All Weather Commuting gear recommendations

[JC_4N6]

Hey all, just starting out, and once I pass, I plan to commute to Uni on a daily basis. I've had a look around on t'internet for jackets and trousers that will happily fit over everyday clothes, waterproof, and offer the same protection as my regular jacket with armour.
I'm not sure exactly where to start, so thought I'd ask the commuters on here what gear you ladies and gents use to commute? Any tips for successful commuting?

JC

[mr honeysucker]

For commuting you need full weather proof gear, water proof boots jacket trousers gloves and a pin lock insert for you visor to stop it misting up!
Hein gerike do so really good kit

[ja6on]

as honeysucker said hein gerike do nice gear but i think its way over priced, it depends on ur budget. spada are pretty good for the price. The best protection in textiles are the jackets with an airbag (i have a motoair one)

Also look at getting heated grips. bout £25 upwards. Ill fit these to every bike i'll ever own now.

[cheaperholidays]

Buffalo do some superb waterproof and quilted trousers and get a frank thomas jacket of flea bay

Worn in some atrocious weather dry as a bone

[Bombdoctor]

DON'T TOUCH BUFFALO OR TEKNICS!!!!!!!!!!!

CRAP!!!!!!!

I bought both to commute....WATERPROOF for about 20 minutes..........then leak like a teabag........arse....

Spend the money on decent kit..Hein Gericke etc.....better in the long run..i'm saving up to get Hein Gericke myself.....

[yoyo]

I bought a Spada textile set from JT's June '09 and it's still waterproof now, really cant recommend it enough, best bit, £100 for the pair  . The Spada boots were £70 and lasted 6 months of daily use vefore they started to leak.

[cheaperholidays]

DON'T TOUCH BUFFALO OR TEKNICS!!!!!!!!!!!

CRAP!!!!!!!

I bought both to commute....WATERPROOF for about 20 minutes..........then leak like a teabag........arse....

Spend the money on decent kit..Hein Gericke etc.....better in the long run..i'm saving up to get Hein Gericke myself.....

Wrong buffalo and Franks Thomas have some good gear not sure about techinic -  Heine gericke is grossly overpriced.

I have had my gear for over 3 year now no problems...

[im2fast4uguys]

 A Car ... you'll thank me

[arron]

after a 3 hour ride in constatant typical british down pour i was still lovely and warm and dry in my frank Thomas jacket and trousers. Gloves did soak through tho so looking for new ones 

[ja6on]

Ive had a pair of spada trousers for two years and they've never leaked and a pair of swift boots also never leaked. i have hein gerike gloves and they always leak, as said by cheaperholidays its really over priced.

[GrumpyDwarf]

A Car ... you'll thank me

[fuzzylogic]

Doesn't Hein gericke clothing have a 2yr warranty  if it leaks take it back

Had mine 5yrs brilliant kit

                                               

[Bloke]

Doesn't Hein gericke clothing have a 2yr warranty  if it leaks take it back

Had mine 5yrs brilliant kit

                                               

Even without a warranty, if it is sold as waterproof and isn't, take it back under the sales of goods act as clearly it is not fit for purpose.

I did this with a pair of gloves that fell apart at the seams after falling over from stationary at the traffic lights saying that they are ineffective as safety equipment, had no receipt (not required by law) and still got replacements.

I did carry a print out of the act however with the section highlighted.

[dhustonedave]

rucca waterproof kit
daytona boots

and a mortgage to pay for them

[twoesme]

Sweet thread ...

I fitted hand guards and a little screen to keep the biting cold wind off me.
I wear a  pair of Akito twin skin waterproof thermal gloves and under them i put on a pair of them stretchy gloves on as well but after about 10 miles i carn"t feel my finger tips and holding on to the bars gets a bit nasty even with 2 pairs gloves on .

I seen someone with 3 finger gloves ,one for the thumb and the outher 4 fingers there are 2 finger holes so you put your two fingers in one finger on the glove to keep them warm "if you know what i mean"

The Akito jacket i bought from abberbargoed bike shop for 40 quid armored  the lot is really good never cold in it and only wear a T shirt under .

I bought water proof trousers from a builders store for a fiver but they not much good in the rain around the crouch they get soaked through sweet in the cold though with army trousers under them

 A neck scarf is also the best thing i bought  its the tube type just pull it over your head put your lid on and pull it up over your nose ,you get the advantage of runny snobs for a cool fresh drink as well 

Like above the only problem i am getting is a misted up visor unless its open an inch.
Have to look into these pin lock inserts and heated grips me thinks for Christmas .