The best are the ones that go OUTSIDE your riding suit.

I think internal liners are really stupid. Your clothes get soaked and they are a pain to take in and out (and make you sweat)

The best are one piece over-suits with elasticated ends on the sleeves and bottoms although I personally have a two piece set up as it's easier and quicker to put on.

The Oxford 'Bone dry' stuff is alright for the price but they're all much of a muchness...

You don't need to spend a load of cash.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

There are various good brand water proof kit available in the market as well as over internet also.So try to find such kind of water proof kit from local market you also can advice from store keeper about which water proof kit is best to keep you dry completely.

Brilliantly summed up Adison. A lot to think about there.

I used a wax cotton jacket lately (review here), but like most above, agree that an impermeable one-piece outer is the best way to go for day-long downpours in temperate climates.

I haven't seen the Aldi/Lidl ones (sounds like my kind of shop) but I finally bought myself an old silver-black PVC Rukka one-piece. Not made for years, they crop up on ebay once in a while. Mine was £35 which is as high as they ought to go and missed one for a fiver. As despatchers, many of us wore these Rukka over-jackets or one-pieces in the 80s. They come in padded/quilted or less bulky unlined which is better IMO.

Mine must be nearly that old but is still in great shape. Soft, pliable PVC, solid seams and a kind of front bellows thing - like a hiking boot - that effectively makes it a chest-high bib seal so no wet crotch. Don't know if anyone else still makes anything similar and as good.

The Euro sizes can be confusing (or I didn't get it) so get as big as possible. Mine (Euro 52 - UK Chest 42") won't fit over my bulky Aero, but I can live with that as the wax cotton sheds on the outside water well.

For longevity and easy repair PVC is better than PU-coated nylon, IMO.

Ch

My policy with footwear is probably unusual. If I'm riding in a hot climate I wear vented race boots, light and cool and more protective than any other option. If It's wet I put British Army Gore Tex boot liners on. My other gear is Motoport Kevlar mesh jacket and over pants, also mesh both with internal liners. It's not a problem having the outer layer soaked as it's mesh.

If you visit an agricultural merchants you can get very cheap (around £20-£30 ) but effective over suits . These work well.

One of the arguments often served against having a water proof breathable detachable inner liner is that the outer shell becomes drenched and heavy. This school often reccomends a breathable waterproof shell (which will aborb some water, but not as much). Problem with the latter solution is that once the shell is drenched, it also stops wicking sweat - possibly drenching you from the inside. Also, you loose the option of removing the water proof shell on hot sunny days - drenching you from the inside on hotter days as well as the jacket is much hotter. In colder temperate climates, this may not be such a big problem as you might not sweat so much, if any at all, and the "drenched shell" argument may come into play.

Having recently been testing both types of kit (Bullfighter VS BMW), in various conditions (hot, cold, rain), I am now in the market for a kit with a detachable inner... I've set my eyes on the Rally 3 from BMW. It is in my opinion the best compromise.

Keep in mind that many jackets with non water proof shells, including the bimmers, have had the nylon fibers treated with waterproofening from the factory, in order to not soak up as much water. So, it is not like it gets drenched immediately... Remember also that even with the water proofening built into a breathable outer shell, the shell will hold some water. Only an impenetrable outer shell will prevent cooling in my experience. So, if it rains in a cold area, the one-piece has this added benefit - it keeps you warm as well as dry.

In areas with probability of some rain, I would keep the liner zipped in at all times and bring a one-piece outer to pull on if it was to pour buckets. In hot dry climates, with low probabilty of rain, I would leave the one-piece at home and put the waterproof liner in my pannier.

For instance, if you are to ride across the atlas mountains, you will likely not have rain at the beginning or end of the day - but very much so in the middle, where it is also quite cold. Knowing this, I would keep the liner zipped in for this day. On the other side of the mountains, I would put it away as I would likely not no longer need it... but I will really enjoy a less warm jacket. In Norway, I would keep it zipped in on most days, except if the forecast underscores that it will be cooking. And, for any longer rides in Norway, where it can rain upwards, downwards, and from all directions at the same time, the one-piece would be near by if the forecast says that heavy rain is to be expected.

As for rain gear, I have experienced that with a two piece, water can creep up between the jacket and pant.. I have nov have a one piece which is dirt cheap, with neon panels for added visibility in crap weather... it has never let med down, in any kind of wet storm (snow, hale, rain). I think the most important attribute are long weather protected zippers way up the side of the legs and in the front so that it is easy to get in and out of without having to take your boots off. I really liked the tip of using plastic bags over your boots to make them slip through the legs easier - I will really test that one out for sure.

As for hands and feet, I have not found a solution that I like yet. If it rains I don't want to get out of my boots on the side of the road to put on (or take off) goretex socks, sealskinz or plastic bags. I have tried som rain mittens to put over my glloves, but feel they provide me with poor grip. I have tried some industrial rubber gloves which work well over thinner riding gloves, but not for bigger bulkier gloves. The same with the rain socks that you put outside the boots, which for me allways tear on the foot pegs anyways. This much said, I have only tried a couple of cheap solutions - so any advice on solutions would be greatly appreciated.

So far I have been riding in leather or synthetic hiking boots with goretex - I find them all clammy in hot climates, but ok still, and most have held up in rain. But, with more and more offroad riding, I am looking for a sturdy Enduro type boot - and from what I hear, few of these are water proof.

Any suggestions for keeping hands and feet dry???

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Our Daytona GtX boots have been stellar !! Comfy totally waterproofand you can walk around in then in comfort too. I have The BMW waterproof gloves with the water scraper on the finger. Dry after 7 hours of pouring rain
In Alberta in July .


We have revitt defender suits. We like the zip out liners easy to put in or out. For pouring rain loving the Revitt H2O suits. Sara

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Sara

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