Klim Adventure Rally Jacket - insulation?

[fac191]

Dude a bit of straight talking can do no harm. It's just advice or opinions. Its up to you how you take it but if it was me i would want to hear it all.

 

[EricV]

Great. Go to the ADV forum and enjoy poking around there. You starting with the wonderful question that you could have answered for yourself if you had bothered to read the companies web site.

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[Jlq1969]

I think you have to combine the best of both worlds (motorcycling / high altitude mountaineering) .... riding jackets provide protection (80% for falls / friction / windstoper / whaterproof and 20% as thermal insulation) if you need more thermal protection, you will have to go to the world of mountaineering and its "layers" .... if you do not have faith in heated clothing, make your own heating, using car seat patches, which rarely fail and place them on the third layer (the riding jacket) .... if in the market there is not what meets your needs, make it to your liking ..... if you want to reach the summit in the K2 using the best riding clothes, you will end up exhausted by the weight and you will die frozen. If you ride your motorcycle with the best clothes to climb the K2 and you fall off on the highway, you will burn / peel whole ... but you will be warm

 

[The Mountain]

Unfortunately this is what you get on the forums with certain members who think they know it all. Sometimes these discussions get out of hand. Assuming "wearing your water" will add to fatigue is simply not true at all. Lack of sleep and proper diet/hydration during an Iron Butt rally is going to be the biggest contributor to fatigue. Watch any Dakar racer, King Of Hammers, or Erzbergrodeo. Every rider has a water bladder on their backs. Those kind of events make the Iron Butt Rally look like a glorified poker run.

Calling you a rank beginner without ever meeting you. I'm pretty thick skinned but those kind of comments are disturbing. Bragging on riding miles and accolades on forums to make one feel good about themselves is laughable at best. The real "hard core riders" don't come on forums bragging.

An example is "Cycledude" He has never (that I know of) talked much about his riding experience. But if you look down in fine print you will see he has over a half million miles on his Gold wing. That simply blows my mind!!

I surly hope you will share your experiences on a ride of a lifetime. While I have not done that kind of traveling, I have a bit of experience with extreme all day rock crawling and hard core single track.

You are definitely on the right track by researching opinions of others. Main thing I would suggest is to test out your gear before your trip. Try out some different configurations. I have always carried a water bladder on my back since my mountain bike days. When seated the extra weight of my riding gear disappears.

Another added advantage of wool is it lasts without getting smelly. You can reverse the underwear, socks, and shirts to get 2 or 3 days of riding out of each set. If you get hot you simply open up the vents of your jacket/pants. The water retention of wool will help to regulate your body temperature. It also insulates when wet to retain body heat. The big disadvantage is it is not durable. It tears easily. I have found Smart Wool to be the most durable.

You cannot go wrong with any of the choices of high end gear the other members have suggested. I personally like the Gortex as it blocks cold wind amazingly.

One other thing that has nothing to do with riding gear but your lighting setup. Make sure you extensively test out your bike and electrical for long day miles before before your trip. Get to know your bike and find all the fused components and carry spares.

You already made the point I was going to make on water, except for pointing out that strapping a jug to your bike, while it does slightly lower the center of gravity, makes it very difficult to get a drink while riding. You have to stop, dismount, unstrap the water and drink, then resecure everything, remount and get going. I do appreciate the info on wool and I agree. Up here in New England, we have a saying that "cotton kills", and are well familiar with the useful aspect of wool clothing. And I will definitely be testing everything thoroughly before the ride. There's no room for error.

Dude a bit of straight talking can do no harm. It's just advice or opinions. Its up to you how you take it but if it was me i would want to hear it all.

I'm happy to hear any and all genuinely-useful input and real straight talk,

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[Mak10]

You have to kee in mind that we all have different experiences and uses for our bikes. And we can all have tunnel vision as far as what what we want out of a bike.
Some want an Iron Butt bike, some want a canyon carver, a commuter, a two up tourer, a world ADV crosser, a big dirt bike, and on and on. We all have different likes and perspectives. The Super Tenere is the Swiss Army knife of bikes. It is very versatile.

We tend to gravitate how “we” use the bike and forget that others use it totally different. Your going to get as many different opinions as you have replies.

I don’t like carrying things on my back. I keep a hydration bladder in my tank bag. My choice. It works for me and this bike. Other bikes I have to wear a backpack.

Wool is always a good choice, it is warm when wet, and durable. Absorbs sweat, dries quick etc.

I prefer a good waterproof/wind proof Gore Tex shell, and pick my layers underneath to fit the weather. Is the ride going to be physical? How much are you going to sweat?

 

[The Mountain]

You have to kee in mind that we all have different experiences and uses for our bikes. And we can all have tunnel vision as far as what what we want out of a bike.
Some want an Iron Butt bike, some want a canyon carver, a commuter, a two up tourer, a world ADV crosser, a big dirt bike, and on and on. We all have different likes and perspectives. The Super Tenere is the Swiss Army knife of bikes. It is very versatile.

We tend to gravitate how “we” use the bike and forget that others use it totally different. Your going to get as many different opinions as you have replies.

I don’t like carrying things on my back. I keep a hydration bladder in my tank bag. My choice. It works for me and this bike. Other bikes I have to wear a backpack.

Wool is always a good choice, it is warm when wet, and durable. Absorbs sweat, dries quick etc.

I prefer a good waterproof/wind proof Gore Tex shell, and pick my layers underneath to fit the weather. Is the ride going to be physical? How much are you going to sweat?

Totally concur, and I have no problem with that. But there's a difference between "this is how I think the bike should be used" vs "this is how I am telling you the bike should be used and if you disagree then you're ignorant and wrong how dare you contradict me".

 

[Checkswrecks]

Have you considered Rukka? They’re from Finland so they know about cold riding.

https://www.rukkamotorsport.com/

I am on my second Klim, put a lot of miles on a couple of 'Stitches, and have worn a friend's Rukka for part of a day. I've also worked India multiple times, plus a lot of mountain peaks and jungles around the world for almost 32 years and ridden in 16 countries. (btw - I do not consider that to be many.)

Aerostitch has no insulation because they sell layers separate from the jacket and recognized that layering is highly personal about what choices to use through the temperature range. Klim simply found the same to be true. Both are excellent.

But if I were doing the Himalayas and cost were no factor, the Rukka IMHO is a bit better and more rugged than the Klim Badlands Pro. Neither are something I would want for commuting, but for truly going anywhere in the world, Rukka then the Badlands would be my choice.

 

[Checkswrecks]

Content attacking other members is what's getting deleted, agree or not.
Moderators get final word here and on every forum I know of.

 

[The Mountain]

I am on my second Klim, put a lot of miles on a couple of 'Stitches, and have worn a friend's Rukka for part of a day. I've also worked India multiple times, plus a lot of mountain peaks and jungles around the world for almost 32 years and ridden in 16 countries. (btw - I do not consider that to be many.)

Aerostitch has no insulation because they sell layers separate from the jacket and recognized that layering is highly personal about what choices to use through the temperature range. Klim simply found the same to be true. Both are excellent.

But if I were doing the Himalayas and cost were no factor, the Rukka IMHO is a bit better and more rugged than the Klim Badlands Pro. Neither are something I would want for commuting, but for truly going anywhere in the world, Rukka then the Badlands would be my choice.

I appreciate the second tip on Rukka. I looked at their website and I like their stuff, though it looks like they don't have much selection here in the US, including almost no mid-layer stuff for men (despite having pictures of it). I'll definitely keep them in mind.

 

[fac191]

What i would say is the Klim gear is cut generously so if your a fuller man i would consider that asweell. Alot of Euro gear is a fashion cut.

 

[Saint rob]

I want to avoid heaters because heaters break. The last thing I want is to be stuck somewhere in Kashmir in the freezing cold, with a dead heated vest and not enough other insulation to be warm.

The Keis range of heated jackets have a lifetime guarantee on the heating elements, I wouldn't have thought they'd offer that if they thought too many would become warranty claims. It seems they are micro carbon fibre elements (as I belive the Gerbing ones are) and I can testify to the flexibility, light weight and lack of bulk, it works great for me under a Goretex laminate suit and you can get pants and insoles to extend the warmth if you need them

 

[twinrider]

Content attacking other members is what's getting deleted, agree or not.
Moderators get final word here and on every forum I know of.

I like the advrider style. Posts don't get edited, they just get tossed into head explody so people can still rubberneck at them there.

 

[Checkswrecks]

I like the advrider style. Posts don't get edited, they just get tossed into head explody so people can still rubberneck at them there.

That takes time and effort on the part of the mods and I have other s**t to get done.

 

[regder]

If you're concerned about cold weather riding, forget about insulated liners and buy a heated jacket liner from Warm and Safe along with a Heat-Troller.

I adore my hodge podge full heated gear setup of W&S/Gerbing/Firstgear with the W&S wireless dual circuit troller. I'm surprised at the comments about heated gear failing, I don't think I have ever read of issues with any of the heated gear, though I'm sure it can happen.

As for the lack of liners, that's a positive for me. None of the liners in my previous jackets have ever been nearly as effective as proper cold weather gear. I would much rather build a layering setup to suit needs than use a built in liner. Not only will it work better, but also serves the purpose of being able to worn separate from the jacket off the bike.

 

[PhilPhilippines]

The Keis range of heated jackets have a lifetime guarantee on the heating elements, I wouldn't have thought they'd offer that if they thought too many would become warranty claims.

...they were too dead to fill out the Warranty Form....

 

[EricV]

Most of the guys that worry about heated gear failing haven't ever used heated gear. Is a failure possible? Sure, with anything. But the current generation of heated gear with carbon elements and the extremely stable W&S Heat-Trollers are virtually bulletproof. Even my old circa '05 Gerbing jacket liner is still going strong and I've got to have over 100k of actual wearing it miles by now. I have had an older generation controller die. And my wife has had some other brand controllers die, and their cords, which were notorious for failing every couple of years. A little research goes a long way in heated gear.

I can still respect the choice not to use it and layer instead. Heated gear doesn't help when you crashed for the 6th time in a snow storm trying to cross a pass that, in hindsight, you should have not tried to cross over that day and you have to pitch your tent on snow next to your bike, that you can't pick up again, and spend the next day or two trying not to freeze to death or get frostbite.

 

[PhilPhilippines]

I would go with layers. Silk/wool/polyester. Depending on the weather to make the choices. Goretex is fine until the humidity is high. Zips and bellows effects assist in maintaining the right temps.

Maybe consider your metabolism too... For that reason, I like layers and vents personally.

 

[Donk]

Just reading this old thread. A note about heated gear. A friend and I were out on a ride last fall about 40 degrees daytime high temp. We were both wearing heated gear. We were about 3 hours from home late in the afternoon and as the temps started to drop like a stone his gear quit. Some wire to the gear failed somewhere. Between the 2 of us we had enough extra layers in our bags for him to make it home but it could have gotten uncomfortably cold. Made me think. What if that happens 2 days from home? I still bring my heated vest with me but mostly use a liner and layers instead. Only time I see an advantage to heated gear is on the 10-14 hour days when the prolonged exposure to cold adds to fatigue. For gear I wear Aerostich, mostly an R3 and a Darien occasionally in summer.

 

[Bill_C]

Definitely food for thought, Donk. I don't have heated gear at the moment, but have considered it. Layers can get bulky and hot. I like the idea of being able to adjust the temp on the fly, but gear failure is something I hadn't considered. Funny that. Everything in my life tells me that if it can fail, it will fail but for some reason I just never considered that about heated gear.

Sent from my SM-S906U using Tapatalk

 

[VRODE]

I have a Klim Latitude and don't mind the lack of insulation. I use a heated jacket liner when it's real cold, otherwise, a fleece liner covers everything in beteween for me. I have 2 different weights/thicknesses and it's a flexible system that works for me.