Since its been raining cat and snakes out in this corner of VA, I had no choice but to re-examine my choices of rain apparel.  I was using a leather jacket($200 from amazon), coleman rain pants(5 bucks walmart)...

http://www.coleman.com/product/lightweight-pvc-rain-suit/COLE9653?contextCategory=16022#.T2__UdXd2So

and my regular riding gloves and for shoes I was using and older pair of EMS duty boots that are waterproof and in good shape.

this set up has worked great for little showers here and there, however it has been pouring rain the past few days and the flaws of my set up were made evident.

we will start from the bottom, the shoes.

while my duty boots are waterproof up to the laces they are not drip proof from my rain pants. water ran down my leg and into the side zipper of the boots causing them to fill.

next is the pants, and I will keep them on the bike in my tank bag for little trips but for commutes and long hauls I need something else. I found that the seat and the knees let water in, I am guessing do to the fabric being stretched at those locations. But only in down pours, when light showers they do great...

next is the jacket, dont assume leather is waterproof or even resistant, its not. there is a difference between fashion motorcycle jackets and waterproof motorcycle jackets....Dont be an idiot like me....buy waterproof items.

as for the gloves the gloves....see above....hands were wet, cold, and purple from the leather dye...

so I focused on improving my set up,  I purchased a Joe Rocket mesh phoenix 5.0

http://www.joerocket.com/catalog/index.cfm/236/103/Textile_Jackets/Phoenix_5.0_%5Bmesh%5D


...which seems counter intuitive but it works...with the removable liner, i can where the mesh cover on every ride and keep the liner with my rain pants....its a good multi-use jacket...

I looked around the idiot-net for some waterproof boots that I could wear on the bike and work.....not much out there...and I saw some overshoes....Than I remembered in my winter pack in my jeep I keep Neos over shoes, like this one...

http://www.overshoe.com/Pages/Product.aspx?category=Non-Insulated&cat=HLS-OVERSHOE&pid=VIS1

They work great! they went on easily over my work boots and dry after a 40 minute heavy rain commute. 

I have not found pants...that may be the next purchase....

no gloves yet either....I have not seen to many options other than rubber garden gloves or winter gloves.

I hope this helps any of you that ride in any kind of weather, and if any one has suggestions please feel free to share...thanks


have fun, be safe...

For gloves, you need something like this:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/41/22502/ITEM/Fieldsheer-Overgloves-2-0.aspx

My winter gloves have something like that build-in for the especially cold or rainy days, but as you can see you can buy it separately as well. Unfortunately they only come in that terrible pattern. Touratech makes a more expensive version in black.

For pants, I think Froggtoggs are the go-to brand. Next step up would be some proper marine pants from WestMarine or something like that.
http://www.froggtoggs.com/#outerwear/motorcycle/NTH85105/

Quote from: Bluesmudge on March 26, 2012, 11:44:55 AM
For gloves, you need something like this:
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/1/41/22502/ITEM/Fieldsheer-Overgloves-2-0.aspx

i saw those, i have to get how ugly they are before i could by them....

thanks for the input...

My everyday gear (Ixon jacket/RJay pants) is good for light showers but anything heavier then that and a I put on a 1 peice Motodry suit over the top.  Never been wet despite riding in some significant rain.

Frogg Togg's Road Toads.

-Jessie