By Chris Genovese, “the Marketing Guy”
This past riding season, I decided to try out some new [to me] riding gear that promised to make it easier to be geared up during those hot and humid July and August rides. I’d seen actor and fellow rider Robert Patrick (@RIPfighter) posting Instagram videos of himself riding across the desert, often talking about his gear, including a cooling vest and riding jeans. So, I figured—if that setup works for him out there, it should work well in the summer heat here in Western New York, too.
I purchased a basic cooling vest for under a hundred dollars, the kind that you soak in water and wear under a vented vest or jacket. The idea is simple: as the water evaporates, it draws heat away from your body, keeping you cooler while you ride. My experience was mostly positive, with a few things that might be worth pointing out.
On those exceptionally hot and humid days, the vest really performed it’s best. It made a noticeable difference, especially when I was on the move for a couple of hours or more. (Obviously, air flow is a big part of the equation.) I found it’s the kind of gear that can turn a “no way I’m riding today” forecast into a very manageable ride.
But I also discovered its limitations. During a group ride, we stopped at a local establishment to hang out for about twenty minutes. I took off my jacket and the vest, and by the time I went to put it back on, it had dried out and lost its cooling power. Lesson learned: once you start your ride, it’s best to keep the vest on, even at stops. If you’re going to ride all day and take it off for lunch, then have a fresh bottle of water or two handy to re-wet the vest in the afternoon.
That said, the cooling vest really shines when paired with a vented jacket with armor. The combination allows you to stay protected without overheating, making long summer rides more comfortable—and in some cases, possible at all. @RIPfighter wears his through the desert with a vented (perforated) vest on over it—to keep the air flowing and water evaporating.
I also have seen Patrick and other riders having success with another piece of protective gear: motorcycle riding jeans. This year I picked up two pairs of them from City Limit Moto at the start of the season. At about $200 a pair (on sale), they’re not cheap when compared to the old man jeans I wear—but for riders like me that are allergic to road rash, they seem to be worth every penny.
My riding jeans are surprisingly comfortable, even though they’re not quite as soft or flexible as your favorite old pair of Levi’s. However, the trade-off is more than fair when you consider that they’re rated for about four seconds of slide time—meaning you could hit the pavement and slide that long before your skin would be exposed.
I was actually wearing a pair of my riding jeans when I went down this summer, though my high side crash didn’t cause me to slide at all. So, I can’t say that I’ve tested them out that way. Note, however, that there are plenty of videos out there of folks willingly being dragged on pavement to test various brands of riding jeans.
Another plus: they don’t look like protective riding gear. Unless someone’s paying close attention to the labeling, other riders probably won’t even notice you’re wearing them. That combination of safety, comfort, and stealth makes them an easy recommendation for me.
Both pieces of gear—the cooling vest and the riding jeans—helped me to bridge the gap between comfort and better protection. Along with vented jackets, they made it easier for me to gear up and ride a little more safely, especially in our summer heat. And in my book, anything that keeps me riding safely and comfortably a little longer or a little better is worthy of my recommendation.
