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I'm looking to buy a jacket and pants that I can easily wear over business clothes during all weather (very warm, very cold, rainy, etc.). I'm planning on riding all winter (except for slick times), but want the gear to also work in warm weather.

I've not really found much locally, but I've been looking online at the Tour Master Transition Jacket and a FirstGear Bouncer Waterproof Jacket. It looks like I'd have to wear something else like a sweater under the latter, but it has all kinds of vents that I can open in the summer.

Does anyone have any suggestions or comments about those jackets or others? Also, should I look for something where I can zip the jacket to the pants?

Thanks!

Branton

edit: I forgot to mention that the most important thing is protection for falls and sliding. So, if it doesn't have strong material and pads, I'm not going to get it.

Joe Rocket Alter Ego, or Super Ego gear. All season jacket and pants...

Tour Master also makes a mesh jacket that has 2 additional layers. One for wind/rain and one for warmth. Even without the add-ins though it's kind of heavy.

Easiest solution: Aerostich Roadcrafter.

I wear mine to work every day I ride. Fits over street clothes, allows layers under the suit, has vents and has lots of armor for your body. It's been the commuter and tourer's weapon of choice for a few decades now, for good reason.

Here is my gear:

Jacket

Pants

This is the best all-around gear I found. It's made of leather/kevlar with CE armour, so protection is excellent. Goes over regular clothes easily. Very good airflow (notice the perforations and shoulder scoops) -- not as good as textile mesh, but much better protection. Has insulated liner for cold weather. I don't ride in the rain, but you can get rain gear to put on top of it. http://www.newenough.com/browse/raingear/

Unfortunately, every manufacturer has its own "standard" zipper for connecting jacket & pants, so you will have to attach one yourself. Not a big deal though.

Whatever gear you choose, remember these tips:

- stay away from anything that says "waterproof" unless the waterproof layer is detachable. waterproof = not breathable = you will melt in hot weather.

- airflow is crucial. You need actual perforations/mesh. Vents alone are almost useless. Trust me -- I live in south california.

- in terms of protection, leather > kevlar > nylon > polyester mesh.

- don't forget about armour -- make sure the gear has elbow, shoulder, spine, and knee protectors.

hope this helps.

Thanks all for the suggestions so far. I think I might be in debt a little longer than I was thinking, though

Just from the looks so far, I think what ninja79 suggested looks the most appealing. It looks like both of your recommendations are great for warm weather, but how about cold? What's the coldest you've been in?

Neckband, sweater and insulated gloves should be enough. For extreme cold you can get electric vest, but I don't ride in that kind of weather.

bluecamel wrote:Thanks all for the suggestions so far. I think I might be in debt a little longer than I was thinking, though

Just from the looks so far, I think what ninja79 suggested looks the most appealing. It looks like both of your recommendations are great for warm weather, but how about cold? What's the coldest you've been in?

One of the biggest advantages of the Roadcrafter over a separate jacket and pants combination is you can literally zip into the Roadcrafter in 10 seconds or less. It's absolutely perfect for commuting. Since it hardly takes any time to zip into it, chances are much better you'll actually wear the thing instead of opting to go with just a jacket instead of jacket and pants.

Back on track, the Roadcrafter works very well for cold because you can layer up underneath it. Throw on a nice thick non-cotton long sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt and you're ready to face anything north of 30 degrees Fahrenheit or so. The coldest I've used it in is probably 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure to keep your neck warm, too!

Well, I'm dumb. I discounted the one piece suits instantly because I thought they would be a pain to get on over clothes. Also, they're a bit pricey, but I might be able to swing it in a couple weeks. I wish there was somewhere around here that sold that stuff, and maybe there is and I just don't know about it.

The cold weather stuff is pretty important to me, as my bike, my scooter, and bicycle (yay for pedal power!!) are my only transportation around town.

Aerostich has superb customer service. They'll keep working with you until your suit fits correctly.

Another possibility to look into is Olympia's Phantom suit. It's a one-piece that gets great reviews. However, everyone says it's slower to get in and out of than the Roadcrafter. On the other hand, it's also quite a bit less money and you might be able to find one locally.