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Last Sunday when I took Fran's Street Twin to Savannah I was caught in one of those southeast showers that only last 3 minutes but causes flash flooding. As the plan was to ride for just 2 hours, I left the house most unprepared for those kind of weather conditions. Although ATGATT, nothing I was wearing was waterproof.
My kit tail bag was dry and comfy attached to my CB, which was back in my garage and in the tail bag were my mesh jacket's waterproof liner and my Frogg Toggs pants. Not that any of those would've done me much good as the downpour, although pretty violent, was very brief. In a couple of minutes my Draggin jeans were soaked and triple their weight. As I rode on in search of an exit off of I-95, I was thinking that maybe for those trips into the unknown I should get a pair of waterproof riding pants.
That was a lot of typing to ask a couple questions about pants...
What's your experience with waterproof riding pants? Have you found the magical combination of waterproof and not oven hot? What do you have? Do tell...
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Nemo,
IMHO, the Aerostich AD-1 pants fit the bill nicely. But in FL, you might consider the "light" version.
Up here in the PNW, I wear the AD-1 pants over shorts in the summer. Rode in some rain today. Not a drop got in.
Just looked at the Aerostich website. I might get a pair of their new "Utility" pants. Great for days when I'm not getting in/out of the pants.
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Thank you Oly. Will look at them.
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Hey Nemo, same thing happened to me yesterday returning from a trip to Tallahassee. Got caught in a "frog strangler" west of Quitman, left my rain gear at home thinking I wouldn't need it. Got home about 9PM and dried out by then.
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Nemo, I rarely take a long ride without my rain gear packed. However, I have made calculated decisions to leave the gear at home only to find my calculations umm lacking.
I wear Olympia's mesh riding pants on most rides. If it's hot, I find that wearing them over gym shorts is more comfortable than riding in jeans. When I have been caught with my rain pants off, I get wet of course, but the mesh pants dry out quicker than jeans.
Olyrider's Aeristitch suggestion is probably a great one, too. I have heard good things about that utility pant. Good luck.
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Emptysea, I have thought about the mesh pants for going back and forth to work. Do the sizes run larger to fit over shorts?
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Here in the southern steam bath I usually wear a pair of shorts under some armored mesh pants. I'm willing to get wet in a summer shower. On really hot days I skip the shorts. Mesh pants also have a rain liner that works quite well, leave that in except for July & August. I believe they are Olympic brand, I'm pleased with them. Sized to fit over street clothes if I choose.
Cooler weather I wear Gerbings armored heated pants, great quality. Some minor vents, truly three season pants.
They are headquartered in Greensboro NC and sell on a walk in basis to public at 60% off retail.
Friends with Aerostich say they will never buy anything else.
Motorcycle gear dot com has some interesting close outs.
I usually wear my Dragging jeans over some Bohn armour pants while cruising the mountain roads, good for cooler weather and rough roads. They absorb like a sponge.
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I have a pair of Dainese D-dry pants that I like, though I basically bought them because I wanted something that would zip into an existing jacket. They don't turn your legs into a bog, and in fact actually feel a bit cooler than my Kevlar jeans on super hot days.
I see lots of guys just buy cheap over pants and jackrts (mostly from Rev-it) and keep them in a tail bag. They're pretty small and from what I've heard they work quite well.
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(07-24-2016, 01:23 AM)SCCBrider_imp Wrote: Emptysea, I have thought about the mesh pants for going back and forth to work. Do the sizes run larger to fit over shorts?
The Olympia pants come with liners (which I rarely use for rain, but sometimes for cold). They are sized to fit over the liners and therefore fit over jeans. In fact, on real cold days, I have fleece longjohns and the liners in. Buy the size that fits your waist and you should have no problem with fitting shorts under them. I think their called "Airguide" or something.
or... just read 4Paws post above which I basically just repeated. LOL
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I've been reading more about the Aerostich "Utility Pant" that I previously mentioned. Decided they are a no-go for me. I like being able to remove the AD-1 pants, with my boots still on, by unzipping the sides. And I really find the thigh pockets on each leg quite useful.
So...in a warmer climate than the PNW, I would consider the AD-1 lights. But I do much prefer the AD-1 pants over my Darien pants.
