[It's Not That Cold]

As for gear in general, am I the only one who's noticed that if you're selling clothing (or pretty much anything else, such as zucchini, or clarinets, or toilet bowl seals), if you tack the word "tactical" to the beginning of the item's name, you can charge a minimum of 33% more?

- Aaron

 

[Johntheskier]

@It's Not That Cold I think the proper term is taci-cool.

 

[Peteislost]

Has anyone seen the recent shift from merino wool to synthetic mesh base layers mainly coming out of backpacking? I wear Bohn armor under my riding gear and as armor they work just great. I've been in some really high heat and they work to vent moisture very well. I've ridden in some cooler temps and they've also worked there to keep me warm, even in light rain.
The theory goes that the mesh open spaces keeps warm air trapped against the skin while allowing moisture to breath outwards from skin while the mid layer retains the heat. In summer I wear a riding jersey or vented ballistic nylon jacket over the armor. In the cooler 50's or so I didn't change up anything other than mesh jacket. But will need a mid layer or 2 in lower temps.
Any opinion?

 

[StarfuryTH]

Has anyone seen the recent shift from merino wool to synthetic mesh base layers mainly coming out of backpacking? I wear Bohn armor under my riding gear and as armor they work just great. I've been in some really high heat and they work to vent moisture very well. I've ridden in some cooler temps and they've also worked there to keep me warm, even in light rain.
The theory goes that the mesh open spaces keeps warm air trapped against the skin while allowing moisture to breath outwards from skin while the mid layer retains the heat. In summer I wear a riding jersey or vented ballistic nylon jacket over the armor. In the cooler 50's or so I didn't change up anything other than mesh jacket. But will need a mid layer or 2 in lower temps.
Any opinion?

Shift? No.
Each option has its own ups and downs.

I find that my compression-fit UA base layers are the best option for controlling sweat, regardless of the ambient temp. I wear them year round if I plan on doing any kind of strenuous riding. I find they keep me cool and dry(er) than any other option.
The big downside is that they can get outright cold. If I sweat a bunch, stop, and strip off my outer layer(s), I'd freeze in anything less than 50F. To combat this, I just keep my jacket on at stops and fan it to let sweat evaporate.
Secondary downsides are poor odor control and very high thermal conductivity. Direct sunlight with not enough ventilation can be really, really hot, even in cold temps.

Merino wool is great for lower-stress activities. It still manages sweat decently, but it won't cool the skin like a compression-fit synthetic, and it will provide more thermal insulation. It's also not terribly durable. But it doesn't tend to smell like synthetics, particularly over a weekend of use.

I wouldn't mind a merino wool base layer for cool weather touring, but I don't think I'd ever use it in the summer. And seeing as a good top or bottom runs 3x as much as my UA stuff but will probably last 1/4 as long, I'm not really looking to change my setup.

 

[KLRider]

As for gear in general, am I the only one who's noticed that if you're selling clothing (or pretty much anything else, such as zucchini, or clarinets, or toilet bowl seals), if you tack the word "tactical" to the beginning of the item's name, you can charge a minimum of 33% more?

- Aaron

YES!!!
Tactical equates higher costs....and now EVERYTHING can be had in a "tactical" bent...be it knives, gun stocks, garments of all types...waiting for the "tactical" briefs aka underwear...I jest but they probably exist...although I did ask Santa for a gift card to a "tactical" site which has recreated the "woobie"...now in hoodies....it seems...I never knew they were called woobies but apparently in the tactical world and military world.....that is what they were / are known as (poncho liner used as blanket)...

I guess many companies make some version...I came across this company by accident.... on line.... and like to support vet owned companies...

some sorta legal disclaimer; I do not work for Woobie Official, nor do I own stock or receive any gratuities, benefits or money from same...as of this I am contemplating ordering one of the less expensive ones as a mid layer...

here a person explains what the woobie is...being ex Navy guy...we did not have "woobies"...we were issued a wool "pea coat"...but I have an Army surplus coat that has this same type of "woobie" liner in it...its knee length and its a damn warm coat (parka) even with a cotton shell..it might be 60s vintage, not sure but that extra length is nice....so, I know this woobie stuff works....and for some reason I want to say WOOKIE....ahah...but a wookie don't need no stinking woobie, being all hairy and furry anyway...woobie, wookie whatever...check it out if you like

About | Woobie Official

Woobie Official Inc. is a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran/active duty-owned and operated company based in Fayetteville, North Carolina. To learn more about the companies origin, owners, and history, view the full web page.

www.woobieofficial.com

 

[It's Not That Cold]

Had to look. Now I know. Looks like quite a few folks have been "... inspired by the legendary poncho liner," and now sell their own flavor of woobie hoodie.

Here's my favorite comment, found on Reddit. "There was a tailor at Balad that would make smoking jackets out of woobies. He did very brisk business."

Reminds me of what Harpo Marx did to a casino in Monte Carlo, after they refused to let him in because he wasn't wearing a formal jacket. He had a tailor in town make him one - out of green pool table felt.

Lots of good info on this thread - it's covered a lot of turf. Helpful.

- Aaron

 

[Mazikeen]

This AM was my first run with rechargeable knee wraps. Wow, I set them to medium with the ambient at 32 degrees when I left the house. About halfway to work they were getting pretty hot. Night and day difference once at work, these are a keeper but I'll have to turn them down to low I think, which is great as the battery will last longer. I tried about 6 miles clicking along about 90-100 trying to get some higher windchill to take the HOT out of my kneecap and it didn't work. Looks like these will have some overhead on capacity! Stinker is they time out after 60-90 minutes (two different listings in chinese english in the manual) but I think I can work around that.

 

[DaveMueller]

I've had good luck controlling river funk in my base layers with Oxyclean.

 

[Rags]

I have had luck with anti fogging inside visor using this....
View attachment 55523
I found it in the wally world aka walmart "vision center" area...while looking for some other spray "glasses" cleaner...I figured wth...give it a shot...
It is basically some sorta "waxy" paste and it takes lots of buffing out if you get it to thick..I would go lightly with application...and use a lint free micro cloth lint free non scratching rag...for best results.
You might be able to take off visor and "buff it out" with buffing wheel or foam pad..I did it by hand and it took some time but I think I put too much on


Cat Crap makes this also but have not used...

View attachment 55524

Here is the link to the mfg. web site with some "testimonials" on video and a history of the stuff....apparently invented original to keep ski goggles from fogging....

https://ekusa.com/product/cat-crap/

some sorta legal disclaimer: I don't work for cat crap, own stock in cat crap, are paid to endorse cat crap...but I have used cat crap on my full face helmet shield and it did reduce fogging, YMMV

Oh, I HAVE to use Cat Crap just to be able to SAY I use cat crap!

 

[KLRider]

Oh, I HAVE to use Cat Crap just to be able to SAY I use cat crap!

HAHAH yep, it's always good for a chuckle when a fellow rider asks...what do you use on your face shield...wellllll, I prefer CAT CRAP...
say what???

 

[howard]

Not sure which of you this is but even I have my limits and this is likely beyond them.

View attachment 55533

yes but just look how good is insulation is, youll notice the ice is not melting, so either he has succumbed to hypothermia and is decesed on there, OR hes not losing heat into the ice.

 

[howard]

so to update here, first off, thank you all so much for the input, loads of great info here.
I've been trying out some different base layers, but As was mentioned by several people, it doesnt matter how good your insulation is, if there is active airflow through it, your going to be cold. so i grabbed my waterproof high vis jacket from work, and coveralls and put them on over the KLIM carlsbad gear. unfortunatly i havent be able to make it out when its super cold, but i spent about 3 hours at highway speeds in the low 30s the other day i was perfectly warm with no base layers at all, just jeans a t shirt, and the carlsbad, with the waterproof stuff over top. the jacket does have some thin insulation in it which helps, but stopping the wind completely from getting in was huge, and at a meager $40 USD for the jacket its definitly worth it between the added visibility to cars on the road, and the warmth.

the jacket can be had here> Jorestech High Vis Jacket
coveralls are just regular Carhart.

 

[PeteK]

Stopping wind and air infiltration is a critical principle of insulation, whether it's for motorcycle gear or the insulation in your house. Let me segue into that topic for a moment.

I have been pulling apart wallboard and pulling up plywood floors in my shop to fix a plumbing leak I discovered last month that got the drywall wet and then moldy. Really crap job. In the process, I discovered that the pipe used to build the shop 25 years ago was a thin wall PVC that didn't meet plumbing codes. "While I was in there," I decided to re-plumb the shop to prevent future leaks, which led to cutting out more drywall and pulling up plywood flooring. Of course one thing led to another, and I discovered the gaps in the outer walls that allowed air to get into the walls and insulation, as well as gaps in the insulation batting, usually at the top of the batting in the walls. Remember, heat rises, so gaps in the top of the insulation lose much more heat than gaps at the bottom. So this has turned into a 6-week repair and improvement project.

Bottom line: Stop air infiltration by sealing all gaps, whether on your clothes or house. Otherwise, your insulation just acts like an air filter.

 

[howard]

So to further update here, on the topic of preventing visor fog. If you are lucky enough to have a fly racing trekker helmet like me it turns out FR literally makes a heated visor for this helmet, you don't need to source hokey work around for it. If you do not however have a fR Trekker, it might be worth checking out a universal visor heater like the ones made by VISIN just a thought.

 

[It's Not That Cold]

Thanks Howard, for the pix in post #72. I instantly realized I need something like this for standing in heavy rain for a couple of hours, which I occasionally get to do. (I love rain: hiking in it, driving in it (not yet riding in it so much, but it's getting better, and so am I), and generally being out in it doing something.) I require big & extra-tall clothing, and always find myself settling for a compromise, so now I have online homework to do. The reflective vest I've been using offers zero rain protection, and covering up the vest with rain gear defeats its purpose.

- Aaron

 

[Zando]

Thanks Howard, for the pix in post #72. I instantly realized I need something like this for standing in heavy rain for a couple of hours, which I occasionally get to do. (I love rain: hiking in it, driving in it (not yet riding in it so much, but it's getting better, and so am I), and generally being out in it doing something.) I require big & extra-tall clothing, and always find myself settling for a compromise, so now I have online homework to do. The reflective vest I've been using offers zero rain protection, and covering up the vest with rain gear defeats its purpose.

- Aaron

I have an MSR Force Rain Suit from RMATV. For $40 it ain't bad, I did have the zipper fail on my 1st jacket but they replaced it right away with 0 fuss. I love riding in the rain, the pitter patter off my suit is really nice. Keeps me perfectly dry. I'm 6' 3", 300lbs, quite broad shouldered. I wear the 2XL jacket, fits me perfectly. If you aren't too much bigger than me then the 3XL should fit. I do wear the 3XL pants though, and they don't make a 4XL, so if you have big legs you may need to find different pants (annoyingly you can't get the jacket separate from the pants).

 

[It's Not That Cold]

6'-6" here, 265, size 16 feet. I have yet to find pants of any kind which allow me to don/ remove them without taking my boots off. Not complaining - it is what it is. Thanks for the brand info. - Aaron