Adventure Bike Rider Forum

Retirement looming and planning a September trip to the Pyrenees - trying to cover all bases on the clothing front whilst carrying the minimum so looking at various jackets/ suits [ yes - even Twat suits / suits you sir!]. Any way came across the Rev'it range which seem to offer a wide range looking good value but intrigued by the availability [ on some jackets] of the Challenger cooling vest insert which apparently you soak in water and then wring out - evaporation then keeps you cool.
Just wondering if any of you have any experience and / or words of wisdom either of said jacket or the trip - always willing to learn.

No experience but in theory you could do that with any clothes?

I am planning to be there at the same time and am very concerned about melting. My current biker gear combo of MX boots, knee and shin pads and kevlar jeans is too hot for UK weather!

cheaper way to do it is to get a buff, and soak that in cool water, wring it out and put it back round your neck. The cooling effect is right over your jugular. Ummm. Cool.

I do this every time I stop for a pee on hot days. Also merino t-shirt stays moist longer if you make that wet too.

I've got a similar jacket to the Rev'it one and I think it works well. The cooling effect lasts much longer than soaking your T-shirt.

Layering is they way to keep cool or warm

This year I have been wearing a Lidl base layer compression top and leggins.

Over that I have been wearing full body armour top and then a moto-x top and that's been enough (also wearing the Rev'it Sand trousers)

If it rains I put a cycling waterproof jacket over

If it's cooler I put another base layer on under the body armour

If it's been colder (negative temps and snow) I have put my normal jacket minus it's CE body armour over the full body armour(the jacket that's been rolled up and confined into a bag on the back seat most of the year)

I have felt safe and secure and at the right temperature for all conditions all year

Im with Fern on Buff idea Decathlon do a great light weight t shirt, it dry's out quickly too.

when I was in the states earlier this year most local bikers I spoke to strongly recommended cooling vests of one sort or another for riding in the desert heat. They are filled with some sort of crystal that absorbs 10x its weight/volume of water so stays wet for longer. I tried the wet buff thing but the nature of the fabric meant it was bone dry after about 15minutes in the desert, but was really good while it was wet. My wife though had bought a proper cooling neckerchief that stayed moist for most of the day and kept her a lot cooler than without it. On that basis I reckon a cooling vest would have been really effective. They even sell them for dogs in the US.

Or you buy a Klim badlands pro suit 43c last year and we managed (thumbs)

ive bought a rev it sand 2 jacket and trousers. nice vents on the front, back and on the sleeves...no over heating issues. the bluf is a good idea and easy to apply.

micky1 wrote:ive bought a rev it sand 2 jacket and trousers. nice vents on the front, back and on the sleeves...no over heating issues. the bluf is a good idea and easy to apply.

I've just bought the same and it should be reasonably cool as the waterproof loner also zips out.

With regards to the cooling vest, we were chatting with some American bikers in Arches NP in 2012 who swore by them. The vest was still cool after 8 hours.