motocross boots but provide enough stiffness and Tibia protection for aggressive dual sport riding. Best of all ... both are good OFF THE BIKE, when walking around. Very comfortable but not Gore-Tex but are waterproof.

I've got the TCK boots as I've had good luck previously with the brand (formerly Oxtar). TCK boots are made in Romania, the Gaerne are made in Italy. Both excellent and versatile boots.

I'd wear a light pressure suit up top and pack a water proof enduro jacket for cool sections. For pants, vented KLIM Mojave or similar, pack rain pants to go over the KLIM pants if it rains or gets cool. It works perfectly.

Use normal strap on dirt bike type armor for knees, elbows (or pressure suit)
Padded shorts if you can stand the sweat.

Here are a few good USA stores to shop. Call them, talk to them. They will steer you right.

Adventure & Touring Motorcycle Gear - RevZilla
Motorcycle Jackets - Atomic Moto
MotorcycleGear.com (the new name of New Enough) :: Motorcycle Jackets, Helmets, Gloves, Boots, Luggage, Parts and More!

I've dealt with all three of the above companies. All are excellent.

You may get all that gear in the USA but we have another export for you............. Touring Ted in backless chaps :funmeteryes:

Available for weddings, funerals and bar Mitzvah's...

I can also play the spoons ;)

Ahhh Ted ,going slightly off topic , thats where you are going wrong , you have been outdone/outclassed by a very odd yank i met in a dodgy bar in mexico many years ago . He looked like a drug induced version of willy nelson and he only ever wore cowboy boots , boxer shorts and a tee shirt . He played a six string at the various bars in the town . These ex pat yanks who ran a tex / mex said come with us and see him , you wont believe his encore . I thought after nearly 30 years in the old bill id seen pretty much everything . that was until he slipped his old boy out of his boxers and strummed some weird country song ( that everyone except me seemed to know ) using it as a plectrum . Travel does indeed broaden the mind ?c?

Now that isn't something you see every day... Not outside of Birkenhead anyway.

My missus still cant get over it , unfortunately this was before the era of camera phones and you tube otherwise this guy wouldve become an overnight sensation . Think he is probably dead by now as he looked pretty bad then , so god knows what another 15 years has done to him , let alone his meat and two veg :eek3:

I just bought the 'sand' RST Adventure two-piece riding suit for 235 quid so very happy! The trousers came the other day and they're fantastic. It's a really good suit even for the full RRP.

That was a good price, I have the suit also and I think I paid that just for the trousers :rofl:

Wayne

You got the whole suit for that price ??

That's very cheap.

Where from ?


I do remember there being a first generation suit. I see that for around those prices now and again. Still a very highly rated suit too.

I can't justify spending more than that on riding gear that gets trashed on a long trip. Klim and Rukka etc.. Their prices are nuts. They aren't 6x the suit but they can be 6x the price.

I think there have been various incarnations over the years. I have a jacket just called "RST PRO" - maybe from the early 90s? The suit I bought is discontinued now but it's quite similar to the "Adventure II" series as far as I can see. Here is a link. The only thing I don't understand are the removable sleeves!?

The Jacket should come this week and if it's anything like the pants I'll be very happy with it. I bought the pants for 100 on eBay - I guess they were just clearing out stock as they only had them left in Small and XL. The jacket from a different vendor was 135 and the only one available.

I looked at SPADA gear too, but went for the RST because it was a bargin and always rated as outstanding. As for Klim and stuff like that, they look good and people I met said they were happy wit them - for the price I could comfortably travel a month or two for that sort of money.

Last time I went around Latin America I had a cheapo suit I'd bought in Santiago that swamped me and was as breathable as a binbag. You really come to learn that somethings are worth spending decent money on.

my boots
 

Granted they haven't been outside of England,, but my Alpine Star "rathmells" are still holding on in there. Bought new by me in 1981 ! Question is , what is the current equivalent? Thick leather, metal shinguard, proper knobbly sole? Everything in the shops nowadays looks like it wouldn't last 2 winters.

"Matt" ?
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by MattyRider
I'm so overwhelmed by all the choices of jackets and boots out there. All the reviews say pretty much the same thing about all of them. I need something for dry hot climate, money isn't a problem. Any suggestions for this age old question? I prefer something non-leather for jacket sake. Please and thank you.

Matty



Matty, no one has addressed your basic dilemma of making judgements, this instead of that etc. It is easy to become overwhelmed if one attempts to decide more than one decision at a time. Deciding upon which jacket or which boots might appear to be overwhelming, so begin with simple judgements, ask yourself, do I want a glass of water or a cup of coffee (for example) it is not what others want or suggest, it is what you want. Perhaps there has been someone in your past that made your decisions for you. Let today be the day that you know you can make your own decisions - sure you may make a bad judgement, or many bad judgements (that is what life is all about - learning) - you might spend more money than you needed to, but since, and I can't figure this out, "money isn't a problem" what does it matter?

The important thing is to rehabilitate your ability to make your own decisions. Your "please and thank you" attitude might be wasted on this group of ruffians who dominate the posts on the HUBB. This ruffian would
rather toss any advice I might share regarding jackets and boots in lieu of
the few humble comments we have thus far shared.

Especially the one with the bottomless chaps....

"Matty" to be frank, become "Matt" and cast off all of those you come in contact with who doubt your ability to make judgements and decide things for yourself. On the road there may not be others to make decisions for you or help you make decisions, the jacket and boots you decide to buy might than well be a great beginning to becoming Matt - a man who can make his own decisions and leave "Matty" in the dust. You can do it Matt - and one more thing if and when you really need help, I will be the first to step up, and so will that bottomless guy.

xfiltrate

My mrs got wolf titanium outlast fits just right

Sent from my GT-P5220 using Tapatalk

what works for me ?
 

Hi I have some old Rukka mesh gear (I think about 10 years old now and though it looks a bit tatty its still does the job well! the only fail on it has been the little loop I hang it up with!

Altberg, Hogg all weather original boots are fantastic I have lived in mine for the last 9 months. They can been made to fit your feet too! some of Yorkshire's finest!

Rukka
 

See Rukka gear at link below. Great gear is a bit "Winter" oriented.
Jackets prices run from $430 USD at the low end up to $1300 USD at the top.
The quality has always been exceptional ... but I can get a similar jacket with similar features for roughly HALF the price of the Rukka.

Not sure where Rukka products are made these days ... Norway is home country I believe? Still made there? Anyone know? Just about everything out there is now made in either China, Vietnam, or Korea. Aerostich (USA) still make some products in Minnesota ... but much of their stuff now made in China as well.

I don't need a jacket to last 20 years. I have 4 or 5 Jackets and always pick a specific one for specific ride I am doing. (Heat? Rain? Cold? Mixed?) Mixed conditions are toughest find perfect jacket of course ... and IMO, RUKKA don't do a really versatile jacket all that well. YMMV. But materials and protection is 1st class.

Rukka - RevZilla