Rain Gear Poll - How do you stay dry?

[Rincewind]

I am curious what people wear and what works for them.  I'm particularly interested in who has textile gear that is so waterproof that no separate rain gear must be carried.  That seems to me a Holy Grail of gear.  

Also if you carry separate rain gear, how tight does it pack?

I use a one-piece Triumph chevron suit that packs down to a bag that is approximately 10"x5"x3".  It seems very large for packing, but I can't complain that it doesn't work normally if sealed right.    

[Roadhound]

2 Piece Aerostitch Roadcrafter, washed 2 times a year and treated with Nikwax after each washing. I always hated having to do the one legged hop on the side of the road getting into a rainsuit. I can't imagine having to take off your riding suit to put on a liner and then have to get the suit back on. It seems we are always miles away from any cover when the rain starts.

[SLK50]

  My Cortech and Technic textile jackets will keep me dry in a hard rain for
the 30 minute commute to or from work.
  
  But...if I'm going to spend a long stint in driving rain, nothing beats a one
or two piece rain suit worn over riding gear.

  I've long been partial to Tourmaster Elites and when worn over mesh
are not stifling in Summer.

  My two piece packs to about 12x12x1-1/2 or so and stays in the bottom
of my trunk until needed.

[sammyseaman]

I have a two piece Firstgear textile outfit (Mercury, I think) that is supposed to be waterproof and it is unless I hit a serious downpour that lasts more than 15 miles   So if I go on a trip I make sure to bring my cheap-o raingear also.

[sammyseaman]

   I've long been partial to Tourmaster Elites and when worn over mesh
are not stifling in Summer.

Yep, that's the best solution for me so far. Mesh w/raingear over it  

[Playinthestreet]

Cheap 2 piece (Dry Rider maybe?).  11yrs old and still keeping me dry.

[R Doug]

Two piece Darien from Aerostitch.  I've spent many miles in this outfit in the worst weather and I have stayed high and dry.  

During very warm summer days (and short weekend trips), I will wear a perf leather jacket with Darien lite pants.  Since the pants are waterproof, I carry a Frog Tog jacket to slip on over my perf leather jacket to stay dry.

[Mr.Black]

Where is the "I have rain gear but it is useless" option?

[The Shepherd]

Two piece Frog Toggs. It's kept me dry in some really driving rainstorms. Just make sure you pull the pants up really high like you are a senior citizen. The holes in the pants that let you get at your pockets wil collect rain unless they are under your armpits.

[greench440]

Alpinestar Drystar suit most of the time.  I also have a Fieldsheer one piece rain suit that I can put on over my leathers if need be, but this is more of an emergency use item for when rain is not anticipated.  If it's going to get juicy, I always stay dry in the Alpinestar suit.

[M.Brane]

Cheapo Motoboss 2-piece. It's worked/held up pretty well considering it's price point. It packs pretty tight if you roll it up right i.e. get all the air out.

It's kept me dry through some pretty serious downpours at speeds I won't mention.

[stevent]

I wear my Darien jacket and pants all the time so I don't worry too much about rain. I bought a set of cheapo Pakistani "100% waterproof" leather gloves last year that actually work, seems like they're lined with wax-paper or something. For boots I wear my Combat Tours or I have a pair of thinsulate and sympatex lined work boots that stay dry. It rains a lot around here so good gear makes all the difference.  

[bassjones]

Joe Rocket Ballistic pants and jacket.  I carry a set of Frog Toggs with me just in case, but so far the JR has kept me dry in the rain.

[Rincewind]

So far it seems like Aerostitch and the Alipinestar Drystar have the corner on proven-waterproof textile gear.  

My textile overpants (currently Firstgear HT II) and jacket (Triumph Sympatex Pantha) both claim waterproofness but are more along the line of water resistant.  This is ok for commuting, but not ideal for big rain or longer rides - hence I have to carry a rain suit.

[MadOzodi]

I have a one-piece rainsuit.  But I also have a pair of North Face Venture pants that are waterproof (they go under the riding pants) and a Marmot shell (goes over my textile jacket).

The liner I purchased with my Motoport AMK pants was a waste IMO.  Granted, it's windproof and waterproof.  But for whatever reason, quite bulky.  Honestly, when I go skiing next, I'm going to wear my Motoport AMKs with their liner instead of my old ski pants...they'll totally fit over a pair of ski/snowboard boots.  

Generally, I avoid riding in the rain as much as possible.

[chornbe]

For the cooler seaons, I use a Joe Rocket Atomic (4.0?) jacket and Fieldsheer Mercury pants. That gets me through most of the year. For the really hot, swampy summer, I don't bother. Wet by rain is better feeling than wet by sweat.

[MadOzodi]

Good point Chris...

I got caught in a massive downpour this summer and was dry so quick it made me rethink (again) my methods of staying hydrated.

[Papa Lazarou]

Two piece Rukka textile. Absolutely water tight but for winter only-the trousers are bulky. The jacket is okay in summer when it rains, then I use a semi waterproof pair of Draggin oil skin jeans.

I've got a Spada one piece over suit but it's difficult to get on and can leak at the crotch. Or maybe that's just excitement.

When it's dry and warm, an old fashioned leather and armoured jeans.

[Mastros2]

I have a Tourmaster Sentinel 2 pc rain suit. Works great as expected.  Originally purchased it to keep me dry in the Olympia AST waterproof jacket.  One day I realized that if I had to wear a rain suit to keep me dry in my supposedly waterproof textiles, why not upgrade to leather.  That is where I stand.  The sentinel is great over the 2pc leather suit, very easy to get on and off and I know I'll stay dry with it.  The AST is still the cool, fair weather go-to jacket but not for too long.  

As for packing, the Sentinel isn't compact at all, rather bulky when packed.  FroggToggs are great in that aspect.  Can't beat they way they pack.  

[chornbe]

Yeah, I was wickedly disappointed in the AST's so-called water protection and its venting was so-so.