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Waterproof kit - not!

Pirate

Well travelled
Location
Aldershot, UK
Just returned from a trip to France and had to ride for just under an hour (45 miles) in the rain. Not heavy rain but persistent showers and plenty of spray on 70mph roads. I have overtrousers which I didn't bother with on this occasion - I wore my Oxford Montreal 3 jacket and trousers which behaved pretty well. Slight damp patches inside the jacket (I can cope with that) and a wet crotch (which isn't so good). Falco Liberty 2.1 waterproof boots - complete rubbish, wet toes after about 10 miles then soaking socks which got my legs soaked of course. Spada Blizzard 2 gloves - blizzard? - they wouldn't stand being spat on if you ask me - soaking hands and of course water then soaks up the arms via other layers of clothes underneath, rendering the jacket (which stayed dry inside) useless.

If I sound annoyed it's because I am - fuming! How these companies can get away with it is beyond me. Now, can anyone recommend some decent waterproof gloves and boots in the UK for a reasonable price? I'm not planning on a RTW trip (good thing too with my kit!) but something waterproof for an hour or two would be good.

Thanks for listening - rant over!
 

johnedlt

Well travelled
Location
Asia
Just came from a 3 day road trip. It was always raining. One afternoon I rode hours in light to heavy rain with a GIVi rain jacket but like you did not wear the rain pants. My boots were the shorter FORMO adventure leather boots.

I was soaked waist down too. But the GIVI rain jacket did its job well.
 
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petespace1

Well travelled
Location
Aus
Falco Liberty 2.1 waterproof boots - complete rubbish, wet toes after about 10 miles then soaking socks which got my legs soaked of course. Spada Blizzard 2 gloves - blizzard? - they wouldn't stand being spat on if you ask me - soaking hands and of course water then soaks up the arms via other layers of clothes underneath, rendering the jacket (which stayed dry inside) useless.
I get your frustration mate.
Re boots and pants: I have Gaerne waterproof boots. My problem once was when an idiot truck went past me in pouring rain and the water he churned up went up under my rain overpants/ pants, and into my boots turning it into a 'tub' and my feet had a nice 😠 freezing bath for about 10 minutes till I was able to stop and tip out the bathwater.
Wonder why some one does not make overpants that go over your boots like a 'boot and pant cover'- maybe someone does?

PS slightly unrelated: the other problem with waterproof boots is that if the humidity is high, your sweat stays in it and gently soaks your feet even on dry days. Sigh - the things we do for love.
Love of riding that is.
 

johnny42

Well travelled
Location
NY State
When I ride with my rainsuit, I leave my pants resting at the top of the boots sort of bunched up. My rain pants go to the bottom of my boots. Mine have stirrups that go under the boot. This way, my jeans don't wick the water up which could ultimately get inside the boots.

I bought a pair of Daytona boots this year, rode in lots of rain and my feet never got wet.

As far as gloves go, as long as it's not cold, I just let my gloves get wet, soggy and gross. Like you said, with just about any type of rain gear reviews, you're going to find reviews that say the item doesn't work as advertised.
 

Bluestrom13

Well travelled
Location
--'Coventry'....
My 6 year old TCX boots were waterproof 'till this year, but wet toes now. Problem is the "waterproof" bit is a liner, which wears from the inside.
I use old fashioned dubbin on them too, because they are leather leather. Will keep them for moderate weather riding.
Their new replacements claim to be waterproof, claim to be leather. Not convinced about the latter. Yet to find out about the former.

Gloves - inexpensive textile,Frank Thomas, treated liberally with Fabsil tent proofer, seem to work fine.
I use Fabsil on my jacket and trousers as well.
 

johnedlt

Well travelled
Location
Asia
What helped the following ride days was to put laundry plastic bags from the hotel over clean and dry socks before putting on my boots. It's as if my boots were dry.
 

Hutchie2112

Well travelled
Location
Scotland
Just returned from a trip to France and had to ride for just under an hour (45 miles) in the rain. Not heavy rain but persistent showers and plenty of spray on 70mph roads. I have overtrousers which I didn't bother with on this occasion - I wore my Oxford Montreal 3 jacket and trousers which behaved pretty well. Slight damp patches inside the jacket (I can cope with that) and a wet crotch (which isn't so good). Falco Liberty 2.1 waterproof boots - complete rubbish, wet toes after about 10 miles then soaking socks which got my legs soaked of course. Spada Blizzard 2 gloves - blizzard? - they wouldn't stand being spat on if you ask me - soaking hands and of course water then soaks up the arms via other layers of clothes underneath, rendering the jacket (which stayed dry inside) useless.

If I sound annoyed it's because I am - fuming! How these companies can get away with it is beyond me. Now, can anyone recommend some decent waterproof gloves and boots in the UK for a reasonable price? I'm not planning on a RTW trip (good thing too with my kit!) but something waterproof for an hour or two would be good.

Thanks for listening - rant over!
I feel your pain. Fed up of wet glove liners (eek) all my riding days, I bit the big one and bought the awesome 'Ride recommended' Richa waterproof gloves (100 quid! I have bought bikes for less)
First sign of rain they turned to mush. Utter garbage, and if anybody actually wants to buy a pair, you need 2 sizes larger than you usually take. Richa can kiss my buttox. I'm now fine with heated grips and thin mx gloves. Come the snow, hippo hands.
 

Morgan60

Well travelled
Location
USA
Richa waterproof gloves and they are not waterproof? That really sucks. I’m waterproof from head to toe except my gloves. After six hours or less of riding in the rain all my three pairs are soaking wet. Anyone here find a true waterproof glove?
 

johnny42

Well travelled
Location
NY State
My take on waterproof gloves is that if they are truly waterproof, they probably aren't breathable. What happens is your hands sweat and get wet from the inside, so you essentially end up with wet hands. Sure, you can use those dishwashing gloves which WILL keep the rain out, but again, you'll sweat and your hands will be wet.

Change my mind.....
 

Roy Gavin

Well travelled
Ride in the rain all day and you will get wet somewhere- there will always be a little gap somewhere round your neck and after 10 hrs it will be filling up your boot.
Hippo hands are best option for hands , but cheap AGV textile gloves with plenty waterproofing have been OK.
Gaerne Explorer boots have stood up to an hour or so, no idea hew long they would last.
I bought low priced Acerbis Textile jacket and pants a few years back and they were most waterproof I have had, less than $A200- the pair and they lasted around 120,000 km too, before I went bodysurfing in them--!
Wearing Thomas Cook's wind and waterproof jeans these days for day trips, there is a waterproof flock lining on the inside face and it is quite waterproof, but the standard zip fly doesn't stand up to heavy rain!
 

Jerk

The Boss at On An Adventure
Staff member
Depending on the temperature while its raining, I wear summer gloves or winter gloves with Aerostich glove covers over them. Works great for me. Provides more warmth, too as they are great wind blockers.

 

Almar

Well travelled
Location
South Wales
Richa textile jacket and Oxford Kevlar trousers do the job for me.

For boots I wear a pair of 30 year old Cotton Oxford Fire boots that I still have from my Fire Service days. Leather with a GoreTex lining, steel foot plate and toecap. Regular applications of Dubbin keep them fully waterproof.

Now, if only I could buy a decent pair of waterproof gloves. Not found any yet.
 

Napom

Well travelled
Location
Northern VA
Depending on the temperature while its raining, I wear summer gloves or winter gloves with Aerostich glove covers over them. Works great for me. Provides more warmth, too as they are great wind blockers.


+1 On the AeroStitch covers - Have worn them through monsoons and fingers and my gloves under them are nice and dry.
 
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