One Set or Two? And Three Other Questions

Diggers1300

Diggers1300

Joined
Jul 21, 2005
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299
Location
Marshall, TX
Bike
ST1300
Getting ready to purchase some LD Comfort layers and have two three questions.

Question 1: I have read about how easy they are to wash out at hotel/campsite. Is it easy/fast enough to wash and dry to only have one set or should I have two sets? After all, we know how pricey they are.

Question 2: In regards to the helmet liner. Tail or no tail? The liner with tails says it will help keep sun off of your neck but with the gear I ride in, I've never had a burnt neck. Their site mentions nothing about any cooling effect of the tail. Curious if anyone has any thoughts on this.

Question 3: Short sleeve base with cooling sleeves or long sleeve base. Thoughts?

Question 4: Short pants base or long? I've never had many issues with heat on my legs but not sure how long vs Short would integrate into the overall cooling/comfort effect.

TIA for all your replies. I'll post what I decide to do and maybe give a review from someone that has rode in the heat for 30+ years with only an occasional cooling vest.
 
Depends on how thick that fabric is...
My Dainese Dry LS garments are like a thick pantyhose (with a thin velvet surface inside) and dry within minutes...
Same on the Vanucci helmet liner (with no tail BTW)...
Don't wring those fabrics though, only squeeze them till they stop dripping... means abuse bears the risk of a ladder...
Also never use softeners, as those are wax, blocking the absorbency of the fabric (there special shampoos avail for those function fabrics)
I definitely go for long sleeves and legs, keeps you dry, prevents the riding gear (stitche's inner liner) from sticking on sweaty skin...
Yeah, long underwear look weird in the summer, but it's so much more comfortable...
Mentioned Dainese gear is cut pretty tight
a) ensuring full contact to the skin to transfer the body sweat away from the skin
b) "bionic" design, supporting muscles and circulation...
what sounds like "pamphlet promises" is actually working, can't feel the garment anymore once I'm wearing it, I do feel that I won't tire as quickly with them...
They also extend the comfortable temperature range downward as well as upward...
 
Diggers1300 said:
Getting ready to purchase some LD Comfort layers and have two three questions.

Question 1: I have read about how easy they are to wash out at hotel/campsite. Is it easy/fast enough to wash and dry to only have one set or should I have two sets? After all, we know how pricey they are.

Question 2: In regards to the helmet liner. Tail or no tail? The liner with tails says it will help keep sun off of your neck but with the gear I ride in, I've never had a burnt neck. Their site mentions nothing about any cooling effect of the tail. Curious if anyone has any thoughts on this.

Question 3: Short sleeve base with cooling sleeves or long sleeve base. Thoughts?

Question 4: Short pants base or long? I've never had many issues with heat on my legs but not sure how long vs Short would integrate into the overall cooling/comfort effect.

TIA for all your replies. I'll post what I decide to do and maybe give a review from someone that has rode in the heat for 30+ years with only an occasional cooling vest.
Click to expand...
1: Easy to wash, never had it dry overnight, just sitting in the "air", never tried it at an A/C room. I bought a second pair.
2: Sounds like you answered that yourself.
3: I have a long sleeve, haven't wished for short with cooling sleeves...
4: I have each and prefer the shorts, however I have not tried long in the cold yet...

With the exception of the shorts, I prefer my light merino wool more than everything else I have tried. My shorts have stayed on me 45 hours and it was not an issue, there was no time to stop, light merino wool top, same, light wool socks over compression socks, same.
 
LD shorts for any longish ride. They're great. Hand wash in Woolite. Like Martin said .. squeeze, don't wring. Not sure about drying time but I have 2.

I use your basic thin neck gaiter on my head all the time. Keeps helmet inside cleaner/hair free and I just leave the back hanging down, more or less covering neck.
A bit heavier beanie and a fleece gaiter for the cold.

Both long and short sleeves. Those LD cooling sleeves kinda work but I virtually never use em.

Long synthetic bottoms usually only for winter riding. Merino wool is great. Or just my regular household long undies. Smartwool ski/snowboard socks.
 
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Thanks for the replies! Anyone else wish to weigh in? Just looking for more info before dropping those kind of bucks.
 
I say save your money.... I got some years ago and hated them, too thick and wasn't comfortable.

I simply get synthetic underwear and short sleeve t-shirts from walmart and that works better for me, it's cheaper and packs smaller. I also have some REI convertable cargo pants which were not cheap but thin and if they get wet will dry quickly.
 
They now have LITE versions of some of their stuff. Thinner and lighter but with the same moisture wicking and dryness features. If I go with LD Comfort, it would definitely be those for the reasons you state.
 
Diggers1300 said:
They now have LITE versions of some of their stuff. Thinner and lighter but with the same moisture wicking and dryness features. If I go with LD Comfort, it would definitely be those for the reasons you state.
Click to expand...
Paying for the name isn't important to functionality. Many synthetic options in this thread.
 
dduelin said:
Paying for the name isn't important to functionality. Many synthetic options in this thread.
Click to expand...
I have tried many of the options listed and they don't work for me. Hence, the scope of this particular thread. I was asking specific questions that could be asked about any of these types of under garments, not just LD Comfort as I was looking to be informed as to what others were doing as related to my questions.

As I stated, my choice is LD Comfort, one set or two, types, and a choice that I didn't expose- to buy nothing. Lots of reviews across many forums about LD Comfort working when nothing else does. That's my situation and I am asking opinions related to my questions.

Dduelin, thanks for thinking about my wallet. But other alternatives haven't worked for me. At this point, it's try LD Comfort or continue doing what I am currently doing (which I could deal with in my younger days but not so much now).

Thanks everyone!
 
It doesn't matter if they dry, that morning air feels good. They wash and dry fine imho. On a beaded seat no real problem. I wear meshy summer gear, with Bohn armor....
 
Well I bit the bullet and ordered the shorts, shirt and cap in their LITE material. I'll get a good chance to try them out as I'll be on a 3 week trip in September.
 
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