We all have our favourite items of kit; sometimes it’s a case of trial and error to get the right gear though. Here’s some of our tried and trusted items, rest assured that all these products do exactly what they say on the tin.
£499.99
This is the second Arai Tour-X helmet I’ve owned, this is the newest X4 and it’s a multi function lid. It’s primarily aimed at adventure riders and if I’m riding off road or on something a bit urban I’ll wear it with the peak fitted but most of the time I use it without and it looks mean. It fits very well and is comfortable, although I had to shave a bit of foam away from around the ears to fit my big lugs in! The helmet is made from a Super Fibre Construction and comes with a traditional style double D ring fastener (which in my opinion is safer than the seat belt types), it also has removable and washable Dry Cool interior, FCS Facial Contour System with removable 5mm cheek pads, temple pads and head liner, emergency release tabs, a Pinlock visor insert and plenty of ventilation. It’s not the quietest helmet but I love it and usually wear ear plugs anyway so it’s not a problem. Visit www.whyarai.co.uk
Ok summer is here (allegedly) so you’ll need some decent multi functional kit. RST are a British brand, designed in Derbyshire and this Adventure combo is packed with features, like MAXTEX 600d polyester and BALLISTIC 1680d Nylon outer shell, removable breathable waterproof membrane and quilted lining, RST Contour CE back protector, shoulders, elbows and knee protectors, ventilation panels, camel pack hydration pouch, 360 heavy duty connection zip, multiple pockets, Teflon coated outer, zip off sleeves and removable map pocket. It comes in two colours; sand, or black/gun. The jacket costs £219.99 and the trousers are £179.99. I’ve worn them for a few thousand miles now in extremes of heat, cold and wet and they’ve been faultless. They keep the water out and when it warms up there’s loads of ventilation zips and pockets to keep you cool. They’re designed well, look good, aren’t overly expensive and they do the job. Visit www.rst-moto.com and watch the video to see the full features.
The gloves use Knox’s patented OutDry® lamination process, which means the waterproof and breathable membrane is bonded directly to the glove’s external shell which creates a unique body and seals the stitching and any other potential water entry point.
Products using OutDry® technology will dry much faster as a result. This lamination process also blocks the wind on the glove’s outer surface, reducing the effect of wind chill and, since there is no gap for air between the shell and the membrane, cold air cannot circulate. This allows a layer of warm air to develop, dramatically reducing the risk of condensation from excessive perspiration
The gloves also feature the dialled-in Boa Lacing System that uses a dial to draw ‘side pods’ over the wrist for multi-adjustable closure, the wearer can get hands in and out of the ZERO quickly and easily, even operating the Boa dial with a gloved hand. Boa’s micro-adjustment helps to eliminate tight spots and restriction to blood flow, which can contribute to cold hands and fingers, and allows proper positioning of the ZERO’s cuffs over thick winter riding jackets, helping to keep out wind and rain.
These gloves have never let my hands get wet; they’re also comfortable and look good too. The only downside is that they’re not quite warm enough for me to use on long journeys in the depths of winter. They retail for around £129.99 and more information can be found at www.knox-lab.com
£109.99
I’ve probably covered over 20,000 miles in these fantastic X-Cube boots. In all that time I’ve only ever had wet feet once and that was after spending a day in a monsoon on a bike and the water ran down my trousers and into them, rather than the boots actually leaking. The suede is starting to wear slightly now but the boots are as comfortable as a pair of slippers and they’re my first choice for a long ride, or if I know there’s a chance I’ll get wet. Although they’re not as well armoured as a traditional style bike boot they do still have CE protection for the malleolus area and heel and toe and they also protect the lower shin. Well worth having a pair. Visit www.tcxboots.com