Waterproof Gear

[MikeH]

I talked to a few riders who had some issues with the rain getting into their gear.

Looked up my boots, never have had them leak yet after many miles in the rain. The only downside is they aren't very warm. (swore I found them for $250 somewhere)
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/alpin...-tex-boots

My gloves (best gear I have, my hands are pretty exposed on the C14 too)
http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/klim-element-gloves

[Pirate Gonzo]

Thanks for the gloves post, that is the one piece of gear that I have always had issues with staying dry. I will have to give these a try.

I actually had my boots leak for the first time in the 5 years I owned them but I emailed Sidi and it seems they are going to repair or replace them. Thankfully they didn't leak until about an hour before we finished so it wasn't too bad. The front desk provided some plastic bags to wear inside them to get home.

[LSGiant]

Thanks a bunch Mike of course the gloves are out of stock until July.

[Frump]

The XL, 2XL and 3XL are in stock... just not the sizes for people with smaller paws.

[Pirate Gonzo]

I went with the gauntlet style which are all in stock.

[LSGiant]

(05-27-2015 06:27 PM)Pirate Gonzo Wrote:  I went with the gauntlet style which are all in stock.

I have been down the gauntlet road. The water runs down my Stich and into the gloves, makes for epic fail. According to their size chart I only need a large. Most of the reviews said the gloves run true to American size. Klim is going to be at the COG rally I am attending in a couple of weeks. I should be able to try on a similar glove to check the size. They also typically offer a discount at the rally.

I will order the boots soon.

[propforward]

I don't believe that waterproof gloves and boots exist any more, having tried many different ones. (Well, I really do believe Mikes review, but I'm done doing the search for new gar having found another solution).

I am sticking with overboots and overgloves. I have proven that these work. When overgloves are tucked inside the sleeves of ones jacket, the rain runs off and not down into the glove.

Now I just need a way of remembering to take them along.

If I had taken these two items along and used them, I would likely have made an effort to finish the rally properly on sunday, and certainly wouldn't have been bedraggled. Turns out I was just a bit cold - I thought my stich had completely given up, but it hadn't, I was only wet at feet and hands, and a bit around the neck. You live and learn.

For those that are interested the overgloves I use are "rain off" http://www.rain-off.com/

And can be bought online here: http://www.farklemasters.com/rain-off-gloves/

I like them better than the Aerostich ones.

---

(05-27-2015 07:17 PM)LSGiant Wrote:  I have been down the gauntlet road. The water runs down my Stich and into the gloves, makes for epic fail.

Stick the gauntlet under the sleeve, not over it.

[Sleddog]

+1 on the Alpinestar boots. I have the ones MikeH references for street wear & Alpinestar Scout's for Dual Sport riding. Both have been excellent.



.

[Pirate Gonzo]

(05-27-2015 07:17 PM)LSGiant Wrote:  

(05-27-2015 06:27 PM)Pirate Gonzo Wrote:  I went with the gauntlet style which are all in stock.

I have been down the gauntlet road. The water runs down my Stich and into the gloves, makes for epic fail.

I have an Olympia Motoquest suit which provides separate rain gear so I wear the gauntlet over the riding jacket and under the rain jacket which keep the water from going up your sleeve and down your glove.

(05-28-2015 06:40 AM)propforward Wrote:  I don't believe that waterproof gloves and boots exist any more, having tried many different ones.

I have been wearing Sidi for the past 5 or 6 years and never had them leak until this rally and even then they didn't leak until the last hour or so.

Even better (hopefully) I reached out to them via email and it sounds like the are going to either fix them or replace them. We'll see.

Quote:For those that are interested the overgloves I use are "rain off" http://www.rain-off.com/

I remember looking at these a few years ago and considered them but then forgot about it.
I might have to consider picking up a set for a back up.

The problem with waterproof gloves and rally is the matter of taking your gloves off and on during the ride, your hands get wet and eventually you have a soaked glove from putting them on again.

[MikeH]

I have the aerostich overgloves but thought they were very hard to put on and handle/run my gpses (gps's, gpi, or gps').

One general thing I've discovered is buy the good shit first. It saves money in the long run when you have both the cheap junk and nice expensive stuff in the closet.

[propforward]

(05-28-2015 01:42 PM)MikeH Wrote:  I have the aerostich overgloves but thought they were very hard to put on and handle/run my gpses (gps's, gpi, or gps').

They are cumbersome. I don't like them. The other ones I mentioned are much better, and come in different configurations of fingers, and also better size ranges, which makes putting them on easier. They are not perfect, admittedly, but I can run my GPS quite readily in them.

It is totally true that it is better to pay for quality up front. So difficult to know where the quality is though, with so many brands available. My own "waterproof" gloves were not at all cheap. But waterproof they are not - not after two hours in constant rain anyway. They are also damn hot in summer, so I find that a nice light pair of summer gloves combined with the overgloves works very well in warm summer rain.

But there it is, we are lucky to have such a wondrous variety of gear to choose from to suit our different needs.

Obviously having gloves that are just waterproof is superb. I just don't trust manufacturers claims in that regard any more. Damn them.

[Frump]

I carry neoprene duck hunter gloves in a little compression bag. When rains long and hard and I can't avoid the rain I get them out. They keep my hands warm even if they wet or under water. Another thrifty member here clued me in on them years ago, he used neoprene kayak gloves. They cost about $25. http://tinyurl.com/nmrvkr8

I gave up on waterproof motorcycle boots years ago. Couldn't find anything which lasted under $300 or $400. I wear nylon/leather tactical boots now, they cost about $110 on Amazon or at any uniform store. They last about 2 seasons before I wear the soles out. They are light and super comfy. They have insulted versions. They keep my feet pretty warm even when they are wet and they dry out quickly.

For those really wet-all-day days, I carry emergency plastic grocery bags. Experience indicates Wal-Mart bags are almost always not up to the task (sorry T-bone but Casey's bags suck too). HyVee bags are better but a qualifying test may be required. I think Neiman Marcus, Saks, and Macy might have even better bags, but I can't afford them.

This leaves more money for tires, gas, parts, and riding on nice days. Just say'n.

[AlvinB]

I have been very happy with the Firstgear products the last few years, and they are reasonably priced, for how well they work. On the Bonzai, I used other gloves early because they are easier to operate the GPS with. But once my hands were thoroughly soaked and cold, I switched to the Firstgear gloves I use when the going gets wet. For the rest of the ride, I took the gloves off at the stops and despite the fact that they went into the gloves wet, my hands repeatedly came out of the gloves so dry that I had to lick my fingers to flip the pages. I now wear Firstgear pants, jacket, and any gloves I replace will be with Firstgear brand.

[ajayhawkfan]

(05-28-2015 06:40 AM)propforward Wrote:  I don't believe that waterproof gloves and boots exist any more, having tried many different ones. (Well, I really do believe Mikes review, but I'm done doing the search for new gar having found another solution).

I am sticking with overboots and overgloves. I have proven that these work. When overgloves are tucked inside the sleeves of ones jacket, the rain runs off and not down into the glove.

Now I just need a way of remembering to take them along.

If I had taken these two items along and used them, I would likely have made an effort to finish the rally properly on sunday, and certainly wouldn't have been bedraggled. Turns out I was just a bit cold - I thought my stich had completely given up, but it hadn't, I was only wet at feet and hands, and a bit around the neck. You live and learn.

For those that are interested the overgloves I use are "rain off" http://www.rain-off.com/

And can be bought online here: http://www.farklemasters.com/rain-off-gloves/

I like them better than the Aerostich ones.

---

(05-27-2015 07:17 PM)LSGiant Wrote:  I have been down the gauntlet road. The water runs down my Stich and into the gloves, makes for epic fail.

Stick the gauntlet under the sleeve, not over it.

I ordered the over gloves because I lost one of my stich gloves. Thanks for the tip.

[propforward]

(06-01-2015 07:04 PM)ajayhawkfan Wrote:  I order the over gloves because I lost one of my stich gloves. Thanks for the tip.

I'm pretty sure you'll like these. It completely slipped my mind to let you look at my gloves on saturday.

[ajayhawkfan]

(06-01-2015 07:46 PM)propforward Wrote:  

(06-01-2015 07:04 PM)ajayhawkfan Wrote:  I order the over gloves because I lost one of my stich gloves. Thanks for the tip.

I'm pretty sure you'll like these. It completely slipped my mind to let you look at my gloves on saturday.

The overgloves arrived. They look good, better then my old 'stich gloves. Thanks for the recommendation.

[LSGiant]

Sad news. One of the KLIM owners was at the COG rally I attended last week. The Element gloves that Mike recommended are being discontinued. What you find is what is left. He did not have a recommendation for a replacement. The sales for that type of glove just are not there. I bought the long cuff just to be able to get a pair.