Fabric Clothing Advice - All weathers

[MilesH]

I'm new to the forum so hello to all first of all

I've come back to bikes after a long time and I could do with some clothing advice. I feel the cold very easily due to poor circulation and I am looking for some fabric biking gear that I'll wear all year round. I notice al lot have up to 3 layers (removable) but there are quite a few different makes and prices range vastly.

Can anyone advise on the warmest (and waterproof) fabric equipment they would consider. I assume Gortex would be best or are there other suitable equivalents for waterproof jackets and trousers, and does anyone know which brands are best for overall warmth?

Thanks

[UncleFester]

As a T1 diabetic with lousy circulation .......

Goretex if you're made of money .... with liners underneath. It will breathe, stop you sweating, keep you dry but by itself it won't keep you warm.

If not then ordinary textiles plus layers, base layers ... another layer ... then another layer .... specifically the sort of base layer clothing you'd wear if you went hiking / fell walking in the cold.

On top of that ... heated grips ... then a heated under jacket if you are still cold. For every 10mph you get one - degree of windchill or something like that.

Get boots that you can fit decent socks on under - i like the EDZ thermal stuff.
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Module 1 and 2 passed - October 2014. Happy owner of a 2017 Z1000SX, ex owner of a YBR125 / CB500 / VFR800.

[Rogerborg]

Gore Tex will keep you dry, not warm per se. Keep an eye on eBay for used gore-tex gear, you can save hundreds over the new price.

Warmth comes from layers. Merino wool really does work well. In winter I go: work shirt + thin merino shirt + wool jumper + gore-tex bike jacket. Legs get jeans + cordura bike trousers with a thermal lining.

Thermal ski socks + gore-tex lined army boots on my feet.

Hands are taken care of with heated grips + muffs. Gloves become more or or less irrelevant with that combination, I often wear unlined summer gloves in winter.

Stopping wind chill from penetrating is also important. A one piece waterproof oversuit will help with that, and will ensure that you stay totally dry.

I'm deliberately not mentioning brands because we could all tell you which brand we wear, but no individual answer is going to be the correct one to your question of which is best.

Best is layers.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[MilesH]

Thanks both, appreciate the replies

[Rogerborg]

Oh, I forgot, the neck. The one branded item I would recommend is this Frank Thomas neck tube (or functional equivalent). Cutting out drafts and wind chill really helps, I mucked around with smaller items for ages before settling on this for winter wear.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Tracer1234]

[NJD]

[Rogerborg]