New Winter Riding Gear You Should Buy
It’s always a good idea to wear protective gear when you’re riding to keep you from getting stung by a fast-moving bug, hit by a pebble that’s been kicked up off the road, or to prevent road rash while in motion.
However, when the temperatures start to drop, adding layers of warmer clothes not only protects you from the unexpected, it keeps you nice and toasty so you can enjoy the ride and stay out longer without fear of hypothermia or frostbite.
Cycle Trader is taking a look at some of the newest gear you might want to add to your motorcycle holiday wish list if you’ll be out riding in the cold.
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Head
The good news is there are heated helmets. The bad news is they are made for snowmobiling, and those helmets are not approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for motorcycle riding.
When it comes to motorcycle helmets, it’s generally not a good idea to wear anything under them because it could interfere with a proper fit. However, riders regularly wear bandanas under helmets to absorb sweat, protect the inside lining of the helmet, and to keep your hair in place. The only problem is a bandana doesn’t provide a lot of extra warmth.
With the tight fit that motorcycle helmets provide, your head should stay pretty toasty in most riding conditions. If your helmet has adjustable vents, you can control the temperature inside it to best suit your needs. However, if you still get cold and need a little extra something on your head, many riders recommend a balaclava. This is a very lightweight “hood” that fits over your head and covers your neck. It can be tucked under the collar of your jacket to keep the cold air off your neck while you ride. The company Tough Headwear makes a variety of balaclava ski masks that are excellent for use under motorcycle helmets.
Hands
Even if you have a windscreen/fairing and heated grips, your hands can still get pretty cold when riding in chilly weather. The obvious solution is to switch out your lightweight, fingerless summer riding gloves for something more winter appropriate. Savoir Heat offers battery-operated, heated riding gloves for men and women that contain a far-infrared heating element that covers the entire back of the hand and fingers to warm your digits in seconds. They’re also water resistant, windproof, and breathable to keep your hands at the perfect temperature.
For a non-heated option, Kemimoto has rainproof riding gloves that keep your hands and fingers warm and dry. As a bonus, the tips of the thumb, forefinger, and middle finger are covered with conductive touchscreen leather, so you don’t need to take your gloves off while riding to operate any control panels.
Feet
If you already have riding boots you love but your feet get cold when you’re out on the road, you have several options to work with. To start, you could try the Qinux Heatfooty heated insoles that you can control through your smartphone—from a gentle warmth for indoor wear to a higher temperature while riding.
The socks you wear are also important. Doubling up on your socks or wearing thick, bulky socks to keep the heat in may make it difficult to get your boots on and your toes will ultimately pay the price. Instead, take a look at 7-Year Heavyweight Boot Socks from Duluth Trading Company. They’re soft, warm, and fight friction to not only wick away moisture, but repel blisters.
Body
Layering is important when riding in cold weather, but those additional layers might make it difficult to put on your normal leathers. If you don’t have coveralls already, the Firstgear Thermosuit 2.0 is one good option. So is the Men’s Survivor Touring Suit that offers a RockTex 600 outer shell and armor padding in the shoulders, elbows, and knees. If you don’t want to invest in a new suit, the Voltex heated vest is highly rated. It’s lightweight and comfortable with three heat settings, and it’s weatherproof and waterproof.
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Bike
Okay, now that you’re geared up for the cold and you need a bike to get you where you want to go, Cycle Trader offers the largest online selection of new and used bikes. You can add the motorcycle to your holiday wish list or trade in your current ride for something newer.
Either way, keep warm, but stay cool when you ride.
Barrett Baker