4 steps to check before buying the motorcycle rainwear that suits you
@GetGeared.co.uk - Online - London & Leeds - updated 26/10/2013
A run down of the important choices you need to make when buying new wet weather gear.
Knowing the enemy
Picking the best rainwear for you can seem difficult. We can help! It's important to know how you are going to use your wet weather gear. This knowledge will help you pick the most important features that make up your choice.
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| Choose your ride styles to find your perfect rainwear |
Step 1: Long rides or short rides?
Spending a long time on your bike in the rain is difficult enough. It's really important to be comfortable when putting miles under your belt. We recommend looking for waterproof material that is very breathable. This stops rain getting in but lets heat and moisture escape and not rest on your skin. Helping you avoid that prickly, sweaty discomfort that comes from hours spent inside poor quality waterproofs. Vice versa breathable waterproofs also protect against wind-chill reaching your skin and making you cold.
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Spend that little bit more on breathable motorcycle waterproofs, if you are likely to spend time periods over 20 minutes in them.
Step 2: Fast rides or slow rides?
Your ride style, your type of bike and how much traffic you encounter all define how fast you go on a ride out or commute. Wet weather gear needs to reflect the choices we make, especially if you're a bit of a speed demon. As ever, safety comes first at GetGeared but it shouldn't get in the way of having fun. When twisting the throttle make sure you have well fitted clothes that can't flap and catch in the wind. This is equally true for motorcycle rainwear! Look for products with good wrist and ankle gusset adjustments and, ideally, with adjustable waist bands to stop the garment billowing. Look for cool features such as anti slip gripping on the seat area of trousers and suits. BUT: Tighter fitting rainwear stretches more across areas like the crotch. Those are the panels where the waterproofing will fail first, which is particularly true for PVC-based lower cost options. In practice, oversized rainwear lasts longer, but is not practical at speed.
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Opt for motorcycle waterproofs with ankle, cuff and waist adjustments in your regular size (they are cut to go over your normal clobber) and pay a little bit more to get you out of the budget end, if your average speeds are higher. If you are only riding to the station and back, low cost rainwear a size too big will work just fine and last.
Step 3: Everyday or occasional use?
How frequently you need to have quick access to your motorcycle rainsuit, over-jacket or rain trousers has a big bearing on how portable they need to be. We call it 'Packability'! Now: If you are simply travelling from A to B and you are either wearing your waterproofs or not for the whole stretch of the journey, then packability does not matter. But if you are a power user, then being prepared for anything and everything at any time matters. So then it matters that your waterproofs are always accessible and pack away small.
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Select motorcycle waterproofs that pack away small, if you intend to carry them with you in your top box or your luggage. Highly 'packable' rainwear uses Polyurethane coating and therefore can be unlined (meaning: a big reduction in bulk!). It is a little bit more pricey than the PVC-coated and lined options but it means you always have it with you.
Step 4: One-piece rainsuit or rain over jacket & trousers?
This is one of the questions we face most often from people looking to purchase new waterproofs. There are advantages to both options and its very dependant on what you hold important in your ride style as to how you choose. The one thing we always advise against is choosing for style. When its throwing it down and your in traffic you find you care a lot less about what you look like. Make sure your choice is practical over fashionable!
Two pieces offer greater versatility; you might not always need full coverage so its good to have the option. also if you find your self only doing short rides then clambering in to a one piece can be a real pain.
A rain suit offers complete rain and wind protection. No join in the middle means no weak points. They are a lot more efficient if you put them on before leaving home as changing road side can be difficult.
Its also wise to look at how you ride seasonally. Two pieces are much better all year round whereas a one piece rain suit is a great winterproof option during winter and autumn.
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Typically, one-piece rain suits come into their own during autumn and winter. If you are riding through the cold months of the year, you will want one of these on your clothes pegs alongside your rain over jacket and rain over trousers.
Making the right motorbike rainwear choice for you
Choosing the right rainwear is all about personal preference and use. To make sure the garments work to their best extent it is crucial that you wear them for their designed purpose. Always be sure to choose your garments on what YOU do and how YOU ride and not on the decisions of those around you. Follow the link for our full range of motorcycle waterproofs, rain jackets & trousers.
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Read the full blog
Rain Vs Rider: Overcoming the challenge
Rain is one of the few guarantees in life. You can always count on rain to turn up and make your day a little bit harder, your ride a bit more challenging, and your clothes a little bit more damp. There is a fight on our hands. Here is how to select the motorcycle waterproofs to conquer this squalid weather.
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| The mighty battle between man and the elements! |
Keywords: motorcycle rainwear, what makes the best motorcycle rain wear, best motorcycle rainwear
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