Riding in the Rain Advise Please

[AHAMAYs2]

Hey Guys, I have fallen in love with my bike to the point that i sold my car because i never drive it. However i am looking for some good advise on gear that i can wear in the rain. I already have a nice textile jacket that holds up in the rain very well, and i have simple wind rain pants that i put on over my riding pants. I'm looking more for foot wear that works well. Not necessarily riding specific boots, but just something that will protect my feet

I have size 11 2E (extra wide) feet. Any suggestions?

[SRTie4k]

I'm guessing you prize protection over rain-proof, but I wear a pair of Gortex hiking boots when I ride. I got caught in a rain storm 2 nights ago and my feet stayed completely dry.

[Doc]

What are those slip over covers Gino has...???

[The Snowman]

I use Sidi Vertigo Rain boots. I have ridden a track day in downpours and have been stuck in considerable rain and my feet have stayed dry.

As for rain suits, $5 specials from Walmart over your real protective gear FTW. pack it under the seat.

[Jaynnus]

Neos

[Doc]

Neos

Oh ya! Jane had em too!

[The Magician]

i just wear my regular shoes/boots. let them dry out after. I have extra pairs at home when this happens.

[AHAMAYs2]

Thanks guys, i think i might go with Gortex, my friend Adam has a pair and swears by 'em but i figured I'd ask just to see what else was out there.

[Paul_E_D]

With size 11 wides you can go barefoot and put your feet on the surface of the water like outriggers...

[DBB]

Don't

[AHAMAYs2]

With size 11 wides you can go barefoot and put your feet on the surface of the water like outriggers...

I like it!

[Paul_E_D]

Waterbike!

[markbvt]

Parker, my advice would be to reallocate your spending a little.

First of all, buy yourself a decent pair of riding pants so you can dispense with the Carhartt overalls (or did you recently do this? if so I missed it). There are a number of armored textile ones that are billed as being waterproof.

For the time being, just wear waterproof over boots until you can afford to invest in a really good pair of boots (I favor Sidis). IMO a decent pair of riding pants is more important.

--mark

[kbroderick]

I like the Oxtar..er, I mean TCX Matrix, myself. I picked up a pair used at a decent price, and I've found they generally keep my feet dry in the rain. FWIW, I don't own a four-wheeled vehicle at this point and drove the company car I had last summer about five or six times, most of which were to tow the bike to NHMS or NJMP.

[NobodySpecific]

IMO a decent pair of riding pants is more important.

I disagree. His Carhartt's are going to give him "good enough" abrasion protection for now, whereas non-motorcycle boots will give him very little foot protection, and the foot is a lot more fragile (in general) than the leg. I always ride with boots, but don't always ride with riding pants. Of course, that's just IMO.

[Trouble]

Bah. Feet heal quickly and don't hurt too much when they break. I wouldn't worry about a good quality boot...

[Stoneman]

Carolina loggers if I know it's gonna rain. Carolina insulated loggers if it's coldish and I know it's gonna rain...

[markbvt]

I disagree. His Carhartt's are going to give him "good enough" abrasion protection for now, whereas non-motorcycle boots will give him very little foot protection, and the foot is a lot more fragile (in general) than the leg. I always ride with boots, but don't always ride with riding pants. Of course, that's just IMO.

Depends on what he's currently wearing (which I don't remember, but I was thinking some sort of leather work boot?).

The Carhartts offer no impact protection whatsoever, and only marginal abrasion protection. A pair of leather work boots offers nearly as much protection as the majority of motorcycle boots out there (high-end sport boots not included, but it seems clear from Parker's "doesn't need to be motorcycle-specific" clause that those aren't what he's looking at).

I guess it's sort of six of one, half a dozen of the other though. Ideally he should have both.

--mark

[RandyO]

Neos

another vote for neos

goretex lined boots work ok for a while but not after 700 continuous miles in the rain or any miles once they are 2 years and 50,000 miles old

[RandyO]

I whereas non-motorcycle boots will give him very little foot protection, .

I'll put the wolverine work boots I wear up against 98% of the motorcycle specific boots out there

[Uncle Snake]

Bah. Feet heal quickly and don't hurt too much when they break. I wouldn't worry about a good quality boot...

That is some quality sarcasm right there......

[RandyO]

I have size 11 2E (extra wide) feet. Any suggestions?

feet that wide usually have webs between the toes and like to get wet

[RandyO]

Thanks guys, i think i might go with Gortex, my friend Adam has a pair and swears by 'em but i figured I'd ask just to see what else was out there.

the advantage of an overboot is that the boot doesn't even get wet

the Gortex only keep your feet from getting wet, unless your religious about treating your boots, the the outer boot will get wet, wetting and drying is not good for leather or stitching. my experience it that just about the time the boot gets real comfortable and broken in, the Goretex springs a leak

yes, I have goretex boots and I still use my Neos when I ride in the rain

[Manny]

Id buy back your car.

[catch2otwo]

I disagree. His Carhartt's are going to give him "good enough" abrasion protection for now, whereas non-motorcycle boots will give him very little foot protection, and the foot is a lot more fragile (in general) than the leg. I always ride with boots, but don't always ride with riding pants. Of course, that's just IMO.

Carhartts suck with abrasion resistant. I crashed once at about 15mph and while the pants didn't rip, the fabric is abrasive and touch and that gave me rash on my legs. And as someone else mentioned, no impact protection. I use this all year round, plenty of rain here in the winter. I treat it once a year with nikwax, no problems....