- This topic has 17 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 4 months ago by eternal05.
My New Winter Jacket
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December 26, 2009 at 9:58 pm #3627eonParticipant
I’ve been looking for the perfect winter jacket for the past few months now. There are two main things I’ve been looking for in a jacket that would make it ‘perfect’ for me. Impact/abrasion protection and being 100% waterproof. I initially had my eye on the Rev’IT Cayenne Pro which is highly recommended by webbikeworld. It certainly has the impact/abrasion angle covered but it relies on an inner layer to stay waterproof. This means the outer shell absorbs water which I don’t like. I’ve also heard complaints of the inner layer leaking (not many but there are some). For a jacket that costs close to $600 it would have to be perfect for me to buy it and for me it falls short.
Next I looked at Aerostitch. I’ve never read a bad word about them, all owners seem to love them. Their outer shell uses Gore-Tex which is obviously top of the line stuff and is 100% waterproof. Problem I have with it is the protection level. It varies between jackets but 500 denier seems to be most common (you can buy a light jacket at 200D, wtf??). This seems to be about the average protection offered on most textile jackets. Problem is the stitch is twice the price of your average jacket. For $430 I expect something a little more than average.
FirstGear offers stuff that is supposedly waterproof and at a good price but it does not appear much of an upgrade over my current Teknic jacket. Not worth it for me.
At this point I kind of gave up until last week when I spent all day outdoors in the rain and my Teknic jacket let me down. A ride home at 50mph in 40′ temps with a wet jacket was not fun. After that I broke down and decided I really need to use an outer layer to stay waterproof. Scanning around at Frog Toggs stuff and a few others, I remembered I had some waterproofs in my closet. So I dug out my Gore-Tex Bike Wear Pack-Lite cycling jacket which sits unused these days and put it on over my Rev’IT Turbine summer mesh jacket. I’ve been riding around like this for the past week in temperatures in the high 30’s. Yesterday I went on a 2 hour long freeway ride and felt fine. I only had 2 long sleeve t-shirts on underneath my jacket and was very comfortable. The Gore-Tex jacket was totally windproof and that made all the difference. I can even fit a thin fleece underneath the jacket if need be.
So my new winter jacket is my summer jacket! All the protection of a top of the line Rev’IT jacket with the waterproof capabilities of Gore-Tex. And all this for free
The Gore-Tex jacket is not cheap (around $250 for this jacket) but the Pack-Lite stuff does what it says, packs away into nothing (it actually packs away into its back pocket and can be velcroed to a handlebar or equivalent). Remember this was designed to be carried by cyclists so it is light and convenient. Sadly I never did buy the Pack-Lite pants but that might be more troublesome to get on over motorcycle pants. I do have an expensive pair of Marmot pants I use for skiing (again they sit unused in a closet) and they are perfect for the bike. Designed to get on over large boots and obviously need to be waterproof. They don’t pack away as easily as the cycling stuff but that’s not a big problem.I know there are a few cyclists on this board so you might want to see what gear you can reuse on your motorbike. I’m going to head to the local cycling store to see if I can pick up a pair of waterproof/windproof booties I can wear underneath my Sidi’s. Save my buying a set of winter boots.
Gore-Tex Jacket over Rev’IT Turbine and T-Pro Back Protector (explains the large hump)December 26, 2009 at 11:57 pm #23817AParticipantMost cycling rain jacket I know have the back of the jacket dorp pretty low, to avoid “rooster tail” wet spots.. You should pull the rear end of your cycling jacket down behind your butt.
December 27, 2009 at 1:16 am #23819briderdtParticipantI bet the falls were gorgeous! Did you go up 18 or 202?
December 27, 2009 at 4:44 am #23820eonParticipantThis was actually yesterday (Christmas day) but that was a nice day also. We went 202 there and I-90 back. Not very exciting but the roads were kind of frosty (had reports of black ice on I-90 even at 2pm) so it was not a day for hitting the twisties. I was going to go out today but there was even more frost on the roads today than yesterday. I nearly fell at one point when I put my foot down and it slipped from under me. At that point I decided to call it quits and head home. Freaking weird given the temperature was 57′ degrees but anywhere in the shade was icy. Hopefully tomorrow there will be no frost and I can get out for a fun ride.
December 27, 2009 at 4:50 am #23821eonParticipantYup, this one has that too. It might be riding up on the pants or getting stuck on the back protector which reaches down to the tailbone. Not a big deal as it is not needed as much on a motorcycle as it is on a bicycle.
December 27, 2009 at 5:12 am #23822SantaCruzRiderParticipantI put my bike away three weeks ago when the temps dipped into the mid 30s on my morning route and I saw the first frosting of snow. Got some new gloves from Santa, so took the beast out for some mid-day errands, but otherwise, I’m pretty much parked until probably late March — and I live in NorCal, so you’re probably 15 degree colder and 5″ more rain on a good day.
Still, it warms my heart to see diehards like you riding 365 — go, man, go!
BTW: I went the goretex over my leather route for rain as well. I end up looking like a giant red tomato, but it keeps ALL the rain out and breathes enough for comfort.December 27, 2009 at 11:02 pm #23830IBA270ParticipantI have owned a BUNCH of gear in my riding career, and I’ve learned quite a bit about what works in rain and what won’t. Here is my everyday/touring gear set up;
AeroStich Darien Jacket
AeroStich Darien AD1 Pants
AeroStich Combat Touring BootsMy previous gear has included;
First Gear Killimanjaro
Olympia AST
AeroStich Roadcrafter I
AeroStich Roadcrafter II
Bates Tactical Boots
Alpinestar GoreTex Touring Boots
Joe Rockett…can’t remember name waterproof gear…What works best FOR ME is the Darien, and here’s why;
1) It’s WATER PROOF. Absolutely. Only one other garmet comes close, and that’s the Olympia AST.
2) It moves more air than any other jacket out there. Nothing comes close.
3) Fits me better (and can be custom made if need be) better than anything else. Actually comes in men’s coat sizes, i.e. 48L, 36S, etc.Combat Touring Boots where the bomb until about 100K miles on them. They ARE very heavy, and take a long time to break in. They are NOT advertised waterproof, but a good soaking of waterproof wax and a little heat from a hairdrying and you’re good to go.
If I were buying off the shelf stuff, I’d look first at Olympia. IMO, it’s the best quality/best thought out stuff on the market.
HTH….
Allen
December 28, 2009 at 1:21 am #23831eonParticipantAfter looking at a simple standalone Gore-Tex layer and seeing the price of them, I understand now why Aerostitch is the price it is. Have to say I would seriously consider buying it now. I did look long and hard at the Darien for a while. But I have been pleasantly surprised (more like amazed) that I have been plenty warm wearing just a thin goretex jacket over a summer mesh jacket. I’m still experimenting with the inner layers to get it perfect but I am 95% there.
I read several reports of people experiencing leaks with the Olympia. I did some googling on that after reading your comments on the user review on this site. Was a little off putting.
December 28, 2009 at 1:31 am #23832eonParticipantOh great…now I’ve just realized I can buy leather gear now I’ve gone the external goretex route. My credit card is squealing already.
Oh and I don’t ride if I think the conditions are dangerous. I only have a 1.5 mile commute in city streets by the waterfront. Almost never gets frosty down here. And if there is snow on the ground I will walk. So I’m a 365 day a year rider if those 365 days are fine My only die hard element is I don’t mind riding in the rain or at night. I’ve done both together plenty of times but never away from street lighting. I don’t fancy doing that with just your headlights to see by.
December 28, 2009 at 9:51 pm #23837Gary856ParticipantWhat kind of winter gloves do you use for cold and rainy days? I was think ing of getting Aerostitch’s rain covers ($47) for my leather gloves, but now I’m thinking maybe I should just buy a pair of cold weather water proof gloves. Fieldsheer’s Eskimo gloves look pretty good at $59.95 close out price.
December 28, 2009 at 10:54 pm #23838eonParticipantI have the BMG Thermosport Gloves. I was good with them until the temperature dropped to around 40′ or so. After an hour my fingers would be seriously cold. Last year I tried all kinds of inner layers but nothing worked. I also have a cheap outer 3 fingered rain glove and that helped a little but it is a pain to use. So this year before winter got here I ordered a set of bagster muffs (kind of like hippo hands). Took a bit of getting used to but I’ve not even noticed the cold this year. Also help out in the rain, keep your hands nice and dry.
Now it’s my feet that feel the cold now but I’m wearing a pair of boots that are not desinged for winter weather (sidi b2s) so I’ve just got myself a pair of neoprene socks for $10. I think that will sort that problem.December 29, 2009 at 3:17 am #23839IBA270ParticipantTourmaster Elites if they still make them….
The triple digit insulated work well, but they’re a little weird with the “lobster claw” finger araingement.
December 29, 2009 at 5:03 am #23840Gary856ParticipantThanks, eon, on the glove info. The BMG Thermosport looks nice; I just ordered a pair. I thought they look a lot like the Cortech Scarab winter gloves at first, before I did the side-by-side comparison. Can’t wait to get them to get the all-weather capability. Too bad they’re not available in local stores for instant gratification. If they can handle temp down to 45 deg or so, that’s plenty good for riding here in San Jose. I think any colder than that the gloves will become too bulky, or need to go the heated route which I don’t want to deal with.
Earlier today I went to a local motorcycle gear store to look at some winter gloves. I like the Cortech Scarab – looked good, felt good, well armored, but the insulation felt a little light, and seemed not warm enough for days in the low 50s. I also tried on the Tourmaster Winter Elites and liked them – soft and warm, with an integrated 3-finger rain cover, armor seemed adequate; except I just saw an online review from a user saying it’s water proof level is not good in heavy rains.
December 29, 2009 at 5:44 am #23841SantaCruzRiderParticipantLove my Scarabs. They keep my hands toasty in the 40s and comfortable into the mid-30s (haven’t tried them below 34, but still plenty of heat for an hour-long ride at that temp).
One thing to keep in mind related to temp is the bike you’re on. Mine has a full fairing and windscreen, so gloves that feel good on my bike at 34 might feel cold if I jumped onto a naked bike at 45F.
December 29, 2009 at 5:53 am #23842MunchParticipantLOL….. I am sitting here looking over my gear knowing I am riding in the morning at 25 degrees and trying to figure out why 45 seems cold. I always have to remind myself about being conditioned or acclimated to the temperature zone you live in.
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