Rainwear is rated by manufacturers as waterproof, water-repellent or waterproof. What many do not know: The first two attributes do not offer 100% protection against rain – they only mean that the clothing protects against moisture for a short period of time. If you want to stay dry in the long term, you should pay attention to the “waterproof” designation. In addition, the water column provides information about how long rainwear does not let moisture through. The so-called water resistance is measured in millimeters: the material is waterproof from a value of 1300. The higher the value, the better the protection against moisture. Here, however, the question arises: Is ordinary rainwear also recommended for motorcyclists?
Motorcyclists are exposed to stronger forces during a shower than a pedestrian or cyclist. For this reason, it is not only waterproofness that plays a decisive role when buying suitable rainwear: The material should be waterproof on one side so that the one-piece suit does not let moisture through, even in heavy rain over long distances. On the other hand, it is also important that zippers and Velcro fasteners are covered with fabric – as the seams are often a weak point and can let moisture through. Another criterion is the material: good motorcycle rain suits are made of polyamide, polyester or polyurethane. Low-priced models are usually made of PVC.
A motorcycle rain suit is available as a one-piece suit, but it can also consist of two individual parts – i.e. a windproof and waterproof jacket and waterproof trousers. In addition, there are non-slip shoe covers (low and high) with reflectors especially for bikers. One or the other manufacturer offers a complete motorcycle rain set consisting of four parts: a rain jacket, rain pants, glove and boot covers. And of course there are also waterproof rain jackets for motorcyclists (in sizes S to XXL), which can be easily pulled over normal biker clothing in the event of a rain shower.
If you want to wear a motorcycle rain suit over your normal biker clothing, it is advisable to choose at least one size larger. This makes sense above all if the motorcycle jacket and trousers are already thicker. Other points to look out for in a rain suit are these:
Reflectors As with regular motorcycle clothing, high visibility in traffic is extremely important – especially on rainy days. Therefore, when buying a rain suit, always make sure that the one- or two-piece suit is equipped with sufficient reflectors.
Impregnation protection Waterproof rainwear for motorcyclists has an impregnation protection, but this can wear off after frequent wear (approx. 15 times). To ensure that no moisture penetrates through the material afterwards, we recommend treating the items regularly with a waterproofing spray.
This article contains so-called affiliate links. Further information are available here.
