Cheap Cold Weather Scooter Gear Ideas

Now that it's December it's getting cold in most parts of the country and if you're like me, you still want to ride.  Like most every one else in today's current economic state, I don't have enough cash to spend on my bikes, much less to buy top of the line winter gear.  So here I am looking for some cheap DIY winter riding gear that both protects and keeps me warm.  Below is what I discovered:

FULL FACE HELMET:

First and foremost you've got to get a full face helmet for winter riding.  Now that it has been proven that the price of the helmet doesn't necessarily reflect its protective abilities (remember all the helmet hoopla from a year or two ago?  If not check it out HERE.), I'm going to focus on three factors: fit, finish, and design.  Remember one of the most important things regarding a helmet is to always throw it away after a crash, no matter big or small.  Personally, I think the way a helmet fits is the most important thing to consider when buying a new one.  I would recommend trying on all the helmets you are interested in and then shopping around on the internet for the best prices.  Just because you've always worn a large doesn't mean that company A's large helmets will fit you the same as those from company B.

Economy Helmet: 

As I said previously don't let the price fool you when it comes to helmets.  With the expensive helmets you are mostly paying for fit, finish, and branding.  This helmet is DOT approved and will protect you just as well (and sometimes better) than the most high priced model on the market.  This Advance Hawk full face is on sale for only $35!  I don't have any experience with Hawk but generally the reviews were good.  I wouldn't expect Shoei finish but if you like the simple look and it fits, it's a great buy at $35.  See the helmet HERE.

 One Step Beyond (yes that's a Madness reference):

Zox Helmets is a company that has been in the US for a couple of years, and has recently piqued my interest.  I've noticed their helmets in the motorcycle shop and they seemed to be made very well made (especially considering their price).  User reviews seems to be very complimentary.  As always make sure the helmet you're going to buy fits by testing it out in person.  Just about every helmets fits slightly differently.  This Zox Tavani can be found on ebay for $79.99 and the fit and finish should be much better than the Hawk.  See more on the helmet HERE.  Stay tuned as we are going to be doing a more intensive test on some of Zox's open face helmet models in the next month.

HEATED GLOVES:

As the thermometer has been dropping lately, I've been ogling some heated gloves on the internet.  The $200 motorcycle/scooter specific gloves look great and fancy, I just can't justify paying that much for gloves that I use maybe three months out of the year (the weather is pretty nice here in Nashville).  So here is what I've come up with (thanks to google checkout!): 

Dirt Poor Gloves (my preferred option):

These look like a pretty good option.  They run $19.99 and take one D battery in the glove cuff.  My kind of style.  The gloves are made of waterproof nylon, have Thinsulate lining, and hell if you crash they're so cheap they could be put in the disposable category.  I'm cheap so I'll probably go with these.  Check them out HERE.

 Slightly Less Poor Gloves:

These gloves are a cool idea for anyone who has a nice pair of riding gloves and just needs some extra heat for winter.  They look to be made well and they only cost $49.99.  They look to be made of a neoprene like material and have a slim battery pack (probably the number one flaw of the "dirt poor gloves."  They have three adjustable heat settings and are machine washable.  Check them out HERE.

JACKETS: 

I love Corazzo's jackets but I just can't justify paying $200+ for a textile jacket when I can get a leather riding jacket that offers better protection for less cash.  Since the focus of this article is on cheap winter riding gear, I'm going to focus on non-riding jackets (to keep the price really low) that could easily be adapted for riding.  It just so happens that Old Navy has a great selection of jackets that could be used for a good price.  We went over to Old Navy to try the jackets out and here is what we thought.

First up is the Anorak:

Anoraks were first made by the Caribou Inuit Eskimos looking for a garment that would protect them from wind and water while hunting in their kayaks.  This application sounds pretty similar to modern day winter scootering, minus the killing of animals.  It seemed warm and I think it would withstand moisture well.  Best of all is it costs only $48.65.  Plus there are a couple of different color options.  Check it out HERE.

The Snorkel Jacket: 

Snorkel jackets were developed in the 50s by the US Army for use in cold winter climates.  Again, probably used in similar conditions as scootering in the winter.  This one looks the part if nothing else, but fortunately it functions as well as it looks!  This one is also warm and fairly waterproof.  The biggest advantage I could see would be the ability to zip the coat up all the way to the bottom of your helmet, thus keeping your neck warm.  This one rings out at a price of $55.65, cool olive drab color no extra charge.  Check it out HERE.

Thermal Underwear:

Last but not least, if you don't already have any thermal underwear, I think it's a must for winter riding.  Yes, it looks silly, but like insulation for a house, thermal underwear is the basis for a warm ride.  Run out to your local wal-mart, k-mart, or whatever and get the best deal you can find.  It probably won't run you more than $7-$25 depending on the quality you're dealing with.

Conclusion: 

OK, so with the help of this guide you can fully equip yourself for winter riding for only $100 + shipping.  You're welcome!  Be sure to layer your clothes and bundle up (or at least that's what mom always said).  It's getting cold out there.