Ncsportsman's thread about taking a trip with his wife got me thinking. I do not have rain gear and have only briefly done any shopping for it up until now. Several folks had mentioned "good" rain gear. Is there a big difference between brands or price points? What is recommended?

 

I'd google 'motorcycle rain gear review' if I were you. Kind of depends on what type riding you do (touring or round-town mostly?) and how much you want to spend. I choose not to invest more than $80 or so on rain gear because most of my riding is around town miles and I'm uncomfortable driving around cages in the rain. If I did more touring then I'd likely upgrade my gear (which only consists of a rain liner for my mesh jacket, some pants that have a leak somewhere, a bandana and a change of lenses for the glasses).

I hear that Firstgear makes some decent raingear (one place to start). FroggToggs are a great concept but they don't hold up well in heavy rain. You do the touring thing regularly or just need some emergency get-you-home-without-drowning gear?

 

From experience,

Gore-Tex,

Any brand using it,

Others will differ in their opinion, but to be comfortable, it cannot be beat,

 

If you take long road trips, buy the best. Frog Togg and Tourmaster make a good product. The branded HD suits are well made, too.

 

There are about 3 rain gear threads a week, do a search and you'll have more info on rain gear than you ever dreamed of.

 

Yrs ago I had a vinyl suit, it was bulky and heavy but worked really well,
haven't done trips in yrs but If I was looking today I would look at something in the Gore-tex line, have it in boots and hunting clothes, hard to beat if not the best...

 

I have a Frogg Toggs jacket, works great.

 

I bought a $62 Nelson Riggs. Works good, easy to get into with boots on. Does not work on a Harely with hot pipes. Burned the right leg this weekend and it's a bear to get it off the pipes. I'll use this one when riding my quad from now one as the pipe are well protected. I plan to get another one but this time will spend the extra money and get one with shields on the legs to prevent the pipes from melting it. The Nelson Riggs one with leg shields is about $110. Harely sells one with shields on the legs for about $150. I like the suits that have bib type pants that come up high on your chest. Nothing worse then riding with a wet crotch.

 

If you're talking short trips around home then the quality of the rain gear is more convenience than need. But if you're talking about long distance riding, especially across country, then having a good rain suit along with a good rain plan can make the difference on a trip.

The value of the rain gear is directly proportional to how long it will keep you dry ... but even the best rain gear still lets you get wet ... eventually. Two places that will let water in ...

1) Around your neck -- Even a rain suit with hoody will still let water in around your face, which in turn means that at some point the water will get to the core.

2) At closure points -- Most gear today zips and has a storm flap which helps control some of the water. But the fact is you're riding into rain and the typical flap will only hold so much water out when it's hitting you at 55mph or more. It also means that if you're not fitted properly you'll get water coming up under the bottom of the rain jacket (being blown up with the draft from the road). You'll also get water up the pant legs. It's just a fact ... if you ride long enough you'll get wet.

So ... what to do?

Get a jacket that has a nice closure around the neck. Something that will keep water from draining down the back of the neck and under your chin is good. That means either a hoody style jacket or one with a high collar. The high collar can then be tucked under your helmet.

A good set of rain boots is a good idea as well. Something that allows for a tight fit between pant and boot is preferred. Watch sticking you feet on the highway pegs, though, since that will put the rain blowing up the pant leg again.

Finally ... I learned a long time ago to have a dry supply ready for those days when you're going to be in it a lot. If I'm just on a ride where I'll be home that night then this is not as important. On the other hand, if I'm on the road -- and miles from home -- then having a plan to keep dry is a virtual life saver.

As an example, last year I ran from Winslow, AZ, to Amarillo, TX, in the rain. That's just over 550 miles in the rain. The worst that can happen is that you get wet inside at the 150 mile mark and then have 400 more miles to go. So I set aside two changes of clothes for the trip.

The reason I do this is that it is a lot easier to tolerate a little wet rather than a lot wet. Knowing I had several hundred miles of rain riding to do I knew that by stopping twice to change into dry underclothes would make a difference on my disposition toward the day. So, I stopped at a dealer in Albuquerque and changed to dry (warm) clothes after the first leg. This can help the way you feel and also help fight off exhaustion from exposure. Even on a warm summer day, being wet for 400 miles while riding at 70mph can turn you into a popsicle real fast. And once you start experiencing the negative effects of exposure it's hard to get warm/dry again.

I also have a pair of sneakers that I keep in a dry bag for long trips. That's what I wear when I get to the hotel. Sticking your boots on the air conditioner in the hotel room usually dries them out overnight (assuming you've worn rain boots to keep the water logged factor down). In the worst cases I'll wash/dry my riding clothes at the end of the day as well.

 

Damn good post and spot on.