Best Waterproof & All Weather Motorcycle Gear
For the committed rider, motorbike riding is not only a fair-weather pursuit. With winter around the corner, it's a good time to think about buying motorcycle gear to help you stay warm and dry on your bike. There's nothing worse than suffering from wind chill or water seeping in on your daily commute, or even worse on a longer ride.
Ultimate Waterproof Motorcycle Gear.
Belstaff Trailmaster Pro
With their cool vintage stylings, Belstaff is the ultimate British brand. They've been specialising in waterproof motorcycle gear since the 1920s, and the Trailmaster Pro jacket uses a hefty 12 oz waxed cotton to achieve the old school look.
The collar and cuffs are cotton and corduroy, while the lining is a cotton check. These provide genuine comfort while adding to the classic British feel of the clothing. There is enough room to accommodate the cosy Lambfell Gilet, ensuring you will be able to keep warm while riding your motorbike right through the winter.
Another stand-out feature of this Belstaff motorbike jacket is the profusion of pockets. The four pockets all have waterproof flaps and easily open and close with press studs. Cleverly enough, the top left breast pocket is slightly angled to allow easy access to your map while out on the road. Trouser-wise, the best match for a man would be the Belstaff Fender pants. They are robust and comfortable, crafted from a soft calfskin. They provide CE compliant level 1 hip and knee protection. In the autumn and winter months, zip up the jacket attachment at the back to ensure a snug and warm ride.
Ladies might prefer the slinky Rider trousers. They have a trendy close fit which looks great on the road. Their reinforced zips at the ankles and pockets offer further comfort and style.
Overall, the Belstaff Trailmaster pro motorcycle jacket with a pair of Belstaff trousers makes the perfect commuter outfit. They have a classy, understated urban look and all those waterproof pockets make them very practical for navigating city streets.
Cost: £1,100
Rukka—Exegal
Finnish brand Rukka has been making sports clothes for over half a century, and the hallmark of their brand is rigorous quality testing of the materials and finished products. Being from Finland, you can also expect that their biker jackets will be suitable for extremes in temperature. This makes Rukka an excellent choice for autumn and winter motorbike riding.
The Exegal is made from a Gore-Tex Pro 3-layer laminated fabric which is waterproof and windproof, as well as abrasion and tear-resistant. It's worth remembering that abrasions and tears can sometimes cause waterproof jackets to lose their waterproofing, so this is a real benefit.
The arms and shoulders are also armoured with specially designed high-tech fabric composed of a mix of Kevlar, Cordura and Gore-Tex.
In changeable autumn weather, it's a good idea to deploy layers of clothing. Rukka Exegal has velcro straps at the waist to allow you to quickly alter the size, depending on how many layers you have on underneath.
Versatility is an essential strength of Rukka's motorcycle clothing range. The shoulder detail of the Exegal jacket comes in a variety of colours for you to choose from; black, white, green and yellow. These reflective strips will make you really stand out on the road on those long winter nights.
The detachable 60g Gore-Tex lining should be enough to stay warm on your daily commute. If you are planning longer touring adventures, you could invest in the Rukka down X jacket and pants. These are puffa-style undergarments designed for Scandinavian levels of cold.
The Rukka Air-Ya trousers make the perfect accompaniment to this waterproof motorcycle outfit. Again, the quality of the fabrics in this model really shines through. The seat area is made with anti glide Keprotec while the knees are reinforced with AFT Cordura.
Cost: £1,200
Alpine Stars – Andes V2 Drystar
The Italian brand Alpine Stars are synonymous with excellent high-performance racing suits. While they are best known for their professional leather motor-cross and racing products, they also make some very stylish waterproof bike gear. For the everyday user looking for a practical suit with a racing look, the Drystar range ticks all the boxes.
The Andes V2 Jacket is just such a jacket. It's made from the exclusive DRYSTAR® breathable waterproof material which makes it an excellent all-weather choice.
For those looking to ride in changeable autumn conditions, there is a very flexible ventilation system which works through pulling hidden cords. This allows various levels of ventilation to be accessed on the fly. There is also a removable insulated inner layer and extendable waist fasteners to allow you to add extra clothing underneath. All of this makes the Andes V2 Drystar motorbike jacket a wise year-round suit.
Unlike the sober colours of many motorbike jackets, the Andes V2 comes in a range of striking colours, including white and camouflage. They all boast reflective trims and logos, making these motorcycle clothes really stand out from the crowd.
The Alpine Stars Valparaiso 2 pants would complete the look. They have a pre-curved leg construction and accordion knee insert, making for a comfortable riding position which remains snug around the waist and ankles in cold weather.
If you are looking for a colorful sporty look with proper waterproofing and four-season versatility, then look no further.
Cost: £400
Fuel Discovery
Fuel is a recently formed company based in Barcelona. This brand has established itself very quickly on the motorcycle clothing scene, mainly due to its distinctive vintage stylings. Their retro jackets are perfect for urban commuters and those riding vintage bikes or even—dare we say—scooters.
The Discovery jacket is made from waterproof, high-grade wax cotton and the burgundy and dark green colour scheme is reminiscent of classic bike gear of the 30s. It boasts anti-rust brass buttons, and the collar is a soft corduroy, all of which complete the vintage feel.
It's not all about the looks, though. The Fuel Discovery has CE level 2 armour to protect elbows, back and shoulders and comes with a 125g lining to really take it down into freezing wintery temperatures.
The waxed canvas material is lightweight and very waterproof. The zips are also specially made to be waterproof, making this an excellent choice for inclement biking conditions. To complete the outfit, Fuel makes a pair of waxed stretch denim trousers with stylish suede trim called Fuel Sargeant Waxed Pants. Their stretchiness is a real asset, making them very comfortable on longer rides and fine to wear about town off-bike. They have an anti-abrasion coating which also keeps them waterproof, even on offroad adventures.
Cost: £700
Halvarssons - Luxor
Halvarssons are a Swedish-based company, so you can expect their motorbike clothing to perform exceptionally well in freezing weather, as well as hot. Yes, it can get sweltering in Sweden during the summer.
Halverssons recently re-launched their Luxor motorbike suit, which comes in black/grey or grey/black. The muted colours make it a stylish choice for adventurers or commuters. The bike suit is laminated, meaning that it is incredibly waterproof. The two independent layers make the waterproofing much more efficient than a typical membrane, and they allow for more comfortable ventilation.
The warm, detachable inner layer is made from Thinsulate and Outlast and is designed for Swedish winters. It is one of the warmest liners on the market, yet is not at all thick or cumbersome.
Unlike some adventure suits, the Halvarssons Luxor is surprisingly well-protected at the elbows and shoulders. It has level 2 armour reinforced with extra-strong Hi-Art material, which provides a 500% increase is protection at these crucial points.
The Lux trousers complete the outfit, and they are also Hi-Art reinforced, as well as being Teflon-coated.
For an adventure bike, the Luxor is protected enough to make it a great touring choice. In fact, with its muted colours and long-lasting waterproof material, we think it would make an excellent choice for bike couriers and other heavy bike users.
Cost: £900
We have all heard the saying, buy cheap, buy twice. This is never truer than when talking about quality motorcycling gear. If you are tired of getting cold and wet on your commute, or if you want to crunch the miles with total confidence, it may be time to shop around. Your all-weather motorcycle gear needs to reflect the type of riding you are doing.
The bottom line is that you will need to be looking around the £1,000 mark if you want to stay completely warm and waterproof this winter, which is why you might want to be sure your motorcycle insurance policy covers leathers—which you can also read more about in our article explaining what's covered by motorcycle insurance. The first step is to decide whether you will be going short or long distances. Consider whether you'll be in the city or out on adventures, and then shop around. The brands we have highlighted for you balance style with practicality.
Enjoy your winter riding!