Waterproofs not so waterproof!

So on my way in this morning the heavens opened and down came a deluge of water, not normally too much of an issue - slow down a bit to a safe speed and carry on as normal.

Except for the fact that I began feeling a bit damp, then got damper and damper until I was absolutely soaked. Anyway I finally got to work and took my "waterproofs" off to reveal that I was infact soaked to the skin, from head to toe...........Luckily I sometimes cycle and had a spare shirt, trousers and socks, so things weren't as bad as they could have been. However no spare boxers so unfortunately I am faced with having to go to an important meeting commando!

My boots are Swift Torsion X boots - which are said to be 100% Waterproof and my jacket and trousers are Akito Defence, also said to be 100% waterproof both from J&S.

If these are said to be 100% waterproof how comes they're not?

[rictus01]

I'd be concerned if these were new, and be taking them back.

Having said that, they are at the budget end of things and this is where the durability shows, day in, day out use soon shows the quality of a garment.

you sort of get what you pay for, both boots and textiles range from the sub £50 mark up to the manyhundreds of pounds.

All this stuff will let you down at some stage, it's just some last longer than others.

Still hope you didn't suffer to much

Cheers Mark.

I have to run with what Mark says, I have an Akito jacket, and while it's warm it does leak in some of the seams under heavy rain. If you're not wearing a neck sock the rain can also get in between the lid and top of the jacket.

I always had a set of shirts (about 8 or 9) ties, shoes and a couple of suits at work and changed when I got in, it's much easier....

I now always buy the best gear I can afford, it lasts longer and you stay drier...

.

I've got a full akito cougar set of textiles and found that they leaked after a while and the biggest problem was when they were wet they'd stay wet for ages, putting cold wet kit back on in the mornings was very unpleasant so i stopped wearing it

Now i've just got a 1 piece over suit which i wear over my leathers, more waterproof then my textile suit and drys in a couple of hours, i also think that wearing my leathers with thermals and the over suit is warmer then the quilted textiles

Boots are sidi black rain's, i'm on my 3rd pair and think they're great, only last a year or so mind

The gloves i got are spada force SP2's also great and under £50

[STRAMASHER]

Get yourself down to your nearest HeinGericke.

Not the most stylish or coolest kit but it works. Have a £200 HG gortex jacket for 5yrs used 6 out of 7 days, still does not leak anywhere, pockets still waterproof. £200 gortex bib and brace for 2yrs, no probs.

You get what you pay for, although the HG stuff is very good value for money!

I'll echo what Rictus and Jelster have said and add: Make sure your kit is done up properly. The best gear in the world won't work if you have the sleeves inside the gloves, the trousers inside the boots, or the vents open.

I thought my new jacket was leaking the first couple of times I wore it in the rain. In actuality, I had two vents (which I hadn't noticed- someone must of opened them in the store prior to me buying it) open and water was getting in there. It only takes a soaking a couple of times to make you realise it's worth paying a bit more to get better stuff.

As a short term measure, you could try getting an oversuit (although no longer near the top in Ride's ranking, I found the Spada 406 to work perfectly).

I think the word waterproof has a fairly loose definition for some manufacturers. I've got textiles from the lower end of the price range that are waterproof for all of 2 minutes, then water just pours through.

My Hein Gericke goretex boots do exactly what they say on the tin though. I too have come to the conclusion that a waterproof oversuit is probably the best way to go.

I find that water even gets through where my AS Drystars and jacket overlap- the ends of the sleeves always feel horrible after rain. The jacket does keep me dry, but takes ages to dry as well...! Some water does find it's way through sometimes. Is a buffalo jacket and legs- not bad, but clearly budget (though have to replace the legs soon as the end of leg zip has died after my crash and the inner fleece zip has died already just from wear- not good for 3 months wear...)

I agree that you get what you pay for but when I bought the bike I was a bit short and bought the cheapest waterproof stuff I could afford.

Anyway J & S have come up trumps and replaced the lot with no quibble, the only problem is I now have to wear the boots in again!

Thanks J&S!!!

[Red ones]

My Dianese stuff lets me down OCCASIONALLY. Couple of times a year. I find all makes of waterproof textiles will fail - always around the zips - the knack is to make sure the zips are doen up properly in heavy rain - I also through a set of cheap waterproof overalls or similar on top on really bad days.