We get it. You’re out there working up a good sweat sowing the last of your summer-season oats and the last thing you want to think about is the impending cold, wet fall season. Luckily, FirstGear has been worrying about the turn of seasons for us, queuing up new gear selections to stay warm and dry during those chilly rides to come. 

When FirstGear says it has a complete line of heated gear for men and women, we’re talking everything short of heated undies. This year all of the controls for its socks, gloves, glove liners, pants, vests and jackets powered by your bike’s 12V battery have been revised to streamline their operation. In addition, each garment in a chain can now be dialed up or down independently for targeted heat, say, if want to crank up the socks but leave your vest on low. Prices range from a suggested $99.95 for socks to $299.95 for a sleeved jacket, with men’s and women’s pricing the same across the line. 

Also new this year is a 5V jacket and puffy vest that can be powered using those rechargeable handheld USB-friendly power banks we already carry off-grid to recharge our phones. As adventure riders we find this option especially interesting as a means to keep the chill off around camp. The 5V jackets are priced a bit steeper than the bike-powered variety at $375.95 for a full jacket, while vests are $179.95 and neither come with battery packs, though they are compatible with portable Li-ion battery packs that use a USB input connector. We’ve seen very compact 30,000mAh li-ion packs on Amazon for around $35.

FirstGear has been a leader in the rain protection game for decades and this year its upping the ante with extensive new offerings from men and women. But why, you ask, do you want to carry a separate rain suit when your expensive technical suit has a waterproof membrane? Easy: No one likes a heavy, soggy suit, especially when you’re in the middle of a long tour. 

This year you can choose from two new men’s rain jackets, the Rainman in black or black with hi-vis for $99.95 or the Splash in black or full hi-vis for $89.95. The main difference appears to be use of a heavier nylon in the Rainman, as well as integrated hood and adjustable wrist closures. Matching pant options are unisex and come in black only for $89.95 and $79.95 respectively. New rain jackets for women are the Triton at $99.95 (black with hi-viz or black with purple piping), and the Delphin in black or full hi-viz for $89.95. Similar differences as seen in the men’s versions, with the slightly pricier suit being made of a more rugged nylon, plus the addition of a hood, which comes in handy when you reach your destination. (Keep in mind a lighter nylon will pack much smaller.) 

Women also enjoy a new touring/adventure suit option in the Voyage jacket and pants. The black or grey/black three-quarter length jacket ($249.95) consists of a 600 denier shell with impact panels covering CE-approved Knox armor. For comfort, sleeves are pre-curved, while Spandex through the hip area ensures a flexible fit and intake and exhaust vents keep you cool. The pants, at $189.95, are black only and feature articulated knees, thigh vents and Knox knee armor. Both products are lined with FirstGear’s waterproof, breathable z-liner. 

FirstGear has additionally released five new touring gloves for men: the Heated Outrider, Navigator, Kinetic, Kinetic Short Cuff, and Tech Liner, as well as five new women’s gloves: Heated Outrider, Bancroft, Electra, Voyage and Tech Liner. There is also one new boot offering for 2020, the men’s Kilimanjaro ($199.95), which as the name implies is intended for tromping in far-off places. However, judging by the look of the boots the roads that get you there are likely to be paved. Features include a full leather upper, Hipora waterproof/breathable lining and Boa-style retention. 

This concludes our cold-weather gear bulletin. Please commence squeezing the last few drops of your summer riding season. 

New Fall Collection:

• Complete heated line for both men and women – Battery powered vests, battery powered heated jackets, vehicle powered heated jackets, heated pants, heated, socks, heated gloves and heated glove liners.
• Two new women’s rain jackets – Delphin and Triton Two new men’s rain jackets – Rainman and Splash
• Two new unisex rain pants – Rainman and Splash
• One new Women’s jacket – Voyage
• One new Women’s pant – Voyage
• Five new Men’s gloves – Heated Outrider, Navigator, Kinetic, Kinetic Short, and a Tech Liner.
• Five new Women’s gloves – Heated Outrider, Bancroft, Electra, Voyage, and a Tech Liner.
• One new Men’s boot – Kilimanjaro 

For more information go to firstgear.com

Author: Jamie Elvidge

Jamie has been a motorcycle journalist for more than 30 years, testing the entire range of bikes for the major print magazines and specializing in adventure-travel related stories. To date she’s written and supplied photography for articles describing what it’s like to ride in all 50 states and 43 foreign countries, receiving two Lowell Thomas Society of American Travel Writer’s Awards along the way. Her most-challenging adventure yet has been riding in the 2018 GS Trophy in Mongolia as Team AusAmerica’s embedded journalist.