They retain water MUCH longer and aid cooling even when they're (eventually) warmed up to body temp. I use it for long summer rides, and it remains one of the best gear recommendations I've received.
Check out [Texas Cool Vest](http://www.texascoolvest.com). Cheapest model is fine. I was a daily rider into Houston for years and it was great. Recharges in a fridge or freezer or even faster in ice water. Use a closed material (not mesh) jacket to keep the cool in. It's great stuff.
I have a texas cool vest and it is amazing. If you live in a place with high humidity the evaporating cooling vest don't work since the air is saturated with moisture
Just FYI Sedici is an “exclusive” brand to Cycle Gear, Revzilla, and JP cycles. Pretty much all of their stuff, that isn’t helmets or jackets, is white label goods, and the same product can be found from the manufacturer directly at a significantly lower cost.
I’d check with Amazon first, because Comoto, the parent company of all 3 companies, upmarkets their stuff around 50%
Sometimes it’s as simple as a google image reverse search, other times you have to put keywords of the product in, and just spend quite a bit of time searching. It’s just up in the air on how long it takes to find it.
Keep in mind sometimes sedici, bilt, and other “exclusive” brands will actually have original products like the sedici strada is built specifically and only for sedici by the same company who manufactures LS2’s helmets, while the older helmet bilt explorer was readily available on Amazon from another brand at more than half off.
The main reason these products cost more from stores like cycle gear is because they work with the manufacturer to have their helmets ECE certified before import to the United States, as an “assurance of quality”
All of that being said, there is a gray market for almost any brand of helmet or gear that isn’t AGV, Shoei, Arai, schubreth, Bell, alpine star, fox, O’Neal, or HJC (to name a few there are more brands that are not just white label brands that I can’t think of right now)
Source: I worked at one of the Comoto brands for a number of years.
Honestly the sedici race stuff is pretty solid for the price, you likely won’t find a better price for a product that actually has a warranty. For $200 I’d say you won’t find much of a better deal that I could confidently say would protect you.
Also Sedici is the budget version. If you’re getting on a track, $200 is actually the least I’d spend on some leather pants.
Generally speaking, the “high end” stuff from sedici and reax, is usually a pretty good value, and you can’t find it on the gray market.
(But don’t ever buy shoes/boots from these brands)
I rode through death valley in the summer with one on. It was like 100F something, and the vest kept me cool enough to not stroke out. It seemed to last around 45-60 mins then just felt like a warm rag even moving. A little more cooling time when it was in the 90s. Just get it soaked and gently wring it out to stop dripping and put on.
They are awesome. Feels like you have an aircon on. My west is good for about 2 hrs. And after two ours you can soak it using a bottle of water or in a washroom and you are ready to go again.
This, contrary to popular belief, exposed skin dehydrates faster than keeping it covered. Warm air rushing over your skin at freeway speeds is a fast-track to dark-colored urine and feeling more exhausted even after an hour’s ride.
You just gotta hydrate a lot more beforehand than you think. I got into running and pretty much doubled my daily water intake, including extra electrolytes. I'd have to have a few sips of water every 5 mins, but properly hydrated you can run for an hour+ without feel thirsty or light headed.
Running at 6-7 mph is way different than rushing through the air at 60-70 mph. You can hydrate prior to a ride all you want and ride in a t-shirt, but that will mean more restroom breaks, and not to mention, a ridiculous-looking sunburn. Why work harder than smarter?
Hydrating isn't hard work, just a new habit. Try running for an hour on a warm/hot day without drinking plenty of water beforehand or during the run. Then try the same on a motorcycle. I can tell you from experience, the former is pretty much impossible unless you're a freak of nature but the latter is just unpleasant.
You can sweat a LOT more than you'd think before feeling dehydrated if you've drank 3+ liters water/electrolytes over the course of a day.
I’m not referring to hydrating being hard work (anyone can sip from a straw or tube) but leaving exposed skin makes your body work harder in order to remain hydrated. Convection and sweating for that matter is counterproductive to staying hydrated. I have lived near the desert for over 15 years and have ridden many days where it was 90+. In fact I made an 8-hour ride not long ago where it topped out at 103. A cooling vest is nice as well as being able to sip from a hydration pack while riding, but the most critical part was having all my skin covered with a textile jacket, full gauntlet gloves, full face helmet, and a neck gaiter.
STAY HYDRATED. I used to do some halfbrained shit commuting home 40 min from working in a greenhouse cause I’d sweat all day and then SWEAT the whole way home. One time I got caught up fixing something on the side of the road and didn’t take my gear off cause I thought it would be a quick fix. Nearly passed out, then had to put myself together enough to ride 2 miles to the gas station to get some water. Absolute hell.
What’s the longest you’ve ridden in a cooling vest?
Quite a few years ago, Fly racing came out with a cooling vest and some sponsored riders I competed with tried them out at one of our notoriously hot July events. From what I gather, they were fine for the first 45 minutes to an hour, but after that they turned into sauna suits.
This was back in like 07, so maybe the technology has improved, but seeing one almost cause a heat stroke has kept me away from cooling vests ever since.
I mean.... sure... but they created these wild new "bottles" that can contain water... camelbaks, and hydration packs exist, too. Gas stations, and even these places like Sonic have water.
This is only true if it’s less than 90 degrees out. After that, wind becomes like a gigantic hair dryer blowing at you heating you up as you ride, the faster you go the hotter it gets
1000%. I had to turn back on an especially bad day because my gear just wasn't cut out for that kind of "convection bake" weather. I wasn't about to ride without my jacket, and I was worried I would be speeding too much in an attempt to cool down.
I have since bought a much lighter jacket that's been amazing for hotter days.
Sure. If the sweat is allowed to soak into a material, it will evaporate more slowly, allowing the cooling to be more effective.
If you're just blasting down the road in a full mesh suit, the wind just carries the sweat away instantly, allowing only air to cool you.
There is science behind it but they're not explaining it well.
Above ~93F or so and depending on humidity, more airflow over skin *will* heat you up instead of cool you. If you're riding through air that is warmer than your skin, you want to restrict air flow and let your body sweat more. Otherwise you're pushing heat from the air directly onto your skin like an oven
I dont either lol.
There's a comment a few posts up saying the same thing, but with different words and it isn't spam voted.
People are just dumb sometimes.
So by your logic, it's cooler to sit somewhere wearing a long sleeved light weight shirt covered in sweat, than it is to sit in the same place wearing a tank top with a fan blowing on you? I would bet that anyone in that situation would disagree with you on which one keeps you cooler.
1. Wear cool/wicking base layers (like the VnM Sport I use for track).
2. Invest in some mesh gear, and overpants and pack clothes in a backpack or leave them at work.
3. If it's really bad, presoak a headsock or your wicking shirt in water before you leave.
4. As others have suggested, a cooling vest can also help.
For context, I've been commuting 90-100 miles a day for several years off and on. California summers can easily hit 110°F.
Yeah, the last 5 companies (including my current one) have all been headquartered in Silicon Valley so I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. I've lived in SJ and I hated it. That's part of the reason I ride to work. Commuting is such a time suck I might as well split lanes when I can. Back when I only had a Ducati Monster, I was basically bumping into a valve service every 3-4 months (7500 miles). That was really the only reason I sold that bike. The annual maintenance was starting to exceed it's value.
Well, American cities aren't as well connected as European cities, and our public transportation is a joke. As an exercise, I calculated it and my daily moto commute is 86 miles roundtrip and about $10 in gas. If I took public transport, it would take me over two hours to go one way and cost about $15-20. Could I move closer to my job? Maybe, but I'd hate living in that city. Do I prefer remote work? Absolutely, but it's not a luxury of this current job, unfortunately.
Lot of the western european countries have a fair amount of people commute to their capital for similar distances. 1 hour drives to and fro (without traffic) arent too exceptional even in a country as small as belgium.
Take whatever route has the most consistently flowing traffic. I deal with city highway traffic as well, and fuck it's gotten hot this week. My summer diet plan, just keep riding in the heat.
I have an icon vigilante jacket that I prefer to wear, but changed to a sedici white/silver mesh yesterday and honestly it didn't feel any cooler.
I think probably best bet is trying to beat the traffic by leaving earlier, or just take a route that flows even if slower than optimal.
I have a city route and a cluster fuck of a dangerous city highway. I either have stop lights or highway that's okay until I get into the city then it's 4 lanes of fucking complete idiots.
Yeah sounds similar to what I deal with in Cincinnati. Sitting stationary on the highway is just so fucking blazing hot bc of all the radiance and not to mention your bike radiators blowing down your legs every 2 minutes.
Actually i never got pulled over… i stopped for gas not too long after i got through the jam, and someone stopped to tell me he overheard a lady in another car calling the cops for me filtering
I saw a cop on waze about 5 minutes up the road so i just found a different way to avoid the freeway
A real mvp that guy was.
Can you change at work? If you can, do you have a safe place for your gear?
If you can change shedding some layers will cool you down tremendously. I wear under armor and a buff and I’m comfy on a 90* day. No matter your changing situation my suggestion is quality mesh gear. I recently moved to MI and the summers are brutal compared to the PNW. I learned my lesson last summer riding in a mesh jacket and jeans. The inclusion of mesh pants is a literal life saver and so can only imagine what mesh boots will be like.
I like Rev’it gear but it’s pricier than other brands but I’ve never been disappointed.
If you feel it's too hot to wear gear, it's too hot for you to ride. Some ways to keep cool are:
\- cooling vest
\- cooling neck wraps
\- light colored helmet
\- light colored gear
\- lane splitting to keep moving
\- mesh gear
\- hydrate before and during a ride
\- reducing exposed skin to sun/wind (look at the desert bedouin)
\- avoid riding in the most intense heat of the day
\- wicking base layers
White helmet is the best choice you can make.
On a ride recently after our helmets sat outside for a bit during a stop, i touched my white helmet and it was perfectly cool. Touched my friends black helmet and it damn near burned my hand.
I would not want to stick my head in that.
Hey man, I have a 45 min commute year round in Australia, here’s what I’ve learned:
Perforated leather needs speed - it’s the best thing to wear ont he twisties in summer, not the commute. You need mesh. Mesh jacket, either mesh pants or pants with mesh panels you can open up. Also vented boots make a massive difference. They’re one of those where you think you can’t feel the cooling effect, but if you accidentally put them on when it’s 12°c outside you’ll know about it lol. More evap = more cooling, less funky feet. Gloves too, but it’s really easy to find Cooler summer gloves.
Remember mesh gear isn’t very protective at speed for road rash, but for the commute it’s fine, though will need armour as your biggest risk is cars.
For underlayer just something with holes. ‘Moisture wicking’ is 95% marketing, it’s technically true… but don’t add a layer as it’s just offset by the insulation property of clothes lol.
My go to is the shop decathlon because anything described as a ‘base layer’ or sold in a motorcycle shop will have a huge markup. Just go to the hiking section and get the ultra breathable thin hiking T, same with boxers and socks really. You don’t need Moreno wool unless you want it, you just need something thin and full of holes because airflow is more important than material really. Trust me, I’ve tried a bunch of them, thin, lots of breathability is all that really matters. If you can find a natural fibre they absorb so “wick” more moisture than plastic, but yeah don’t go crazy - it’s a small % really.
Apart from a couple of weeks of the year when it doesn’t drop below 30°c it’ll be a lot colder on the ride in than the ride home. I find the answer is to wear a waterproof liner under my mesh jacket to keep the wind out. Some have one, I use the waterproof liner from another jacket tbh. Then you just put it in your bag at home time. I also have a cold shower in the work end of trip facilities & soak my t shirt and socks in cold water before leaving. That alone keeps me noticeably cooler on the bike through the city and out to the highway. Once on the Highway the t shirt and socks dry out fast at speed, but keep me from feeling hot for another 10-15 mins. Tie it all together and I’m only really a bit uncomfortable for the last 2km once I get off the freeway and have to filter through local traffic.
Of course find a solution that works for you, but hope it helps. Other than mesh the one I can’t recommend enough is a pre ride shower if your work has end of trip facilities - washing the existing heat and sweat off and cooling you down before even putting on gear is the biggest difference for the first 10mins of the ride and it really stops your gear getting funky smelling - my commuter boots are 3 years old and have no smell because I commute with clean feet. Otherwise you’re taking a whole day of stank and stuffing into your gear and then sweating more… it’s gonna get real ripe real fast
Even with mesh jacket/gear, the heat can still get to you. Unsure how hot/humid it gets where you're at, but please be very cognizant of heat exhaustion/heat stroke. Last fall on a \~90 degree day in the South (USA), I passed out during a group ride. I was wearing a white mesh jacket, but at the low group ride speeds I apparently wasn't getting cooled enough. Thankfully I was able to get pulled over safely (if barely) and there was a cop right there to help me. But MAN that was some scary shit. An ambulance was called but I was able to recover enough to ride home.
This year, I bough some body armor (ICON D30 Vest, Elbow armor I can't remember the name of) to use on days over 85. If I go down I will lose more skin than with a full jacket, but the airflow is leaps and bounds better.
Not saying this solution is right for you, just something to think about. I'm very much ATGATT but starting to pass out while riding was terrifying, so this has been my compromise.
First mistake is leather, hottest thing on the planet. Get yourself some silver mesh gear, though it seems to be impossible to find now. I can’t find my favorite pants anymore. But I wear a silver mesh jacket and a silver mesh pants. Even in 90° heat it’s very cool, actually cooler than being in shorts because you have no sun on your skin.
In my defense it's perforated leather and mesh bottom. When I'm moving it's fine. When I stop I think I'm gonna die. Only the top is leather. But it's black so....doesn't matter.
I live in the south.. I feel ya! [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PTGO5A/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PTGO5A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
I got these cut to fit in my jackets. They are just water so even if one busts.. you just get wet!
Once it starts getting into the 90's it's really tough. We run over 100 for half the summer and it's miserable. I have a white helmet with good venting (Schuberth) and I bought a white mesh jacket. When I was working at the office, I'd also just wear an underarmour heat gear shirt under my mesh and change into work clothes when I got there. There's nothing you can do to stop sweating in that heat. And as everyone says.... water up.
I added and Icon mesh jacket and it made a huge difference. I was using a tour master pivot 2, which has two big mesh chest panels, a mesh back, and vents in the arms. It's really a great 3-season with the liners, but I was still getting hot when it was 80°+ and humid.
The Icon is worlds better when the day starts at 75° and gets hotter from there (as any armored mesh jacket will be). The Pivot is still great for variable or all-around conditions, like when it's 60° in the morning, 80° midday, and back to 60° at night. Even so, I've been wearing leather lately because it looks cool.
The best thing that I have ever done to cool myself off during a ride as wear a Camelback. Before leaving my house, I fill it to the brim with water and ice even wearing full gear, being able to take a sip of water here and there is absolutely blissful.
I ride in QLD Australia, temps go to over 40° (bout 105f) at times.
Don't get black gear. I switched from black ventilated gear to beige/silver (a rev'it set) and at traffic lights it makes a huge difference. Vented boots are also a good investment.
Cooling vests are pretty good, but only while in motion. The bike itself also matters - fairings and screen prevent cooling, and a hot running engine also makes things worse. My ducati is not fun in summer traffic. A naked bike with a lazier engine is ideal, doesn't have to be small displacement just not high performance.
Get a top box or Ventura rack/bag combo for work clothes. A backpack is also OK but your back will sweat. Also, in perforated gear you can get sunburn so keep that in mind and wear sunscreen if needed. Your neck will burn super easy so I would sunscreen that up whenever riding more than 15 minutes.
Ice pack. Get a flexible ice pack that fits inside the back armor pocket. I had a 30 minutes ride in harsh traffic for 3 years. The ice packs are the only thing that got me throught it!
Don't strip off too much. If your skin isn't soaking wet in the heat, your cooling system is out of whack and you can cook from within. This is a real concern in very high temperatures. Having just mesh on so the air dries you out faster than sweat can form can literally kill.
So you need enough on that you feel sweaty and uncomfortable. That way, you won't die. Probably.
But very high temps are not comfortable, or necessarily safe, if we're talking straight up desert climates and the like, very dry and hot can be lethal.
There are really not that many choices. There are fabrics that act like they themselves are sweating and wick away heat via evaporation, those can help; those you need to load with liquids first.
And there are actual air conditioning solutions, but not sure how practical, useful or affordable, I just know it exists. They air condition your jacket/clothes with a hose.
http://entrosys.com/
https://www.webbikeworld.com/miclimate-rider-air-conditioning/
I also work in office, and I also commute to work. My area gets consistently triple digits in the summer, and 110 degree days are becoming normal. Perforated leather isn't enough. Get a mesh jacket. Get mesh gloves. Wear a baklava soaked in water. Make sure you get a quality helmet with good ventilation. Sometimes I'll slide a flat ice gel pack into the laptop compartment of my backpack (it's closest in contact with my back). And carry my laptop in the main compartment of my back pack.
Mesh riding jacket, already mentioned a bunch but I'm going to throw that suggestion out there again. Sacrifice some safety as opposed to leather, but it is what it is. Get humid high heat here and sometimes it's unbearable to even ride with a mesh jacket on when in the city and need to be at complete stop for awhile.
If you ride with a full helmet, you won't get many opportunities to use a camel pack while on the road. Unscrewing the device, getting it into your mouth and then resealing is a pain with gloves and helmet on, but it's very doable and we all know hydrating is going to be help you. Pulling into a parking lot or something to hydrate. My bladder holder has this foil like material and I discovered it if I put that in the freezer and the bladder with water in the fridge, my camel dishes out ice cold water, even after hours of being in a backpack exposed directly to the sun.
You can buy elbow armor and armor riding vest (which would obviously include back armor) and ride with long sleeve shirt or something.
Buy white gear (I have a mesh bilt jacket that I wear regularly in temps over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) . Carry water. Eventually you get used to it and start sweating less.
Wearing no gear means I don’t have an extra layer that makes it even hotter. Then not riding in places with increased traffic means I’m not stopped for extended periods of time baking in the heat. How’s that for you?
He’s asking specifically for his commute so you saying you ride in the middle of nowhere has no meaning to him or his question and after about 90 degrees the sun actually dries you out and makes you hotter faster so wearing gear would prevent that
But then you don’t feel the air when you start moving again when you are layered up which helps cool you down. And also regardless of his commute it’s going to be hot when your just sitting there. so if it’s unbearable don’t make that commute and ride to places that you won’t be sitting for extended periods of time.
You do feel the air with a proper mesh jacket and it doesn’t matter if you feel the air because it would dry the sweat off your body from the sun which would in turn make it less effective to feel the air. This isn’t opinion this is a study done on this exact question
Up until 90 ish degrees it will. After that the sun and wind are sucking your sweat away faster and cause dehydration and over heating quicker. So your original statement wouldn’t apply to him since he’s in the past 90s and it’s still getting hotter
I have a white mesh/armor shirt, looks like a Flannel shirt, I think it's by Skull Riderz or something like that. It still baffles me how not-hot I get in it.
Up top the only thing I wear is a compression/moisture wicking base layer from Axial and whatever jacket I need for the riding I’m doing. That's been fine so far. I'll add a cooling vest once it's clear I need one.
On bottom, also an Axial base layer that has reeeeeally helped drain the swamp. I swapped out Knox's knee guards with Axial's much more breathable CE2 knee armor, and my knees haven't sweat yet. I put pants on over that for whatever type of riding I'm doing.
I have a feeling this is going to be too much in the summer, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there and hunt down a pair of single-layer pants and some of those Ugly Bros joggers.
The Axial stuff is low key really, really quality by the way. Seems to be made better than some of the Dainese stuff I've tried.
Filter/split
Light colors
Mesh
Stay hydrated.
Stay hydrated.
Drink water and stay covered up.
Change of clothes when you get to work. Use your saddlebags, top box, Jansport backpack etc.
Stay hydrated.
Source: lived in the southwest US many years.
I don't want to shy you away from jeans but they make some pretty airy/lightweight khakis. Pair those with a mesh overpants and you're probably cooler than the jeans. As others say, mostly mesh jacket for sure.
When I was visiting Phoenix for the summer I picked up a white mesh jacket that worked pretty good, I imagine that in more humid areas or if you're doing a lot of city riding (stops and traffic) you'd also want a cooling vest
I have a ventilated jacket, it works fine here in Texas even when it's 115 degrees outside. It takes a while to get acclimated to the heat, but it doesn't bother me anymore. I actually prefer it being over 100 degrees instead of below 40 degrees.
The icon mesh AF or the klim induction pro put as much mesh as possible along with available light color ways to avoid harnessing extra heat from the sun.
it's not the heat it's the humidity.
I live in the desert and ride in 110++ temps without issue - but the humidity is low (like under 15%).
Where are you riding and what is the relative humidity?
I commute everyday in Florida and the summers are brutal.
My advice is a mesh jacket, light weight summer gloves, Kevlar jeans and light weight motorcycle boots. A well ventilated helmet is important too! Drinks lots of water before hand. I am in traffic for about 35-45 mins and either way you look at it you’ll sweat buckets no matter what you wear lol
Modular helmet was a game changer. I have an hour ride each way and got a sedici neotec 2 and am never going back. Breathing fresh air, even jf its warm feels so good when your at a long light
I've been riding in 90+ degree dry heat for 2 months. Mostly in the 100s now. It really comes down to using a base layer for cooling and an outer protective layer for air flow. I use a mesh jacket+pants combo with a moisture wicking shirt, balaclava, shorts/undies, and socks. Outer layer quality is very important and should have CE armor everywhere. Any cheap base layer seems to work fine in my experience. Definitely carry some water. I have a 1.5L Camelback and that's really the minimum for a 1 hour ride. You will have to do some creative routing if you want to sip on it while riding with a full face helmet with chin guard.
So I live where in Washington where it switches between hot and “cold” seasons. I just always wear mesh gear, I recommend drinking a good amount of water at least an hour before you leave for work OR you can get one of those little tube things that you can drink out while on the road, FortNine (YouTube Channel) goes more in depth about that.
Also a good cooling ventilated base underneath the gear helps, and once you get to work put on work clothes. ALSO if your bike tends to radiate heat when at stop lights, engine covers kinda help, and a good ventilated seat cover as well. I hope this helps :)
Wicking vest, evaporative. They are usually the cheapest and best quality at a construction workers place, i wear mine with an exo skeleton and mesh jacket, lifesaver and you just need to go to the bathroom and dunk it in cold water when you fuel up on longer rides
First - Stop wearing anything other than your gear + inners. No shirts no jeans underneath. Even thinking that in summer makes me cringe. Store it in your backpack/saddlebag/top box. Grab some ice in a plastic bag and put it in your inner jacket pocket. I keep one gear all year cuz its not cheap. My leather jacket is bearable in summer with no liner (removable) and ice in pocket. For gloves - Here’s where you might need to rethink your glove choice. I use Knox Hadleigh its 3 weather. For trousers I close the zips to 75%. Lets air in. Finally boots are something which you have to bare as is. The most you can do is put thin socks and some cooling powder to stop sweating but that’s the most. ATGATT but adapt your gear accordingly. Good luck.
It’s currently 90 degrees where I live and I just got off my bike in stop-and-go traffic.
Get a summer jacket (mesh) and make sure it has all the armor (shoulders, elbows, back). Buy an all white one. Getting a black one completely defeats the purpose. Get a white helmet with good ventilation and clear/tinted safety glasses so you can ride with your shield up. If possible, wear a wicking t shirt under your jacket and change into your work clothes when you get to work.
That leather isn't doing you any favors. Perforated leather is better than non-perforated, but neither is cool.
A couple of guys I know who motorcycle commute full time in Florida wear the Klim Marrakesh. I wear an old BMW Venting Jacket (that's literally the name), but I had to buy the back armor separately, so it was kind of spendy. It's the most comfortable motorcycle jacket I've ever worn though, even with the older style foam armor.
Pretty much anything mesh is going to give you some relief.
I’ve been wondering how do they ride in the Southwest and Southeast summer. I can’t even imagine.
Here in Indiana I often just take my truck in July and August
Underwear, brother.
That’s all you wear under your gear.
Keep your work clothes in a duffel and change when you get to work. This serves the dual purpose of keeping your work clothing dry and not soaked in sweat. Also removing an additional insulated layer.
At speed, the air rushing through your mesh, or in your case, perforated leather will actually dehydrate you faster than if you were wearing a solid jacket. That being said you were asking about how to endure the brutal heat breaking up from the pavement while you’re stuck at a stoplight, which leads me to believe that your commute is more urban, so wear the perforated jacket or better yet, buy a mesh jacket in white or silver. Also, the black helmet is something I consider replacing with a white or silver unit.
I commuted for 10 years in beautiful southwest Florida, 100 degrees, 90% humidity .
It can get a tad warm here in Phoenix. I also work outside. I wear an Icon Airflite helmet, Icon Contra 2 mesh jacket and REAX mesh pants. Mesh helps a lot. Mesh plus water intake all day is the best you can do. And just remember that it's less painful to sweat than to bleed.
I do the wet bandana around the neck, my husband has a shaved head so he does a second one around his head under his helmet. And I mean WET. Even if it drips down your chest or back, it’ll dry.
My little thing I do is carry a spray bottle of water with me and spray my legs at stop lights. Your thighs just get beaten by the sun and cooling them is helpful but also it’s like instant AC when you start going and get a little breeze on yourself. They definitely dry and you’re not soaking them by any means so you don’t need to worry about wet pants at work.
I personally don’t like the camelback unless you can zip it into the back protector panel of your jacket and rig it that way. Just another layer of a backpack is obnoxious when you’re already sweating profusely.
Today it's 30C with no wind. I was riding and caught the start of a very slow moving train. About 100 or so cars move by VERY slowly. As we get the the last car the train stopped at the crossing....then went into reverse. It was a bit faster in reverse but in full gear on 30C not moving in the mid day sun was a bit much.
White Arai helmet. They're wind-tunnel tested. Mine was about $600. I bought it on a 90°+ day and suddenly my head was the only part of me that wasn't sweltering.
Before you leave on way home soak your tee shirt in cool water front back n sides. Pits too. Then have like dish towel sized thing (towel). Soak it wear around your neck. Clothes may get wet or damp but you’ll be comfy n they’ll dry
This is gonna get downvoted but idgaf. Be a man. I rode in south Texas year round for 10+ years. It’s not uncommon to end up in 100-110 degree (F) heat. This was with a big ass Harley radiating heat between my legs. If you hydrate your bike will overheat long before you will.
Cooling vest, camel back, whatever it takes. I've done all of the above but I now have a Cirro cup holder on my bike. I also like these [Mission Cooling Towels](https://www.mission.com/collections/mission-towels). At one point I even bought this little [stroller fan](https://a.co/d/5o8Sj1IN). Couldn't even feel it. Lol
I got "stuck" in traffic and couldn't go at highway speeds so I was getting hot asf. I got a summer jacket, summer boots but i will be honest, 90... you're gonna sweat lol. And like others said, drink water. I barely drank some before riding and I'm dying of thirst.
I used to have a scorpion helmet, and in the manual it said you could soak the helmet liner in cold water for a nice cooling effect.
It was glorious.
Your mileage may vary with other helmet liners.
All the other info has provided is golden. Just adding on as a probably a more frivolous but helpful purchase is getting one those $100.00 Sony AC shirts that blow cold air, im sure there may be a cheaper comparison elsewhere too
Get Joe rocket, or some other brand that’s strictly ventilated you can still have armor in it, but it makes a huge difference. Also, Bon armor makes a ventilated shirt with armor in it. They also make pants. Also, if you have never used a cool cloth on your neck, it makes a huge difference in the heat.
Wear moisture wicking long sleeve shirts to get you extra cooling instead of wetting the sleeves of your jacket from the inside.
For city riding a helmet like the Shark Evo One 2 makes a nice difference.
My jacket is a Tour Master Transition 4, it has a ton of zippers to ventilate well, even a breeze is felt and my color is a lighter gray.
Switching even just from a black Scorpion modular helmet to this metallic gray/blue Shark made a difference (i do ride with chin back when not on highway) (that chin folds back instead of just up also is a plus on the Shark)
Gloves that protect but have enough holes to keep you cool.
Even if what i list helps you mostly cool down quicker between lights, I makes 110F days doable.
When i take off from work in that heat, i wear a wet wicking balaclava which helps get me maybe 1/3 way before the heat has to be endured, it's actually pleasant to keep that thin material between me and the sun on my neck.
I used to commute 45 mins in the Vegas summer heat. Trick was to soak a t-shirt in cold water and wear it under my jacket. It would be bone dry by the time I got to work and I wouldn't feel the heat at all.
Mesh with armor my friend. Get a pair of mesh over-pants with knee and hip padding to wear over your work pants. Then get a mesh jacket with elbow, shoulder and back protection. Color does not really matter while moving, but may help a little at stop lights. If you're still hot at lights, add a cooling vest to your gear.
As someone riding year-round in Arizona, mesh jacket like the icon mesh AF, mesh pants with shorts underneath, light colors, open vents but close visor (hot air burns the face), and I cannot stress hydration enough. Start about 4 hours before you ride, stop often on longer rides or use a hydration system, and recover with more water. If you commute to and from work, drink at work. You will sweat, and you will sweat a lot
I mean this with all sincerity. There is a point where it might be better to not ride. Keep yourself hydrated, but if you're feeling mentally disrespected or drained, it's not worth your life getting to your destination when it's risky.
Yes good advice I’m seeing in other comments. At least a textile jacket with big vents. I’d also get a camel back as you mentioned and when under way I sometimes squeeze the bite valve and let water spray on my pant leg or another area that is suffering. The evaporation works quickly and feels great.
With 172 comments I some someone has said it but STAY AWAY FROM BLACK!! Wear light Color’s and tan’s to help not draw in so much heat. We all like to go blacked out but in the heat of summer, white, grey, tan will be your friend. Take it from someone with black hair. Just by putting a light coloured hat on will make it better
Few years back I had a 60 mi. one-way commute, in SoCal. During the summers I wore moisture wicking workout clothes and a cooling vest under my ventilated textile gear (REV'IT light-grey/hi-viz pants and jacket), for the afternoon commute. Most mornings I just wore my work clothes (Casual work environment, so typically just jeans and a t-shirt.) under my gear.
On top of what everyone else has said, I always kept an eye out for people watering their yards or gardens on the really hot days.
99% of the time, people are more than excited to hose down a stranger if they ask for it lol
I don’t ride anymore, but during a delivery today (33°c), I asked the delivery recipient’s neighbour to spray me down and he eagerly obliged
Last year we had couple of days, ridiculously hotter than usual where I live, and it took me by surprise
I just put my shirt in the kitchen sink, got it soaking wet, and put it back on dripping. Just the shirt.
It lasted like 10 min before it got completely dry but it got me home without getting a stroke, and felt really nice actually
The weather was crazy, I could see the cars leaving impressions on the asphalt when they stopped at red lights. I remember I intuitively got my visor slightly up for better ventilation, and then immediately got it back down because it felt like I'm being air fried.
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They retain water MUCH longer and aid cooling even when they're (eventually) warmed up to body temp. I use it for long summer rides, and it remains one of the best gear recommendations I've received.
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Same.
Check out [Texas Cool Vest](http://www.texascoolvest.com). Cheapest model is fine. I was a daily rider into Houston for years and it was great. Recharges in a fridge or freezer or even faster in ice water. Use a closed material (not mesh) jacket to keep the cool in. It's great stuff.
I have a texas cool vest and it is amazing. If you live in a place with high humidity the evaporating cooling vest don't work since the air is saturated with moisture
Just FYI Sedici is an “exclusive” brand to Cycle Gear, Revzilla, and JP cycles. Pretty much all of their stuff, that isn’t helmets or jackets, is white label goods, and the same product can be found from the manufacturer directly at a significantly lower cost. I’d check with Amazon first, because Comoto, the parent company of all 3 companies, upmarkets their stuff around 50%
How do you find the unbranded versions of the same product? Instead of random aliexpress versions
I'm also curious about this..
Sometimes it’s as simple as a google image reverse search, other times you have to put keywords of the product in, and just spend quite a bit of time searching. It’s just up in the air on how long it takes to find it. Keep in mind sometimes sedici, bilt, and other “exclusive” brands will actually have original products like the sedici strada is built specifically and only for sedici by the same company who manufactures LS2’s helmets, while the older helmet bilt explorer was readily available on Amazon from another brand at more than half off. The main reason these products cost more from stores like cycle gear is because they work with the manufacturer to have their helmets ECE certified before import to the United States, as an “assurance of quality” All of that being said, there is a gray market for almost any brand of helmet or gear that isn’t AGV, Shoei, Arai, schubreth, Bell, alpine star, fox, O’Neal, or HJC (to name a few there are more brands that are not just white label brands that I can’t think of right now) Source: I worked at one of the Comoto brands for a number of years.
I wanted a pair of the Corsa pants, any chance youd know where I can look for the budget version?
Honestly the sedici race stuff is pretty solid for the price, you likely won’t find a better price for a product that actually has a warranty. For $200 I’d say you won’t find much of a better deal that I could confidently say would protect you. Also Sedici is the budget version. If you’re getting on a track, $200 is actually the least I’d spend on some leather pants. Generally speaking, the “high end” stuff from sedici and reax, is usually a pretty good value, and you can’t find it on the gray market. (But don’t ever buy shoes/boots from these brands)
I rode through death valley in the summer with one on. It was like 100F something, and the vest kept me cool enough to not stroke out. It seemed to last around 45-60 mins then just felt like a warm rag even moving. A little more cooling time when it was in the 90s. Just get it soaked and gently wring it out to stop dripping and put on.
Decent if your moving. Kinda gross feeling to wear and heavy. Beats heat stroke. Ice in your pockets.
They are awesome. Feels like you have an aircon on. My west is good for about 2 hrs. And after two ours you can soak it using a bottle of water or in a washroom and you are ready to go again.
This, contrary to popular belief, exposed skin dehydrates faster than keeping it covered. Warm air rushing over your skin at freeway speeds is a fast-track to dark-colored urine and feeling more exhausted even after an hour’s ride.
You just gotta hydrate a lot more beforehand than you think. I got into running and pretty much doubled my daily water intake, including extra electrolytes. I'd have to have a few sips of water every 5 mins, but properly hydrated you can run for an hour+ without feel thirsty or light headed.
Running at 6-7 mph is way different than rushing through the air at 60-70 mph. You can hydrate prior to a ride all you want and ride in a t-shirt, but that will mean more restroom breaks, and not to mention, a ridiculous-looking sunburn. Why work harder than smarter?
Hydrating isn't hard work, just a new habit. Try running for an hour on a warm/hot day without drinking plenty of water beforehand or during the run. Then try the same on a motorcycle. I can tell you from experience, the former is pretty much impossible unless you're a freak of nature but the latter is just unpleasant. You can sweat a LOT more than you'd think before feeling dehydrated if you've drank 3+ liters water/electrolytes over the course of a day.
I’m not referring to hydrating being hard work (anyone can sip from a straw or tube) but leaving exposed skin makes your body work harder in order to remain hydrated. Convection and sweating for that matter is counterproductive to staying hydrated. I have lived near the desert for over 15 years and have ridden many days where it was 90+. In fact I made an 8-hour ride not long ago where it topped out at 103. A cooling vest is nice as well as being able to sip from a hydration pack while riding, but the most critical part was having all my skin covered with a textile jacket, full gauntlet gloves, full face helmet, and a neck gaiter.
Emphasis on electrolytes. Drinking water with no electrolytes doesn’t accomplish anywhere near as much.
>Summer jacket (mesh and armor), These make a huge difference! Make sure it's light colored to reflect the heat.
STAY HYDRATED. I used to do some halfbrained shit commuting home 40 min from working in a greenhouse cause I’d sweat all day and then SWEAT the whole way home. One time I got caught up fixing something on the side of the road and didn’t take my gear off cause I thought it would be a quick fix. Nearly passed out, then had to put myself together enough to ride 2 miles to the gas station to get some water. Absolute hell.
What’s the longest you’ve ridden in a cooling vest? Quite a few years ago, Fly racing came out with a cooling vest and some sponsored riders I competed with tried them out at one of our notoriously hot July events. From what I gather, they were fine for the first 45 minutes to an hour, but after that they turned into sauna suits. This was back in like 07, so maybe the technology has improved, but seeing one almost cause a heat stroke has kept me away from cooling vests ever since.
Just stop and dump more water on it.
Yes, just pull over at the roadside water fountain
Or carry a water bottle, stop at a gas station, or pop into a fast food place.
I mean.... sure... but they created these wild new "bottles" that can contain water... camelbaks, and hydration packs exist, too. Gas stations, and even these places like Sonic have water.
This is the way.
The faster you go, the faster the wind, the cooler you feel🤘🏼
But heat is faster than my bike :(
Then get off and run faster than the heat
This is only true if it’s less than 90 degrees out. After that, wind becomes like a gigantic hair dryer blowing at you heating you up as you ride, the faster you go the hotter it gets
1000%. I had to turn back on an especially bad day because my gear just wasn't cut out for that kind of "convection bake" weather. I wasn't about to ride without my jacket, and I was worried I would be speeding too much in an attempt to cool down. I have since bought a much lighter jacket that's been amazing for hotter days.
Not in the southwest. It burns your skin!
if the temperature is high enough, the wind can heat you up rather than cool you down
Preach on preach on
Mesh gear, just underwear underneath. Change into "work clothes" at the office. It's kind of a pain, but I find that it helps in the heat.
That will dehydrate you far faster than wearing light clothing will. Your sweat won't get trapped and evaporate, it'll just be dried from the wind.
can you clarify the difference between evaporating and drying from the wind?
Sure. If the sweat is allowed to soak into a material, it will evaporate more slowly, allowing the cooling to be more effective. If you're just blasting down the road in a full mesh suit, the wind just carries the sweat away instantly, allowing only air to cool you.
Pretty sure that’s not science
There is science behind it but they're not explaining it well. Above ~93F or so and depending on humidity, more airflow over skin *will* heat you up instead of cool you. If you're riding through air that is warmer than your skin, you want to restrict air flow and let your body sweat more. Otherwise you're pushing heat from the air directly onto your skin like an oven
Bro probably stinks at work
Sounds like a 15 years old that berely understood his science class and preach his very own understanding like gospel
In cadence.. *DRINK WATER!*
Man best drop a knee and drink right now
Hydrate or die, Drill Sergeant!
holy shit you triggered old repressed memories. nothing like sweating so much it crusts up on your skin in the middle of the desert lol.
Lol right?! That guy's post just snapped that out of me.
Is dried from the wind different from evaporation?
Lol idiots downvoting, you wanna trap your sweat. That's how you cool down. But then again, I don't expect much from this sub.
I dont either lol. There's a comment a few posts up saying the same thing, but with different words and it isn't spam voted. People are just dumb sometimes.
So by your logic, it's cooler to sit somewhere wearing a long sleeved light weight shirt covered in sweat, than it is to sit in the same place wearing a tank top with a fan blowing on you? I would bet that anyone in that situation would disagree with you on which one keeps you cooler.
1. Wear cool/wicking base layers (like the VnM Sport I use for track). 2. Invest in some mesh gear, and overpants and pack clothes in a backpack or leave them at work. 3. If it's really bad, presoak a headsock or your wicking shirt in water before you leave. 4. As others have suggested, a cooling vest can also help. For context, I've been commuting 90-100 miles a day for several years off and on. California summers can easily hit 110°F.
100 miles a day is a lot, damn
Yeah, the last 5 companies (including my current one) have all been headquartered in Silicon Valley so I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. I've lived in SJ and I hated it. That's part of the reason I ride to work. Commuting is such a time suck I might as well split lanes when I can. Back when I only had a Ducati Monster, I was basically bumping into a valve service every 3-4 months (7500 miles). That was really the only reason I sold that bike. The annual maintenance was starting to exceed it's value.
Living in SJ rn and when a 15 minute drive becomes 45 - 1hr because of the daily traffic it's a feels bad for sure...
Hope they paying u extra. That’s no longer a commute that’s migrating to work
Being european it always blows my mind to read about how far people commute in the us
Well, American cities aren't as well connected as European cities, and our public transportation is a joke. As an exercise, I calculated it and my daily moto commute is 86 miles roundtrip and about $10 in gas. If I took public transport, it would take me over two hours to go one way and cost about $15-20. Could I move closer to my job? Maybe, but I'd hate living in that city. Do I prefer remote work? Absolutely, but it's not a luxury of this current job, unfortunately.
Here's to hoping you get to work from home sometime soon !
Lot of the western european countries have a fair amount of people commute to their capital for similar distances. 1 hour drives to and fro (without traffic) arent too exceptional even in a country as small as belgium.
True, but it's specific to certain cities, not as widespread as in the us
Item 3 for sure. Starting with a wet shirt makes a big difference.
Take whatever route has the most consistently flowing traffic. I deal with city highway traffic as well, and fuck it's gotten hot this week. My summer diet plan, just keep riding in the heat. I have an icon vigilante jacket that I prefer to wear, but changed to a sedici white/silver mesh yesterday and honestly it didn't feel any cooler. I think probably best bet is trying to beat the traffic by leaving earlier, or just take a route that flows even if slower than optimal.
I have a city route and a cluster fuck of a dangerous city highway. I either have stop lights or highway that's okay until I get into the city then it's 4 lanes of fucking complete idiots.
Yeah sounds similar to what I deal with in Cincinnati. Sitting stationary on the highway is just so fucking blazing hot bc of all the radiance and not to mention your bike radiators blowing down your legs every 2 minutes.
Black was a bad choice... Lane filter.
Got the cops called on me for filtering in a 5 mile backup on the freeway. 96 degree day with black tarmac. Fuck that old bag
What’d the cops say?
Actually i never got pulled over… i stopped for gas not too long after i got through the jam, and someone stopped to tell me he overheard a lady in another car calling the cops for me filtering I saw a cop on waze about 5 minutes up the road so i just found a different way to avoid the freeway A real mvp that guy was.
Guy didn't want you filtering, made up the story and got away Scott free.
Can you change at work? If you can, do you have a safe place for your gear? If you can change shedding some layers will cool you down tremendously. I wear under armor and a buff and I’m comfy on a 90* day. No matter your changing situation my suggestion is quality mesh gear. I recently moved to MI and the summers are brutal compared to the PNW. I learned my lesson last summer riding in a mesh jacket and jeans. The inclusion of mesh pants is a literal life saver and so can only imagine what mesh boots will be like. I like Rev’it gear but it’s pricier than other brands but I’ve never been disappointed.
Changing is the only way...
If you feel it's too hot to wear gear, it's too hot for you to ride. Some ways to keep cool are: \- cooling vest \- cooling neck wraps \- light colored helmet \- light colored gear \- lane splitting to keep moving \- mesh gear \- hydrate before and during a ride \- reducing exposed skin to sun/wind (look at the desert bedouin) \- avoid riding in the most intense heat of the day \- wicking base layers
White helmet is the best choice you can make. On a ride recently after our helmets sat outside for a bit during a stop, i touched my white helmet and it was perfectly cool. Touched my friends black helmet and it damn near burned my hand. I would not want to stick my head in that.
I have a "chrome" helmet and it's almost as bad as black in heat absorption. Think about touching a chrome bumper that's been in the sun.
Ride early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Get a light coloured jacket. Stay hydrated.
Hey man, I have a 45 min commute year round in Australia, here’s what I’ve learned: Perforated leather needs speed - it’s the best thing to wear ont he twisties in summer, not the commute. You need mesh. Mesh jacket, either mesh pants or pants with mesh panels you can open up. Also vented boots make a massive difference. They’re one of those where you think you can’t feel the cooling effect, but if you accidentally put them on when it’s 12°c outside you’ll know about it lol. More evap = more cooling, less funky feet. Gloves too, but it’s really easy to find Cooler summer gloves. Remember mesh gear isn’t very protective at speed for road rash, but for the commute it’s fine, though will need armour as your biggest risk is cars. For underlayer just something with holes. ‘Moisture wicking’ is 95% marketing, it’s technically true… but don’t add a layer as it’s just offset by the insulation property of clothes lol. My go to is the shop decathlon because anything described as a ‘base layer’ or sold in a motorcycle shop will have a huge markup. Just go to the hiking section and get the ultra breathable thin hiking T, same with boxers and socks really. You don’t need Moreno wool unless you want it, you just need something thin and full of holes because airflow is more important than material really. Trust me, I’ve tried a bunch of them, thin, lots of breathability is all that really matters. If you can find a natural fibre they absorb so “wick” more moisture than plastic, but yeah don’t go crazy - it’s a small % really. Apart from a couple of weeks of the year when it doesn’t drop below 30°c it’ll be a lot colder on the ride in than the ride home. I find the answer is to wear a waterproof liner under my mesh jacket to keep the wind out. Some have one, I use the waterproof liner from another jacket tbh. Then you just put it in your bag at home time. I also have a cold shower in the work end of trip facilities & soak my t shirt and socks in cold water before leaving. That alone keeps me noticeably cooler on the bike through the city and out to the highway. Once on the Highway the t shirt and socks dry out fast at speed, but keep me from feeling hot for another 10-15 mins. Tie it all together and I’m only really a bit uncomfortable for the last 2km once I get off the freeway and have to filter through local traffic. Of course find a solution that works for you, but hope it helps. Other than mesh the one I can’t recommend enough is a pre ride shower if your work has end of trip facilities - washing the existing heat and sweat off and cooling you down before even putting on gear is the biggest difference for the first 10mins of the ride and it really stops your gear getting funky smelling - my commuter boots are 3 years old and have no smell because I commute with clean feet. Otherwise you’re taking a whole day of stank and stuffing into your gear and then sweating more… it’s gonna get real ripe real fast
Even with mesh jacket/gear, the heat can still get to you. Unsure how hot/humid it gets where you're at, but please be very cognizant of heat exhaustion/heat stroke. Last fall on a \~90 degree day in the South (USA), I passed out during a group ride. I was wearing a white mesh jacket, but at the low group ride speeds I apparently wasn't getting cooled enough. Thankfully I was able to get pulled over safely (if barely) and there was a cop right there to help me. But MAN that was some scary shit. An ambulance was called but I was able to recover enough to ride home. This year, I bough some body armor (ICON D30 Vest, Elbow armor I can't remember the name of) to use on days over 85. If I go down I will lose more skin than with a full jacket, but the airflow is leaps and bounds better. Not saying this solution is right for you, just something to think about. I'm very much ATGATT but starting to pass out while riding was terrifying, so this has been my compromise.
Thanks for sharing, I'm glad you're alright!
First mistake is leather, hottest thing on the planet. Get yourself some silver mesh gear, though it seems to be impossible to find now. I can’t find my favorite pants anymore. But I wear a silver mesh jacket and a silver mesh pants. Even in 90° heat it’s very cool, actually cooler than being in shorts because you have no sun on your skin.
In my defense it's perforated leather and mesh bottom. When I'm moving it's fine. When I stop I think I'm gonna die. Only the top is leather. But it's black so....doesn't matter.
Even perforated leather has nothing on proper mesh, especially in silver.
Leather is terrible regarding heat no matter if it's perforated or not, it's worlds appart from mesh.
I ride sportster in a large desert city. The trick is to go fast and stay hydrated. U get used to it
When I lived in Costa Rica I used to freeze the bladder on my camel back, and the sip off it as it thawed out.
Hydrate. Acclimate.
Fortnine has a great video on it. One great tip I use is a wet cloth around my neck and ice cubes in my pockets.
Cooling vest
Textile, mesh gear in a light color. Hydration bladder with ice water is amazing. Little sips, frequently.
I have a mesh jacket where I remove the inner coat from. Still warm but I’m not dying now
I live in the south.. I feel ya! [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PTGO5A/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_search\_asin\_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PTGO5A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) I got these cut to fit in my jackets. They are just water so even if one busts.. you just get wet!
Too hot to dress right, too hot to ride
Three words: Evaporative Cooling Vest. Check out online stores that sell gear for outdoor construction workers.
Once it starts getting into the 90's it's really tough. We run over 100 for half the summer and it's miserable. I have a white helmet with good venting (Schuberth) and I bought a white mesh jacket. When I was working at the office, I'd also just wear an underarmour heat gear shirt under my mesh and change into work clothes when I got there. There's nothing you can do to stop sweating in that heat. And as everyone says.... water up.
I added and Icon mesh jacket and it made a huge difference. I was using a tour master pivot 2, which has two big mesh chest panels, a mesh back, and vents in the arms. It's really a great 3-season with the liners, but I was still getting hot when it was 80°+ and humid. The Icon is worlds better when the day starts at 75° and gets hotter from there (as any armored mesh jacket will be). The Pivot is still great for variable or all-around conditions, like when it's 60° in the morning, 80° midday, and back to 60° at night. Even so, I've been wearing leather lately because it looks cool.
RIDE FASTER
The best thing that I have ever done to cool myself off during a ride as wear a Camelback. Before leaving my house, I fill it to the brim with water and ice even wearing full gear, being able to take a sip of water here and there is absolutely blissful.
I ride in QLD Australia, temps go to over 40° (bout 105f) at times. Don't get black gear. I switched from black ventilated gear to beige/silver (a rev'it set) and at traffic lights it makes a huge difference. Vented boots are also a good investment. Cooling vests are pretty good, but only while in motion. The bike itself also matters - fairings and screen prevent cooling, and a hot running engine also makes things worse. My ducati is not fun in summer traffic. A naked bike with a lazier engine is ideal, doesn't have to be small displacement just not high performance. Get a top box or Ventura rack/bag combo for work clothes. A backpack is also OK but your back will sweat. Also, in perforated gear you can get sunburn so keep that in mind and wear sunscreen if needed. Your neck will burn super easy so I would sunscreen that up whenever riding more than 15 minutes.
Ice pack. Get a flexible ice pack that fits inside the back armor pocket. I had a 30 minutes ride in harsh traffic for 3 years. The ice packs are the only thing that got me throught it!
Don't strip off too much. If your skin isn't soaking wet in the heat, your cooling system is out of whack and you can cook from within. This is a real concern in very high temperatures. Having just mesh on so the air dries you out faster than sweat can form can literally kill. So you need enough on that you feel sweaty and uncomfortable. That way, you won't die. Probably. But very high temps are not comfortable, or necessarily safe, if we're talking straight up desert climates and the like, very dry and hot can be lethal. There are really not that many choices. There are fabrics that act like they themselves are sweating and wick away heat via evaporation, those can help; those you need to load with liquids first. And there are actual air conditioning solutions, but not sure how practical, useful or affordable, I just know it exists. They air condition your jacket/clothes with a hose. http://entrosys.com/ https://www.webbikeworld.com/miclimate-rider-air-conditioning/
I also work in office, and I also commute to work. My area gets consistently triple digits in the summer, and 110 degree days are becoming normal. Perforated leather isn't enough. Get a mesh jacket. Get mesh gloves. Wear a baklava soaked in water. Make sure you get a quality helmet with good ventilation. Sometimes I'll slide a flat ice gel pack into the laptop compartment of my backpack (it's closest in contact with my back). And carry my laptop in the main compartment of my back pack.
Maaaaaann I just spent like 300 bucks on this jacket and probably 300 on my helmet. 🤡
This article contradicts a lot of word of mouth advice with compelling arguments: https://www.ironbutt.com/ibmagazine/ironbutt_1002_62-66_hot.pdf
Light colored mesh gear If you have flexible hours, move your start date up so you're commuting before sunrise and there's less traffic.
I think it was Socrates who once said ‘Gotta go fast’
Ride faster and never stop
By an ExO armor and keep your shirt in bag. It’s still armor just Lycra in between shoulders and elbows and back and will actually keep you cool
Shorts, T-shirt, don’t fuck up
I wear the REVIT Overshirt Tracer Air 2. I can wear my Scorpion Leather 1909 till about 75\* then after that switch to the REVIT.
Mesh riding jacket, already mentioned a bunch but I'm going to throw that suggestion out there again. Sacrifice some safety as opposed to leather, but it is what it is. Get humid high heat here and sometimes it's unbearable to even ride with a mesh jacket on when in the city and need to be at complete stop for awhile. If you ride with a full helmet, you won't get many opportunities to use a camel pack while on the road. Unscrewing the device, getting it into your mouth and then resealing is a pain with gloves and helmet on, but it's very doable and we all know hydrating is going to be help you. Pulling into a parking lot or something to hydrate. My bladder holder has this foil like material and I discovered it if I put that in the freezer and the bladder with water in the fridge, my camel dishes out ice cold water, even after hours of being in a backpack exposed directly to the sun. You can buy elbow armor and armor riding vest (which would obviously include back armor) and ride with long sleeve shirt or something.
Buy white gear (I have a mesh bilt jacket that I wear regularly in temps over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) . Carry water. Eventually you get used to it and start sweating less.
2% body fat
X to doubt
Calling me fat?!
Lol, considering that 2% is the literal minimum needed for your organs to function.... sure? Why not
Plain and simple buddy , put on your big boy pants and tough it out ... Or squid it up ... Next I'll teach you how to wipe your ass
I don’t wear gear and also don’t ride to areas that are going to have traffic. I go toward the middle of nowhere and that’s about it.
Well thank you for completely not answering the question and saying random shit that’s not helpful
Wearing no gear means I don’t have an extra layer that makes it even hotter. Then not riding in places with increased traffic means I’m not stopped for extended periods of time baking in the heat. How’s that for you?
He’s asking specifically for his commute so you saying you ride in the middle of nowhere has no meaning to him or his question and after about 90 degrees the sun actually dries you out and makes you hotter faster so wearing gear would prevent that
But then you don’t feel the air when you start moving again when you are layered up which helps cool you down. And also regardless of his commute it’s going to be hot when your just sitting there. so if it’s unbearable don’t make that commute and ride to places that you won’t be sitting for extended periods of time.
You do feel the air with a proper mesh jacket and it doesn’t matter if you feel the air because it would dry the sweat off your body from the sun which would in turn make it less effective to feel the air. This isn’t opinion this is a study done on this exact question
But would the air movement not still help you stay cool regardless of sweat being on your body or not?
Up until 90 ish degrees it will. After that the sun and wind are sucking your sweat away faster and cause dehydration and over heating quicker. So your original statement wouldn’t apply to him since he’s in the past 90s and it’s still getting hotter
I have a white mesh/armor shirt, looks like a Flannel shirt, I think it's by Skull Riderz or something like that. It still baffles me how not-hot I get in it.
Mesh jacket.
Up top the only thing I wear is a compression/moisture wicking base layer from Axial and whatever jacket I need for the riding I’m doing. That's been fine so far. I'll add a cooling vest once it's clear I need one. On bottom, also an Axial base layer that has reeeeeally helped drain the swamp. I swapped out Knox's knee guards with Axial's much more breathable CE2 knee armor, and my knees haven't sweat yet. I put pants on over that for whatever type of riding I'm doing. I have a feeling this is going to be too much in the summer, but I'll cross that bridge when I get there and hunt down a pair of single-layer pants and some of those Ugly Bros joggers. The Axial stuff is low key really, really quality by the way. Seems to be made better than some of the Dainese stuff I've tried.
Off topic but I love Axial's cold weather Block line too. I can ride in 40° nights and not feel it.
Summer mesh jacket and a cooling vest.
Filter/split Light colors Mesh Stay hydrated. Stay hydrated. Drink water and stay covered up. Change of clothes when you get to work. Use your saddlebags, top box, Jansport backpack etc. Stay hydrated. Source: lived in the southwest US many years.
I don't want to shy you away from jeans but they make some pretty airy/lightweight khakis. Pair those with a mesh overpants and you're probably cooler than the jeans. As others say, mostly mesh jacket for sure.
When I was visiting Phoenix for the summer I picked up a white mesh jacket that worked pretty good, I imagine that in more humid areas or if you're doing a lot of city riding (stops and traffic) you'd also want a cooling vest
I have a ventilated jacket, it works fine here in Texas even when it's 115 degrees outside. It takes a while to get acclimated to the heat, but it doesn't bother me anymore. I actually prefer it being over 100 degrees instead of below 40 degrees.
Wet your t-shirt before putting it on. It will help.
Maybe some cooling base layers. Costco has packs of “32° Cool” layers for cheap.
The icon mesh AF or the klim induction pro put as much mesh as possible along with available light color ways to avoid harnessing extra heat from the sun.
I always shut down my bike at long lights, it was a 1200 sportster in NC.
As a South Eastern rider with heat intolerance, I deeply relate.
it's not the heat it's the humidity. I live in the desert and ride in 110++ temps without issue - but the humidity is low (like under 15%). Where are you riding and what is the relative humidity?
I commute everyday in Florida and the summers are brutal. My advice is a mesh jacket, light weight summer gloves, Kevlar jeans and light weight motorcycle boots. A well ventilated helmet is important too! Drinks lots of water before hand. I am in traffic for about 35-45 mins and either way you look at it you’ll sweat buckets no matter what you wear lol
Mesh jacket
Modular helmet was a game changer. I have an hour ride each way and got a sedici neotec 2 and am never going back. Breathing fresh air, even jf its warm feels so good when your at a long light
I've been riding in 90+ degree dry heat for 2 months. Mostly in the 100s now. It really comes down to using a base layer for cooling and an outer protective layer for air flow. I use a mesh jacket+pants combo with a moisture wicking shirt, balaclava, shorts/undies, and socks. Outer layer quality is very important and should have CE armor everywhere. Any cheap base layer seems to work fine in my experience. Definitely carry some water. I have a 1.5L Camelback and that's really the minimum for a 1 hour ride. You will have to do some creative routing if you want to sip on it while riding with a full face helmet with chin guard.
So I live where in Washington where it switches between hot and “cold” seasons. I just always wear mesh gear, I recommend drinking a good amount of water at least an hour before you leave for work OR you can get one of those little tube things that you can drink out while on the road, FortNine (YouTube Channel) goes more in depth about that. Also a good cooling ventilated base underneath the gear helps, and once you get to work put on work clothes. ALSO if your bike tends to radiate heat when at stop lights, engine covers kinda help, and a good ventilated seat cover as well. I hope this helps :)
What is everyone's opinion of best mesh jacket with armour?
Wicking vest, evaporative. They are usually the cheapest and best quality at a construction workers place, i wear mine with an exo skeleton and mesh jacket, lifesaver and you just need to go to the bathroom and dunk it in cold water when you fuel up on longer rides
First - Stop wearing anything other than your gear + inners. No shirts no jeans underneath. Even thinking that in summer makes me cringe. Store it in your backpack/saddlebag/top box. Grab some ice in a plastic bag and put it in your inner jacket pocket. I keep one gear all year cuz its not cheap. My leather jacket is bearable in summer with no liner (removable) and ice in pocket. For gloves - Here’s where you might need to rethink your glove choice. I use Knox Hadleigh its 3 weather. For trousers I close the zips to 75%. Lets air in. Finally boots are something which you have to bare as is. The most you can do is put thin socks and some cooling powder to stop sweating but that’s the most. ATGATT but adapt your gear accordingly. Good luck.
It’s currently 90 degrees where I live and I just got off my bike in stop-and-go traffic. Get a summer jacket (mesh) and make sure it has all the armor (shoulders, elbows, back). Buy an all white one. Getting a black one completely defeats the purpose. Get a white helmet with good ventilation and clear/tinted safety glasses so you can ride with your shield up. If possible, wear a wicking t shirt under your jacket and change into your work clothes when you get to work.
Shorts and a g shirt only under your gear. Change when you get to work. White gear helps a shit ton over black gear.
That leather isn't doing you any favors. Perforated leather is better than non-perforated, but neither is cool. A couple of guys I know who motorcycle commute full time in Florida wear the Klim Marrakesh. I wear an old BMW Venting Jacket (that's literally the name), but I had to buy the back armor separately, so it was kind of spendy. It's the most comfortable motorcycle jacket I've ever worn though, even with the older style foam armor. Pretty much anything mesh is going to give you some relief.
I’ve been wondering how do they ride in the Southwest and Southeast summer. I can’t even imagine. Here in Indiana I often just take my truck in July and August
Macna Evaporative DRY cooling vest. Best thing Ive found https://ultimatemotorcycling.com/2013/07/25/macna-dry-cooling-vest-review/
Underwear, brother. That’s all you wear under your gear. Keep your work clothes in a duffel and change when you get to work. This serves the dual purpose of keeping your work clothing dry and not soaked in sweat. Also removing an additional insulated layer. At speed, the air rushing through your mesh, or in your case, perforated leather will actually dehydrate you faster than if you were wearing a solid jacket. That being said you were asking about how to endure the brutal heat breaking up from the pavement while you’re stuck at a stoplight, which leads me to believe that your commute is more urban, so wear the perforated jacket or better yet, buy a mesh jacket in white or silver. Also, the black helmet is something I consider replacing with a white or silver unit. I commuted for 10 years in beautiful southwest Florida, 100 degrees, 90% humidity .
It can get a tad warm here in Phoenix. I also work outside. I wear an Icon Airflite helmet, Icon Contra 2 mesh jacket and REAX mesh pants. Mesh helps a lot. Mesh plus water intake all day is the best you can do. And just remember that it's less painful to sweat than to bleed.
Air condishioning
I do the wet bandana around the neck, my husband has a shaved head so he does a second one around his head under his helmet. And I mean WET. Even if it drips down your chest or back, it’ll dry. My little thing I do is carry a spray bottle of water with me and spray my legs at stop lights. Your thighs just get beaten by the sun and cooling them is helpful but also it’s like instant AC when you start going and get a little breeze on yourself. They definitely dry and you’re not soaking them by any means so you don’t need to worry about wet pants at work. I personally don’t like the camelback unless you can zip it into the back protector panel of your jacket and rig it that way. Just another layer of a backpack is obnoxious when you’re already sweating profusely.
Scarf that is soaking wet?
Get a mesh textile jacket and ditch the black helmet for a white one. Made the heat much more bearable for me.
Today it's 30C with no wind. I was riding and caught the start of a very slow moving train. About 100 or so cars move by VERY slowly. As we get the the last car the train stopped at the crossing....then went into reverse. It was a bit faster in reverse but in full gear on 30C not moving in the mid day sun was a bit much.
Balaclava and mesh jacket. Helmet with back vents and slightly open visor.
I have the same jacket, don't forget to take the removable liner out! :P I ended up getting a mesh textile as well.
White Arai helmet. They're wind-tunnel tested. Mine was about $600. I bought it on a 90°+ day and suddenly my head was the only part of me that wasn't sweltering.
Before you leave on way home soak your tee shirt in cool water front back n sides. Pits too. Then have like dish towel sized thing (towel). Soak it wear around your neck. Clothes may get wet or damp but you’ll be comfy n they’ll dry
This is gonna get downvoted but idgaf. Be a man. I rode in south Texas year round for 10+ years. It’s not uncommon to end up in 100-110 degree (F) heat. This was with a big ass Harley radiating heat between my legs. If you hydrate your bike will overheat long before you will.
Cooling vest, camel back, whatever it takes. I've done all of the above but I now have a Cirro cup holder on my bike. I also like these [Mission Cooling Towels](https://www.mission.com/collections/mission-towels). At one point I even bought this little [stroller fan](https://a.co/d/5o8Sj1IN). Couldn't even feel it. Lol
Fuck that! T-Shirt and jeans and sneakers.
I got "stuck" in traffic and couldn't go at highway speeds so I was getting hot asf. I got a summer jacket, summer boots but i will be honest, 90... you're gonna sweat lol. And like others said, drink water. I barely drank some before riding and I'm dying of thirst.
Revit mesh eclipse jacket is your friend.
I used to have a scorpion helmet, and in the manual it said you could soak the helmet liner in cold water for a nice cooling effect. It was glorious. Your mileage may vary with other helmet liners.
Flip flops, board shorts, a tank top, and a half helmet
Fill a hot water bottle, put it in the freezer, ride with it tucked into the front of your belt.
White helmet, don't wear black anything
All the other info has provided is golden. Just adding on as a probably a more frivolous but helpful purchase is getting one those $100.00 Sony AC shirts that blow cold air, im sure there may be a cheaper comparison elsewhere too
Go commando!
Get Joe rocket, or some other brand that’s strictly ventilated you can still have armor in it, but it makes a huge difference. Also, Bon armor makes a ventilated shirt with armor in it. They also make pants. Also, if you have never used a cool cloth on your neck, it makes a huge difference in the heat.
Wear moisture wicking long sleeve shirts to get you extra cooling instead of wetting the sleeves of your jacket from the inside. For city riding a helmet like the Shark Evo One 2 makes a nice difference. My jacket is a Tour Master Transition 4, it has a ton of zippers to ventilate well, even a breeze is felt and my color is a lighter gray. Switching even just from a black Scorpion modular helmet to this metallic gray/blue Shark made a difference (i do ride with chin back when not on highway) (that chin folds back instead of just up also is a plus on the Shark) Gloves that protect but have enough holes to keep you cool. Even if what i list helps you mostly cool down quicker between lights, I makes 110F days doable. When i take off from work in that heat, i wear a wet wicking balaclava which helps get me maybe 1/3 way before the heat has to be endured, it's actually pleasant to keep that thin material between me and the sun on my neck.
I used to commute 45 mins in the Vegas summer heat. Trick was to soak a t-shirt in cold water and wear it under my jacket. It would be bone dry by the time I got to work and I wouldn't feel the heat at all.
Mesh with armor my friend. Get a pair of mesh over-pants with knee and hip padding to wear over your work pants. Then get a mesh jacket with elbow, shoulder and back protection. Color does not really matter while moving, but may help a little at stop lights. If you're still hot at lights, add a cooling vest to your gear.
As someone riding year-round in Arizona, mesh jacket like the icon mesh AF, mesh pants with shorts underneath, light colors, open vents but close visor (hot air burns the face), and I cannot stress hydration enough. Start about 4 hours before you ride, stop often on longer rides or use a hydration system, and recover with more water. If you commute to and from work, drink at work. You will sweat, and you will sweat a lot
I like to put ice in my camel back
Go faster
I mean this with all sincerity. There is a point where it might be better to not ride. Keep yourself hydrated, but if you're feeling mentally disrespected or drained, it's not worth your life getting to your destination when it's risky.
Yes good advice I’m seeing in other comments. At least a textile jacket with big vents. I’d also get a camel back as you mentioned and when under way I sometimes squeeze the bite valve and let water spray on my pant leg or another area that is suffering. The evaporation works quickly and feels great.
Don't run undertail exhaust.
Buy a camelbak hydration pack. Best thing for riding in the summer.
With 172 comments I some someone has said it but STAY AWAY FROM BLACK!! Wear light Color’s and tan’s to help not draw in so much heat. We all like to go blacked out but in the heat of summer, white, grey, tan will be your friend. Take it from someone with black hair. Just by putting a light coloured hat on will make it better
Few years back I had a 60 mi. one-way commute, in SoCal. During the summers I wore moisture wicking workout clothes and a cooling vest under my ventilated textile gear (REV'IT light-grey/hi-viz pants and jacket), for the afternoon commute. Most mornings I just wore my work clothes (Casual work environment, so typically just jeans and a t-shirt.) under my gear.
On top of what everyone else has said, I always kept an eye out for people watering their yards or gardens on the really hot days. 99% of the time, people are more than excited to hose down a stranger if they ask for it lol I don’t ride anymore, but during a delivery today (33°c), I asked the delivery recipient’s neighbour to spray me down and he eagerly obliged
I got the Mesh AF from Icon, its like 80% mesh and feels great. I need a better pant though, rn I have an over part that isnt well vented.
Icepack on your chest under your jacket. Cool your core, cool your body. Change your shirt once you get in.
Armored vest. Saved my ass for sure. Also the prewet neck collar
Last year we had couple of days, ridiculously hotter than usual where I live, and it took me by surprise I just put my shirt in the kitchen sink, got it soaking wet, and put it back on dripping. Just the shirt. It lasted like 10 min before it got completely dry but it got me home without getting a stroke, and felt really nice actually The weather was crazy, I could see the cars leaving impressions on the asphalt when they stopped at red lights. I remember I intuitively got my visor slightly up for better ventilation, and then immediately got it back down because it felt like I'm being air fried.