Venture Heat Grand Touring Collection Electric Clothing

VENTURE HEAT GRAND TOURING COLLECTION ELECTRIC CLOTHING

IGNITION

EVALUATION

Get warmly wired from head to toe

Nick lenatsch

When I left Abilene, Texas, the thermometer hadn't broken 40 degrees, and the windchill from the 35-mph breeze put temps slightly below freezing. I was headed north from the COTA MotoGP race, directly into the wind, and had a long ride ahead of me. It would prove to be one of the toughest days I've had on a motorcycle, and there's only one reason I rolled into my Colorado drive way 12 hours later: Venture Heat's electric clothing.

The new Grand Touring Collection includes a vest (heated sleeves are an option) and pant liners, to which I added heated insoles and Carbon Street gloves. The gear is all outstandingly comfortable. Bulky coils of yesteryear have been replaced with hair-thin microfibers for instant heat and all-day comfort. Vest and pant liners are extremely soft, flexible, and have the same bulk as a good workout suit. All items interconnect quickly, and a fused power cord attaches to the motorcycle battery. Combined draw for all pieces is about 170 watts.

Vest, pant liners, and gloves have separate, three-level power buttons; insoles are controlled by the pant liner. Heat hits immediately, and I challenge you not to giggle when it comes on. The only downside is that reaching the vent/pant control flaps at your left hip isn’t as easy as accessing a power-cord switch or thermostat.

I’ve never been a big fan of cold-weather gloves due to the added bulk, reduced control feel, and typically lower crash protection, but the leather and nylon Carbon Street gloves go a long way toward alleviating those concerns. Fit and feel (even with 3M Thinsulate and waterproof membrane) improved substantially during the ride as the gloves broke in. They are the best compromise I’ve found for coldweather riding.

Bottom line: In dire conditions, this gear was up to the task. ETiM

VENTURE HEAT GRAND TOURING [OLLE[[TION

ventureheat.com PRICE: VEST $219.99 PANT LINERS $209.99 CARBON STREET GLOVES $199.99 BOOT INSOLES (trim to fit) $69.99

UPS

+ All-day comfort

+ Right-nowheat

+ Packs small and light

DOWNS

Insole wire runs up past rider’s heel (walking may get uncomfortable)

Power flaps are tough to reach in a one-piece suit (get the wireless remote)