Revisiting rain gear purchases

[Django]

Why don’t cows take a week to dry out?

Cow skin is alive, leather is dead but tanned to avoid it rotting away.
Yes Guth, I'm really happy with my Roadcrafter R 3. And it is 100% dry indeed, if you cared to close it the rigth way: collar up and close the velcros really flat. The material is Cordura 500, laminated with a membrane inside.

Sometimes, on a Sunday ride, when I know, weather will be fine, I take my ol' leathers, which I rode for about 20 years now. Still a good feeling and I look cool at the biker's inn.

But for commuting and for long rides or trips I happily take the R3. That one does not look cool at the biker's meeting, but I really like the function.

For commuting, I just take on my boots, wear a down jacket now at lower temps, pull over the R3, close the zippers and I'm ready to go, takes me just seconds. Before I had the R3, it took quite some time to change clothes every time and then feeling like a sausage with all the layers underneath the leathers.

In summertime, I just have a t-shirt and shorts under the R3, but still wear boots (atgatt). When I arrive, I replace the boots by sandals and I'm really comfortable.

On long trips, I really like to be relaxed, wearing the R3. Comes rain or not, it just doesn't matter. Also I don't have to stop to get out the rain gear. I just ride on.

June 2016 I did an IBA ride: 4 corners, visit Germany's most east, south and west corners in 24 hours. Those were more than 2,200 km for me. I had to go thru 2 really heavy thunderstorms: no issue with my R3. Last year the R3 was my companion along 5,500 km in one week thru sometimes difficult weather conditions.

Meanwhile my R3 has shared about 45,000 km with me and I don't want to miss it. Also, last autumn, when I had the crash with a car hitting me, the protections all where just at the right places.

So, Aerostich does not know, how to make it look cool, but they know how to make it function, at least for me.
Cool leather jacket versus Roadcrafter R3: