Summer Riding Jacket

[cdneh]

This has probably been posted before, but after going for an all day ride in 30C (88F) degree heat I need to find a better protective yet cool riding jacket. I have worn a Teknic mesh jacket with the protective armour, too hot, and have switched to a jean jacket. I see many riders not wearing any jackets at all which is not for me.
So I was wondering what our friends in the southern states wear, if at all, as it is hotter there for longer periods of time.
In Southern Ontario we get lots of humidity which is great for a day at the lake, but tough for a ride. Maybe in Arizona and other places it is not so bad due to dry heat.
So any thoughts and suggestions are always appreciated.
Thanks.

[cactusjack]

Well, when it's hot here I usually just wear a long-sleeved t-shirt, otherwise I get the gnarliest "farmer's tan" you've ever seen. Contrary to common belief, if it's a choice between comfort and safety, I'm going to go with comfort. In cooler weather I wear a heavy leather jacket.

[schoeney]

I wear a Fieldsheer Mesh Mach 7 jacket...paid $80 for it. Seems to do the trick. I think the bottom line is between the heat of a V Twin and heat, humidity there is only so much you can do short of buying one of those water vests.

You still have to stop at stoplights with hot pavement, heat from the engine and the sun beating down on you.

I have developed a few tricks (cup holder, park/stop in the shade, stay hydrated, etc.) But sometimes it is just hot.

I agree that going without armor is not the bright thing but even I do it ocassionally.

Good luck

P.S. Be careful on jacket sizing. Fieldsheer runs 1 size small so order larger.

[landman]

i have one of the cooling vest that you soak in water and then where it under mesh jacket.

[Dave]

Here's what I wear.

http://www.brosh.com/new/default.asp?pid=120&L=1

[Sin City Stan]

Tourmaster draft jacket. I use the liner to the mid 30s. No liner above 60 (long sleeve shirt underneath at times) Over 105 I add a evaporative vest. Really sucks when you have to wait for a light though.

[pastorgumby]

I bought this Jacket - Fieldsheer High Flow II Mesh Jacket
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com...Closeouts.aspx ($80)

I can vouch for it, VERY LIGHT, not heavy armor - but CE in elbow, shoulders - available CE for back. Lots of air flow.

[ndbigfish]

I use a long sleeve Cool Skin <s>Max </s>shirt with a Vanson Vent Max 4 over the top. It was 95° today (89 dewpoint) and I was out about seven hours in this combination with very minimal discomfort. I keep the sun off my face and neck with a Cool Skin balaclava. This eliminates wind burn too. In the mornings when the temperature is in the 60s°F I need a sweatshirt under the Vanson; there is not much there. I can only handle my Tourmaster Intake 2 up to the low 80°s; with the rain liner and insulated liner removed. I'm getting an evaporative vest next to augment the Cool Max and Vent Max 4. This jacket is textile with elbow, shoulder and back armour. I find this combination more comfortable than a light colored, long sleeve shirt only that I used to wear. The wind and dehydration are big enemies for sure. I have a black model. Here is the link;

http://vansonleathers.com/dw/prod/jacket/vx4.html

Comes with stripes:
http://vansonleathers.com/dw/prod/jacket/vx4s.html
http://vansonleathers.com/dw/prod/jacket/vx4h.html

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by ndbigfish

I use a long sleeve Cool Max shirt with a Vanson Vent Max 4 over the top. It was 95° today (89 dewpoint) and I was out about seven hours in this combination with very minimal discomfort. I keep the sun off my face and neck with a Cool Max balaclava. This eliminates wind burn too. In the mornings when the temperature is in the 60s°F I need a sweatshirt under the Vanson; there is not much there. I can only handle my Tourmaster Intake 2 up to the low 80°s; with the rain liner and insulated liner removed. I'm getting an evaporative vest next to augment the Cool Max and Vent Max 4. This jacket is textile with elbow, shoulder and back armour. I find this combination more comfortable than a light colored, long sleeve shirt only that I used to wear. The wind and dehydration are big enemies for sure. I have a black model. Here is the link;

http://vansonleathers.com/dw/prod/jacket/vx4.html

Comes with stripes:
http://vansonleathers.com/dw/prod/jacket/vx4s.html
http://vansonleathers.com/dw/prod/jacket/vx4h.html

OMG, a dewpoint of 89!! I'll bet that's comfortable. ::) Our dewpoint was -5 this morning.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Here in north Alabama most people I see just wear a long sleeve shirt or even a tee shirt. I am usually a tee shirt wearer myself. Leather jacket in the winter, tee shirt in the summer.

Did anyone see Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? When they were standing on the cliff about to jump in the water and Paul Newman said, I can't swim. Robert Redford said, the fall will probably kill you.

Point is, if you go down most likely you will either be scratched up a lot by only wearing a tee shirt. With some type of jacket that offers protection you won't get as torn up but will probably still be just as dead.

That is one of the drawbacks of riding. We all know it but still love to ride.

[nomad561]

I wear this jacket when it gets above 85 degrees.
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1...PJF047-BA-SM_G
Very light and comfortable. I also like the storage for the rain jacket in the lumbar area.

[ndbigfish]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

OMG, a dewpoint of 89!! I'll bet that's comfortable. ::) Our dewpoint was -5 this morning.

You have to get use to your sweat not working. Moved here from the bone dry desert. The first year was certainly an adjustment.

[clayton]

Scorpion Hat Trick

[dougster]

I use the TourMaster/Cortech GX Air jacket. Still a bit warm in the hotter days. But, protection is important.

Actual survival is based on a combination of 1. Nature of the injuries, 2. Total number of injuries, and 3. Severity of each individual injury. Injuries that would be survivable with a good ballistic mesh jacket, could be made worse, or even terminal, with the addition of road rash and infection from not wearing a jacket. Your body is able to deal with a certain level of combined traumas before it gives up the ghost. Good protective gear can give that edge. Same with helmet use.

[Cajunrider]

Well, I'm guilty of wearing a tee shirt with a perforated leather vest over it. I know what will happen to my arms if I slide on the pavement but I just accept the risk with summer temperatures in the mid to upper 90's and humidity in the upper 70's. If it was required to wear armored jackets in our summer temperatures and humidity, I'd just not ride or only ride early in the morning. I'm not advocating riding in a tee shirt because it isn't safe. It isn't safe to ride a motorcycle either but we've all accepted that risk.