All year round jackets

[zman68]

hello.
need help and suggestion .. currently using Akito dessert jacket and pant ,this jacket is great in protection against the element .
plan to buy a new ones.
what i have in mind ... first gear kathmandu / kilimanjaro with pants, rukka armas and klim adventure . i had to buy it online so fitting will be a bit tricky.
well for some opinion and suggestion
1.i lived in tropical country with hot , humid and torrential rain.
2. i want jacket that is waterproof outer shell(not ones with waterproof liner) and with good air ventilation.
3. klim / rukka look good but the price ..ouch.

Safe riding

thank you

zman

 

[HoebSTer]

hey zman, for a GoreTex waterproof jacket as one outer layer, you might want to check into AeroStich.
www.aerostich.com/aerostich-suits
They have one piece suits (Roadcrafter) which can be ordered either 1piece suit, or 2 piece so you can wear jacket only. They also have a lighter slightly different model called the Darien. It comes as a seperate jacket and pant, so you can buy jacket, or pant, or both if you want. They make the Darien Lite which is still the same great jacket, with a little thinner outer shell which is great for hotter climates. Both the Roadcrafter and Darien have huge vents under the arms and across the back for proper venting while riding!!! All the stuff is made for motorcycling here in the USA and they can help you direclty with sizing before shipping. Both RoadCrafter and Darien have a wide variety of colors to choose to your liking.

The stuff is less than Klim, but more than most, and will last you years and years to come.

 

[HoebSTer]

There are tons and tons of people who can comment on the quality of this stuff. Riders around the world use this stuff.

 

[justbob]

The "perfect " jacket is a myth, it doesnt exist or if it does I have not found it yet and my closet is full of attempts.
If you are a rider living in an area that has seasonal weather changes, good luck. The type of motorcycle also figures into the equasion, a full touring bike helps in winter or rain but adds to the heat problem in summer. I like a semi-naked bike but they really complicate the problem of weather comfort in less than ideal conditions.
Motoport makes good gear and offers custom sizing but nothing thats waterproof without adding a liner, of course that allows the jacket to breathe better.
If you find the perfect jacket, get 2, I would like one of them.

 

[colorider]

The "perfect " jacket is a myth, it doesnt exist or if it does I have not found it yet and my closet is full of attempts.
If you are a rider living in an area that has seasonal weather changes, good luck. The type of motorcycle also figures into the equasion, a full touring bike helps in winter or rain but adds to the heat problem in summer. I like a semi-naked bike but they really complicate the problem of weather comfort in less than ideal conditions.
Motoport makes good gear and offers custom sizing but nothing thats waterproof without adding a liner, of course that allows the jacket to breathe better.
If you find the perfect jacket, get 2, I would like one of them.

I'm with you on this!!!! As for Roadcrafter, NO where near being the single perfect garment, but a good choice for many situations. Mine has NEVER been totally waterproof, but one of the best options out there for crash protection and warmth. When I worked, I used my one-piece RC ALL the time. But for touring, too much suit and as I said above - not waterproof. I wear Darien pants for virtually all of my riding now and love them! As for jackets - still looking for the perfect. I've been wearing a Hein Gericke textile that is a semi-mesh with a zip out waterproof liner. It's okay, but not perfect. I just picked up a near-new Olympia AST that I will use for my trip to Nelson BC in a few days. I'll post a review of it when I get back!!

Good luck!!

 

[rem]

I wear Helly Hansen insulated coveralls all year, and an extra parka when it gets really chilly R

 

[fredz43]

Rod, I will be interested in your review of th AST, as I have been looking at it. I presently wear a Tourmaster Transition 2 and it is a very good jacket in most conditions, including rain, but is a bit warm in hot weather, in spite of some good venting with their scoop design on the vents.

I also believe the Aerostich Darien pants are the best solution out there and just got my second pair in 10 years. I have no complaints about them.

BTW, some of the Aerostich products are made overseas, including the Darien AD1's and I believe the new Roadcrafter Lite suit is also made overseas.

 

[colorider]

Rod, I will be interested in your review of th AST, as I have been looking at it. I presently wear a Tourmaster Transition 2 and it is a very good jacket in most conditions, including rain, but is a bit warm in hot weather, in spite of some good venting with their scoop design on the vents.

I also believe the Aerostich Darien pants are the best solution out there and just got my second pair in 10 years. I have no complaints about them.

BTW, some of the Aerostich products are made overseas, including the Darien AD1's and I believe the new Roadcrafter Lite suit is also made overseas.

There is a new model out now, but mine is the original. Two of the people I ride with have the same model I just picked up and it is highly rated by them (FWIW). The AST uses the zippered openings running the inside length of each arm and vents across each side of the chest - unlike my Hein Gericke which is more of an actual mesh jacket, so I do not expect the venting to be quite as good.

 

[Zuan]

I bought the latest edition of First Gear Kilimanjaro jacket this past Spring. And last week, I used it for multiple all day rides in plus 90 degree heat. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it vented and I did not feel any more uncomfortable then I would have with my mesh jacket. It is waterproof without the need to insert a waterproof liner. And with a liner or with a heated jacket liner, it becomes my winter, late fall and early spring jacket. I found this latest edition of kilimanjaro to be better than my earlier edition. I have become convinced that it can become my year round jacket.

Pants is a different story. I have not yet found a pants which is waterproof in the crotch when water begins to puddle on the seat. Generally, in the summer, I will wear a mesh pants, either, First Gear or Hein Gericke and not worry about any warm rain. In the winter, I will use a First Gear overpants.

John

 

[zman68]

not all perfect but if work for most people usually the best.. looking forward for olympia AST / x-moto review nice looking jacket.
just found out HELD also has some nice adventure jacket but no available shop to ship to my country.
more headache to chose what best



soon i will have the best jacket/pant suitable for me

thank you .

 

[zman68]

I bought the latest edition of First Gear Kilimanjaro jacket this past Spring. And last week, I used it for multiple all day rides in plus 90 degree heat. I was pleasantly surprised at how well it vented and I did not feel any more uncomfortable then I would have with my mesh jacket. It is waterproof without the need to insert a waterproof liner. And with a liner or with a heated jacket liner, it becomes my winter, late fall and early spring jacket. I found this latest edition of kilimanjaro to be better than my earlier edition. I have become convinced that it can become my year round jacket.

Pants is a different story. I have not yet found a pants which is waterproof in the crotch when water begins to puddle on the seat. Generally, in the summer, I will wear a mesh pants, either, First Gear or Hein Gericke and not worry about any warm rain. In the winter, I will use a First Gear overpants.

John

how's the sizing goes it's fit or a bit oversize and the material of the jacket

 

[hANNAbONE]

me likey = Belstaff & Fieldsheer

 

[S101]

Ok I am new to this whole thing and have been watching and reading comments for a long time. So bear with me. This is a topic that I finally feel I can add to. I have had many coats in the past both textile and leather. The coat I bought this spring is hands down the best I have ever had. Versitile would be and understatement I wore it with all liners (quilted inner liner and waterproof liner) and my heated liner on 25 degree this spring and 103 degree days with no liners and all vents open just within the last week or two. It is the Olympia Xmoto. Great warmth, Great in the rain, Great in the heat. My Garmin Nuvi 550 even fits in the arm map pouch running on batteries if the rain gets to be too much. So worth the money. The only thing I wish it had was a hood that folded into itself or zippered off.

Hope this helps.

 

[colorider]

Hey - welcome to the Forum S101 and way to jump in with a valuable contribution!!! Are you on the waiting list for a SuperT??

 

[S101]

Thanks for the welcome. I am on the list for the Raven Tenere. I am waiting as patiently as possible like many of the other members. As it draws closer and closer patience is growing shorter and shorter. We have a pretty short riding season in MN and I want to make the most of it before winter makes its return. 7 months just is not enough I think I need to move to a year round riding climate.

 

[colorider]

Congrats on the Raven!! The good thing about MN is you are close to Aerostich!!!

 

[rem]

Welcome, S101. I have heard that Olympia products are good stuff. The main thing is that it works for you. People can think a product is crap, but if it works for you, then it's good stuff. I use a lot of garbage bags, but they're cheap. R

 

[Mellow]

Any gear is better than no gear.

I've been happy with my Olympia Airglide jacket/pants. The Tourmaster transition 2 jacket is a great Texas Winter jacket and the short time I had it was very waterproof, lover the arm pocket too - wish more jackets had those as standard as they're great for luggage keys.

I tried the motoport stuff and it was never comfortable for me, however VERY good crash protection, so I sent it back.

Haven't tried the Aerostitch stuff and won't unless I can ride in and get a custom fitting.

 

[colorider]

Haven't tried the Aerostitch stuff and won't unless I can ride in and get a custom fitting.

The "facility" is pretty underwhelming. Nothing like you might expect after looking at their website or catalog.

 

[Mellow]

The "facility" is pretty underwhelming. Nothing like you might expect after looking at their website or catalog.

That's probably why they are still around...