Touratech Campanero Suit. Value or Overpirced "Look at How Much Money I have"

[wantajustride]

Fellow Riders,
I have been thinking about up-grading my riding gear and considering the Touratech Campanero Gear. I'm not sure but I think it's made by Stadler.
Anyway, My current gear, Firstgear TPG Rainier jacket that I am very happy with, good fit, quality is above avg, very functional. I'm not so happy when I ride in temps at or above 90 degrees f. Then it gets a bit warm. Not unbearable, just very warm. My pants on the other hand, Klim Dakar pants are just OK and I really want to upgrade these more so than the jacket.
My thoughts of the Campanero is, at first glance,, completely overpriced. Then I look again in the fact that it's advertised as 2 complete sets of riding gear then it starts to look a bit more economical. One suit for warm weather then the outer layer as the waterproof/cold weather layer.
Do any of you think this garment makes any sense? Value, Quality, Protection in a get-off. How long from order to delivery? If anyone has any experience with the Campanero I sure would like to hear about it.
If a guy compares some of the stuff from Revit or higher end Klim it starts to look more competitively priced.


Thanks
WJR

http://www.touratech-usa.com/Store/PN-501-JACKET/Touratech-Companero-Jacket

 

[rem]

I found what I thought to be a very thorough video review of your suit. R


Touratech Compañero review (Morroco 2011)


If you click on the YOUTUBE icon at the lower right, you get the same video with a closed caption option, that is in english. R

 

[wantajustride]

Thanks Rem.
I hadn't seen that one yet. The suit has what appears to be a very good functional design.

WJR

 

[rem]

The suit has what appears to be a very good functional design.

WJR

Yes, it does. If you get one, I'd sure like to hear what you think of it. R

 

[EricV]

Fellow Riders,
I have been thinking about up-grading my riding gear and considering the Touratech Campanero Gear. I'm not sure but I think it's made by Stadler.
<snip>
My thoughts of the Campanero is, at first glance,, completely overpriced. Then I look again in the fact that it's advertised as 2 complete sets of riding gear then it starts to look a bit more economical. One suit for warm weather then the outer layer as the waterproof/cold weather layer.
Do any of you think this garment makes any sense? Value, Quality, Protection in a get-off. How long from order to delivery? If anyone has any experience with the Campanero I sure would like to hear about it.
If a guy compares some of the stuff from Revit or higher end Klim it starts to look more competitively priced.

I've seen this suit in person at Touratech in Seattle. It's very well made and well thought out. While I do like the idea of having the second layer that fits over the first layer, the thought I have is where do I pack the outer layer when I'm not using it? And yes, it's stupidly overpriced, but has a niche no one else is offering at this point in time.

In the price range I can afford, gear that is waterproof and has venting fits my needs. No rain gear, no stripping off gear to put on a rain proof liner. I compromised on the pants and have a very water resistant pant, with a waterproof liner I seldom use, (Olympia MotoX), but it's hugely breathable with really good venting and I'm in the hot more than the cold/wet and when I am in the cold/wet, I usually know it well in advance and can add the liner.

One down side to the Campanero suit is that you're not going to take a quick pee! You have some work to get thru the layers there. Full gusset on the outer pants at the fly, plus another fly at the inner pants. I hope you are well endowed and have minimal shrinkage in the cold.

Still, really good gear, but stupidly over priced. You'll be the only one in your group with it.

 

[Maurice]

If you don't like the suit in yellow, it is now also available in black. (here in europe)
And whit a few changes in pocket size and 2 extra pockets on the legs.

I am riding whit the yellow companero, and on my trip to the Northcape in Norway i kept completely dry.

 

[dcstrom]

Thanks Rem.
I hadn't seen that one yet. The suit has what appears to be a very good functional design.

WJR

Yes - except waterproofing is via a goretex oversuit. I just bought Klim, and a major part of the reason was that waterproofing is part of the deal. Rain comes, ride on, no stopping to put on either inner or outer liners on.

BTW, Touratech supplied Campanero to Nick Sanders on the Pan-america x3 trip - until he rode off one time with the jacket laying on the back of the bike... and lost it on the road somewhere. Touratech replaced it, but it was another one of those little things that conspired to stop him breaking the record.

 

[MikeBear]

There is absolutely no way to justify that price for a peace of clothing. If they sell suspenders for $63 and you can buy it in any Walmart for $6, imagine how much you will overpay for this suit? Just a thought.

 

[rem]

At that price, a guy oughta get a compañera to go with it. R ::012:: ::012::

 

[dcstrom]

There is absolutely no way to justify that price for a peace of clothing. If they sell suspenders for $63 and you can buy it in any Walmart for $6, imagine how much you will overpay for this suit? Just a thought.

No way? Of course there's a way - you may buy suspenders at Walmart, they really only have one purpose and that's to hold your pants up. But would you buy clothing there that's meant to protect you in a 60mph slide down the road? And at the same time being waterproof, comfortable to wear, have sufficient pockets, ventilation, windproofness, thermal insulation... I could go on... Of course the price can be justified, these suits are highly technical in design, materials and manufacture. Even if they are made in China (I'm not sure about the Campanero, but Klim is) they have high QC standards, much higher than your average Walmart piece.

Now whether the Campanero represents "value" compared to other suits on the market is a different question... the answer will be different for different individuals.

Piece !

 

[MikeBear]

No way? Of course there's a way - you may buy suspenders at Walmart, they really only have one purpose and that's to hold your pants up. But would you buy clothing there that's meant to protect you in a 60mph slide down the road? And at the same time being waterproof, comfortable to wear, have sufficient pockets, ventilation, windproofness, thermal insulation... I could go on... Of course the price can be justified, these suits are highly technical in design, materials and manufacture. Even if they are made in China (I'm not sure about the Campanero, but Klim is) they have high QC standards, much higher than your average Walmart piece.

Now whether the Campanero represents "value" compared to other suits on the market is a different question... the answer will be different for different individuals.

Piece !

I can live with FirstGear pricing. But that is as much as I will pay for a peace of clothing. It's tough talking about value in motorcycles and anything that goes with it( accessories, clothing, rider protection etc.). Motorcycles are and always will be a novelty and a toy. There is no way to justify price of GoldWing. You can buy Wrangler for that much money and have way more fun traveling the world. But we still buy motorcycles. You can buy Civic for a price of s10 and accessories to make it traver worthy, but I got me one. So what I'm trying to say is all depends on how much money you are ready to spend.
I think I'm talking to much

 

[Spider]

Interesting discussion. I thought seriously about buying the Companero suit, as my standard riding gear is a mesh jacket (inside of Frogg Toggs when it rains or cools off). There's nothing like mesh when the temps get over 90 (32C). With the Frogg Togg jacket on top, I'm good down to about 50 (10C). And I'm not a fan of the all-weather gear, which to me is like a swiss army knife--OK at a number of things, but not great at any of them. (Ever ridden in a soaking wet jacket and pants? Or worn full all-weather gear in a nice hot day?) For me, the price was doable but I didn't want to spend that much on something I couldn't try first.

Anyway, I decided to go with maximum armor so picked up a Teiz Power Shell. I'll throw the Frogg Toggs over it when it rains, but it has more ventilation than any non-mesh alternative I've seen. Teiz sent me a sample suit to try out for $20, including shipping both ways.

It all depends on what you can afford. Most of us recently bought a pricey new bike and consider it a brilliant move. On the other hand, I have riding friends who would never spend the price of a Companero on a bike. And they seem pretty happy.

Good luck!

G

 

[wantajustride]

I haven't been around for a while. Too busy with other things in my life.
I'm still looking to upgrade gear and am thinking of going KLIM Latitude. Still a bit over $1000 USD for jacket / Pant combo. I'm getting tired of drenched "Man Vegetables" every time it rains. I'm still having trouble with the price point of the Campanero.
WJR

 

[Tremor38]

At that price, a guy oughta get a compañera to go with it. R ::012:: ::012::

::008:: ::008::

 

[greg the pole]

KLIM! badlands jacket and pants. Very good fit, completely waterproof (unless you forget to do up your vent zipppers )
Yes it's expensive, but the fit is first rate, and it's the jacket that will work for me for a lot of year to come.

 

[AndyCBR]

My two cents.

I have been very happy with my Darien light jacket and pants both on and off road. I've taken a few good tumbles and the armor has performed well. Been in some torrential rain and stayed dry.

The price point compared to Klim is favorable also.

 

[Tremor38]

My two cents.

I have been very happy with my Darien light jacket and pants both on and off road. I've taken a few good tumbles and the armor has performed well. Been in some torrential rain and stayed dry.

The price point compared to Klim is favorable also.

Those Jackets seem pretty versatile. A friend of mine owns one and likes it. I'm not so sure I like the fireman's jacket fit, but it does allow for generous layering. One thing he commented on was to be sure to keep up with the Nikwax treatments. He had water get through prior to doing that.

 

[Maurice]

I am very happy with my Companero suit.
On my ride to the Northcape( 8000 KM = 5000ML in 16 days) i had 8 days with rainy weather, and there was no drop of water comming throu the suit.
A number 1 for me.
My boots were the weakest link, they could not werestand the heavy rain, so they need to be replaced.