A couple comments:

Gloves

I can't say that I am overly impressed with Held gloves. I tried to do my research and they seemed to be the best around - stuff I could try and buy in - Toronto, Canada. I did read that many people felt that the quality has started to go down hill. I am presently on tour and have two pairs that are failing.

The Sambia gloves have ripped on on hand down the seam, as well as the rubber is de-laminating. I expected much more from this set and I haven't worn them that much as I save them for real heat.

The other pair is Held Sensato, my general use glove, and the clutching index finger has split at the seam.

My partner has Held Desert gloves and she has had to sew up a seam on the finger - again hot use only. Her simple Joe Rocket gloves are lasting much longer.

Gear

Having previously toured Mexico, Central and South America with Olympia X-Moto gear, basically textile gear with large mesh panels which can be covered with zip-over flaps, I found this gear too hot. I said to myself that if I ever do this sort of trip again, it would be using a mesh base layer and then use a layering system.

We bought the bullet and purchased two Motoport suits made with Kevlar mesh. (Search ADVrider for a lot of opinions, good and bad, about Motoport stuff). For the most part we have been quite happy with this gear. (Our personal exception is we don't believe that our build quality is up to snuff as we have had split seems and the manufacturer has somewhat admitted fault). The gear has served us well from slightly above freezing to +/- 40 degrees Celsius. I have also used the gear well below freezing in an urban environment.

We are using a layering system involving simple synthetic boxers and t-shirts for hot days (think think, athletic, quick dry - but not LD Comfort for multiple reasons), adding merino long bottoms and tops for less warm days, then a Warm N Safe heated jacket for cooler days, and Rev'it rain jacket and pants as necessary, not only for rain, but as a wind breaking shell, sometimes with the heated liner, sometimes without. You get the drift. The negative is that we some planning to do with regards to weather and spending some time dealing with layers. The positive is that we have a "one system for all climates" - so far.

We did also purchase the waterproof-breathable liners for these suits but have long since sent them home. They are heavy, bulky, hard to use, take to long to put on during sudden rain, etc. I think that we will continue to use them for back home for fall/winter/spring when we can basically leave them in. Had the timing been right, LD Comfort stuff would have been sent home (smelly, sweaty, hot, hard to dry).

If you really want to stay warm with this mesh gear, you need to put an layer over the mesh at which point the mesh starts to act as an insulator. At this point, the electrically heated jacket is really, really effective and we found ourselves booming down interstates somewhere between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius. I have tested the mesh jacket with the heated jacket below zero (Celsius), and at full temperature and while I was not I was not exactly comfortable, mainly due to hot and cold pockets. The mesh simply breathes too much and too much heat is lost.

What else to mention here? Motoport stuff is a little bulkier than some other gear meaning that it is a little harder to deal with when off the bike. Is it super-cool in super hot and/or humid conditions? I think it does a fine job at cooling at the temperatures we have taken it to. This excludes the Sudan and Death Valley. Standing still? Nope. That said, sitting at a road block in northern Colombian when the ambient temperature according to the bike thermometer, especially around the pants right above the engine is 50+ degrees, it is going to get hot - even in jeans or shorts(?). Humid Panama city? Not too bad. Hucking moderate off-road in Guatemala - starting to get hot. Not too much one can do here except the hard armour scenario.

Ah yes. My gear is all black. Her's is almost all black. Why? Mostly fashion but hides dirt. Hi-viz (we do sometimes use hi-viz vests) argument aside, my black Motoport gear is vastly cooler than my gray/tan Olympia stuff, and almost as cool as my old hi-viz mesh jacket (Motoport having much superior mesh in terms of crash protection).

Cheers.

Adam
(Writing from Potosí, Boliva)