Ordered a size 46 off the rack, on sale and had it within 7-10 days. It fit well, but was not a suitable garment for hot Arizona. If I lived in a cool or wet climate, I would absolutely have one. I currently wear Aerostich Darien Light pants as a overpant when it's cool and it doubles as a rain pant.....easy on & off and waterproof without being too hot. I sold my Aerostich suit here on the forum.

 

Did you find the Darien pants to be a bit heavy and warm for AZ? How about sizing? I typically wear 36-38 pants but they are recommending 44?

 

I haven't dealt with Aerostitch, but that process sounds crazy to me. I wouldn't think customers would wait that long

 

You could always fly and try it on ....... I have wanted one for years, however, living in sunny Florida it just does not make sense.

 

I‘m tall and thought I might want custom length sleeves so I went with Aerostitch. They did the same with me years ago. Start with a rack size and go from there. I bought a Darien Light jacket and pants and ended up with a rack size in both. First jacket they sent was too small to fit over my heated liner. I then I lost some weight and bought a 2nd pair of pants and went with the AD-1 pants.

I wear the pants in rain and cold. The aerostitch stuff is great quality when needed. I just replaced my Darien light jacket with the Klim Latitude for better comfort. I found the stretch panels used in the Latitude offer more comfort and I like the shorter length at the waist over the really long Darien jacket.

I will likely sell the Aerostitch jacket but not sure yet. It’s awfully good stuff but likely won’t be used any more. I’ll keep both pairs of pants.

Custom tailored gear by mail is going to be a pain I think.

 

Aren't they in Duluth Mn? I'm a few hours away if so. I've never looked at their products

 

They are indeed.

 

I went to their store in Duluth and tried on jackets, pants and a Roadcrafter suit, and left empty handed.
I know a lot of riders swear by them, but I wasn't impressed. My buddy was with and they went on to explain they could do some custom alterations if he wanted. He asked for a couple minor things and they said they wouldn't do it?! Maybe if we had been riding BMWs it might have gone better. The help seemed a bit aloof.

Funny thing is my buddy was an VP at a large financial company, making stupid money, but you would never know it talking to him. He was ready to buy and they chased him off over a couple minor issues he was offering to pay for.

 

I had a Aerostich one piece suit for a couple years, bought it used but in very good condition. It was a little small so couldn’t wear heated gear under it and when it rained my crotch usually got wet so I sold it cheap.
Wanted to have a new one made, rode to the store on a Saturday morning when they were supposed to be open but they were closed so a couple weeks later I called, the lady told me it would take 6 to 12 months to have one made, that’s the last time I talked to them.

 

have worn aerostitch for years and been satisfied with the quality. as i recall my custom order was satisfactory the first try so i did not have to endure the ship and wait issues. when it is less than 92 but still warm i wear some olympia mesh but for any long trip i'm wearing the roadcrafter two piece with suspenders. i just unzip various parts of the jackets and let the air flow through when its hot. its waterproof if you zip them closed. seems to be lots of good riding gear available from various mfgs these days.

 

When I won a suit at a MSTA rally a few years back, I looked over their website many times trying to decide which suit and what size to order. I finally decided that a trip to Duluth was the best way to make my decision. While there, I tried on several types of suits and sizes, and in the end they custom made a R-3 light for me and shipped it to me. I have been wearing it ever since. It made for a great trip and "buying" experience.
I did replace their elbow and shoulder pads with some D30 pads for more flexibility and removed the knee pads (they caused pain for my sore knees).
EDIT: If I hadn't won this suit, I would probably still not have an Aerostich.

 

When a company makes it hard to order, I RUN away, this doesn't sound like a company that I'd like to do business with.

Ronnie
12/12/24

 

It's a pretty quick process if you settle for one that doesn't fit. Player's choice.

 

I had some Aerostitch Darien pants, and didn't like them at all. Hot, bulky, baggy, leaked in rain, and way overpriced. Got rid of them and never looked back. There's much better options out there and for a lot less money.

 

I'd be ticked paying that much and have it leak. Good grief

 

I should add, I don't wear ridding pants, tried them, never liked them, plus one more bulky item to pack. Unless it is extremely cold, like 30F I wear my mesh jacket. When it cools down I have a heated jacket, and might slip on my rain gear over that as the temp drops. I am good down to the upper 30s with this set up and I have my heated jacket and rain gear with anyway.

For Jackets I have had an Olympia, and now I have a First Gear and Tour Master jackets. The reason I have two mesh jackets is I bought one that was silver/gray, but it had large black patches on the sleeves and I could feel the heat from the sun in the summer. It is my spring and fall mesh. The other is all silver/gray, no black and it is cooler to wear in the heat of the summer.

 

I ordered the Roadcrafter jacket and pants 25 plus years ago. Yep it is a bit pricy but it is still holding up very well. The jacket fit perfectly, pants I had to change them out for a different size. Have ridden in both in 40 degs and rain with no issues. The pants are a bit "clunky" and I rarely ware them unless the weather is really miserable. The jacket, I ware it all the time. Over the years I have replaced the foam crash pads in arms and shoulders and did have Aerostitch replace the zipper years ago. Yep, it is faded and showing its age a bit, but so am I LOL. Plan on wearing it till the end of my riding days. IMHO Overall a very good investment.

 

I have had wonderful experience dealing with Aerostich. My wife and I both have several Darien coats and pants. We have been wearing them since the mid-1990's. Living in Alaska shipping anything to us is expensive, no free shipping. If we were average sized riders we may have done the mail-order route but we are not average sized.

We just happen to own Honda Goldwing touring motorcycles so we go on tour So every few years we just happen to stop in at Aerostich and get fitted for what we want and order the recommended alterations. They make the coats or pants and they ship it to our home and we are happy.

 

I'm like you, wanted one since I started riding, but I still can't justify buying a new one.

The only time I dealt directly it took a few months to get new shoulder pads, since the foam was on backorder.

I bought a used suit in what was supposed to be my size according to their recommendations (40L) but the fit is pretty bad for my height vs waist. It's extremely well made and will probably last forever, but I think I'm going to have to move it on because it fits me so poorly.

 

I'm like you, wanted one since I started riding, but I still can't justify buying a new one.

The only time I dealt directly it took a few months to get new shoulder pads, since the foam was on backorder.

I bought a used suit in what was supposed to be my size according to their recommendations (40L) but the fit is pretty bad for my height vs waist. It's extremely well made and will probably last forever, but I think I'm going to have to move it on because it fits me so poorly.

Used to think the same thing...until I got one. Should have bought one decades ago...spent enough money on other crap to only replace it after a few seasons...had I bought one sooner, I'd have saved a bunch of money over the years.

 

About 2 years ago I went to one of their pop-up stores in Auburn Wa. Tried on and ordered Roarcreafter 1 piece, Darien jacket, pants, the fleece liner (its amazing) and the small messenger bag. Everything came in about 5 weeks, it all fit perfectly. Best gear I've ever owned, seemless process. Sorry to hear your experience was less than outstanding.

 

I got the Roadcrafter 1pc back in 2010. I just ordered going by the guidelines on their website. The suit fit fine. I wear it every day I ride to this day. It's getting a little ratty, but still keeps me dry. I've worn it mostly in hot weather, and it can be hot. 117 degrees in Las Vegas last summer (dry heat), close to 100 degrees to Dallas, TX for hours last summer as well. I made it, and still like and wear the suit. I like the Roadcrafter, but have used the Darien Light, and Falstaff from Aerostich and those were no good for me.
I was sold on the Roadcrafter after seeing John Ryan ride the 5600 miles from Deadhorse, AK to Key West, FL in 3 1/2 days riding with one. Testimonial to how well it works.

 

I have a lot of Aerostich products and have been satisfied with them in most regards. I do wish they would have kept up with a few innovations that some of the other brands have, but it has worked for them overall I believe. I have a 14-year-old 1-piece Roadcrafter that is still my go to for daily commuting and riding. It has held up well and the ease of use is why I tend to use it the most. But for touring/trips, I have an Aerostich Transit suit. Leathers. They are treated to be waterproof and UV resistant so they don't get too hot at all and will keep you toasty with a heated shirt in the cold. This is the absolute best piece of riding gear I have ever owned. They have never let me down. Even in all day rain I have stayed dry and comfortable. They worked so well I spent the money on a suit for my wife as well. This is unfortunately some of the most expensive touring gear out there though, as a suit right now will run around $2500 after taxes and shipping. But my Transit suit is 9 years old and still going strong. Worth the money for me.

Everyone freaks out about both of my suits during the summer here in Arkansas but if you have a good base layer and set up your venting, it is better than most things out there in the summer heat. I believe that mesh gear is worse when the ambient temps are higher than your body temp, and you really need some built up sweat or water to keep you cooled down. Mesh gear just dries you out too quick and it is like sitting in a blast furnace for me. Non-mesh gear, you just have to deal with your own body heat, which seems to be better than the ambient environment at times.

The pricing of some of the more expensive gear seems to be astronomical, but as long as it does as advertised, it may be worth it. I have a friend that was also not happy with his brand-new R-3 because it was seeping water into his crotch in heavy rain. Come to find out, he did not know to make sure to position his zipper flaps as he was zipping up the flaps to keep the water that seeps through the zippers out. Even the best zippers will let some water by if given enough of a chance. Once that was figured out, problem solved. Eventually as they age, they need to be treated and everything but I have seen suits that are 20 years old still chugging along.

In the end, I am still paying attention to other gear, because if somebody can figure out how to get things to be better for a small cost, it would definitely be worth getting some new gear...

 

Everyone freaks out about both of my suits during the summer here in Arkansas but if you have a base layer and set up your venting, it is better than most things out there in the summer heat. I believe that mesh gear is worse when the ambient temps are higher than your body temp, and you really need some built up sweat or water to keep you cooled down. Mesh gear just dries you out to quick and it is like sitting in a blast furnace for me. Non-mesh gear, you just have to deal with your own body heat, which seems to be better than the ambient environment at times.

I had another friend with a Roadcrafter and he loved it. I tried it one hot summer day and even with all the vents open I could not wear it! I baked in it. I have worn mesh in 120F heat and yes it was hot, but I felt cooler than I did in the Roadcrafter. I might survive while moving, but stopped in traffic I was dying. I don't know how anyone can wear one in the heat!

I have long sleeve t-shirts, similar to Under Armour that I will wear under my mesh in hot weather. Another thing is I don't wear typical t-shirts when it gets that hot. Again, more Under Armour style, breathable t-shirts, but short sleeve. The typical rally and motorcycle tees are terribly hot.

 

The sizing is a bit of a pain. When I had my Roadcrafter down, I too had gone through a process of measurements, but they nailed what I wanted on the first whack. If I were to buy another suit tomorrow, I would fly to Duluth and get measured in house though. I bought my Transit Suit during the clearance of the Transit II suits that were left in stock and they just happened to have my size, but I needed to change my jacket from long to regular, and the swap only took about a week there and back. They sent the other jacket out at the same time I sent the one I had back, no questions asked. If I were to buy another suit tomorrow, I would get measured in house though. It is hard sometimes to get off the rack stuff to fit the way you want.

 

Preach it @jwmead72 ! I used to wear mesh jackets and just could not ride long distances in our Texas Summer temperatures. That "cooling breeze" that the mesh gear provided became a blast furnace. I eventually listened to long-distance Iron Butt riders and tried a heavy textile jacket. The difference was amazing, for the exact reasons you mentioned. I transitioned to MotoPort textile gear and can ride dawn to dusk in 100º F. weather.

Glen

 

Above 93-95F you can’t drink enough water fast enough to stay net ahead of dehydration. It’s best to get out of mesh and cover exposed skin and manage ventilation through the vents. The 1 piece RC suit has been very effective and versatile for me, handling mid 30s to 100+ temps. I live in Florida but my riding area is the lower tier of the US. One (of two in 19 years) had to be returned for wrong sizing but it didn’t take long. This past year I added a Darien jacket to a pair of Darien pants I bought about 5 years ago. All my dealings with Aerostich have been pleasant.

 

I prefer the fit of the AD1 pants over Darien.

As a tall guy I never had a set of coveralls that fit me. Always clam diggers and/or had me sing like a choir boy. I didn't give the Roadcrafter 1 piece the look it deserved. I went to one of their road shows and got measured and saw how one could work -- the torso length is the base measure, so I needed a larger one then taken in a few places (less so now). If I crash what I've got I may go back that way.

 

Love my AD1’s! They are as comfortable as a pair of jeans! I get the long so they cover my boots seated.

 

IME the only place mesh outperforms textile for comfort is 80s & 90s, higher humidity. Moreso at slower speeds. Unfortunately, that's the bulk of the summer here in the mid-Atlantic and many places.

I wore a mesh jacket for comfort on a week's ride in WV some years back. It wore a bit cooler than my Darien would have, but it fared poorly when I crash-tested it. It wasn't a lousy jacket, just an OK one.

I gave up wearing mesh jackets after that for a while. But when I started working bicycle races and rides, going slow in the heat, I went back to one. I hope I don't crash test it but I spent some money for a more protective jacket: Klim Baja S4. Only CE 1 armor in it at the moment (added a back pad) but the jacket is rated CE AA meaning it won't fall apart like the other did so at least the armor may stay where it belongs. Fingers crossed.

 

Both my wife and I like our mesh jackets. For day rides to breakfast and lunch I much prefer the mesh over a short sleeve shirt for UV sun protection on my arms rather than a long sleeve shirt or non mesh motorcycle jacket. I’m not talking full day survival riding in super hot weather…. I like to remove my jacket once at my destination and instantly be comfortable in a short sleeve shirt. My main concern is UV sun protection.

 

I've bought 2 roadcrafters and one pair of AD-1 pants. My first roadcrafter was bought in 2009. I did manage to rip a pocket in the lining for a knee pad and had to sew it up. Otherwise it has a good 100k plus miles on it and is fine. A couple of the pads could use a freshening up. I upgraded to a newer suit in 2021. My old one mysteriously had shrunk a bit in the middle. I ended up buying the new one with an extra couple inches in the middle. THe unlined R3 is an improvement over the lined classic.

For my first suit, it took like 6 weeks and they sent one out and it was too short between crotch and shoulders. Sent it back and had a good fitting suit in a couple weeks. One of the things that led to my original suit shrinking, besides a few extra pounds in my mid section was that I bought one of their back pads and put it in my suit.

Overall, they have been my go to for over a decade. I have other gear and it just doesn't get used. It does take a bit as you have to get slotted into their production schedule. You are buying a bespoke garment.

 

I dont own an aerostich but i do own a langlitz, also a custom made to measure jacket. I hate to say it, but thats just what it is with a high quality in demand product. Langlits is at like a year wait, wesco boots are around 2 years. Anything special made like that has a long wait. Id say, if the sizing is what you want, put the order in and wait. It stinks, but you wont get around it in any way.

 

The only way I would buy premium gear like Aerostich is to get it fitted personally in their store.