Good touring gear?

[Hotbrakes]

I've done the miles and now I want to look the part.  I've got Joe Rocket Alter Ego, pretty much junk, Shift Streetfighter SS that would be scary to crash in (very thin material), various cotton based riding pants, Shift leather jackets (too hot), Shift Hybrid pants (great but too hot), a couple Alpinestar race suits, Cortech HRX jacket and pants(that don't fit) and the jacket is a bit big with too much going on.  I think that's about everything in my closet.  

What I'm looking for is a 3/4 length jacket, solid pants, or suit with good protection (CE), heavyduty, waterproofish (nothing truly is), and usable for whatever time of year I decide to get on the bike and not turn around for a few days.  I realize that this could be a costly gear purchase and I want to get it right.  Aerostich is a bit too simple looking, Teiz too busy, BMW stuff looks great but costs as much as some of the bikes I own.

Right now I'm lost.  The stealerships only stock junk street gear, BMW only has gear that requires a loan, and the internet has all kinds of weird 600, 400, denier, polyester, nylon, cordura crap.

So what gear takes everyone on their adventures that holds up to hot weather, cold weather, wet weather, crashing, etc.?

[Justin]

What I'm looking for is a 3/4 length jacket, solid pants, or suit with good protection (CE), heavyduty, waterproofish (nothing truly is), and usable for whatever time of year I decide to get on the bike and not turn around for a few days.  I realize that this could be a costly gear purchase and I want to get it right.  Aerostich is a bit too simple looking, Teiz too busy, BMW stuff looks great but costs as much as some of the bikes I own.

Firstgear all the way IMO if you want waterproof. Their gear is always top notch.  Olympia AST is another option if you want year round comfort. The jackets do seep in prolonged rain around the massive zippers - but those massive zippers also keep you cool in the hotter months, so it's a trade off.

[Kootenanny]

Perforated leather.  Carry raingear...

[Hotbrakes]

Perforated leather.  Carry raingear...

I've got thousands of miles in leathers, and am a big fan.  But when you're not on the bike as often occurs while touring (fuel, meals, chillaxing) it is brutal.  I want textile pajama like comfort.  If someone could take a flight suit and beef it up I would be in heaven.  Looks like a Teiz is in my cart and I think I'm gonna check out.  Ships in 48 hours...

[Hotbrakes]

At $274 shipped, the Teiz Lombard V3 was worth a shot.

Had I wanted to spend more money, the FirstGear TPG stuff looked really good with the new armor design.  I've always considered FirstGear products to be cheapo stuff.  But the price tag and specs say otherwise.

I forgot to mention that an old man gave me his Tourmaster Centurion (early model) one day while chatting at a gas station.  The suit fits well and is very warm, but not in any sense of the word waterproof, or even resistant really.  The protection doesn't instill very much confidence either.

[Justin]

Had I wanted to spend more money, the FirstGear TPG stuff looked really good with the new armor design.  I've always considered FirstGear products to be cheapo stuff.  But the price tag and specs say otherwise.

Anything I have ever had made by Firstgear has been superb. 95% of reviews I see seem to reflect that as well.

[Reddog*]

I like my Tourmaster TransII jacket and Centurian suit both have been very weather proof.





This is going to be like a oil thread.   IBTL

[1KPerDay]

Aerostich Darien is good stuff. Look into the Darien Light.

[ANZAC]

Another vote for First Gear products  

My Kilimanjaro jacket and Hypertech pants are awesome.  First Gear quality is excellent and well put together.

[ConPilot1]

Another vote for First Gear products  

My Kilimanjaro jacket and Hypertech pants are awesome.  First Gear quality is excellent and well put together.

A Kilimanjaro and Hypertech pants would be awesome in 95° Virginia summer heat.

[Chuck 500]

Ditto on Olympia gear.  I have the GT Air Transitions jacket and AST pants.  The combo works well and is very versatile.  I bought the suit in northern VA, Fairfax, and rode through one winter with it before moving to Texas.  The two stage liner in the jacket works well.  Below 40 or 45, add layers, thermals, sweater etc.  In the heat just open vents and panels.. Have yet to get wet in it in spite of some multi hour rain rides.  Has CE armor in back, shoulders, elbows, knees.

Olympia also has a Stealth one piece that my be what you are looking for.  Looks like a souped up flight suit.

And always

Keep the shiny side up,

Chuck

[Giaka]

I have a Transition II jacket and Kathmandu pants. Really like them both.  I would buy them both again in a heartbeat. Very comfy.  

[Kootenanny]

I've got thousands of miles in leathers, and am a big fan.  But when you're not on the bike as often occurs while touring (fuel, meals, chillaxing) it is brutal.  I want textile pajama like comfort.

I admit, leather is no fun standing around in the heat.  But perf leather works very well when moving, and that's the point, right?

I recently purchased a riding jacket made from hemp.  Interesting stuff...while it doesn't pass air like mesh, nor is it waterproof, it definitely breathes better than any of the synthetic textile gear I own and is the most comfortable jacket I've worn to date.  And although I don't want to put it to the test, I have confidence it'll protect me as well or better than any of my other textile gear.  If I could find some pants made of the same stuff, I'd buy them.

[jfusaro]

Another vote for first gear stuff. great selection and I have their rush mesh for the warm days and their tgp overpants and 3/4 length coat in yellow. great quality and fit is right on

[JReazor]

My First Gear TPG jacket is fantastic. It's the most waterproof garment I've ever worn. It is a sauna in the summer though. Definitely a 3 season deal.

Based on my experience with the Transition 2, I probably won't buy another TourMaster piece. It's overly bulky, the vents are terrible, it leaks like crazy, most of the pockets are in the wrong place and the zipper broke in less then 2 years. Fortunately, I got it cheap. I know a lot of people like the jacket. I wasn't impressed.

My favorite piece of gear right now is my Teiz Commute Suit. It's not perfect but it's pretty good for the price and it's waterproof enough with a coat of Nikwax. It is a little warm when the mercury climbs but that's to be expected.

[mugwump58]

Love my TPG pants. The jacket, meh.... yup great for rain but I find it too hot in the heat and too cold in the cold. The vents don't flow well, in my opinion. Even with their "underwear" I find it cold. I use issue poly pro and that works fine.I put on mesh when it's hot and my old Cotech Advanced Sport when it's not. Also I don't like their spine protector shape as it doesn't match up with aftermarket upgrades.

But that's just me. There are plenty of fans.

[DangerMoney]

Right now I'm lost.  The stealerships only stock junk street gear, BMW only has gear that requires a loan, and the internet has all kinds of weird 600, 400, denier, polyester, nylon, cordura crap.

So what gear takes everyone on their adventures that holds up to hot weather, cold weather, wet weather, crashing, etc.?

You get what you pay for. The BMW Rallye suits have the protection you're looking for. Look for a used one at

http://www.advrider.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=54


I picked up a month-old, mint condition Rallye jacket from one guy (he bought the wrong size) and matching Rallye pants from another that were mint except for 2 or 3 spots the size of a pencil eraser. I  got each for 1/2 the of new. With the bad economy, folks are selling lots of stuff.

[chosemerveilleux]

A Kilimanjaro and Hypertech pants would be awesome in 95° Virginia summer heat.

LMFAO!

Last September I suffered like an abandoned dog riding through the tidewater region just north of Chesapeake/VA Beach.
It was 45 degrees in the morning when I left the day before from NJ, so I wore my Killi jacket and my Olympia Ranger 2 pants.  Didn't think it was going to be 50 degrees warmer in VA.  I was going through the water in my camelbak like candy and cake at a fat kid's birthday party.  That shit was brutal.

Firstgear and Olympia make very good gear, but the Killi and Ranger 2's are damn sure not warm weather kit.

Also, don't overlook the BMW gear.  Its great stuff, honestly worth the price (unlike Rev'it) and is relatively easy to find for a fantastic deal.  I picked up an Airflow 3 jacket a few weeks ago off the ADV Touring flea market.  It was NWT and I paid $215 shipped, more than 50% off MSRP.  Same thing with my Venting Machine pants.  I got them off BMW of Daytona's Ebay page for $150, again more than 50% off their regular price.  They were NWT but were on closeout last year.  Good deals to be had if you keep an eye out for them.

[ray916mn]

Was at Aerostich earlier today picking up my repaired Roadcrafter. Tried on the new Transit suit. Can't get a proper fit in the pants (too long for me, even in a short), otherwise I might have bought a set even though I need another riding set up like I need a hole in the head. The feel, fit and finish is like nothing else I've ever tried on. The Vanson pro-perf jacket I happened to be wearing paled in comparison. Waterproof micro-perforated leather, which feels like super supple textile. Nice!

[Hotbrakes]

Thanks for the replies.  Just found a 'Stich on eBay for a good price and...got it.  We'll see which works better!