Lets talk hot weather gear

[xcgates]

Usage:
I will be commuting, going to the store, going to church, going on trips, etc in whatever I get. Right now I have gear primarily oriented at northern NY, by which I mean the jacket fits best when wearing the liner, and a sweatshirt, and the jacket as a whole has a tendency to ride up and "choke" me if I have all the vents open and nothing underneath.

Current gear: TourMaster Pivot 2 jacket, matching pants, plus a pair of FirstGear mesh pants, don't know what model (wore all last summer, and absolutely love them).

My objective, aside from something that I will be able to wear during the summer in San Antonio, is to get a better fitting jacket. I have run across some suits that look mildly promising, and are only a little bit more than some of the jackets. I've always been interested in a one piece suit, as it seems it would be easiest for commuting, as I'd be able to take it off as soon as I park, and carry it in somewhere, reducing the number of things I have to carry. Point of interest, I will be in the Air Force, so I will be wearing this over my uniforms, ABU and blues. Also, by getting something else, I will have a full set of gear that someone could wear if they wanted to get a ride.

Nice features: A wind-blocking liner, possibly one that could be worn separately from the jacket.

Price range: Preferably under $200, more if I go with a suit.

Options that I have been looking at:

Mesh jacket:

Joe Rocket Recon Military Spec Mesh (~$160)
http://www.newenough.com/street/prot...le_jacket.html
What I like: It has a built in reflective vest to satisfy bases. No, I do not want to get something started about those regulations, and I think it would be very handy to have something with the vest built-int
What I don't like: It is Joe Rocket. Nothing really substantive, other than most of what I see out of them is "racer-boy flashy", I have a somewhat unfounded image in my mind of them being lower quality.

Joe Rocket Reactor 2 leather and mesh
http://www.newenough.com/street/prot...le_jacket.html
What I like: More durable due to the (perforated?) leather parts.
What I don't like: Same as the Mil Spec jacket above.

Fieldsheer Mach 7 mesh jacket with liner ($70)
http://www.motorcyclecloseouts.com/h...ket+with+liner
What I like: Cheap, heard good things about the brand
What I don't like:

Mesh 1-piece suit:

Olympia Stealth One ($300)
What I like: It is an affordable one piece suit from an established company. I really am quite tempted to go with this one. I'd wait until I can get to a shop that stocks them so I can try it on.
What I don't like:

Teizms Mojave ($290)
What I like: Price
What I don't like: I have heard mixed things about his shipping time and mixed reports about quality

Motoport ($1k+)
What I like: Kevlar, its my dream suit, won't be able to get it for a little while unless I use some loan money to get it. Which I may do.
What I don't like: Price, but that goes without saying.

[Manfred]

I bought the FieldSheer from Motorcycle Closeouts a year ago and find it to be a very good hot weather jacket. I upgraded from another mesh jacket that didn't have good protection. I am very satisfied with the FieldSheer jacket.

[Wolverine]

I have a First Gear mesh jacket that I really like and would like to get some mesh pants also. Right now I just wear jeans, not full on ATGATT. I'm not a big ATGATT freak and have been know to even wear shorts on the hottest days but would like some mesh pants because they look cool, and would offer a little more protection than daisy dukes. Is there somewhere in the Lone Star state that carries a good selection of gear? I will be passing through F.W. and S.A. in a couple of weeks and would like to pic up some new pants.

[NitroRoo]

We just dropped the price on the FirstGear Mesh Tex jacket even further (on closeout)

http://www.newenough.com/street/clos...le_jacket.html

It would zip to your FirstGear pants (if your pants have the connection zipper). I would advise you to try on a 1 piece suit before committing if you can. I thought the same thing as you - seems like it should be easier to get on and take off. I've tried on several and they were all harder to get on and off than a separate jacket and pants. Plus you can't just pull the jacket off at stops.

[ItchyBob]

For this year I bought the First gear Mesh Tex jacket and pants. Lots of mesh, but in double layers so you can't see through it. Which is a blessing for those of us that wear skivvies under them. They are terrific when moving, otherwise they are as warm as any others when stationary. They are lightweight . The fit is great since they aren't over-sized for removable liners, aside from the thin rain/wind guard that fits into the jacket. The pants have no liner and can be tucked into boot for that sporty look.

[dukey33]

Originally Posted by xcgates

Joe Rocket Reactor 2 leather and mesh
http://www.newenough.com/street/prot...le_jacket.html
What I like: More durable due to the (perforated?) leather parts.
What I don't like: Same as the Mil Spec jacket above.

I had the original JR Reactor jacket. Used it for 7+ years including daily commuting here in the swamp/sauna. I have to think hard to identify anything I didn't like about it. About the only thing that didn't work well was the little Velcro tab on the collar, but being a summer jacket it didn't really matter if the collar didn't close.

Over time, the black mesh material faded to a shade of purple. The perforated leather probably didn't vent as well as full mesh, but it does hold up better. It helps make the jacket a bit more than 'single-use' as is typical for most textile gear. I upgraded the elbow armor to CE-rated since my version of the jacket did not have any additional elbow padding (looks like the current version already has CE armor). I never crashed in it per se (did roll off the bike once) so I cannot attest to it's crash-worthiness.

[wildebube]

Originally Posted by Wolverine

Is there somewhere in the Lone Star state that carries a good selection of gear? I will be passing through F.W. and S.A. in a couple of weeks and would like to pic up some new pants.

If you're looking for an actual brick and mortar store where you can look, feel, and try on before you buy, I can't say enough good stuff about Moto Liberty. The original store is in northwest Dallas and now they have one in San Antonio as well. Good people.

[bigjnsa]

If you plan on riding during the summer months, I would suggest you also take a look at water evaporation vests.

[gixxerjasen]

I commuted several summers with a full leather unperf'd jacket. My first summer with a mesh jacket was wonderful! For daily riding and commuting I'd recommend that, but when I go out and tear it up, I will still usually wear my leather.

Talk to NitroRoo who posted above. Besides working for one of the better motorcycle clothing outfitters, he's ridden his motorcycle in both Florida and Texas. So he's got his knowledge of gear and riding in the heat.

Or just wait till you get to SA and do like said above and stop into MotoLiberty here and ask for Nathan. He'll get you taken care of and has ridden the Texas weather for some time as well.

[nchristie]

Moto Liberty - in Dallas AND San Antonio - stocks lots of stuff, including the Olympia Stealth. Good prices, too. Say hi to Nathan.

[DFW_Warrior]

If you do go to Moto Liberty, ask them if you can try out their phase change cooling vest. They are pricey, but I promise you they are worth it. I just bought one a few weeks ago and it's going to be awesome for this summer.

[NathanH]

I strongly recommend taking a real close look at the Olympia Stealth. It's already on your list, and it deserves to be there. Among other things, you can get the Pewter/Neon color and be base-guard approved. And in one piece suits, it is really the ONLY one I've found that is truly South Texas summer capable. Lots of suits say they have ventillation for warm weather. BAH! This is TX dangnabit! If it hasn't cracked 90 by noon, it's WINTER! (not really, but you get the idea) The only thing the Stealth doesn't offer is a liner option. But that's easily worked around with liners from other moto garments, other non-moto weather gear, and/or basic layering. And anything that manages to do wet/cold well enough to really be functional will almost certainly fall FAR FAR FAR short of the Stealth's ability to do hot. Two pieces - lots of options...

[gixxerjasen]

Psssst. That ^ is the aforementioned "Nathan" from MotoLiberty.

[ed29]

Originally Posted by NitroRoo

We just dropped the price on the FirstGear Mesh Tex jacket even further (on closeout)

http://www.newenough.com/street/clos...le_jacket.html

I started to think I bought this two weeks too early, but I see that you sold out of the day glow, so I guess I bought just in time!

So far so good although the shoulder armor seems to move around when I don the jacket. I just have to reposition them before I zip up, then they stay put.

[bigjnsa]

Originally Posted by NathanH

I strongly recommend taking a real close look at the Olympia Stealth. It's already on your list, and it deserves to be there. Among other things, you can get the Pewter/Neon color and be base-guard approved. And in one piece suits, it is really the ONLY one I've found that is truly South Texas summer capable. Lots of suits say they have ventillation for warm weather. BAH! This is TX dangnabit! If it hasn't cracked 90 by noon, it's WINTER! (not really, but you get the idea) The only thing the Stealth doesn't offer is a liner option. But that's easily worked around with liners from other moto garments, other non-moto weather gear, and/or basic layering. And anything that manages to do wet/cold well enough to really be functional will almost certainly fall FAR FAR FAR short of the Stealth's ability to do hot. Two pieces - lots of options...

Nathan, whats your price for the Olympia Stealth? I'm interested in a riding suit. I'm tired of seating my *** off under my rain gear.

[Wolverine]

Nathan, where are you guys located in San Antonio? I'm riding down from the great white north in two weeks and would like to do some shopping.

[erda]

Originally Posted by Wolverine

I'm riding down from the great white north in two weeks and would like to do some shopping.

Michigan DOES NOT qualifiy as The Great White North

[The Big Spank Daddy]

Seems most mesh jackets are okay. However, my key for hot humid weather is Under Armor. A lot of people say they have used the cheaper Wal-Mart stuff or stuff from Nike and other brands and that they work just as well. I personal find that the Under Armor Heat Gear is by far the best. For really hot days it is noticably thinner. I have several brands and again the Under Armor works the best IMHO.

When I was commuting I would put my work shirt in my tail pack or tank bag and change it when I got to where I was going. I personally like the tight fitting style but they also have loose fitting heat gear.

For trips and SMRs I would wear both the shirt and pants. What I like best about wearing Under Armor is that my mesh gear slides over it and does not grab or bunch up when you get sweaty. This added benifit makes your gear much more comfortable.

[ceddec]

Originally Posted by erda

Michigan DOES NOT qualifiy as The Great White North

Around here anything North of Dallas qualifies. Michigan is next to Antarctica.

[Wolverine]

Originally Posted by erda

Michigan DOES NOT qualifiy as The Great White North

We got over one hundred inches of snow the previous two winters. If not white, what then?