Best suit for hot/humidity
 

Hello all,

I've been using a RST adventure suit and it's been okay for South America. Next year looking at central and south/north Mexico. Obviously I'm expecting hot, humid and showers and then hot and dry in the north. My current suit is too thick and despite being vented, it's quite a heavy and thick thing to lug about in. My thinking is some sort of mesh suit and then a cheap pair of waterproofs to throw over when it rains. Oh and I'm on a budget - maybe 500USD tops?

Thanks!
RTW

I ride in the Klim Induction jacket. Had a tourmaster mesh before. The Klim is way better. Rode Baja single track with it at 30C and it was fine. Comes with a great waterproof liner that can be worn over the top.

Klim is excellent gear but WAY expensive, IMHO.
Here in USA there are many quality, less expensive options.

I recently bought a new pair of Mesh ADV pants from Cycle Gear. I think they were $119 usd. (on sale) These are simply EXCELLENT and far better than I expected from Cycle Gear, who, until recently made some not so great stuff. But they've upped their game quite a bit, these pants are some of the best I've seen!

For a jacket there are many many choices and great sales happen so bargains everywhere. Once again, I would take a close look at Cycle Gear and their Bilt and Sedici lines of Mesh gear.

Also, Go to sites like:
Men's Mesh Motorcycle Jackets - RevZilla
Jackets and Vests > Mesh Jackets :: MotorcycleGear.com

Don't pass by brands like: First Gear, Joe Rocket, Tourmaster and Rev' it. As good or better than more expensive brands, far less money.

Cycle Gear Mesh jackets:
Cycle Gear - Search

I like the Sedici "Arturo" Mesh jacket and pants. A lot of value for the money.
SEDICI - Arturo Mesh Motorcycle Jacket - Sedici - ExclusiveBrands - Cycle Gear

I'd highly recommend the Rukka AirRider kit. Before you panic and start imagining the mortgage you'd normally need to buy Rukka, don't - it's their cheapest suit by far.

I got mine for an August trip to Morocco last year and managed to keep myself at a reasonable temperature even in the Sahara. It's a new fabric which flows air like mesh, but the whole suit is made of it. In some sense the air flow is less obvious than with a normal vented jacket, there is no single spot which gets the air - all of your body gets it. Overall, for me, that's better.

It's also the most comfortable riding suit I've ever owned, the fabric is soft and flexible compared with normal Cordura. I hear good things about abrasion resistance, not tested that myself though. Big 3DO protectors all over. Looks good too.

The Rukka suit looks like a winner. I'm pretty done with the spaceman look. Thanks for all the comments!

I'm 53 in my younger days I bought loads of cheap bike gear that was crap, it must add upto thousands, now I'm in a better situation I can buy the good stuff,
If I can advise you and say buy once and buy the best you can afford, it will last you many years, I now use Klim, I've used there badlands Jacket and trousers with some of the mid layer stuff inside, can't fault there stuff, I'm using there gear to go round the world,
I do have a old rukka blue jacket that I use for trail rides its light and waterproof it's about 12 years old still in very good condition, it's never let me down, unless I fell into water,,,,lol,,,,

Klim can be expensive but not all mesh if the same. My cheap tourmaster was great until I changed. The improvement was night and day. And much lighter. Don't know about the rukka but it's more expensive than Klim and don't think it comes with a windproof waterproof jacket. The Klim one impressed me. Seam sealed and everything. Packs small and light. Great for around camp too.

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Rukka make good gear but ($$$$$) IMO. It's more oriented towards Northern Euro riders ... where it never really heats up. Its generally well made, quality and good design, but not for truly hot, humid weather.

The Sahara is a good test but it's not a humid place. Riding in Asia or Cent. America you'll find that high heat PLUS high humidity will kill you. Vented jackets and full MESH jackets are very different. MESH flows 4 times the air of a vented jacket, no matter how many vents.

I've ridden in Death Valley (hot and DRY, no humidity) in 118F. Any good vented jacket does fine there. But add humidity and everything changes. It's very tough riding, especially off road. Max air flow is what I would want.
bier

Yeah, I should perhaps have said that I've never tested it in a truly humid environment - nor even experienced one myself. I can't be sure how it will perform in such an environment, nor can I engage in 'informed speculation'.

What I can say with confidence is that in terms of pure airflow it's vastly better than the vented jackets I've used so far. With shorts and a t-shirt underneath it's like wearing nothing at all. I've never used a real mesh jacket, so I can't compare, but I probably never will - I just can't accept the compromise in protection which I feel you get with conventional mesh.

As an aside... I like this kit so much and find it so light and comfortable that I'm planning to try using it this winter, with heated jacket and trousers underneath. Big glow in the dark orange jumpsuit for when it's raining. Could be a truly all conditions solution, if it works.

Klim redeveloped the mesh for higher safety. Not all mesh is the same. Never understood the concerns but then again didn't do my homework on treat stress on various parts of the jacket.

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Sounds promising ... may end up being the Holy Grail or riding gear!:smartass:

But seriously, sounds like VERY GOOD gear! :thumbup1:

Early Mesh was crap, would tear apart in a slide ... but it's since undergone about 3 generations of improvements and development. ALL the major manufacturers Mesh has vastly improved. Much stronger now.

Most ALL (including KLIM) is made in China. Probably a lot is made in the same factory. Rukka is a big step up in quality, IMO, but too expensive for most in USA. But always good to hear of new innovation with riding gear. Ride safe, hope you never test the Rukka's strength!
bier

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/photog...AIR.jpg?378220

For the last few years in Morocco and other hot climes I've been using a Rev'it Air jacket. It's not expensive and has a reasonable amount of armour.

But whatever you get, consider going for a jacket that DOESN'T have black shoulders as it heats up terribly in the sun. Light grey is lovely and cool.

Rode down to Baja from Canada a few years ago wearing a full deal Belstaff vented jacket. I presumed that it would be intolerable once I was in Mexico so I carried a Joe Rocket Phoenix mesh jacket as well, intending to switch over once I encountered real heat.

The result? I never used the mesh jacket. It never even came out of my luggage. As long as I was moving, the heavy jacket, with vents open and the front zipper open a bit, was fine. When I stopped for more than a minute or two I simply took it off. I will add that there was no significant off road riding involved. It did seem quite humid in coastal areas.

Neither of my fellow travellers used mesh jackets either.

So it seems possible to get by with a well vented non mesh jacket.

If you are traveling in hot climate country's that's fine to where what suits, When you traveling around the world you need a suit that will cover you when When the weather climate changes quit a lot

layers

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