A motorcycle rainsuit is like insurance: You may not need it often, but when you do, you’re darn glad you’ve got it. In early April, a buddy and I rode from California to Texas to see the solar eclipse. Nelson-Rigg sent us some gear to evaluate during our nine-day, 4,200-mile journey, including Route 1 cruiser luggage (look for my review soon) and Solo Storm rainsuits, which are sold separately as a jacket and pants.
Raingear is typically used to keep riders dry in rainy conditions, but we first used our Solo Storm rainsuits on a dry morning. When we awoke before dawn on Sunday in Lordsburg, New Mexico, it was 30 degrees outside. With a 700-mile ride ahead of us, we’d be slabbing it on I-10 for an hour before the sun came up. There was no rain in the forecast, but we donned our rainsuits to block out the biting wind, and they helped keep us warm, or at least less cold.
The Solo Storm jacket and pants have a polyester oxford outer shell with a waterproof/windproof polyurethane backing and electronically taped seams. The front of the jacket has a full-length zipper with a two-layer storm flap that seals with hook-and-loop, and the wrist cuffs and tall collar also seal with adjustable hook-and-loop.
The outside of the jacket has adjustable waist straps, a drawstring around the hem, two waterproof cargo pockets, an adjustable zippered back vent, and reflective accent material. There’s breathable mesh at the back, a rain hood stored in the collar, and a built-in zippered pouch that the jacket can be stuffed into.
The Solo Storm pants have an elastic waistband with adjustment straps on both sides, and the pant legs are extra large for pulling on over boots and other gear (putting a plastic bag over your boot first makes raingear slide on more easily). The insides of the legs have a layer of heat-resistant material, the seat is reinforced with non-slip material, and there are adjustable gussets at the lower leg to keep the pants from flapping in the wind.
The true test of any motorcycle rainsuit is riding in a downpour. Just 150 miles from home at the end of the trip, that’s exactly what we encountered. After putting on the suits at a gas stop, we rode through a major gully washer on I-40, which caused traffic to slow down from its usual 80 mph to around 45. For the next 50 miles, we rode cautiously and stayed dry. We were in and out of rain for the final 100 miles, but not once did either of us feel a cold stab of water leaking through.
The Nelson-Rigg Solo Storm jacket retails for $79.95 and is available in sizes S-4XL in Black, Hi-Vis Yellow, or Orange. The pants retail for $49.95 and are available in sizes S-4XL in Black only.
See all of Rider‘s apparel reviews here.
