I live in Oklahoma where it gets toasty in the summer months, is there any good riding jackets that allow good airflow? I have a trailmaster suit, while good for cooler days not enough air flow when hot, even with A/C on. K1600 with fold out wings in front, they help but wonder if there's anything better.
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Warm/Hot weather riding gear
- Thread starter isaacnida
- Start date
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- Tags
- warm weather gear
88bmwjeff
SF Bay Area
mikegalbicka
Back in the saddle again
Olympia Airglide works for us.
I like Vanson products. Super good customer service.
https://www.vansonleathers.com/touring/86-vx4-ventmax-mesh-jacket-ODYS.html
OM
https://www.vansonleathers.com/touring/86-vx4-ventmax-mesh-jacket-ODYS.html
OM
davidsanders
New member
My wife and I have BMW Airshell jackets and pants. They are well ventilated and have good armor protection. As a bonus, there's a liner for cooler weather. We're quite happy with them.
brownie0486
Well-known member
Heat out long sleeve under a Revit eclipse, just started wearing it in high 90's to low 100's the last few weeks. Came with level 1 protection which I upgraded. Jackets very light, flows air like you're not wearing a jacket [ surprised me a little as my last mesh jacket was good but not this good at airflow ].
I'm in for some 110-118F weather here in another month, we'll see how it works when it gets toasty. So far, I'm liking the airflow.
I'm in for some 110-118F weather here in another month, we'll see how it works when it gets toasty. So far, I'm liking the airflow.
cruisincruzan
Ute's Chauffeur
Have both a Motoport mesh suit and the BMW AirShell and both flow air well. Bottom line is that the bike you ride will have a much greater impact on air flow. What surprised me was that I did not notice much difference between wearing the Motoport mesh pants (mesh front stretch fabric back) and wearing the BMW moto jeans. In cooler weather then you notice when you wear mesh pants.
brownie0486
Well-known member
I rode with the revit mesh one morning at 58F, that's when I noticed how much air it flows as well. On the warmer days, I can't tell as well but I know it's flowing lots of air based on that cooler ride morning.
professorb
Iron Butt Patriot
Cooler Riding with the Klim Marrakesh Gear
Had the first "hot enough" day to road test my new Klim Marrakesh jacket and pants. Four hour ride with temps between 77° F. and 86° F. I was reasonably hydrated and very comfortable for the ride. I'm on a '21 RT which does an excellent job of protecting the rider from the elements, even when you want the elements to get at 'ya. I hate the heat, really hate any humidity, and tend to run hot. This gear is very $$$ but I am glad I now have it.
The Marrakesh gear seems to be a good balance between lightweight materials and good impact / abrasion resistance. Features the D30 "Ghost" armor which is surprisingly thin but super breathable stuff. No way this stuff offers the same protection as the standard D30 armor, but it is there. Very comfortable to wear, well-sized for a slightly neglected American body. The fabric flows the airstream fairly well -- not quite as much flow as the visibly open "ballistic" mesh usually seen, but pretty close. Overall lighter and more comfortable for me than the ballistic mesh stuff I have (Firstgear, Alpinestars).
Klim says it has a DWR coating so it should shed a brief shower along the route. I carry the Klim Forecast rain overjacket and overpants in case the brief shower become a secular downpour -- have not needed to use them yet, but they do fit well and easily over the Marrakesh gear and are extremely well-built.
Yeah, I am a Klim fanboy. The gear is among the most expensive you can find. Every piece I have has been well made and super functional, is bombproof and lasts forever. "Buy once, cry once."
Had the first "hot enough" day to road test my new Klim Marrakesh jacket and pants. Four hour ride with temps between 77° F. and 86° F. I was reasonably hydrated and very comfortable for the ride. I'm on a '21 RT which does an excellent job of protecting the rider from the elements, even when you want the elements to get at 'ya. I hate the heat, really hate any humidity, and tend to run hot. This gear is very $$$ but I am glad I now have it.
The Marrakesh gear seems to be a good balance between lightweight materials and good impact / abrasion resistance. Features the D30 "Ghost" armor which is surprisingly thin but super breathable stuff. No way this stuff offers the same protection as the standard D30 armor, but it is there. Very comfortable to wear, well-sized for a slightly neglected American body. The fabric flows the airstream fairly well -- not quite as much flow as the visibly open "ballistic" mesh usually seen, but pretty close. Overall lighter and more comfortable for me than the ballistic mesh stuff I have (Firstgear, Alpinestars).
Klim says it has a DWR coating so it should shed a brief shower along the route. I carry the Klim Forecast rain overjacket and overpants in case the brief shower become a secular downpour -- have not needed to use them yet, but they do fit well and easily over the Marrakesh gear and are extremely well-built.
Yeah, I am a Klim fanboy. The gear is among the most expensive you can find. Every piece I have has been well made and super functional, is bombproof and lasts forever. "Buy once, cry once."
riderr1150gsadv
Well-known member
Just remember that if you have too much airflow you will dehydrate a lot faster too, so keep up with the electrolytes as well...YMMV
skibumwi
New member
I live in Houston, so HOT is a constant state..
I'm a fan of Sedici Cooling WP Vest (https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/sedici-cooling-wp-vest). Wet it, wring it, wear it. You can also store it wet inside a plastic ziplock if you start riding before the heat climaxes. And it only ~$50
Ski
I'm a fan of Sedici Cooling WP Vest (https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/sedici-cooling-wp-vest). Wet it, wring it, wear it. You can also store it wet inside a plastic ziplock if you start riding before the heat climaxes. And it only ~$50
Ski
brownie0486
Well-known member
Very true, I've bought a vented cordura armored jacket and tried it in 105-107F last year. I'll take the airflow from the new jacket over opening a few vents on the non mesh jacket and sweltering inside. Just have to stop a little more often to re-soak the cooling vest, long sleeve heat out., skull cap. I'll get 50-60 minutes of relief from the heat. Another 10 and it's time to stop and rehydrate the items. I'm prone to heat exhaustion, need that air. If I stop more often than otherwise, no problem
Up to 95F or so, the other jacket works fairly well, at 105-118F, that just doesn't work for me. Not enough airflow for my tastes in that type of heat.
riderr1150gsadv
Well-known member
Yeah you have to work out what works best for you, as we are all different in coping with the heat. Wearing a jacket is still better than a T-shirt.
Trick is to keep the sun off your skin, as that will cause all kinds of issues and heatstroke can be right around the corner before you know it.. Just think what the Bedouins wear in the desert....
There was a very nice article by Tom Austin written up in the Iron Butt Magazine (RIP) a few years ago about heat management while riding.
A link to the article: https://www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine/ironbutt_1002_62-66_hot.pdf
"In Summary… The magic number is 93. Below 93°F, it’s fairly easy to stay cool on a motorcycle as long as you are moving fast enough to get some wind against your skin for convective cooling. A mesh riding suit feels great.
Above 93°F, it’s a different world. The wind is no longer your friend. For long distance riding in temperature higher than 93°F, you need to (1) minimize your body’s exposure to direct wind blast; (2) wear wicking undergarments, including a helmet liner; (3) carry an adequate supply of cool water and drink frequently; and (4) insulate any parts of your body exposed to engine heat or radiator discharge."
A link to the article: https://www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine/ironbutt_1002_62-66_hot.pdf
"In Summary… The magic number is 93. Below 93°F, it’s fairly easy to stay cool on a motorcycle as long as you are moving fast enough to get some wind against your skin for convective cooling. A mesh riding suit feels great.
Above 93°F, it’s a different world. The wind is no longer your friend. For long distance riding in temperature higher than 93°F, you need to (1) minimize your body’s exposure to direct wind blast; (2) wear wicking undergarments, including a helmet liner; (3) carry an adequate supply of cool water and drink frequently; and (4) insulate any parts of your body exposed to engine heat or radiator discharge."
People make fun of me for staying pretty well covered up from direct sun. I usually ask them if they are familiar with the Bedouins and their sun/excessive heat protection protocol?
This question usually meets with a blank stare.
https://www.wadirumnomads.com/bedouin-wear/
OM
This question usually meets with a blank stare.
https://www.wadirumnomads.com/bedouin-wear/
OM
