Gortex - Too warm??

[boxer]

I'm considering buying a new riding outfit and like the idea of having the Gortex liner permanently built in to save having to carry liners around and then having to stop and put them on.
BMs' Streetguard is high on the list are the cheaper Dainese Gortex range.

I'm a little concerned that because of the Gortex these jackets my be too warm for summer use.

Are they too hot, will I fry in the Picos in August? Do they come with vents?

If anyone's any experience with Dainese Gortex clothing - how d'ya rate them?

Thanks.

Russ.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Warm! Savanna II aint!

I bought a BMW Savanna II, gortex lined jacket last year and was surprised by how 'cool' this jacket was! I now wear at least one fleece when I go out! Also there are vents on the arms, front and back of the jacket so staying 'cool' is never much of a problem!

 

[stephenm]

I'm a little concerned that because of the Gortex these jackets my be too warm for summer use.

Are they too hot, will I fry in the Picos in August? Do they come with vents?

I find the 'breathable membranes' useful up to about 27*C. Beyond that, I remove the liner from my DriRider Rallycross and use it as a mesh jacket. That works fine up to about 35*C. Beyond that, it's just very warm-hot, so you start using wet undershirts etc. I always wear moisture wicking long under gear like Coolmax against my skin. I wear Draggin Jeans. Where I ride, the humidity is usually low. This setup has carried me through 42*C temps (with a hydration pack). It works fairly well in traffic in the heat, where any movement at all results in cooling by evaporation through the mesh.

My experience with air vents in membrane jackets has been that they help a little but are overwhelmed by heat above 27*C or slow speeds. High humidity is another story.

Heat comfort is an individual thing. Where are the Picos and what is the area like in August?

Stephen

 

[boundless]

Adventure wicking gear for serious exertion in desert conditions.

Quite the coolest underwear comes from Falke:-

<iframe frameborder="1"height="700"scrolling="auto"src="http://www.herrenausstatter.de/fsi/html/13563.html"width="800"></iframe>
<iframe frameborder="1"height="700"scrolling="auto"src="http://www.herrenausstatter.de/fsi/html/13565.html"width="800"></iframe>

Never put up with the damp patch again!

 

[gasman]

I agree this is a problem. Venting is generally very poor on these jackets. I usually end up just taking the jacket off and riding in a light long sleeve shirt. Sunburn is the main problem.

Once it gets above about 35C, I reckon it's actually better to keep the jacket ON (cos the wind heats you up!) but with everything open, and drink vast amounts of fluid. Have thought about getting one of these dainese safety vests, or a BMW airflow type jacket just for safety, but it would only ever be used in Europe, so prob not worth it.

In Spain last year, the hottest bit of me was my feet, cos there was nil airflow through the goretex boots to cool them down. I'm gonna leave them at home this year and take non-goretex boots.

Incidentally, I'm going to get some Streetguard 2 trousers cos I'm intrigued by this TLC thing, where dark cloth is supposed to act like light cloth and not heat up in the sun. Will be interesting to see if it works.

ps as I recall, the Picos and the north of Spain aren't that hot even in summer. My Dainese goretex jacket was fine, and I kept it on all the time.

 

[BLUE(UK)]

I have falke thermals.............ya get what ya pay for.......i find it great.

 

[boundless]

I'm intrigued by this TLC thing, where dark cloth is supposed to act like light cloth and not heat up in the sun.

If you are not exerting above 100-200 watts then pile on lots of dark layers, the more the better; and all over:-

Once you get above a working rate of say 250 watts you want to be wearing white, wickable and wind-permeable...still all over though.

 

[Banjaxed]

Try Rohan too

They make excellent wicking underwear - MUCH better than cotton. As they wash quickly and dry in just a few hours, you can cut down on the amount of kit you take too.

Excellent kit.

 

[boundless]

Re: Try Rohan too

They make excellent wicking underwear - MUCH better than cotton. As they wash quickly and dry in just a few hours, you can cut down on the amount of kit you take too.

Excellent kit.

Endorsed...


I have two Rohan orange wicking vests purchased on impulse in 1984. Worn by me weekly, never worn out, still look new, best ever in the world for travel comfort in any climate. The fabric that Rohan had; they stopped using it back in the early nineties....stories of is spontaneous combustion in their sweatshops put paid to it, apparently.

The stuff they use now whilst very similiar to the very adequate Mountain Gear stuff, isn't a patch on the Rohan-T original...only Falke comes close.

Anybody know what the fabric was called? It put the more recent Dupont 'CoolMax' and Helly-Hansen's plain polypropylene to shame.

 

[gasman]

If you are not exerting above 100-200 watts then pile on lots of dark layers, the more the better; and all over:-

Hmm, interesting. But I don't understand why this should be so. I thought that if you're indoors you should wear black (eg greek/sicilian women) but outdoors, white.

 

[boxer]

Thanks for the replies.

Can anyone coment on the effectiveness of the TFL cooling system.

The newly incorporated TFL® Cool Technology prevents excessivle heating of the suit by reflecting a high degree of the sunlight falling on i

Russ.

 

[boundless]

Dark clothing keeps desert folk cool..

Hmm, interesting. But I don't understand why this should be so. I thought that if you're indoors you should wear black (eg greek/sicilian women) but outdoors, white.

If you are keeping still enough to avoid sweating the best way to lose heat is by radiation. Radiators work best when they are black.

I understand that the dark swathes of coiled layers affected by the Tuareg go hand in hand with staying in the shade...this is easier if you are not planning on doing any serious work. This why desert dwellers are very efficient at scrupulously modifying there behaviour to avoid work.

It in fact be that the main benefit of Tuareg dark gear is less the increased radiation; but that this headgear is such an impressive signifier of thermal stress that it more or less announces to all and sundry..."You with the help requirement looking at me? Don't even go there, mate!"