Winter gear

[shadowmaker07]

Is there such a thing as TRULY warm gloves, socks and boots?
I rode my baby home on January 28th, 08 and the only thing that sucked about the ride (probably 55-35 degrees in that order as I started out in daylight and continued on after dark), was frozen fingers and toes.
The gloves I bought were therma something, supposedly good to x degrees below zero...my arse! And I currently have a pair of HD boots that I can't even stand on the pavement and have warm feet much less try to travel very far.
Just wanting to know what others have found that truly, honestly equates to complete warmth.

P.s. I also bought so called battery operated heated gloves. Pffft! Yeah right.

[Officer friendly]

for boots I wear " Bates " tactical 8" boots water proof (Gore-tex) Thinsulate...for me they are warm & dry... 85mph 20 degrees (2 weeks ago) Most of my foot wear is Issued (SWAT Team) also Motor officer and in the winter I wear the Bates Tac boots on duty while on the bike...also in Cold temps 20 degrees and colder I wear 2 layers of socks,,,NEVER cotton!!! first sock should wick away your foot sweat and should be thin second sock should be a wool blend..
The Bates boots cost approx $125.00 to $165.00
I'm not sure where your from?? But I'm from the Northeast so we get sub zero temps so I am very use to riding in 20 15 5 degree temps.. however I have friends in this area that no matter WHAT they wear seem to be always cold in temps less than 60 degrees ( different strokes) lol

[shadowmaker07]

Officer, I am in Oklahoma , nearly at the Kansas border by about 22 miles or so. Cold zaps and depresses me. I don't like, it, I don't want it and I don't need it!! LOL!
Shortly after posting this, I realized there are a few threads on down or back a page or two so I read into them enough to see that I didn't need to delete it because I am wanting TRIED AND TRUE already used by you guys items, not possibilities or links to stuff that hasn't been checked out.
I've found that Amazon seems to carry nearly everything everyone else does and has a great review section you can go by. Even if you don't want to purchase anything, you can look up something you already have even to see what kind of experience others are having with it, etc.

[ZackDaniels]

Base layers all around make all the difference.

Winter Riding

Thermal long underwear, thermal glove liners under your gloves, thermal/wool socks in your boots.

Keeping me cozy down to the high 20's so far this year.

[rb608]

Originally Posted by shadowmaker07

Is there such a thing as TRULY warm gloves, socks and boots?
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Just wanting to know what others have found that truly, honestly equates to complete warmth.

It's been my experience through many winters that there are no gloves that will keep your fingers warm through prolonged cold riding. My commute is just under an hour, and with gloves alone, my fingers are frozen in temps below 32F. I'm sure there are some very expensive gloves out there that could push that envelope lower; but not in my budget.

For really cold riding, my recommendation is to install something to block the wind on your hands. That will make all the difference. I use things called Polar Hands that are big ugly sleeves over the grips; but they are marvelous for keeping the pinkies warm; and I ride down to the single digits here.

For everything else, it's all about layers and keeping out the wind. I use a neck warmer over a balaclava tucked and tied at the neck when it gets frigid. Something tight at the waist will help contain the warmth on your torso.

So far this year, I've been getting by with just chaps and long underwear on my legs down to the high 20s, but I'll probably have to dig out my insulated bib overalls once January gets here. The bibs have the added benefit of being an extra layer on your chest as well as keeping your legs warm.

[shadowmaker07]

So with that about the blocking wind being said, does anyone ride something with a fairing and all that stuff below in front of the feet that can testify to it helping alot?

[old dad]

Hwy bar chaps have been given high praise for cutting the wind on your legs.

[joe in calif]

For about 26 years I rode Honda Gold Wings, the fairing and a bigger windshield does a great job on blocking the wind. Since the Shadow is not a bike that you can put a full fairing on and a batwing isn't much help and if you plan on riding in a lot of cold weather I would suggest you buy heated gear, gloves, jacket and socks, Gerbing’s Heated Clothing
Or buy a Gold Wing!!

[shadowmaker07]

And you live in California where it gets HOW COLD?? LOL!!
I told my son this morning (while waiting for the van to warm up) that I think I have had enough cold and want to move somewhere warmer and did he have any ideas. Oahu was his first answer so I came back with California is about as close as we can get to there for now.

[rjtmac]

Originally Posted by shadowmaker07

Is there such a thing as TRULY warm gloves, socks and boots? ....

P.s. I also bought so called battery operated heated gloves. Pffft! Yeah right.

What Battery Operated gloves have you purchased? First time around for heated gloves I went with some cheaper ones, $65.00+ (on sale), made by Blazewear. They worked a little for a couple of months but not just a whole lot better than my winter riding gloves. Also the cheap wiring in them broke fairly quickly after the purchase.

I then bit the bullet and acquired a pair of Gerbings Hybrids. Yea I know, megabucks. $300.00 for the setup. Result. I have no more cold hands. 40 miles plus to work in 35° and below does not phase these gloves.

I have mild arthritis and my hands would be in a bad way as far a pain and stiffness before the Gerbings - almost immobile really - when riding in colder weather. Thinking back it was a safety issue really, making my hands work right when they were that cold was a problem. That is a thing of the past.