There are few things more exciting than preparing for a new motorcycle adventure. Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or a journey across continents, choosing the right gear is just as important as deciding what motorcycle to ride. As we packed our lives once again into two panniers and a rear duffel, we found ourselves preparing for a challenge we'd never really embraced before.

Heat.
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The above video is a flashback to the gear we chose to bring with us to Southeast Asia, and the below blog breaks down our updated review after testing the gear while riding through Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. We have listed the pros and cons of all of the gear and provided links to Amazon so you can see other in depth reviews of the products from other riders as well.

For years we've always leaned toward gear that could handle almost any condition. Waterproof Gore-Tex suits, insulated layers, and equipment designed for four seasons of adventure riding. For Southeast Asia, our priorities completely changed. We still wanted excellent protection, but cooling became the number one objective.

Riding across continents on a motorcycle exposes us to all of the elements. The engine and asphalt radiates heat upward, the sun beats down on you for hours, and every stoplight feels like you're standing inside an oven. Add tropical humidity into the mix and your body has to work overtime just to stay cool.

But we didn’t want to sacrifice protection. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes riders make during the summer months is taking off their protective gear to survive the heat. We've all seen riders wearing shorts, flip-flops, and T-shirts because "it's just too hot." After years of riding together, we've learned that no amount of comfort is worth compromising our safety. If we ever have a fall, we want every advantage proper riding gear can provide.

Instead, our goal was to find gear that provides maximum airflow while still offering serious abrasion resistance and impact protection.
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That's exactly what we set out to do before we headed into the heat of Southeast Asia.

Choosing Gear for Hot Climates

Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and much of Southeast Asia all share similar riding conditions. The temperatures are high, humidity is relentless, and afternoon rain showers can appear almost without warning. That combination requires a completely different approach than riding through places like Alaska, Patagonia, or northern Europe.

Fortunately, many manufacturers have begun designing adventure gear specifically for these environments. Large mesh panels, lightweight armor, and breathable materials have made hot weather riding much more comfortable than it was even a decade ago.

Of course, comfort only matters if you're willing to keep the gear on.

The best motorcycle jacket in the world doesn't protect you if it is strapped to the back of the bike because it's too hot to wear.

Mesh Gear Changed Everything

The biggest change in our riding setup was moving away from laminated Gore-Tex adventure suits and embracing dedicated mesh gear.
I chose the Klim Baja Jacket and matching Baja Pants, while Marisa went with the Klim Avalon Jacket paired with Klim Outrider Riding Pants.

At first glance, mesh jackets almost seem too light to offer real protection, but modern adventure mesh gear strategically places abrasion-resistant materials and armor in high-impact areas while allowing large sections of the jacket to flow air directly across your body.
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Once you're moving, the difference is incredible.

Instead of trapping heat, the wind flows through the jacket, around your arms, across your chest, and out the back. That constant airflow helps your body's natural cooling system work much more efficiently.

Marisa immediately noticed the difference during a test ride in Florida on a hot summer day. Even at relatively low speeds, air flowed through the jacket so well that simply changing the position of her arms dramatically increased cooling across her shoulders and sides.

Quality adventure mesh jackets still include CE-rated armor in the shoulders, elbows, back, hips, and knees, along with highly abrasion-resistant materials where you need them most.

The mesh simply replaces unnecessary fabric in low-impact areas to maximize airflow.

When people sign up for our tours throughout Southeast Asia, we warn all of our guests not to wear anything Gore-Tex and we highly recommend full mesh gear. It's a much smarter solution than leaving your jacket unzipped or deciding not to wear one at all.
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At first, I loved my mesh Baja Mesh Outer Pants. There really wasn’t anything wrong with them by themselves, but after years on the road, having an additional bulky piece of gear that went over a lightweight pair of pants underneath seemed redundant. 

Marisa and I have now switched to Ugly Bros MOTORPOOL pants that have removable hip and knee armor. Now our riding pants quickly turn into “civilian” pants after a long day’s ride. They are much more comfortable to hike around temples and up volcanos in compared to taking off my mesh outer pant and stashing them on the motorcycle hoping that no one takes them while we are off on a mini adventure.

Klim makes the same kind of jeans with armor, but sadly they have not nailed down the female physique and Marisa had a hard time fitting into a pair that matched both her waist size and inseam. We both wear Ugly Bros and will be wearing them for the foreseeable future.

It is also worth mentioning that my Baja jacket has ample pockets for stashing my phone and wallet. In comparison, Marisa's Avalon jacket has much smaller pockets that render them almost useless. I am not sure why this design flaw is only in the women's jackets.

Jacket and Pants Reviews:

Men's Baja Jacket ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Pros: Lightweight, excellent ventilation, large pockets with plenty of storage for a phone and wallet, great protection with D3O CE Level 1 Elbow, Shoulder, Back Pads (you can also upgrade to Level 2 armor), very flexible and comfortable to wear (no restrictions in the elbow or shoulders)

Cons: I honestly do not have any cons for my Men's Baja Jacket.

Women's Klim Avalon Jacket ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Pros: All of the same features of protection ventilation and flexibility of the Men's Baja Jacket. Actually fits women well and isn't just a smaller version of a men's size.

Cons: The two external pockets can just barely fit Marisa's phone.
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Men's Baja Mesh Outer Pants ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Pros: Large easily accessible pockets for wallet, passport, and phones. Great ventilation and built in knee and hip pads.

Cons: Sometimes it feels like the knee pads may slide out of position in case of a fall. They don't stay in place directly over the kneecap and tend to move inward as my leg moves outwards. The over pants are bulky and are an extra pair of gear that needs to be stored when not on the motorcycle. They take up a lot of room in the luggage when flying from one destination to another and I usually end up wearing them on the plane.

Women's Klim Outrider Riding Pants: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Pros: Great protection with snug fitting armor. Can be worn fairly comfortably off of the motorcycle without the extra bulk of stand alone over pants.

Cons: Klim has not quite nailed down the female physique as they never fit Marisa properly in the waist. In a sitting position, the waist was tight, there was no elastic, and it dug into her stomach. Getting a size larger would've been too bulky and large for the rest of the pants.

Men's and Women's Ugly Bros Pants: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Pros: All of the advantages of well fitting protection that stays in place. The knee pads are removable from the outside of the pants (not via an inside pocket) quickly turning them into a comfortable pair of jeans. Ugly Bros actually understands the difference between men's and women's waist size compared to inseam. They fit amazingly well on both of us.

Cons: We have Zero complaints about our Ugly Bro Pants!

Gloves, My Weakness!

When riding in tropical climates, your hands are constantly exposed to the elements. They're in the sun all day, they're the first thing to get soaked in a downpour, and they're your only connection to the motorcycle. Finding gloves that balance protection with airflow is every bit as important as choosing the right jacket.

After a long and expensive spree of purchasing multiple different gloves, for this trip I switched to Klim's Mojavie Pro Gloves, and they quickly became my favorite gloves. I used to think spending $100 on a pair of gloves was ridiculous, but after buying 5 pairs of $20 gloves that did not fit well, or have good construction, I now realize a pair of $60 - $100 gloves would have been an easier pill to swallow rather than constant disappointment in cheaper alternatives.
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The Mojave gloves are lightweight construction and excellent ventilation made them ideal for Southeast Asia's heat, while still providing the protection we expect from quality motorcycle gloves. Even during slow traffic and long days in the saddle, they never felt bulky or overly restrictive.

The added dexterity is something I constantly appreciate. Whether operating cameras, digging through luggage, paying for fuel, or simply using our phones during a break, I found myself leaving the gloves on far more often than heavier touring gloves. It may seem like a small detail, but little conveniences like that add up during months or years of travel.

Finding that balance between airflow and protection will keep your hands comfortable without sacrificing safety.

For Marisa, Klim falls short of a proper female line up that has the same protection as the men's line. She opted to wear a small size of the Mojave as it had knuckle protection and padding on the wrist. But the extra room in the glove made her fingers look kind of extraterrestrial. Whereas the KLIM Women's XC Lite Off-Road Motorcycle Gloves has far less protection and I don't think the terminology "Off-Road" should be in the description. 

Gloves Reviews:

Men's Klim's Mojavie Pro Gloves: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Pros: Breathable, flexible, and offers good protection for lightweight category

Cons: I can't think of any cons as they have lasted years and are still comfortable and have held together well (though when it rains, my hands do sometimes turn a bluish color).

Women's XC Lite Off-Road Motorcycle Gloves: ⭐️⭐️ 2/5

Pros: At $40 the gloves are a fair price for what protection they do offer

Cons: Not a lot of protection besides blocking UV rays and bike falls at a standstill.

Rain Is Inevitable. Plan for It.

One thing that never changes in Southeast Asia is the fact that it will rain.

It doesn't matter if you're riding through Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, or Vietnam. At some point you're going to get caught in the rain. Sometimes it's a light afternoon shower. Other times it's a tropical downpour so intense you can barely see the road in front of you.

Because our riding suits were no longer waterproof, we knew we'd need a different strategy.
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Instead of carrying heavy laminated Gore-Tex jackets, we packed lightweight Klim Stow Away rain jackets and rain pants. The idea was simple. Stay cool during the majority of the ride, then quickly throw on waterproof layers whenever the skies opened up.

I used to be a huge fan of “One Jacket and Pants to Rule Them All” as far as being able to cover all types of weather conditions throughout a multi-year journey across different climates. But I have come to realize that Gortex may be “good” in all weather conditions, but it’s not great in any single situation except for extreme cold or wet conditions. There simply aren’t enough vents for your chest / arms / legs to breathe comfortably.

Marisa and I have now gone back to a layering system. We can now add on gear, let it be our rain gear, Women's Columbia Storm Surge Pants, Men's Torrent GTX Over Pant, down jackets, and heated gear, (or better yet a combination of both heated and down jackets like our Mosko Moto Ectotherm Insulated 12v Heated Jackets). Our base gear is mesh for maximum airflow for the hottest of days .

Rather than wearing heavy Gor-Tex gear all day and overheating, we ride comfortably in breathable mesh gear and only add waterproof protection and warm layers when we actually need it.

Rain Gear Reviews:

KLIM Men's Forecast Jacket Waterproof Gore-Tex Overshell: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Pros: The Forecast Jacket is the jacket I currently wear, it is the updated version of the Enduro S4. The S4 was made of a durable waterproof neoprene-like material whereas the Forecast jacket uses Gore-Tex and withstands the rain a lot longer than the Schoeller 4-way stretch fabric. There are vents underneath both arms that allow airflow on humid rainy days while still preventing getting drenched in downpours. The jacket also acts as a windbreaker on cold days and keeps me insulated while blocking all of the mesh that the Baja has. It is a great layering up system. Packs down small when not in use.

Cons: No cons for this versatile and useful piece of gear.

Men's Torrent GTX Over Pants ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Pros: The Torrent pants are also Gore-Tex and block moisture from seeping in longer than non-Gore-Tex equivalents. I stay completely dry in the worst of weather. These also add a layer of warmth on cold mountain rides. Plus, they have full-length pant leg zippers that allow for quick on and off access over your other pants and boots.

Cons: They are a lot bulkier than Marisa's Columbia Pants. But we have a good location on the outside of our rear duffle that we store all of our rain gear in for quick access. The extra bulk is worth the additional rain resistance in my opinion.

Women's Columbia Storm Surge Pants ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Pros: Lightweight, packs down much smaller than Klim's Gore-Tex Pants. Great overall rain protection.

Cons: Marisa's butt still gets damp after long periods of rain or if the seat is soaked.

Men's and Women's Mosko Moto Ectotherm Insulated 12v Heated Jackets ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Pros: 2 in 1 comfort. With both a heated element as well as a 100g of synthetic insulation makes this jacket versatile for both chilly mornings taking down camp as well as cold days at elevation. The jackets can be adjusted by 3 settings for warm, toasty, and hot depending on the what you want. There is no longer a need for a separate heated jacket with an additional puffy style down jacket. It fits comfortably over our mesh jackets and our rain gear is large enough to go over the heated jacket.

Cons: We have no complaints and love this multi use piece of gear!

Comfort Matters More Than You Think

Whenever people ask us how we're able to spend entire days riding together on one motorcycle, they're often surprised that our answer isn't horsepower or suspension. it's comfort.
When you're traveling two-up, even small improvements can completely change how enjoyable a ride becomes. One of those improvements has been our Dynamic Accessories backrest and luggage rack.

Marisa has used it for years, and it provides far more support than many people realize. She can relax into the backrest and keeps her, as well as our luggage, secure. That makes long days all the more more enjoyable after hundreds of miles on the road.
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Long-distance motorcycle travel isn't about enduring discomfort. It's about eliminating the little things that slowly wear you down day after day.

Dynamic Accessories Rack ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

Pros: We love this pillion backrest / rack and dread the days we don't have one installed on the current motorcycle we are touring on.

Keeping the Boots We Already Had, With Mixed Reviews

While our jackets and pants changed dramatically for this trip, our boots didn't.

I continued riding in my Klim GTX Adventure Boots, while Marisa stuck with her Sidi Adventure 2 Boots. Both have already survived thousands upon thousands of miles through mud, gravel, rain, mountain passes, and plenty of unexpected tip-overs.

When people sign up for our tours in Borneo or Thailand, proper boots are the primary piece of safety gear I always stress our guests bring. Your ankle is the first point of impact in most falls and a proper pair of boots can avoid turning a sprained ankle into a broken ankle.
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A good adventure boot supports your ankles, protects your feet from impacts, and gives you confidence when you're riding rough terrain or maneuvering a fully loaded motorcycle.

Tim’s Boot Update After 3 Years of Use:

Even though we were sponsored by Klim, I don’t think I would get another pair or suggest Klim’s GTX boots. They started to fall apart, and the soles pretty quickly deteriorated compared to the Alpinestar Toucans.

I want to be as transparent as possible even though we have been given some items for free to test in real life scenarios.

Now, 3 years later, the entire boot is failing, and pieces of the outer shell are falling off like a seal’s molting skin. Some may say that 3 years is a good lifespan for a pair of boots. But the Klim GTX boots became non-waterproof within the 1st year of use. And I am not a fan of the BOA locking system. It seems like an overly complex way to secure a boot in place of a good old fashion buckle strap.

Boot Reviews:

Klim GTX Adventure Boots ⭐️⭐️ 2/5

Pros: Good protection and I always felt like my feet were safe.

Cons: They went from "starting to fall apart" to "replace immediately" pretty quickly. The waterproof liner failed when the sole started to come apart from the main boot structure. I also had to cut off the wire of the BOA tightening system because it started to fray and get stuck. It became an annoying feature every time I put on my boots!

Adventure 2 Boots ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Pros: Great overall protection and remained waterproof longer than Tim's GTX Adventure boots. The durability has lasted twice as long (and are still in great shape) after 4 years on the road.

Cons: They started off really squeaky! But after Marisa has worn them for years we finally used some silicone spray and the noise is now completely gone! They are also very stiff, but that is the point to keep joints safe and protected, but uncomfortable to walk around in.

Alpinestar Toucans ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Pros: Lasted twice as long as the Klim GTX Adventure boots and remained waterproof. Replaceable soles.

Cons: I think a truly "waterproof" boot does not last forever. These boots held up well, but did eventually get damp in torrential downpours.

Why We Never Ride Without Our Cardo Intercoms

After nearly a decade of traveling together on one motorcycle, we couldn't imagine riding without a communication system.

People often assume helmet communicators are simply for chatting while you ride, but for us they've become one of the most important safety tools we carry.

We use our Cardo Packtalk Edge units constantly. Sometimes it's to point out a pothole hiding in the shadows or a warning about a truck that's about to pull into our lane.

Other times we're simply laughing together about something ridiculous that just happened.
Being able to communicate instantly removes so much stress from riding two-up or with a group. The passenger isn't tapping on the rider's shoulder or trying to use hand signals at highway speeds. Instead, both of us always know what's happening.

On top of that, we use our Cardos for music, GPS instructions, and phone calls, all while keeping our hands safely on the handlebars. They've also proven themselves through some truly miserable weather, surviving countless rainy days without missing a beat. Even at highway speeds, Marisa sometimes uses hers to talk to friends and family, and her mom says she had no idea Marisa was on a motorcycle, the quality of the call is that clear!

If you're traveling with a passenger or riding regularly with friends, a quality communication system quickly becomes one of those pieces of gear you'll wonder how you ever lived without.
All of our Patreon Members can get 10% off sitewide with coupon code: 2UPANDOVERLOADED (all caps) at https://cardosystems.com/discount/2UPANDOVERLOADED

Cardo Packtalk Edge ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
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Pros: After years of using Senas and different Cardo units, the Packtalk Edge is by far the most reliable and durable intercoms we have ever used! And they have fantastic JBL speakers.

Cons: We have ZERO complaints of our Packtalk Edge units!

Final Thoughts

No single setup is perfect for every destination, which is why it's so important to think about where you'll actually be riding. The gear that performs brilliantly in Alaska isn't necessarily the gear you'll want crossing Indonesia or even just taking the trip in blazing summer heat in your home country.

For us, switching to lightweight mesh gear and packing separate rain and warm layers gave us a setup that was perfectly suited for months of riding through some of the hottest and most humid places we've ever visited.
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If you're planning your own motorcycle adventure in the hot summer months in your own backyard or in a faraway land, we hope our experience helps you build a riding kit that's comfortable, protective, and ready for whatever the road throws your way.
And if you have a favorite piece of hot weather motorcycle gear that you've used on your own adventures, let us know in the comments. We're always looking for ideas that make life on the road just a little bit better.

Do you want to test out your hot weather gear? Join us in Thailand or Borneo as we explore the most beautiful regions of Southeast Asia! Take a look at all of our latest tour dates at: https://www.2upandoverloaded.com/

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