My Current Riding Gear
Tis' the season, nearly all the snow is melted and it is time to take the trickle charger off of the battery and roll the bikes out of the shed.
To prepare for this season of riding, I have been taking my riding gear out, seeing what needs to be replaced, and re-weatherproofing my jacket and pants, so I thought it would be quite fitting to do a write-up on what I currently have.
Helmet:
Over my past 12 years of riding, I have tried a various amount of brands, all of which varied in prices. The first "premium" piece of riding gear that I bought was my "new" helmet. I currently have a Klim Krios, I purchased this helmet a few years back and it has been the best helmet I have owned. It fits my head shape perfectly and it was shockingly light in comparison to the HJC helmet I previously had. The main selling points for me was the ECE rating, the weight, coming it at under 1500g, and the fact it came with 2 shields was a HUGE selling factor for me. Not to mention Klim's rock solid warranty and customer service.
Jacket:
I'm 6 foot 5 and around 200 pounds. I really struggle to find clothing that fits me well, let alone riding gear. I was shocked to find that the Alpinestars Venture XT jacket fit me perfectly with plenty of length in the arms and in the torso. Fitment was the first thing that I was looking for on my hunt for a new jacket, but I was pleasantly surprised to find all of the ventilation that this jacket offered; the entire front zipper opens up to allow for a ventilation flap which lets air flow right through the front to the rear vents on the back of the jacket. The arms also offer a large amount of airflow, with zippers that go down the entire length of the arms, allowing for a large amount of airflow. Ventilation with CE level A for an affordable price made this a no-brainer to buy.
The true test for this jacket was my four week motorcycle trip up through Alaska. I purchased this jacket right before my departure and I was quite pleased with it's performance. It was warm enough in +13 but once it got colder, I did find myself needing to layer up underneath, while the other's I was riding with, whom had much more expensive jackets were still plenty warm when it dropped below 10 degrees.
The main downfall with this jacket is the weatherproofing. With so much ventilation and with the arms having a large zipper running down them, the waterproofing is not great. When the rain started to fall, I would have to stop and put my rain gear on.
Rain Gear:
Once again, in preparation for my last big trip, I picked up a new piece of gear, the SCOTT Ergonomic Pro DP Rain Jacket. I had already owned the matching pants, so I thought I might as well get the full set. There really isn't much to say about this piece, it fits over my riding jacket, and it kept me dry and warm.
Gloves:
I received the Rev'it Sand 5 gloves as a gift and they have been one of the best presents I have gotten. These are some of the most comfortable gloves I have worn. Once again I would often struggle to find gloves that fit due to my long fingers and large hands. There really isn't much to say about these, they fit great, and offer enough protection for the riding that I usually do.
Pants:
The Klim Swtichback pant. Another one of my favorite pieces of gear. I appreciate how Klim offers sizes with longer inseams, has decent enough ventilation, especially for the weather that Canada usually has in the riding season. the D3O protection is a nice added bonus. These pants feel like a normal pair of cargo pants and they look the part as well. I don't feel out of place when I ride into work, or to the local coffee shop with my friends.
Boots:
When I am riding trails, I wear my motocross boots, I currently own an older pair of the Alpinestars Tech 3 Boots. When I am casually riding around, I am usually wearing my Blundstones, or my Iron Rangers in hopes that they have a bit more protection than an old pair of sneakers.