Textile riding gear

My winter kit is a bit old now, so whilst at the NEC bike show I got to looking around at alternatives. I was a bit staggered by the price of some of the high end stuff, like Rukka. And a bit disappointed by the look and feel of some of the low end stuff. Perhaps you get what you pay for??

Some of the gear claims not to be winter / summer specific, but by use of zippable vents and removable liners claim to be ideal for all year round use.

So, any recommendations guys? Is Rukka worth the high prices? Are there better alternatives?

UK winters, at least most of the time here in more southerly regions are not that cold - 0 to -5C. Is this the range you are thinking, or lower?

I wear PVC trawlerman's stuff, mine is old now, made by Helly Hansen before they became a trendy fashion brand. Incredibly waterproof over the last 25+ years and obviously durable too. Mine are rolled up and carried on the bike for continental touring and commuting. Cheap too. Unfashionable to a fault, but I can laugh at all the trendies with damp crotches. I don't have to look at me riding along. Warmth is provided by extra fleeces/wooly underware - you know what English weather is like.
I have an old set of Rukka salopets from when their stuff was PVC too, as well as pocket friendly, insulated which worked well for my 25 ride to work. No, I don't do that anymore.
As long as I made sure I didn't exert myself, sweat and condensation wasn't a problem. Not a big fan of breathable.

Klim, a US brand claim all sorts of stuff for their kit, but ending up at similar prices to Rukka.
Spida (?) the Italian brand are supposed to be good too. I have tried them on several times when looking for newer kit, in a shop they feel OK, reputed decent.

I have a set of Tourmaster Flex 3-season pants and jacket. The only thing I don't like is that the rain liner is internal, so I don't ever use it. I carry a Tourmaster rainsuit in the tanbkbag. And I haven't used the thermal liners since I got some Gerbings pants and jacket. But they're really convenient in that you can zip off the outer jacket and pants panels and you have instant mesh gear for hot weather.

Re; “UK winters, at least most of the time here in more southerly regions are not that cold - 0 to -5C. Is this the range you are thinking, or lower?”
Eh?
You clearly don’t do much winter riding 0 degrees when ridden a at 60 MPH can mean -3 or even -5 when the cold air from the artic creeps in on a Cloudless night.
I find M/C jackets have become far too expensive, because I keep writing them off, as I have ruined a few by falling off on black ice, spilt diesel oil e.t.c.
I have used Belstaff Tourmaster jacket and this came with a heat reflecting removable liner – which I still have and use in the winter - the jacket has long gone. I cannot walk around in liner for long thought.
I now use a cheap Hi-Vis jacket from a workman’s clothes store but it is not 100% waterproof in colder temps wear a thin wind proof underneath as a form of “double glazing” on top of my Darmart thermawear ;
http://www.damart.co.uk/

According to the forecasting site I normally use, in Fenland with its easy access to Scandinavian winds, the historic lows for December are +2C, January 0C and February 1C. But of course we must not forget wind chill and lack of daylight induced warming.

My experience of a daily 25 mile each way commute throughout the winter was that the cold was a welcome respite from the gloomy overcast. Dark in both directions December and January.
My experience of English weather here in most of the southern half of the UK (first the east and west Midlands, now East Anglia) is that wet and damp are the most common horror, with other traffic throwing up the spray from constantly filthy roads.
Long distance riding in substantially sub zero temperatures would probably induce me to invest in heated gear.

We await a response from Eddie to know what his plans or requirements are, perhaps he has gone off the the ADVforum where there is more discussion on clothing for all weathers, climates and purposes than you can shake a very large stick at.

I'm still here guys and appreciate the inputs.

My status at present is, I'm a bit overwhelmed by the complexity and choice, as well as the technology put into this stuff and the cost.

I'm obviously way out of touch with this stuff!

Current thinking is to keep the old stuff for the time being, one less thing to have to deal with!

My old gear is Hein Gerik, I think its Cordora based. The labels say do NOT wash, dry clean, or tumble dry. Does anyone know if this is still 'current thinking' or can I wash them with some Nikwax type product to another.

Regards from Finland, I think it is a bit colder here in winter.
At here you can find local forecast http://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/

Rukka is good brand but bit expensive.
I have used an other Finish brand for years now and I think it is quite good too.
http://www.sinisalo.com/mxl-fashion/sin ... index.html
A soft shell jacket under riding gear would help to keep you warm too.

Mikko said:

Regards from Finland, I think it is a bit colder here in winter.
At here you can find local forecast http://ilmatieteenlaitos.fi/

Rukka is good brand but bit expensive.
I have used an other Finish brand for years now and I think it is quite good too.
http://www.sinisalo.com/mxl-fashion/sin ... index.html
A soft shell jacket under riding gear would help to keep you warm too.

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Agreed on the Rukka. Didn't see any U.S. or UK dealers on the list. Australia, you're in luck!

Have bought Nikwax washing liquid and spray on water proofer and will 'scrub up' my old gear for another season or so.

So that's me sorted for the time being.

And of course, the money saved = more fancy Norton bits !!

As you are cheap, if the nikwax doesn't work, you could always try the PVC. Very popular for some activities.

nickguzzi said:

As you are cheap, if the nikwax doesn't work, you could always try the PVC. Very popular for some activities.

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We're not mixing up different interests and activities here are we??

BTW, I am originally from North Notts, only a stones throw from Yorkshire... Nowt wrong wi' cheap lad...!

No, not suggesting there is anything wrong with cheap - we both live in the UK after all.
I went to Yorkshire once - never spend a penny when ha'pny will do, Lad.

If you post up a few pictures of theses other activities you partake in, I'm sure we will all be suitably amused.

Kevlar..... and worth every penny (skin grafts are expensive!) http://www.motoport.com/product/motopor ... sh-jacket/

If Eddie is still looking...
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/h ... t-31001236

nickguzzi said:

If Eddie is still looking...
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/h ... t-31001236

Click to expand...

Thanks, very interesting reading. I'm not looking presently though. I kept my old gear and decided 'odour le shed' ain't so bad...

Nothing to contribute, except I had largely forgotten about riding in the Winter in England. The roads wet and filthy from September to April, the cold and damp getting into your bones. Looking like the creature from 50,000 fathoms when arriving at work.
Incidentally the best waterproofs I had (in the 70s) were made by Helly Hansen, it was a one piece, bright orange sailor suit, and was waterproof for hours on end at high cruising speeds in the pouring rain.
Best of luck!!
cheers
wakeup

Absolutely - the Helly Hansen kit was the bee's knees. Fortunately mine was blue.
All day, everyday dryness. A 1\2hr comfort stop will see them dryout, if not clean. A quick hose off at home will deal with that.

The PVC Rukka gear which was its contemporary is very good too.