#Waterproof

Stifling heat in Death Valley. Biting cold in Michigan winters. Hail and snow in the Mojave. Flattening winds in the Texas panhandle. You name it, we’ve ridden through it. Oh yes, include in the list a drenching cyclone in New Zealand. In that one, veritable buckets of rain per minute descended on our group like heaven’s own turbocharged water wastegate, driving us into the nearest general store, looking for new gear to wear. (All we found were wool mittens.)

Updated 8/30/2022: Our initial negative review of the Sedici Garda Waterproof Boots in January prompted a response from the manufacturer, Comoto, and led to several in-depth conversations about the boots. After an examination of our test boots (which we returned) and several others on hand at their facilities, the designers at Comoto determined that there was an issue which allowed for too large a gap through which the adjustable strap slid.

Am I dating myself with my choice of footwear? So be it. My old Frye engineer boots served me well for more years than I should admit, but they’re done now. Actually I could probably have them resoled and ride in them off into the sunset, but it’s my job to review new stuff too, so how about these TCX Fuel WP boots? The Fryes aren’t really even motorcycle boots anyway, but that never stops us fashion hounds. Like I said in my 20-year old review of those puppies, you think of engineer boots on cruiser riders, but I’ve never had any problems wearing them on all kinds of motorcycles.

By now, regular readers of Motorcycle.com should be familiar with Racer Gloves. All four MO editorial staffers have tested gloves manufactured by the Austrian manufacturer. If you take a look at any of our seven previous reviews, you’ll find a common theme: Racer Gloves feel like they are broken in from the first moment you put a pair on your hands. The Racer Multitop Short Gloves I’m reviewing here are no different. 

I am quite fond of my Dainese Torque 3 Out Air Boots, and they have been my three-season boots here in warm, dry SoCal for years. Unfortunately, the exceptional venting means they are not waterproof. When I started planning my Ducati Multistrada 4S tour in Virginia and North Carolina, I learned that, on average, there is a 30% chance of rain during the week I would be there. That’s before the current weather patterns were considered. So, I figured I better be prepared for all eventualities. What I settled on were the Dainese Axial Gore-Tex Boots. They offered the two features I was most concerned about (other than excellent protection) on this trip: venting for hot weather and waterproofing for April showers.

Updated March, 2021

Updated March 2021 

We’ve all been there. The forecast was “possibility of scattered showers,” but the horizon is a gray freight train of wetness, it’s getting dark, and you have 300 miles left to ride. Now’s not the time to realize you’re gonna need some waterproof motorcycle gloves; yesterday was.

The Swiss are known for many things: chocolate, watches, multi-purpose pocket knives. However, you may not know there’s a Swiss company with their own equally storied tradition of making stylish, high-quality motorcycle wear: iXS.

While there’s something to be said about the convenience and cost-effectiveness of being able to toss a set of soft luggage on your motorcycle when you need it, the time comes when you realize that what you really need is a set of hard bags. Since they are bolted or locked to your motorcycle, they are significantly more secure from theft. Then there’s the weatherproofness that can’t be matched by soft luggage. If you’ve done any extensive touring on your motorcycle, you’ve most likely encountered the disappointment of opening your soft luggage to find that you didn’t have it securely closed before that last rain storm, and now, you’ve got to find a laundromat to dry all your clothes.

Spidi 4Season H2Out Suit Review

The rainy season is underway in Southern California, home of the expansive MO Testing Center, and we have naturally turned our attention to seasonally appropriate riding gear. Today’s selection is a pair of Alpinestars Supertouring Gore-Tex Boots. These premium touring boots have all the features you’d want when you don’t know what kind of weather you’re going to encounter on an extended tour.

As part of my job, I wear tons of motorcycle boots both on bikes and walking around at events or on daylong photo shoots. These Rev’It Regent H2O are the first boots in my 20 years of testing gear that have made the transition to becoming part of my everyday streetwear – boots that I choose to put on even when I’m not planning on riding.

When it comes to one-piece riding suits for the streets, Aerostich has been the benchmark others have strived to equal. Anecdotally speaking, I see more Aerostich suits on the road than I do any other brand. Ironically, I never quite meshed with the ‘Stich suit I had in the past as it restricted my leg movement while riding. Shame, since I really wanted to like the suit as the concept behind it is solid.

Two kinds of folks ride motorcycles: Those who ride year round and those who lock their bikes away during the cold months. Winter is a tough time of year for even the hardiest of riders to enjoy riding motorcycles. First, its pretty dang cold. And when the temperature really drops, roads can get icy. While there’s not much that can be done for the latter other than wait for the roads to de-ice, the former can be helped by wearing riding gear designed specifically for the conditions.