Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Equipment, Travel > Camping Equipment and all Clothing
Camping Equipment and all Clothing Tents, sleeping bags, stoves etc. Riding clothing, boots, helmets, what to wear when not riding, etc.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia




Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 24 Apr 2009
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wirral UK
Posts: 226
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
__________________
www.frothandflames.com
2012 Kawasaki W800
1997 NX 650 Dominator
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 24 Apr 2009
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,982
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
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 24 Apr 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Brighton UK
Posts: 25
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
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 24 Apr 2009
Jake's Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Northumberland, uk
Posts: 761
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.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 24 Apr 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Nottingham UK
Posts: 227
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).
__________________
UK to Mongolia 2009, on a DR350
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 24 Apr 2009
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
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.

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 24 Apr 2009
Xander's Avatar
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Back Down Under (WA)
Posts: 562
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..
__________________
2000 Africa Twin
http://two-up-ona-twin.blogspot.com
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 24 Apr 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Merthyr Tydfil UK
Posts: 29
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.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 24 Apr 2009
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 236
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.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 27 Apr 2009
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wirral UK
Posts: 226
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
__________________
www.frothandflames.com
2012 Kawasaki W800
1997 NX 650 Dominator
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 30 Apr 2009
stuxtttr's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Lutterworth,Midlands, UK
Posts: 574
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
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 1 May 2009
Gold Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Wirral UK
Posts: 226
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.
__________________
www.frothandflames.com
2012 Kawasaki W800
1997 NX 650 Dominator
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 1 May 2009
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
Quote:
Originally Posted by greenmanalishi View Post
I dont care if its candy pink with fluffy bunnies on it, well I do but you get the drift.
Be careful what you wish for....

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 1 May 2009
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,673
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

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 1 May 2009
Super Moderator
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bellingham, WA, USA
Posts: 3,982
Quote:
Originally Posted by greenmanalishi View Post
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.
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
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Best all weather riding gear Xander Camping Equipment and all Clothing 84 15 Jul 2009 17:02
Can people recommend good extreme cold weather gear? Alexlebrit Camping Equipment and all Clothing 15 9 Oct 2008 14:25
Dropping off cold weather gear before the border garyp138 Central America and Mexico 5 16 Mar 2008 19:00
hot weather riding gear zenbiker Camping Equipment and all Clothing 12 1 Jul 2003 04:25
UK to Aus weather Sean Kelly Route Planning 0 6 Mar 2001 18:32

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 19:45.