Wet hands can make a motorcycle ride not only uncomfortable but also dangerous. Aerostich’s Triple Digit Rain Glove Covers will keep your hands dry even in heavy rain.
They’re made of three layers of breathable and waterproof ripstop nylon and pack down small so you can always have them handy when needed. These gauntlets slide on over crash-protective gloves, and an elastic drawcord with a tethered cordlock keeps them in place.
The gloves also have Scotchlite reflective strips for hand signaling and a left thumb visor squeegee.
The Aerostich Triple Digit Rain Glove Covers are available in sizes M-XL in Black or Orange for $57 at the Aerostich website.
The ST and ST Air feature an external ankle brace system, a nylon inner sole with a removable arch support pad, a cam-lock buckle system for easy entry and boot removal, nylon scuff pads on the toe, closable air vents, a DuPont polymer toe shift pad, and a Technomicro base material.
The ST Air includes a replaceable shin deflector plate and additional Technomicro material on the outside for maximum airflow.
All bolt-on parts are replaceable, and both boots are available for $374.99.
There’s nothing quite like a good-looking leather motorcycle jacket that suits both the rider and their bike. I’m an everyday motorcyclist who owns a 2012 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic, and I live in Florida, where it’s often hot and humid but can get downright chilly in the winter (no, really).
The Joe Rocket Dakota jacket is made of 1.0-1.2mm cowhide with stylish stripes on the shoulders and a relaxed cut. I’m 5-foot-11, 275 lb on a good day, and very wide across the chest (and just about everywhere else). The 3XL Dakota fits me perfectly. I’d go so far as to say the jacket looks so good that it even makes me look good, but I should probably get a second opinion on that.
The Dakota is comfortable to wear both on and off the bike, and it has inside storage pockets and three exterior pockets, so there are more places to stash stuff than I’ve got stuff to stash. The reflective trim on the shoulders isn’t noticeable during the day, but it really pops at night.
I have big hands, and the large brass YKK zipper up front works every time. The smaller zippers elsewhere are a little trickier to use, but that’s more the fault of my Shrek-like fingers than their functionality.
The jacket has pockets for optional shoulder, elbow, and back armor. A full set of CE Level 1 from Joe Rocket costs $54.99. There’s a removable, full-sleeved quilted liner that’s really handy, and even with the armor and liner in the jacket, I don’t feel like the Michelin Man.
Leather jackets like the Dakota with no vents or perforations don’t allow for any airflow, so that’s a drawback. Still, even though I’m a big guy and the Dakota is like a leather exoskeleton, I was surprised at how well it manages heat. Part of it may be attributable to my particular bike. Thanks to its fists-in-the-air apehangers, with the cuffs unzipped I get a nice blast of air right up the sleeve when cruising down the road. Your results may vary.
On the other side of the thermometer, with the quilted liner in, the Dakota does well when it gets cold. I woke up Christmas Eve morning and saw ice in my fountain outside. There was a rare frosty breeze, and as any dedicated biker would do, I geared up and went out for a ride. My hands got a little numb (Hey, Mr. EIC, how ’bout a pair of full-fingered gloves?), and my knees were chilly, so I kept ’em close to the engine. But my core was warm, even at 80 mph. The mandarin-style collar, storm flap under the main zipper, zippered cuffs, and adjustable waist kept the wind out. And local law enforcement was kind enough to ignore me when I sped by (Merry Christmas to me!).
I love this jacket, and I think you will too. Available in S-3XL for $324.99.
The Renegade Canvas Motorcycle Jacket from Gryphon features a lightweight (8.5 oz) 100% cotton canvas outer shell fully lined with abrasion-resistant mesh for overall rugged construction designed for everyday wear.
Plenty of storage is available with the Renegade jacket, including two front external side pockets, hand-warmer pockets, and two front chest pockets. Safety features include removable CE Level 2 elbow, shoulder, and back protection and 3M Scotchlite reflective safety elements.
The collared neck comes with hidden snaps to hold the collar in place, and two connecting belt loops keep the jacket securely in position.
Available in men’s and women’s sizes starting at $229.95 at the Gryphon website.
Zerofit baselayers (shown here in the black style) won’t give you six-pack abs, but they’re warm and comfortable. (Photo by Kevin Wing)
Motorcyclists who enjoy spending all day in the saddle understand the value and flexibility of layering. Each layer of clothing traps insulating air molecules, so several thinner layers such as the Zerofit HeatRub baselayers typically keep you warmer than one bulky layer. And as temperatures change throughout the day, layers can be added or removed as needed.
The Zerofit unique lineup of thermal baselayers called HeatRub come in two versions: Ultimate and Move. Inside the HeatRub Ultimate baselayers are extra-long fibers that gently rub against the skin to create frictional heat, which gets trapped in the tiny spaces around those fibers. The fibers are very soft, similar to cashmere or alpaca.
HeatRub Ultimate baselayers, which are available in a long-sleeved top and leggings, are made of a four-way stretch fabric blend of acrylic (69%), nylon (21%), wool (7%), polyester (2%), and polyurethane (2%). According to Zerofit, HeatRub Ulimate baselayers have a CLO rating – a measure of a garment’s thermal insulation – of 0.74. A thick sweater has a CLO of 0.35, so the Ultimate baselayers are said to be twice as warm as a sweater and five times warmer than a standard baselayer.
Zerofit HeatRub Ultimate baselayer in grey
Zerofit HeatRub Ultimate baselayer in olive green
Those of us who live in America’s Sun Belt are blessed with climates that allow us to ride motorcycles year-round, but it can get quite chilly riding in the late fall, winter, and early spring months, which can lead to fatigue, loss of concentration, and in extreme circumstances, hypothermia. Recently I rode about 75 miles to a photoshoot location, and for the better part of an hour, the bike’s ambient temperature gauge hovered around 50 F. At 70 mph, wind chill was 38 F. With the HeatRub Ultimate mock-neck long-sleeved top and leggings under my riding gear, my torso and limbs stayed warm and comfortable. The important thing is to wear a wind-blocking layer over the baselayers so that airflow doesn’t draw body heat out of the garments.
Zerofit HeatRub Ultimate baselayer in red
Zerofit HeatRub Ultimate baselayer in navy blue
The HeatRub Move is a lighter baselayer for milder days or activities such as dual-sport riding on trails. It’s noticeably thinner than the Ultimate, and its interior has the feel of ultra-soft fleece. Available only in a long-sleeved top, the Move is made of a proprietary “LABO” four-way stretch fabric that’s 45% polypropylene, which has good heat-retention and moisture-wicking properties, 50% polyester, and 5% polyurethane. Dual-layer construction helps manage body heat, and form-fitting compression supports circulation. By virtue of its lighter weight, the HeatRub Move is ideal for cool temps any time of year, such as riding at high elevations in the summer.
Zerofit’s HeatRub baselayers are comfortable and effective. They can be laundered in a washing machine, and they dry quickly in a tumble cycle or when hung up.
The Zerofit HeatRub Ultimate mock-neck long-sleeved top comes in sizes XS-3XL in Red, Black, Grey, Navy Blue, Cream, or Olive Green for $99, and the leggings are available in sizes XS-2XL in Black for $99. The HeatRub Move mock-neck long-sleeved top is available in sizes XS-2XL in Black, Titanium, or White for $76. Both versions can be purchased on the Zerofit website.
