What's best winter clothing to wear?

[Steg]

I want to buy new biker Clothing I currently hav buffalo riding outfit but find it holds the rain n becomes very heavy an uncomfortable to wear so any advice on what's best to wear in winter that would still protect me an keep me dry an comfortable when riding?

[thx1138]

layers, get your bike out and ready to ride before you put your kit on, then have a cuppa, then put your kit on and then go straight out.

don't put all your clobber on, then work up a sweat faffing about looking for keys and wallet, and then get that sweat go cold.

if you wear separate waterproofs carry plastic bags, put them over your boots, much easy to get your water proofs on.


I tend to wear thermal long johns, and a top that wicks the sweat away tucked into bottoms, umbro football socks, t-shirt over the top, then my leathers. I wear gaiters over my boots too, I wear a buff too, and a balaclava, and have heated grips.

but it's not winter yet of course, so I tend just to have some extra stuff in a top box, in case I need it.

oh, and I usually carry a spare pair of gloves too, case they get wet through.

[colin1]

has said layers, but down jackets are excellent for extra warmth without so much bulk of extra layers which can restrict movement.

body warmers are also good as they keep the body warmer without restricting arm movement

all in one waterproof things which are trousers and jacket combined, are good to go over the top, as motorbike gear which is abrasion resistant, tends to be not completely waterproof, and can get smelly if left damp for days on end
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[whitedevil]

I wear a hein gericke pro shell suit, i dont even use the lining and i ride all year.
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[Recluso]

[Steg]

Thanks for the comments so far am just wondering if there are any brands of biker clothing that are best or that I should avoid and what your opinions are on whether leathers or the newer materials available are best. As I said am wearing buffalo make protective suit but although it's meant to be waterproof it holds water alot, smells because it's been wet and is very uncomfortable and restricting. So your comments will be helpful thanks

[Recluso]

Textiles for winter as they keep you warmer than leathers
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[Dilyan]

Happy with my Frank Thomas regarding temperature. Keeps me warm. But although they are supposed to be waterproof - well, they are not. Otherwise great
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[hedgehugger]

I have a woolen neck warmer (possibly bought from Lidl).
I bought it to use on the bike and feel almost naked in the cold without it!
I like it so much I wear it with everything in the winter Wouldn't do without it.
Buggared if I can find a second one though!

[Howling Terror]

Some of the windproof balaclavas feel horrible. The Aldi/Lidl ones in particular. They do work tho.
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[Glenben92]

I find that the combination of:

Fleecy underneath for warmth

Waterproof over for waterproofing and wind protection.

works well for me.
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[Maverick Rigger]

What's best winter clothing to wear?

Anything that will keep you warm and dry. Layers, lots of layers!

My bike jacket is Hien Gericke tourer, so far it done a sterling job. Not tested it in proper winter yet but I know it's going to do a good job.

Army surplus neck thing doubled over does a good job of keeping my neck warm, I've got a heavier fleece neck thing for the really bad weather.

Legs, I need a new pair of winter legs the one I've got now are crap.

Feet, Sealskinz keep my feet dry and my engine keeps them warm.

Hands, I've got some Rev'It gloves that are working well but for the colder weather I stick my cold killers on as well.
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[Cheerfulgrin]

I've got a Spada textile jacket with armour in, its got a removable down liner which is also a waterproof barrier so no chance of rain ingress!
the jacket will hold water on surface though and gets heavy, dont notice it on, just when hanging.

I've also got Spada textile trousers, old 'milan' model i think, they are lined (not removable) and watertight, bit warm in nicer weather but great for autumn / winter and when its really cold i have a pair of windblocker fleece leggings to put on too.

I'm new to biking but had a 125 when i was 17 too, i wish we'd had clothing like this back then!

all this lot cost me probably less than 60 quid, off fleabay, jacket was shop seconds and trousers 2nd hand but like new.

the advice about getting the bike out and THEN putting your kit on is something i will try and remember to do in future!!
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[stinkwheel]

In my experience, a garment that claims to do more than one of being warm, protective and waterproof doesn't do these things as well as a garment that only claims to do one of them.

As such I wear a thermals to keep warm, leathers for protection and waterproofs to keep dry.

I can highly recommend morino wool base layers such as icebreaker as being warm, comfortable, extremely good at wicking sweat away and very resistant to smelling. Very expensive but once you've owned them, you wouldn't have anything else.

I usually bung a string vest (traps loads of air, very warm) and a tight fitting t-shirt over the top, then a long sleeve t-shirt, a hoody (or if it's very cold a fleece and a windproof gilet). Then my leather jacket. Morino base layer on my legs, swedish army towelling long johns and leather jeans.

If it's wet or particularly cold, I add dutch army goretex trousers and a drytex parlour top (which farmers wear to do the milking in). I sometimes wear the parlour top under the leather jacket and just let that get wet. it is still windproof and stops the top flapping about and getting water up the inside.

I've got off the bike covered in snow in this getup and still been warm (or not uncomfortably cold in any case).
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[Slacker24seve...]

https://swns.com/images/stories/peterbuck/peterbuck3.jpg

This will keep you warmer than anything*. Some key elements of this elegantly styled outerwear may detatch at speed though.

...but seriously, I got my jacket/trousers here:

https://www.infinitymotorcycles.com/index.asp

My Richa jacket is excellent; it is actually waterproof and has a heavy quilted liner. 'Technical' thermal understuff from Lidl/Aldi is also a good shout, one of the best bike related £15s I've spent so far. A buff is a worthwhile investment, not keen on the full balaclava though. Sealskinz are ace and guarantee foot toastiness. For really shit weather a waterproof oversuit keeps the rain away from your textiles which get soggy and crucially keep the wind out really well.

When its just cold rather than actually windy, raining, snowing and thunderstorning I will quite often still wear plenty of layers underneath, then my leathers and a fleece or similar over the top. Given the choice I usually prefer them, I feel a lot more secure and my leathers are actually really comfortable. If you do wear anything leather that isn't already waterproof, waterproof it with some stuff from a saddlery place. Needs doing every couple of weeks but works quite well.

*Having worn something similar to the PDC Darts finals, in December, when it was snowing, I can safely say it is the warmest thing I have ever warn. On the minus side the cotton wool comes off and Welshmen attempted to mount me.
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[ollieholt]

Kidney belts are supposed to be great at keeping your extremities warm in the really cold months, i'm pretty sure ill be investing in one this year. Do something about your hands though, i've had dangerously numb hands before and it isn't only painful, its plain dangerous. Bar mitts or heated grips/gloves are a must if you plan to ride through winter.
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[Steg]

Thanks to all for your comments it seems that it's down to the own individuals preference but for sure I'll try a few of your suggestions out an see what suits me best,cheers lads !!

[Clanger]

[Fizzer Thou]

I recently 'found' a bottle of Nikwax waterproofing compound that I had forgotten that my wife had bought for me a few years ago to waterproof my dirt biking textiles.I have since utilised this spray-on compound and found that it does an amazing job of keeping the water out of my Hein Gericke Toureg enduro jacket and MSR enduro jeans - with excellent results.I think that this spray on compound was purchased from Millets.But where you would buy it from nowadays I am not sure - it has been in the cupboard under the sink for that long...
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