'Waterproof' jackets - I give up!

[v8-powered]

Minor rant time!

Why do manufacturers state that their jackets are waterproof when they simply aren't even shower/spray proof? I'm now on my third jacket (2x Weise, 1x Oxford Montreal) and all have leaked like sieves! But my 15 year old Alpinestar jacket and trousers remain waterproof in a monsoon?

Rode 20 miles this morning in light rain/spray and my chest and arms were soaked - all vents firmly closed and zips fastened correctly. I know they aren't top bling Goretex but would expect to be at least showerproof. Hopefully Sportsbikeshop excellent customer service will not let me down.....

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Why are you buying new waterproofs if your 15 year old Alpine Stars ones work well?

[v8-powered]

Why are you buying new waterproofs if your 15 year old Alpine Stars ones work well?

Because it's a winter only kind of jacket, too heavy for wet spring/summer/autumn days - I want something that I can wear on the bike for short journeys that doesn't weigh a tonne and can still wear on the train without looking like the Michelin Man....

[G.P]

I did 40 miles in pouring rain this morning, Rukka jacket and Dainese Gortex trousers. I was dry.

However, - if you are commuting to the station and getting on the train, my kit would be no good as its not Shell Gortex - it absorbs the water as far as the Gortex layer, so although I'm dry, the jacket and trousers are dripping wet - not good for making new friends on the train!

I was taking my Triumph Tiger in for a service - the big screen kept most of the wet off my jacket even in heavy rain. on the way back I was on a loaner Street triple, the difference in protection was huge!

[v8-powered]

I did 40 miles in pouring rain this morning, Rukka jacket and Dainese Gortex trousers. I was dry.

However, - if you are commuting to the station and getting on the train, my kit would be no good as its not Shell Gortex - it absorbs the water as far as the Gortex layer, so although I'm dry, the jacket and trousers are dripping wet - not good for making new friends on the train!

I was taking my Triumph Tiger in for a service - the big screen kept most of the wet off my jacket even in heavy rain. on the way back I was on a loaner Street triple, the difference in protection was huge!

Think I'll up my budget and try something a little more upmarket, best stuff I ever had was a Heine Gericke Goretex suit, used that for years in some torrential weather and it never leaked.

Think my recent change in bike hasn't helped either - from an NT700 Deavulle where I could hide behind the screen to a Trumpet ST1050 with slightly less protection

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

My waterproofs are made by Mitsubishi

[Bigyin]

Much like GP I was riding this morning in the monsoon for a couple of hours teaching and my Dainese Goretex kit held up nicely. Warm and dry underneath despite the best efforts of the biblical rain and flooded roads. Didn't help much being on the Fazer 600 which has sold all weather protection

It's now drying off in the sunshine I wish we had at 0900

[G.P]

Much like GP I was riding this morning in the monsoon for a couple of hours teaching and my Dainese Goretex kit held up nicely. Warm and dry underneath despite the best efforts of the biblical rain and flooded roads. Didn't help much being on the Fazer 600 which has sold all weather protection

It's now drying off in the sunshine I wish we had at 0900

Still pissing down here and I've got to do the return run later..

[GuzziPaul]

I'm not a fan of jackets with a Gortex membrane and a sponge on the outside. I have a HG gortex jacket which is several years old. It sort of keeps me dry apart from water blowing up the sleeves, up the belly area from the pool of water in my crotch, and around my neck (no storm collar). When it gets soaked it becomes very cold, especially the arms. I'd much rather the water was repelled rather than soak in and then evaporate over several hours.
My last trip to France it got soaked on the first day and the jacket was still wet the following day despite been on the back of a chair ovenight (and leaving a pool of water on the B&B floor).

[Taipan]

Like you i'v e pretty much given up on finding real waterproof gear. I paid £500 (reduced from £700) for a Rukka suit which leaked. I had a weiss that was brilliant and replaced it with another only to find the build quality was nowhere near as good. had a cheap buffalo that was good and got another and found that leaked. Best i've had was a Dainese Dri line but my colleague has a newer one and complains that leaks. Hein Gericke was pretty good and held up better than a lot but hear mixed reports on those too and they've gone now anyway haven't they? My current one is a Frank Thomas but cant remember the model name and its excellent for about 90% of weather but the trousers leak quicker than the jacket. Ho hum...

[Hot_Air]

I’ve never heard of a Hi-Pro suit leaking. But it’s a fancy suit with a price to match!

I may sell a kidney ( keep an eye on the Classified forum).

[Gimlet]

It would almost be cheaper to just buy a Goldwing. Or a Ford Focus.

[Bigyin]

It would almost be cheaper to just buy a Goldwing. Or a Ford Focus.

To be honest about 3 years ago my 8 year old Rukka suit finally started to leak after all year round useage. I priced up replacements and instead bought a 2007 Peugeot 207 for 800 quid as i already had a thinner Dainese suit that was excellent in warmer times but didnt quite cut it when the temp got down close to freezing which the Rukka could cope with. The car did the winter commuting as i was doing 70 miles a day

My newer Dainese suit (Carve Master 2) is a bit thicker and copes quite well at the lower temps but if its battering down with rain i normally wear a thin base layer just to keep the cold liner off my skin

[Gimlet]

My Carve Master isn't waterproof anymore. Got wet riding through a thunderstorm yesterday.

I'll give it another wash and retreatment but I reckon it's had it. Only three years old and always did had wet cuffs and a wet neck with it, even when it was new. Won't buy another drop-down liner. Laminate only for me now.

Minded to give Richa laminated a try. £800 instead if £1800:

https://www.megamotorcyclestore.co.uk/r ... ket-black/
https://www.megamotorcyclestore.co.uk/r ... ers-black/

[Bigyin]

My Carve Master isn't waterproof anymore. Got wet riding through a thunderstorm yesterday.

I'll give it another wash and retreatment but I reckon it's had it. Only three years old and always did had wet cuffs and a wet neck with it, even when it was new. Won't buy another drop-down liner. Laminate only for me now.

Minded to give Richa laminated a try. £800 instead if £1800:

https://www.megamotorcyclestore.co.uk/r ... ket-black/
https://www.megamotorcyclestore.co.uk/r ... ers-black/

The only pair of gloves i have that i would say are "waterproof" are an old set of Richa that i coat every year in Nikwax from an old tin i found. Had them on today in 3 hours of riding and dry hands

Otherwise i just carry 3 sets of gloves to work with heated grips if i am on a long trip but for the teaching lark 2 sets

[v8-powered]

Well Sportsbikeshop excellent customer service has offered to return the jacket for inspection although they did state that this will be the first Oxford Montreal that they have had back for leaking, will see what they say before I purchase something else....

[McNab]

The most waterproof gear I ever had was the front pockets on my Frank Thomas jacket. Unfortunately the most un-waterproof gear I ever had was the zips to those pockets, so after a light rain shower they would literally be full of water like carrying around two small ponds which I would have to empty out later and stayed damp for days.

My current jacket is by Halvasston and is probably one of the best I've had in a long time.

[Druid]

I don't ride in the rain any more so I haven't needed any waterproofs until last year. I had planned a week in Scotland doing the NC500 with a couple of mates and thought I had better be prepared for some rain. I didn't really want to spend a lot on kit that just wouldn't be used so I bought an Oxford Rainseal jacket and trousers. They worked really well over my leathers, kept me dry through two days of persistent rain and packed up into a compact carrying bag. Shame my gloves and boots weren't as waterproof.

https://www.oxfordproducts.com/motorcyc ... ket_black/

[maccecht]

I have Dianese goretex jacket Alpine stars touring troos neither have leaked in three years. If it is going to be torrential rain though I carry some single skin unlined waterproofs which stop me carrying a gallon of water around and having a jacket to dry out . Top is a dewalt top from screwfix bottoms are Richa overtroos as recommended by a member on TRC.