Head to toe in Gore-tex and still got wet

Got back from a six hour round trip today, rained consistently for about 4 of the six hours. Last summer I bought Dainese Dolomiti trousers, jacket and Dainese gore-tex gloves and boots.

My hands, arms, chest and crotch were all wet. Not soaking but the garments were noticeably wet on the inside.

Is this normal, the reason I spent the extra was for the Gore-Tex which based on todays performance is not significantly different to other “water resistant”???

emo72

Yep, it's disappointing, but it's happened to me too. I have a cheap fold up jacket and trousers that I throw on over the gore Tex when I see bad prolonged rain coming. Gore Tex will be grand in showers, but driving from Galway to Dublin on a rainy day, you have no chance! I've been caught the hard way.

newmember2

I have worn all sorts over the years and many full days of rain and getting wet with everything advertised as "waterproof". I eventually had a bit of money and bought myself an expensive rukka suit and have never been wet since..

Esel

Back in the day, it was waxed cotton all the way - Barbour or Belstaff.

blade1

I have a richa rain warrior 2 piece.

A lot of the adventure guys would sneer at it in their expensive Rukka gear etc. but it's never let in a drop in on me anyway.

blade1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119151929#Comment_119151929

Yep, I'd be from that era

The essentials bought when you got your first bike were just helmet,gloves and a wax jacket.

If you had the price of a wax pants after that you were sorted!

flashinthepan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119152109#Comment_119152109

Exactly same here & never got wet

Couple of weeks ago i got the Oxford Mondial jacket from SBS ( after giving out yards about the service) and seems to be pretty good although in hindsight probably should have went for the darker colour as this one shows up any marks / bugsplat

@blade1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119152113#Comment_119152113

What do you drive @blade1 ?

Furze99

Goretex is only as good as the stitching and the seams. That's the weak point. Doesn't matter what you put it in.

I've often put on an older jacket in heavy rain over Goretex type garments. If you're not sweating too much, works good as it deflects the bulk of the rain and what gets through doesn't move through the Goretex.

GBX

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119152482#Comment_119152482

I got this jacket as well. Find it perfect. The neck line is a bit short but a brilliant jacket nonetheless. Will be getting the trousers to match.

Miscreant

A lot of these Gore-Tex products are marketed as being "waterproof" but really are only "water resistant". Depending on how much cover you have on your bike, the 4 hours of rain could have been driven at speed into the seams of the jacket and leaked in that way. As someone has mentioned, I also have a Richa Rain Warrior jacket and it is the best sealed one I have ever come across. 2.5 hours in constant torrential rain on the motorway last summer and not one drop was let in. Bearing in mind I was riding a Pan European with plenty of fairing to cover me, that could contribute to why I wasn't soaked in the end.

IrishGrimReaper

I own Dane Nimbus jacket and Lyngby trousers - they haven't let me down.

Went out for a 6 hour spin the other week and it rained heavily the most of the time. There was slight damping of the gear but when it stopped the gear dried off before the next bout of rain.

I was very impressed.

https://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/397258

goblin59

I've an XXL rain jacket and trousers I can throw over my current gear, looks like a bin bag, but its fully waterproof.

Unfortunatly Gortex is water resistant and not water proof. You can get some hydrophobic stuff you put onto it to help with water proofing, but its more for light to medium rain.

https://www.decathlon.ie/mens-jackets/5332-29835-mens-country-walking-raincoat-nh100-raincut-demi-zip.html#/demodelsize-2003xlslash4xl/demodelcolor-8300326?queryID=b3760c7117d9ca1c12a6d570b13f8794&objectID=4242203

https://www.decathlon.ie/mens-pants/164151-42879-men-s-waterproof-hiking-overtrousers-nh500-imper.html#/demodelsize-93432quote_slash_m_l33/demodelcolor-8382416

the hydrophobic spray is

https://www.thevisorshop.com/en/ie/Oxford-Rainseal-Waterproofing-Spray/m-19690.aspx?PartnerID=16&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shoppingIreland&gclid=Cj0KCQjw4uaUBhC8ARIsANUuDjWAGYu20BxDEN-P-GJPNHrf5hzCFtLpHZZWxTd44PRwapD8MoWOAM4aAn1lEALw_wcB

Henry Ford III

I stay off the bike when it's wet.

blade1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119153007#Comment_119153007

Too many.

They are a pain in the hole 🫣

Nothing from that era anymore but nearest would be a 1998 MZ Mastiff.

Also zzr1400,a blade and a few Aprilias

KildareMan

Laminated GoreTex is a step up from the Goretex membrane. I just don't get wet in my Halvarsson's gear - as long as remember the storm collar for the really bad days.

galwaytt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119152482#Comment_119152482

Snap ! Just got one of those on Friday - hope it lives up to the blurb.

If it's really, really ****, an oversuit is the best option.

Timfy

I used to do a 200 mile daily commute, come rain, shine or snow.

I was given an all in one yachting suit and despite looking a bit of a numpty, I was warm and dry in absolutely any weather. It was huge and happily went over my gear with the advantage that it was also designed with movement in mind.

People will probably point and laugh at you though!!!

CJhaughey

The thing with any fabric is that when the fabric wets out and can't push any more moisture out you will get wet from sweat condensing on the inside.

Zebbedee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119154112#Comment_119154112

You've hit the nail on the head here.

If you've got the wind protection of a fairing like the pan european has you're greatly decreasing your chances of getting a soaking.

In my case though I prefer naked bikes so I've to step up my rain gear.

I use richa laminated Goretex but even that lets moisture in if you're in driving rain after a few hours.

robbie_63

I just picked up an oxford over jacket yesterday as my Richa Textile jacket has started letting the water in on my arms somehow,

You just throw them over your existing jacket.

Any recommendations on winter gloves, I have a pair of Richa Goretex Winter gloves but they are too big for me, it makes it a lot harder to use the controls wearing them.

EOQRTL

I've a cheap hiking waterproof over suit can't remember the make got it in Decathlon in France about 10 years ago now when i was on tour and it's still going strong. Any material will eventually give in after an hour or two in the rain at high motorway speeds especially on a naked type bike i don't care what the manufacturer states.

The quality of "Gore-Tex" branded clothing in general doesn't live up the reputation IMO. I bought two separate pairs of outdoor Gore-Tex shoes last year for walking the dog in the evenings, just walking through grass in local park nothing heavy, and both pairs have let water in. A regular pair on leather Stan Smiths would put up as much water resistance.

Last week, my Dainese Gore-Tex trousers let in water around my inner thighs after a 15min ride in light rain!!!

What's the point?

Bluefoam

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119641089#Comment_119641089

You're not using them right. I guarantee if you use them in Mongolia in January they won't let any rain in...

Breezin

I got a Belstaff waxed cotton jacket as a pressie some years ago -- probably wouldn't have been my choice, but it's never let in water on my naked bike and is wonderfully light and flexible. Much prefer it to being gussied up in mega suits.

knucklehead6

whatever gear you have will be tested in that weather out there today

robbie_63

I use an oxford rain jacket that goes over my existing jacket and it works perfect never get wet these days.

Arrived into work this morning nice and dry