1200 Textiles!!

It is a personal thing, and how much you want to spend, I have rukka have worn it every time since I bought it, it is fine up to around 20-25c, I have never got cold in it, at what ever temp low, light and water proof but a hell of a lot of money, Alpinsters have a good name. there are a few others that are good value for money RST etc.

Rukka make an Air System, Supposedly the best for the summer etc. that is good for anything above 8c to what ever, and water proof, but you cant get it in the UK

 

I've been using Halvarssons textiles for the last couple of years. My suit has zip out thermal linings and zip opening vents for when it's hot and didn't leak a drop in an absolute deluge in Belgium that was hard enough to bring the traffic to a standstill. A revelation after wearing leathers for the previous 3 decades!

 

Can thoroughly recommend Klim gear but it isn't cheap. Very comfy on and off the bike. Keeps the rain out well and is actually fine in the hotter weather too with the vents open. Its more of a shell and layering system than an all in one jacket and pants set, will be adding a fleece and then a heated liner later in the year as it gets colder and darker.
I have their Overland set which is goretex shell, doesn't absorb the water at all unlike waterproofed lined textile types so doesn't stay wet and heavy off the bike and will not be still wet and cold when I have to put it back on after work for the journey home.

 

If you can afford a set where the waterproofing is bonded to the outer or inner of the jacket&trousers then when wet they will dry quicker and be lighter than a set that has a separate waterproof liner system. Vents are always a good thing to have too.
Top of the line gear from Rukka, Klim, Halvarsson & Hideout have bonded waterproofing most others rely on a layer system.

 

Rukka or halvassons and Klim anything else you will probably get wet , I have rukka trousers and halvassons jacket work great

 

I have Clover gear which are in the same league as Rukka (and just as expensive ) - bloody good ventilation system and waterproofing though. They use the layer method but I've never had a problem with them drying out pretty quickly.

 

Another vote for Halverssons. I have also ridden through Belgian rain and remained dry!

 

I've got the RST Pro series. Priced well, warm and dry, good value for money.

 

I've got a Halvarssons 2 piece, friend has Rukka Armas Gore tex 2 piece. After a 3 hour ride in rain my stuff weighs twice as much as his! We both stay dry but his cost 3 times as much as mine and doesn't leave a lake behind when having a cup of tea in a cafe and my jacket is on the back of chair!

 

I have the Dainese D Dry textiles, only got caught in showers so far so haven't tested them in proper crap weather yet. They are lovely & comfortable !!

 

Have a look at the Richa Spirit C Change Textile suits. been using one for 18 months now, always totally waterproof and the rain runs off the outside so doesn't get heavy. Very light to wear in hot weather and by opening the wrist zips you get an airflow into the jacket in very hot weather. Not as expensive as Rukka etc. but not cheap.
Good review here Richa Spirit Jacket - webBikeWorld
Only down side is that I don't find it that warm in winter with just the liner in but with a heated jacket on it is toasty

 

Halvarssons here too. The best waterproofs I've ever had by a long way. it didn't rain when I was in Belgium though

 

I went cheap with Wolf Titanium, I think Wolf are actually owned by RST? Anyway, the Wolf gear has actually been really good. Pretty versatile, looks good and never been cold or wet. I use it for inclement weather to stop me trashing leathers or touring when I want more pockets and might get caught in rain. Their Titanium brand is Goretex equivalent and I've never had issues. I now have two versions of the jacket, one for touring style and one more sporty for day trips or with Kevlar jeans.

I know Rukka is probably better but I thought I'd hate textiles so just tried the Wolf stuff and ended up really rating it.

 

My previous waterproofs were Wolf Titanium, they did look good. But they weren't as warm as the old Motomod I had before that. They were waterproof to start with but after a year or so the damp started to creep in. What finally persuaded me to buy a new set was getting caught in very heavy shower that lasted all of 5 minutes. By the time it was over I'd have been as well sat in a bucket of water :Arghh: The Halvarssons are far better at keeping the wet out and the heat in.

 

Hi brad3ab. I have had a set of the Alpinstars Andes you've looked at for over a year. I found them good value for money and I'm very pleased with them.

They have been through several showers and proved waterproof with the exception of one torrential downpour when I got a small damp spot on my chest. I think a few drips of water got in through one of the chest pockets. The handy sized main pockets have water resistant zips and a fold over flap so contents stay dry.

The vents in the jacket and trousers work although the trouser vents are less effective. With the thermal inner removed you can stay reasonably cool although touring recently in 36 deg I had to have the jacket wide open at 85 mph and I still couldn't cool down!

As far as I'm concerned, the only down side was with the sizing. I'm 6'2", 46" chest, 34-36" waist and about 34" inside leg. I found a jacket that fitted perfectly but the trousers were a bit of a problem. The only trousers that would fit around my waist was a 38". That left the arse and legs a bit too baggy. I measured the waist of the trousers back at home and it was about 35"!

Having said that, for just over 300 quid for the suit, I thought it was a good buy.

Hope this helps.

Kevin

 

Touring can be fast too