RST Jackets - warm, fully waterproof & high quality?

[Hugo Stiglitz]

Do RST jackets now stand out and can be used genuinely 3 seasons & stand up to the heaviest downpours?

What would you recommend?

I don't have Klim or Rukka money!

I'm ditching my so called 'Goretex' Dainese Carve Master jacket. It wets out fast and is never ever warm.


Or Oxford?

[goonerfromlag]

Triumph gear are usually decent.

[FestivAli]

I generally like RST stuff and with the puffy liner in the RST textile jacket I had was good (as well as being fine after 2 sort of 40-50kph crashes) but how wet you get has depended more on the bike. Eg the faired stuff I had (Suzuki GS500Fs and Honda CBR600F4i) when I had it generally kept dry in the rain unless was stopped - but in stopped traffic and on nakeds I would get soaked. I have Ixon jacket and gloves now and I'm very happy with them but it's been really dry and I'm now a coward so I haven't been caught in any wet weather since I got them a year or so ago.

[Krikkit]

My RST textiles are pretty good, if you want to stay properly dry you need an over suit imo unless you're paying for Klim etc

[GSA_fattie]

Gortex, gortex, gortex everyone wks off over gortex
Through clever marketing they have positioned themselves as the go to material but there are other materials that do the same job and cheaper.

Google fortnine

As for your jacket wetting out, have you tried washing it then reproofing?
Or just treating the outside with a DWR product?

[Hugo Stiglitz]

GSA_fattie said:

Gortex, gortex, gortex everyone wks off over gortex
Through clever marketing they have positioned themselves as the go to material but there are other materials that do the same job and cheaper.

Google fortnine

As for your jacket wetting out, have you tried washing it then reproofing?
Or just treating the outside with a DWR product?

My experience of dwr is its wk

[Wildfire]

If your kit isn't laminate and is a membrane it will eventually wet out, especially if you don't renew the DWR.

Look for laminate of the best waterproofing. I had a Dane suit that lasted year and through some serious downpours and trips.

[Biker9090]

I've used Berking Balistik suit for the last 4 of 5 years through some truly horrific weather inc a full weekend of constant, torrential rain in Wales, sheet rain in Belgium for hours on end etc and it hasn't failed once. Some of the reviews mentioned it was the warmest suit they'd tried at the time. I can't fault it really. Plus it's laminated so no messing about with the awful drop liners.

[StonedRollin]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

Do RST jackets now stand out and can be used genuinely 3 seasons & stand up to the heaviest downpours?

What would you recommend?

I don't have Klim or Rukka money!

I'm ditching my so called 'Goretex' Dainese Carve Master jacket. It wets out fast and is never ever warm.


Or Oxford?

Depending on what size you are i am about to sell a bunch of unworn high end Alpinestars and more regular Furygan kit if you are interested. DM me if so.

[P675]

I got an Oxford Montreal jacket and trousers for £260, in January, and its been very good. Nice and warm at 5-10C, has zips to allow air through. Did let rain through the front zip in heavy rain once but I suspect speed and wind combined made that happen. Trousers have permanently attached bracers which I didn't think I wanted but they are useful when walking around on trips.

[hiccy18]

I bought a cheap-ish laminate jacket from Spidi a few years ago, I'm pretty happy with it. The laminate stuff sheds well, dries well overnight and keeps the rain our in all but the most torrential of weather. I've never had a good fit with RST, but the stuff seems well enough made, I imagine if you purchased from their laminate range you'd have a similar experience.

[Exasperated]

All jackets, regardless of manufacturer, regardless of price, will leak. Some will do it after a few days, some will do it after a few years, but they'll all do it. Mine isn't leaking yet, but when the day comes, I carry an offensive bright fluo yellow rain jacket to go over the top of it. Sure, it'll be a sweaty mess if you ride in 30°c heat and rain for eight hours, but for an hour or so it's fine and 100% waterproof.

[SteveKTMer]

GSA_fattie said:

Gortex, gortex, gortex everyone wks off over gortex
Through clever marketing they have positioned themselves as the go to material but there are other materials that do the same job and cheaper.

Google fortnine

As for your jacket wetting out, have you tried washing it then reproofing?
Or just treating the outside with a DWR product?

Other membranes may well be similar but the control GoreTex have over garment manufacture and probably design makes them much more effective and durable. I don't think it's just marketing but happy to be proved wrong. If I want waterproof I now only buy GoreTex.

Over the years I've had various own brand membranes from well known manufacturers and they've all leaked very quickly, even expensive Dainese gloves, various boots that SportsBikeShop were kind enough to replace and eventually refund and various jackets and trousers from Halvarsons, Alpinestars and Dianese.

Currently have Klim laminated jacket and trousers with GoreTex and they have been brilliant, completely dry everywhere and breathable enough for India.

[KobayashiMaru86]

All my RST wet gear leaks eventually, especially where water pools on the seat so your arse gets wet. Have to re-waterproof with Nikwax every year

[KTMsm]

My RST gear was generally waterproof but despite what the label says, it is not breathable in any way

Off road or in warm weather, I got soaked in sweat

Having done a wet Isle of Man weekend when the others were in klim gear, I was soaking and cold and they were warm and dry

I then bought klim latitude in good condition off eBay used £350

I wouldn't consider going back to RST mostly due to the excellent venting of the klim

[snagzie]

KTMsm said:

I then bought klim latitude in good condition off eBay used £350

Bingo. Got myself a full Rukka suit in top nick for £500 off ebay. Beats the crap out of all the other stuff I've had, including RST.

Not tried Klim personally but same league there or thereabouts (although I was eyeing up some new Klim Outlander boots today - £320!!!)

[Hugo Stiglitz]

That's the problem, most secondhand Rukka kit looks like it's been through a washing machine 500 times.

Motorbike manufacturers branded kit tends to be put for sale reasonably quickly by comparison. Probably because the old owner changed bike to something else and can't be seen wearing Motorrad on a Honda. .

[Mr Squarekins]

Hugo Stiglitz said:

That's the problem, most secondhand Rukka kit looks like it's been through a washing machine 500 times.

Motorbike manufacturers branded kit tends to be put for sale reasonably quickly by comparison. Probably because the old owner changed bike to something else and can't be seen wearing Motorrad on a Honda. .

Ha! I used to wear Ducati leathers on my Fireblade. I was genuinely surprised at the horror of people on Ducatis. They'd be really friendly until they spotted my bike!

[Wulf Sternhammer]

I've had mine nearly 9 years and it's still in great condition and I use it regularly. Still shower proof, still wind proof, still warm in the winter and light enough for summer rides with the liner removed and still cleans up like a new jacket after stuffing it in the washing machine.

Does that tell you anything you need to know?

[Biggy Stardust]

My RST jacket fits decently & keeps me dry. The external chest pocket where I keep my wallet gets a bit damp but actually inside the coat is warm, dry & cosy. For the money it's superb.

I'll happily buy another RST.