Waterproofs not so waterproof!

Oxtar Touring boots from J & S £100, Gortex so they won't leak. IXS North Gloves £40, Gortex with thumb wiper blade built-in. IXS Matrix Jacket, £200, again Gortex (£50 cheape than Heine Gericke's similar jacket).

Tim

I have the oxtar touring boots aswell they are fantastic, the rest of my water proof stuff is from frank thomas and I have been caught in very heavy rain all day (was out on a lesson at the time) they kept me bone dry no leaks at the seems and the pockets stayed dry aswell.

[mister c]

I bought some Akito Python "Waterproofs".
They were great for about 2 weeks, but now, even in the lightest of rain, the trousers leak like they are going out of fashion. The Jacket seems to have held out.
Could it be a problem with Akito gear?

[ethariel]

Cheap jackets for me that get changed every couple of years, good (Rukka) trousers that last yonks (5 Year guarentee with factory supplied replacements while they check them out if they do leak) and are warm with liners and summer thunderstorm happy too.

Originally Posted by thumper21

I have the oxtar touring boots aswell they are fantastic, the rest of my water proof stuff is from frank thomas and I have been caught in very heavy rain all day (was out on a lesson at the time) they kept me bone dry no leaks at the seems and the pockets stayed dry aswell.

Frank Thomas + Waterproof in same sentence = Does not compute!

Only kidding, I've just had bad exeperiences with them before.

These days I wear Altberg Boots, Hein Gericke Cruise Jacket and Trousers and they're all 100% waterproof. By that I mean I have ridden for 6-7 hours at a time in torrential rain and still been bone dry underneath at the other end. I had some cheap GPL winter gloves that unlike many winter gloves I've tried, actually looked like they might not burst open in a crash (I tested this recently and found it to be true). They were waterproof, but following the crash, now leak. I

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

Frank Thomas + Waterproof in same sentence = Does not compute!

Only kidding, I've just had bad exeperiences with them before.

These days I wear Altberg Boots, Hein Gericke Cruise Jacket and Trousers and they're all 100% waterproof. By that I mean I have ridden for 6-7 hours at a time in torrential rain and still been bone dry underneath at the other end. I had some cheap GPL winter gloves that unlike many winter gloves I've tried, actually looked like they might not burst open in a crash (I tested this recently and found it to be true). They were waterproof, but following the crash, now leak. I

From what I have heard I hit it lucky my frank thomas stuff being fully water proof, need to get some new kit next winter gonna go to gericke

Originally Posted by 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.

My Dianese jacket leaks a fair amount in the "Welsh sun." My RST trousers, no idea. Never had to put them to the test. My boots seem waterproof but also have a gurantee on them.

The reason? I went into Blacks (the hiking shop), and walked out with a couple of pairs of thick socks, and waterproof over trousers. Hiking gear is way more renound for being water tight, but not so hot at abrasion. So the waterproofs go over my riding gear. Job jobbed.

I also usually ride in the High-vis jacket provided by stu. Whilst this probably isn't 100% waterproof, I've yet to see it leak (multiple layers probably help). But I have ridden through hail stones with the pockets open only to find puddles a few days later in the pockets!!

I wouldn't buy anything "waterproof" that doesn't have a Gore-Tex liner. Gore-Tex gurantee the liner

Originally Posted by thumper21

From what I have heard I hit it lucky my frank thomas stuff being fully water proof, need to get some new kit next winter gonna go to gericke

I had some FT waterproof gloves once... Waterproof my 4rse... A meer possibility of a dark cloud saw them quaking, and they held more water than my bike cleaning sponge.

Complete & utter cr4p. I now Alpinestars "Tech Road" winter gloves, never let me down yet, and they've seen some pretty heavy rain too.

.

Originally Posted by Baph

The reason? I went into Blacks (the hiking shop), and walked out with a couple of pairs of thick socks, and waterproof over trousers. Hiking gear is way more renound for being water tight, but not so hot at abrasion. So the waterproofs go over my riding gear. Job jobbed.

This was the logic behind me getting altberg boots. I knew from experience that hiking gear can be completely waterproof for literally days on end. I was fed up of motorcycling clothing manufacturer's claims of waterproofing. I had even started wearing my existing hiking boots (my old Zamberlans which were nearing a decade old) when it was raining heavily, but was concerned by their lack of shin protection. I got the Altberg high hogg all weather boots at the recommendation of a very high mileage riding colleague and on the basis of their experience with hiking stuff. Sure enough, they are immensly comfy, you can actually walk a few hours in them without aches, they are completely waterproof and I have a lot of faith in their protection in a crash. True, I wouldn't go racing (or even do a track day) in them, any more than I would in textiles, but for normal road riding they offer great protection (60mph crash and they still look like new and are 100% waterproof).

Some hiking shops know that their gear is good for bikers too. I think Blacks do a 10% discount on everything they sell, if you're a biker.

I only know this because I walked in wearing all my gear, carrying helmet etc. Sales guy on the till "Oh so you're a biker huh?" Me thinking he was trying to be smart, I was about to reply when he continued "That means a 10% discount."

It might not be Blacks, but it was the hiking shop on the A5 in Betws-y-coed, set back on the left as you're heading towards Bangor. Just by the playing fields & next to a pretty decent pub. Next time I'm out that way I'll check (or Luckypants, wanna give my memory a jog? )