Staying Dry with Tourmaster’s Latest Gear
Nobody wants to ride in the rain, but you can’t always avoid it. A good set of rain gear makes the ride as comfortable as it can be when the raindrops start falling.
When looking for motorcycle rain gear, you have to consider the type of riding you’re planning to do. That helps you fit the gear to your needs, saving you money while ensuring you stay dry and protected at all times.
Tourmaster manufactures a range of excellent rain gear options for all motorcyclists. Here’s a selection of some of its best items to help you stay dry in the saddle.
Tourmaster Zephyr Mesh Jacket
Tourmaster’s Zephyr Mesh jacket combines excellent waterproofing with top-notch breathability. It achieves this feat by dedicating an entire separate layer for keeping water off the jacket.
The jacket comes with a waterproof shell in a dedicated bright orange storage pouch. You can wear the thin and almost see-through (yet perfectly waterproof) layer over or under your jacket without ruining its looks.
In other features, the base jacket has large mesh panels on the chest that let in plenty of air. It also sports a DWR coating for some water resistance. Having the rain shell fixed will naturally hamper the airflow, but as soon as the rain stops, you’re cool again.
When the air gets cold but dry, you can attach the thermal liner that keeps you warm down to the freezing point. The sleeves of the liner come off for those rides when it’s a little chilly but not too cold. You can also wear the liner as a separate jacket.
For protection, you get CE Level 2 flexible armor in the shoulders, elbows, and back.
The downside of the Zephyr’s solution is that you’ll have to stop and throw the waterproof shell on, which means you might get a bit wet while doing so. Overall, however, the Zephyr Mesh is a well-performing and versatile three-season jacket for touring and dual sport riding alike.
Interested in the whole Tourmaster Zephyr Mesh riding suit? Check out our full review.
Tourmaster Discovery Jacket
If fiddling with rainproof shells sounds like too much of a hassle to you, the Tourmaster Discovery jacket might be more up to your speed. It offers a mix of comfort, weatherproofing, and protection for road-focused motorcycle tours.
The Discovery is built with a laminated 450D polyester shell. It remains waterproof against everything but the most biblical downpour. To help keep rain out of your neck, the jacket features an under-helmet hood that disappears into a zippered pocket when it’s not needed. You do have to roll it quite tight or it won’t fit into its hidey-hole, though.
On colder days, the removable thermal vest will keep you warm. Even without sleeves, it’s sufficient for a fall day ride in the mountains. As a nice touch, there are lined handwarming pockets for when you get off the saddle. And when the mercury climbs, the zippered vents on the chest, sides, arms, and back provide adequate airflow.
The Discovery jacket has CE Level 1-rated armor padding in the back, shoulders, and elbows. Additional protection comes in the form of 1000D nylon patches on high-abrasion areas.
This isn’t the most robust jacket, but it’s not trying to be. Riders whose tours consist primarily of paved curvy backroads can rely on the Discovery jacket to get them to their next destination dry—at a reasonable price.
Tourmaster Sentry Evo Jacket
You deserve a dry ride, even if you’re on a budget. The Tourmaster Sentry Evo is a functional and comfortable motorcycle rain jacket that won’t break the bank.
Featuring a seam-sealed nylon shell with a full-length storm flap, the Sentry Evo is waterproof even in heavy rain. Like the Discovery jacket, it features a roll-away under-the-helmet hood that keeps water from running down your neck.
On the inside, the jacket features a polyester mesh lining that allows air to flow through it. That air enters through the two front vents and exits through a single vent on the back. These solutions make the Sentry Evo a surprisingly comfortable jacket.
You have to sacrifice protection for the low price point, though. The Sentry Evo doesn’t feature any armor or padding, so you’ll want to wear it over something armored. On that topic, the jacket’s sizes run small, so you’ll likely want to go up a size from your usual measurements.
The Tourmaster Sentry Evo works well for its intended purpose—it keeps you comfortable and dry while riding in wet weather. It doesn’t offer much besides that, but at this price, you can’t ask for more.
Tourmaster Sentry Evo Pants
We’ve listed several options for keeping your upper body dry, but what about your legs? In addition to the jacket, the Tourmaster Sentry Evo line offers an affordable and well-performing pair of rain pants.
The pants bring to the table much the same as the jacket. Their top layer consists of waterproof ripstop nylon with sealed and reinforced seams that efficiently keep water on the outside. At the leg cuffs, you’ll find elastic bands and boot stirrups for extra water protection.
The interior features the same mesh lining as the jacket that allows the air coming in from the large front vents to blow through the pants. Those zippers feature a watertight construction not to compromise the pants’ wet-weather performance.
Hook-and-loop fasteners at the waist allow you to adjust the fit of the pants. They also come with removable suspenders to prevent any pants-down situations.
As with the Sentry Evo jacket, there is no armor protection, but these pants are really intended to go over another pair. At their low price, they’re a no-brainer companion for any city or touring rider.
Tourmaster Deluxe Rain Boot Cover
If you want to perfectly seal yourself away from the elements, the Tourmaster Deluxe rain boot covers will complete the job. They slip over your riding boots to help you maintain dry feet in any downpour.
The boot sacks are made of PVC-coated nylon, with 500D ripstop patches on the toe and heel for added durability. At the top is an elastic buttoned band to seal the deal. It would’ve been nice to have a drawstring for tighter adjustment, but the rubber band works well. The side zippers have storm flaps over them to prevent water entry.
Compact and lightweight, the boot covers slip easily into your panniers. This is simply one of those accessories you should always have on you. You may not need the boot covers on every ride, but when the sky opens up, you’ll be glad you have them.