Essential Motorcycle Rain Riding Gear

Whether you plan on riding your motorcycle on a rainy day, or the weather takes you by surprise and drops a shower on you, you need to be prepared for it. 

Other than your normal safety check on the bike — making sure the lights work, the tire pressure is good, etc. — the next safety check you want to do is making sure you’ve got the right riding gear to protect you from the rain.

Rain gear is not only for protecting you while you navigate slick, slippery roads, but also to keep you warm, dry and comfortable, which is especially important on long road trips. Here is some essential motorcycle riding gear you should have for rainy days.

Rain Gear vs Waterproof Gear

Before we get into the actual gear, an interesting thing to note is a distinction often made between waterproof riding gear, and gear that’s meant to be worn when it starts to rain. 

“Rain gear” may refer to stuff you put on because it started raining. In other words, it’s gear you store in your luggage to throw on over your regular riding apparel when it rains, such as a poncho, waterproof boot covers or glove rain covers. 

“Waterproof gear” may refer to gear designed to be worn directly on your body for wet riding conditions. The advantage of waterproof gear over rain gear is you don’t need to stop your bike to put it on and continue riding. But as far as we’re concerned they’re interchangeable, since they ultimately serve the same purpose: keeping you dry while you ride your motorcycle in wet conditions. 

Rain Jackets

When it comes to a good rain jacket, look for one that’s comfortable, has zippers for ventilation, and has waterproof pockets built in to protect your personal items. It should also be lined with removable armor for your upper body. You should also consider brightly colored rain jackets for increased visibility.

Rain Pants

For protecting your lower body, look for the same qualities in rain pants as you would in a jacket (ventilation, waterproof pockets, etc.). Ventilation is particularly important when it comes to comfort, since rain brings on humidity. You should also consider pants designed to slide over boot tops to prevent rain from pooling up inside of your boots while you’re riding.

Rain Suits

If you don’t want to buy individual jackets and pants, rain suits are the perfect all-in-one solution. They come in one-piece and two-piece alternatives for all shapes and sizes, and we recommend getting brightly colored suits with adjustable cuffs to prevent water from dripping into the sleeves. 

Waterproof Gloves

It’s harder to control a motorcycle when your hands are slippery and cold, so waterproof gloves are a must. Seek out a pair of lightweight gloves that fit snugly, and provide a solid grip for better control of acceleration and braking in slippery conditions. Also, make sure the gloves provide full range of motion for your fingers without restricting access to the bike’s controls.

Waterproof Boots

A motorcycle rider’s feet are bound to get splashed in wet conditions, which is why waterproof boots are an essential piece of riding gear. 

Somebody should’ve told the guy in the stock photo above about waterproof boots, which should fit comfortably while keeping your feet warm and dry. Preferably a pair of boots that extends over the pant legs to keep water out. 

If you don’t want waterproof boots, at the very least get boot rain covers that can be worn over your riding footwear for when it rains unexpectedly. These covers slip on and off and are stored away easily when not needed.

Helmet and Accessories

You’ll need a helmet for riding safety no matter what the conditions, but of course you’ll want one that fits well, and has a high safety rating and built-in ventilation.

For a full-face helmet, ventilation and a solid visor or face shield are incredibly important to keep your head comfortable and to shield your eyes from the rain. Visibility is crucial to your safety when riding in the rain, so you’ll want to keep your face shield or visor from collecting raindrops and fogging up with a rain repellent and anti-fog spray, provided the helmet doesn’t already come with an anti-fog visor. 

If you prefer to ride with an open-face helmet or half helmet, you’ll need some good eyewear to protect your eyes and maintain visibility. It wouldn’t hurt to have a face mask either to shield your nose and mouth from the rain.

Waterproof Luggage

Now that we’ve covered gear that’ll keep you dry, what about your stuff? Your tools, snacks, extra clothes, smartphone, etc. need to be protected from the rain too. This is where waterproof luggage comes in. This includes waterproof saddlebags, tank bags, backpacks, dry bags, etc. Whatever the luggage type, make sure you have enough of it to pack your stuff safely without it getting it wet, but also not weigh down your bike. 

Visibility Accessories

This one is a somewhat of cheat since this article is supposed to be about gear, but the importance of visibility while riding a motorcycle in the rain cannot be overstated.

While sharing the road with other vehicles, rainy weather leads to decreased visibility, making it much harder for other drivers to see you in traffic. Add to that negatively affected braking power from a slippery road and you have a recipe for disaster if an oncoming car or truck driver can’t see you.

Besides keeping a reflective vest on hand and wearing brightly colored rain gear, you should add reflective accessories to your motorcycle. That includes colorful decals, and reflective wheel strips or detail tape, especially for night-time riding.

What to Look For in Motorcycle Rain Gear: Summary

If you’ve read this far, what you want to look for in rain gear is simple: stuff that’ll keep you comfortable, safe and dry. That includes:

• Adequate ventilation
• Breathable, comfortable fabrics
• Waterproof zippers and pockets
• Comfortable insulation
• Protective armor
• Maximum visibility (vision and body)

Your rain gear should wick away moisture and prevent it from building up on the inside, or else you’ll just come off wet from a ride anyway. Seek out quality, comfort and safety features, and make sure you have gear that protects your personal items too.