Textile pants/jackets opinions...

My Joe Rocket pants are getting a bit old (and its one of their
earlier ones so lower quality, I think the quality has improved alot
comparinig my set with my girlfriend's), and the crotch-leak in the
rain is getting annoying.

Does anyone have experience with FirstGear's HX overpants? How are
they in the wet? How strong is the fabric/crash protection?

Likewise, anyone have feedback on their jackets?

 

I had a pair of the Hypertex overpants (bought them about 4 years ago). They
were excellent in the wet, no leaks whatsoever. I was wearing them when I got
taken out by a car while lanesplitting. The leg got chewed through above the
knee, and I got a bit of roadrash on my kneecap as a result. I'm glad I was
wearing them, but if I were looking for another pair of paints I'd get the
Aerostich Darien pants instead.

I was also wearing an older First Gear Kilimanjaro jacket when I went down.
It held up better than the pants, but then the pants were the first thing that
hit the ground.

Is there a reason you're not just splashing out for a 'stich?


-Josh

 

Because $750 is a serious chunk of change, when new first-gear
jacket/pants is <$400.

Although the 'stich is very tempting anyway.

 

You won't regret the Aerostich gear. Aren't you rich n' famous now?

Kidding aside, I bought a Roadcrafter when I didn't think I could afford
it, paid the price, and I can't imagine wearing anything else now.

 

(Nicholas C. Weaver) wrote in $1dut$:

yeah, but First Gear is crap. low quality, mediocre design.

sure, they work, so do Buffalo(tm) tools. for a while.





--
Assuring you of my best intentions at all times,

Charles Statman
Rocket Scientist/Wonderboy/Women's Legs Shaven

DoD the Un-Numbered One

 

The difference is worth it. My FirstGear stuff was a write-off after my crash,
whereas Aerostich repairs damage from similar crashes all the time. And if
I'd been wearing a 'stich, I probably wouldn't have gotten even the minor
roadrash I did, since the ballistics on a 'stich cover more than the
reinforced patches on the FirstGear stuff do.

Get it. I had the FirstGear stuff, now I have a 'stich. There really isn't
any comparison between the two.


-Josh

 

Never had mine leak, including a rainsquall on 580 on my 200 dualsport.
Same for the jacket, once I remembered to find and close all the vents..

One gripe with the pants is they're HOT. Insulation does not come out,
at least on the older (~99) HyperTex set I have.

The jacket is rather nice; comfortable, lots of pockets, handy hook
for gloves too bulky to carry otherwise. To get enough sleeve length
the body is way too big for me.

I believe you mentioned having a fairly large inseam-to-waist ratio;
that may make getting a good fit difficult; My FG suit is proprtioned
for someone with that ratio less than one. The FG suit fits somewhat
better _over_ my one-piece leathers when I want extra warmth.

My opinion of the FG stuff is less critical than others' on this
thread, but basically I agree with the advice to spend a little
more. Maybe even a lot more I went from FG to Aerostich Darien
to Zcustom leathers in the span of three years. Each suit served
a purpose (and still does, occasionally) but fit issues drove the
first change and comfort/convenience motivated the second.

You might have a look at the Rukka suits at La Moto Vita, perhaps
they're proportioned a little more sensibly.

bob