Staying Dry (ish)

When I've been out in the wet recently I've been getting pretty soaked, particularly my gut/chest. I'd assumed it was just a poor zip on the jacket but Kilted Ginger pointed out that it was more likely coming up my trousers and under my jacket. Any sensible and inexpensive suggestions on how to stop this?

And do hand guards make much difference?

A waterproof over suit is probably cheapest but they're a faff to get on and off, the cheap ones don't work well either. Hand guards are great for keeping gloves/hands warm/dry, nice psychological help for filtering too as they touch car mirrors first instead of your levers/fingers.

[JamesMio]

I got soaked on the AR from about my belly-button down, and the only thing I had on that didn't leak was my jacket. KG's spot on re. the rising damp, or certainly that was the case for me at the weekend.

Olly's (Orose) textile suit was made from the same Goretex Pro Shell stuff as my jacket, and as far as I'm aware he was bone dry underneat that - it's maybe just as simple as investing in some top-drawer textiles I'm afraid?

PS - Weegieblue was selling a pair of the trousers to match my jacket, but they're way too long for my stumpy legs - might well fit you though and he was doing them for a fairly awesome price!

Keep your eyes out for Lidl motorbike rain suits. They work fine and are normally around £15.

[DJ123]

Terah, what gear do you currently have? is it marked as waterproof (gortex or another branding of sorts)
I personally like/recommend HG's Sheltex, it has always kept me warm and dry. I have never been too hot in summer conditions either.

[sv4me]

Don't go out when its raining...

You're welcome

[keith_d]

I was wearing HG waterproofs over my leathers for the AR.

So far as I can tell, if I pull the trousers right up and the jacket down they will keep the water out. If I just throw them on in a hurry, they don't overlap enough and I get a wet navel.

[Luckypants]

Waterproof oversuit gets my vote for summer rain. I wore my HG one piece oversuit over leathers at the AR on the weekend and was completely dry, even when the heavens opened on the M66. For when it's cold and wet you need to invest in good textiles IMO, my Spada textiles have kept me dry and warm in some fairly extreme Welsh weather.

[Bibio]

Originally Posted by keith_d

I was wearing HG waterproofs over my leathers for the AR.

So far as I can tell, if I pull the trousers right up and the jacket down they will keep the water out. If I just throw them on in a hurry, they don't overlap enough and I get a wet navel.

same here. i was completely dry underneath it was my gloves and my left boot that got wet threw.

i'm still on the search for true waterproof gloves and i think i'll invest in a pair of goretex socks.

[maviczap]

Like the others I'd recommend a one piece oversuit.

The top half of me was dry wearing my HG Gortex jacket, but my bottom half was a bit damp in places, although my suit was bought 2nd hand.

The one thing I didn't bring was my one piece suit, otherwise I'm pretty sure I would have been completely dry. It came top in Ride mags one piece suits test and only cost £29!

Gloves were soaked through on the AR ride, as were my 'Waterproof' boots. But I was wearing my 'Sealskins' waterproof socks and I'm glad I was because my feet were dry