Winter gear

[capz]

I've only had my NH one month and I'd hate to stash it away for the winter. I know I'll itch and squirm for a ride even in 30 degree weather. So now I need winter riding gear. I could spring for pricey specialty riding jacket and pants. Another option I'm considering is just getting layers of wool clothing from REI or LL Bean and still wear my armored mesh over it. These stores seem to keep up with the same wind/weatherproofing technology as riding apparel. Can anyone here, who's tried both off the shelf clothes as well as newer riding apparel, offer a comparison? Is spending $800 for a jacket and pants really worth it or is it just marketing?

[happycommuter]

I know I'll itch and squirm for a ride even in 30 degree weather.

I seriously doubt that layering under mesh will keep you safely warm at that temperature for more than a spin or two around the block.
Without plugging in an electric vest, I can't do more than a few miles wearing a Gore-Tex Roadcrafter over windstop fleece vest over fleece over long underwear.  
I'd get a decent motorcycle specific winter shell with room for layering, and an electric vest.  Then pile layers of stuff in between.

[leftfield6]

For winter rides, my Olympia Phantom riding suit is the deal.  For weekend rides, I layer it with a t-shirt and sweatshirt underneath, jeans of course.  To commute to work, my khakis with my undershirt/dress shirt is all I need most mornings down into the 30s.  Below 30s, honestly, typically I won't ride to work, I'll drive the car. 

Great thing about the Phantom suit is the removable quilted liner.  I can wear it now without the liner, and it's a good transition from the mesh I wear during the summer.  A month or so from now, I'll add the liner to the suit, and it will be good for all but the coldest of mornings we see in GA.

A quick google search will find you multiple places selling this for $399.   THAT IS A DEAL for a fully CE armored riding suit that has proven to more waterproof than even the Aerostich. 

Here's mine:



Here's the liner:



Yes, I like to be seen, but it is available in a gray color if the hi-viz yellow is too much for you.

[ariwhiteboy]

Another southern rider weighing in...I ride year round and despite the stereotypes, it dips to the single digits here on the coast. Last year I rode through the winter with layers as was comfortable. That being said I have looked into a heated liner/warmer gear option and have pretty much settled on a Leather "Winter Jacket" for two reasons. #1 I like the protection factor & #2 I like the fact that I won't have to worry about some electrical part crapping out and resulting in me being cold. I have done some riding in what I would call "mildly extreme conditions" with snow on the ground in Indiana and am a big proponent of layering. My most extreme layering goes like so:

1st layer- Polypropylene thermal underwear- good stuff used it in the military (I also hear that Under Armour cold gear is really good)
2nd layer-Long sleeve T-shirt and jeans
3rd layer-Polartec Fleece top
4th layer- Mesh/leather jacket with windproof liner and ballistic nylon pants

The other thing is don't forget the extremities, I like to wear a nomex neck gaiter (also surplus) and a beanie under my helmet, since you lose alot of body heat through your head. Good boots with good boot socks is another must, I recommend Thorlo brand cold weather socks, they are nice and thick to insulate but also wick moisture away. For gloves I just use regular full leather alpinestars. One of the main things I've found is if you block the wind, you block the cold. I'm thinking about installing some brush guards on my bike to keep the wind off my hands in the winter. Hope this is of some use to you, and kudos for not wanting to put the bike up!

[vert]

I just picked up this jacket from compacc.com for $99.99 with free shipping on closeout.  The quality is great, the armor is really nice and thick (incl. the back protector) with additional padding around impact zones, comes with a fleece liner that can be worn separately and actually looks good, plenty of pockets and vents, waterproof, kevlar reinforced etc.  I tried on lots of jackets in a local store from different brands costing 3,4,5,6 times as much and I did not notice any difference in quality or functionality.  Sliders is a compacc own brand and I could not find too many reviews so I was taking a leap here, but I am glad I did.  It seems that it will be all that's needed to go through the worst of the VA winter on the days when I am actually wanting to ride i.e. no snow on the ground.  It's probably good up to 80 degrees and anything above that I will wear my mesh jacket.

http://www.compacc.com/p/Sliders-Kevlar-Waterproof-Quest-All-n-One-Jackets-Closeout

Edit:  I see they raised the price to $125 but that's still a great deal IMHO.

[muttstang]

I'm thinking of getting some sort of a rain jacket to put over my mesh jacket and then some decent gloves would get me my 15 minute ride to work.

[Bumblebee]

I seriously doubt that layering under mesh will keep you safely warm at that temperature for more than a spin or two around the block.

It depends on what you're using for layering and wind protection. I regularly ride up into below 30F (35F-25F is typical) with air mesh gear and layers for way longer than a spin around the block and have no heated anything other than the plexifairing windscreen to keep the wind off. With proper outdoor gear, there's no such thing as too cold. Wallyworld junk won't handle those conditions though.

[drdubb]

I spent the cash and got first gear Kathmandu pants & jacket. With the overpants, I rode in shorts and never had to put in the liner. With the jacket, I used the liner on days below 55 and a long sleave T. Both of these have goretex type properties. I rode in the rain for several hours on the way to the Rally last spring and only my hands got wet. Didn't have waterproof gloves.

I know these are expensive, but I think good lower cost alternative are there.(newenough.com) I love REI, but that gear is not made for MC riders. You need longer sleeves, longer jackets, room to bend at the seat & knees, straps to tighten things here and there, vents to breath, etc.

I wear riding boots. I still need to get some good high socks. A windshield makes a world of difference. I have both a NC streetshield EX and a NC Plexi 3. The P3 covers the hands, so I didn't have problems with cold there.

[n5tbu]

I have a Firstgear thermo one piece,it's great to about 25 degrees with only jeans and a t shirt under it and totally waterproof/hail proof too!

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/42/36/ITEM/Firstgear-Thermo-One-Piece-Suit.aspx

[capz]

I remember going to football games in freezing cold, wearing thermals and layers of clothing, and still freezing after a short time. After really looking at warm weather clothes, I realize the mistake I made was everything I wore was cotton. I stopped by REI and picked up some smartwool thermals, a Mountain Wear vest (salesman said the material is 100% windproof), a wool/synthetic sweater made for Scandinavian winters, windproof glove liners, and a face/neck skiing thing for under the helmet. And I ordered the liner for my Draft Air jacket. Now I just need pants. A few more paychecks and I think I'll get some good ballistics. Ideally I'd like a moto specific jacket to go over all that but with cost being a factor, I can wait and see. Before I got the bike, I thought riding was going to be CHEAP fun  Thanks for the input.

[capz]

Anyone wear a balaclava? If so is it hard to breathe through it?

[bajakirch]

Anyone wear a balaclava? If so is it hard to breathe through it?

Most balaclavas should be able to be pulled down below your mouth and stay there. I have an Under Armor one I wear for deer hunting (to complete my Oompah-Loompah look). I can have it cover my mouth, or pull it down so that it stays between my chin and lower lip.

[Bumblebee]

I remember going to football games in freezing cold, wearing thermals and layers of clothing, and still freezing after a short time. After really looking at warm weather clothes, I realize the mistake I made was everything I wore was cotton.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with cotton as long as you operate within it's limitations. Just don't get the stuff wet - which is most likely what got you.

The biggest mistake people make in cold weather isn't the material being worn, the problem is not layering properly. They typically have too many layers on thinking that thickness equals warmth. When you're too warm and exert yourself, you end up sweating just a little bit and that sweat gets your clothes wet even if you don't feel it. When you quit exerting yourself, the water allows you to dump heat overboard at about 750 times the rate that dry air does so you suddenly start getting cold.

Dress slightly cool, not slightly warm. You'll stay much warmer that way even at -40F.

[muttstang]

I tried my light winter columbia jacket on over top of my mesh jacket this morning and it kept me plenty warm at around 40F.  It is a grey/white/black jacket.  The black part is on the back but I had my backpack over that and it has some reflective piping so hopefully I'm visible enough with it.  My helmet is white as well so that helps.  My hands were pretty cold yet though.  I need to get a decent set of gloves

[muttstang]

I've got a very basic one and I pull it down so I don't have to breathe through it.  Though It covers the top of my head to and makes my helmet a bit overly tight.  I need to look for something that just covers my neck and chin.

Anyone wear a balaclava? If so is it hard to breathe through it?

[LOKi]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with cotton as long as you operate within it's limitations. Just don't get the stuff wet - which is most likely what got you.

The second sentence contradicts the first one. Staying DRY is the key to staying warm. The reason people say stay away from cotton is that when it does get wet it stays that way. If your dressed warm for sitting at a football game then climbing the stairs to get to your seat will be enough to introduce some moisture to the system. Once you stop moving that moisture is going to get cold.

The layering system is just that...a system. Systems work together to accomplish a goal. Every layer in the system should breath. That is let moisture out. If any part of the system prevent evaporation of moisture then that moisture will stay within the system robbing it of effectiveness.

Just because your layers wick moisture away doesn't mean you can go overboard with warmth. If every time you walk more than 10' your break a sweet then no matter how good your layers are at wicking away that moisture your not going to stay dry. I remember when I was a snowboard bum. If I was warm on the lift I know I was in trouble. If your warm on the lift once you get moving two things are going to happen. 1) your going to fog up. No matter what you do your goggles and or glasses will be fogged. 2) your going to sweet. #1 you can take care of by cleaning the glasses. #2 is going to get serious. The next lift ride that sweet is going to get cold. If it's really cold out it might even freeze. If I felt warm on the lift I would do an easy run down and leave a layer with the lift opp (I lived there and knew all the opps).

Anyone wear a balaclava? If so is it hard to breathe through it?

I like my neck gator for neck and ear protection. The fleece kind. Looks like a hat with no top. Easy to breath through because it sits a little loos around your face. Helmet actually holds it in place. You can pick them up for free at your local ski slope. Go to lost and found and say you lost a black neck gator. They will bring out a box full of lost black neck gators.

[green427]

No, you don't need to spend $800 to stay warm. I've had a pair of winter riding pants and a winter riding jacket with CE armor for 3 years now, always kept me warm except on those 30 degree days at 60MPH, when I turn my DIY heated liner on.

The jacket & pants cost me about $160 total. Legs never get cold.

[capz]

I need to look for something that just covers my neck and chin.

Here's what I picked up at REI. Works great for the neck and chin, and easy to breathe through. Only problem is it takes some fiddling putting the helmet over it.

http://www.rei.com/product/725711

[muttstang]

Yeah, I use to have something like that, it would tend to fog up my glasses though.  as far as riding goes, I think something that just covers my chin/mouth would be good.

I need to look for something that just covers my neck and chin.

Here's what I picked up at REI. Works great for the neck and chin, and easy to breathe through. Only problem is it takes some fiddling putting the helmet over it.

http://www.rei.com/product/725711