Truly waterproof gear?

[garynortheast]

Full waterproof oversuit, lined and with zips that allow you to get it on over boots and even while wearing gloves. Made by Proto and bought at the bike show at the NEC 4 years ago for £24. Came with a pouch you can wear round your waist to put it in. It's still 100% waterproof and I have been through some absolutely torrential downpours. It's also warm and great to wear over the leathers at the end of a long day's riding when the temperature starts to drop and it gets chilly.

Swear by my HG Nexus II (stylish flouro don't you know!) and Tricky II pants... Kept me bone dry in all torrential 'pours I've been in - and the bike is my sole form of transport.

Gloves? Had some havlerssons which were good for a few years but aren't waterproof any more regardless of how much I nikwax them.

[embee]

I've had Rukka A-tech (Goretex XCR) jacket+trousers for about 4yrs, I think, and so far no leaks at all, and that includes some torrential European stuff. Collar is a bit high for warm/dry use but in the wet it comes into its own, tucks up under the helmet and no water gets in.

Prior to those I used leathers and Flexothane oversuit, which is totally waterproof and also breathes so not too "boil-in-the-bag".

Also Altberg boots which don't leak a drop. HG goretex gloves, Classic winter gloves and PSX11 summer ones also are as good as you could hope for. Aside, I recently got some Halvarrsons Windsor leather/mesh gloves for warm weather and they are lovely (at least they would let the water out!!)

I think an aspect of the breathable fabrics (goretex etc) is that when wet outside it limits the breathability so it can tend to feel clammy inside, but it isn't actually leaking. Not much more you can do short of a car.

My Spada two-piece was relatively cheap (around £120) and has not let a drop in over last 18 months of daily use.

I decided to invest in a whole set of wet weather gear last autumn, I now look like a ride triangles ad as I've got the weise jacket and trousers, spada enforcers and TCX infinity boots. All have been perfect so far and I have been out in some awesome rain (not for long periods I guess as my commute is only 30 mins)

Think the total bill was £450-500 as I can't remember if the original figure included the gloves.

The jacket has two cuffs, the inner one is soft neoprene, stops water sneaking up and doesn't feel too bulky.

i got caught out one day so pulled in tesco to get out of the heavy rain and found some waterproof leather covers and they worked amazingly, clear plastic over your leathers small enough to fit under your seat so just pull over put them on job done. they cost like £3 so when you break them after a year its cheap to replace.

[ogden]

HG Cruise GTX textile jacket and trousers, completely waterproof. Worst conditions I've ever ridden in was a 200 mile journey from Baden-Baden to Verdun last year in monsoon-like rain the whole way. Absolutely bone dry underneath. Now about two years old and going strong. Cost me 350 for the set, usually go for about 550.

Bullson boots (HG/Sheltex), about six years old and they'll wear out before they let any water in. Can get a bit sweaty, so some Sealskinz socks help keep the moisture away. About 80 quid at the time.

HG Pathan gloves, started out waterproof but lost their mojo after a couple of years on the above Verdun trip. Replaced with...

Alpinestars 365 Goretex gloves. Leather race gloves with a Goretex membrane, amazing for summer use when you're not sure which way the weather's going to go, but not cheap at about 150 quid. Keep water out unless it runs in through the cuff, at which point you're better off with...

Alpinestars Jet Road Goretex. Warm, dry, have a storm cuff to keep the rain out at both ends. Spot on.

Basically, get something with Goretex. No substitute. They enforce strict quality control and if it doesn't pass their tests, it doesn't get the Goretex tag.

HG Master V jacket and trousers, over 3 years and 30,000 miles including days of highland rain still dry. It gets washed and treated every year to keep it in good nick.

I need to invest in some waterproof gear. My 15 mile ride home from Glasgow today was horrific and I arrived with wet shoulders, one wet leg, wet toes, a big wet belly and soaking hands. Far from pleasant.....

[yorkie_chris]

Frank Thomas is complete mince. Would not have any of that crap given.


I have a halvarssons korax jacket which is perfectly waterproof even for hours of 100mph motorway in a monsoon. It's 3 years old, probably done more than 50k in it and it's been down the road a bit and held up very well.

Best waterproofs I have are some belstaff quilted over trousers, these are fine for absolutely any bad weather but a little sweaty and slightly tight around the knees with modern armoured leathers.