Time for new textiles - Oxford Montreal?

[Steve_M]

Disappointingly my Wolf textile kit is no longer fit for purpose. A knee protector in the trousers has come adrift despite attempts to stitch it in place - and they no longer fit. The jacket’s ok - not as waterproof as I would ideally like, though. Wolf appear to have gone out of business, I would have bought new trousers that fit to replace my current ones.

 

Hence I’m looking for new - budget* - kit. I intend to ride up to Glasgow to look in Infinity and Sportsbikeshop to see which product to buy. 2 reasons for the trip. 1. I’m not confident I would get the right size online so checking fit and features in person, so to speak, is my approach. 2. Ignoring the M74, there are some cracking roads to get to Glasgow from here.

 

I’m still narrowing down which I think might work for me but currently in pole position is the Oxford Montreal textiles. 
 

Does anyone have any experience of these?

 

*Normally I’d be tempted to hang the cost but two stock market shocks, one domestic, one international, have impacted these pensioners pots. 

[Hairsy]

I've been on a bit of a journey with budget textiles.

 

I initially looked at the Oxford range, including Montreal but settled on Richa Cyclone based on advice from my local Infinity gear. These were on sale at the time but were still a little more expensive than Oxford. They claim to be waterproof and I've used them for a couple of hours in the wet and remained dry - but I always rely on having a set of (cheap) Oxford Rainseal over jacket / trousers if I'm heading away and am at risk of getting properly wet.

 

Since getting the Richa gear though, I've found I need something different for warmer days. The Richa has vents which do OK but I hate to be too hot.

 

I ended up with an RST Ventilator XT CE jacket. This is an AA rated mesh jacket that includes a thermal lining. The lining claims to be waterproof - I haven't had to test it but reviewers suggest that it does OK but isn't brilliant. But that isn't really an issue for me as I would aim to have my Rainseal gear with me if I'm at risk of rain.

 

In the warm, this jacket is absolutely fantastic - it's as close as I've ever felt to just wearing a t-shirt while still wearing decent gear. It really does let a lot of airflow through.

 

When it's chiller, the removable lining zips in and it's really effective. It's probably not quite as warm as my Richa gear but it's really not bad and for short local journeys, I'll always use the RST gear even in the depths of winter.

 

I've just bought the matching Ventilator trousers to go with the jacket - I haven't used them yet but they're constructed the same as the jacket so I have no doubt that they will be as cool as the jacket - and they also come with removable lining.

 

In summary, I'd really recommend considering something like the RST Ventilator kit, supplemented by over jacket / trousers for when its properly wet.

[daveinlim]

I can't comment on the Montreal but I have the Oxford stormland suit which is similar. It has kept me dry and warm this winter. I commute all year round. 

I use a shell oversuit when it's really coming down though. Just to keep it comfortable on the return ride home in the evening. 

 

There are some small design changes I'd make but overall it was value for money as it was half price at Moto GB. 

 

 

[RAYK47]

i have the Montreal 3 jacket and salopettes, i have had them for about 5 years now.  In the UK I ride in this in the wet and have never had an issue with it penetrating. 

 

However, I have also just returned from 10 days riding to the Italian Alps in some very extreme wet weather.  

 

There was a particular day on my trip where i had to ride 320miles in torrential rain.  I don't think there would have been much reasonably priced gear that could have withstood that.  Some colleagues had very expensive Rukka gear and stayed dry.  I was soaked through, if you combined it with a waterproof over jacket and trousers then i expect it would have been good enough.  

 

One other thing i would add, is the salopettes are very warm, i removed the lining straight away and have never used it since.  There are a couple of vents but they don't so a lot. 

 

I assume you are looking at the Montreal 4 so i expect there have been improvements in that one. 

Edited yesterday at 12:39 by RAYK47

[Steve_M]

27 minutes ago, RAYK47 said:

i have the Montreal 3 jacket and salopettes, i have had them for about 5 years now.  In the UK I ride in this in the wet and have never had an issue with it penetrating. 

 

However, I have also just returned from 10 days riding to the Italian Alps in some very extreme wet weather.  

 

There was a particular day on my trip where i had to ride 320miles in torrential rain.  I don't think there would have been much reasonably priced gear that could have withstood that.  Some colleagues had very expensive Rukka gear and stayed dry.  I was soaked through, if you combined it with a waterproof over jacket and trousers then i expect it would have been good enough.  

 

One other thing i would add, is the salopettes are very warm, i removed the lining straight away and have never used it since.  There are a couple of vents but they don't so a lot. 

 

I assume you are looking at the Montreal 4 so i expect there have been improvements in that one. 

Thank you.

 

It would be the Montreal 4 that I’d be looking at. We always carry waterproof over jacket / trousers when touring. I’m more than happy if the kit keeps me dry for, say, 20 minutes until I find a place to put the outer waterproofs on.

 

Hopfully the design update addresses the ventilation. 

[RAYK47]

The Montreal 3 keeps me dry in most situations, and i would expect the 4 to be an improvement. 

 

TBH i wouldnt have ridden in that weather in the UK, i just didnt have a choice on the trip.  If you have the over jacket and trousers as well i think you will be fine

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I have Montreal trousers and they're very good. Versatile and keep the rain out. 

 

The zips at the bottom of the legs aren't the best and one of mine is a bit dodgy. But they've been hammered in all weather's and I just leave the zips done up. 

[RideWithStyles]

Fit is just that, if it fits your biometrics were their average design and manufacturing.

Oxfords are generally good but seems to be a hit or miss aspect of there manufacturing rather than the basic design.

 

Weve had good results with both rst and richa over the years but both seemingly make wildly different fitment between models and styles.

[Steve_M]

18 hours ago, Hairsy said:

I've been on a bit of a journey with budget textiles.

 

I initially looked at the Oxford range, including Montreal but settled on Richa Cyclone based on advice from my local Infinity gear. These were on sale at the time but were still a little more expensive than Oxford. They claim to be waterproof and I've used them for a couple of hours in the wet and remained dry - but I always rely on having a set of (cheap) Oxford Rainseal over jacket / trousers if I'm heading away and am at risk of getting properly wet.

 

Since getting the Richa gear though, I've found I need something different for warmer days. The Richa has vents which do OK but I hate to be too hot.

 

I ended up with an RST Ventilator XT CE jacket. This is an AA rated mesh jacket that includes a thermal lining. The lining claims to be waterproof - I haven't had to test it but reviewers suggest that it does OK but isn't brilliant. But that isn't really an issue for me as I would aim to have my Rainseal gear with me if I'm at risk of rain.

 

In the warm, this jacket is absolutely fantastic - it's as close as I've ever felt to just wearing a t-shirt while still wearing decent gear. It really does let a lot of airflow through.

 

When it's chiller, the removable lining zips in and it's really effective. It's probably not quite as warm as my Richa gear but it's really not bad and for short local journeys, I'll always use the RST gear even in the depths of winter.

 

I've just bought the matching Ventilator trousers to go with the jacket - I haven't used them yet but they're constructed the same as the jacket so I have no doubt that they will be as cool as the jacket - and they also come with removable lining.

 

In summary, I'd really recommend considering something like the RST Ventilator kit, supplemented by over jacket / trousers for when its properly wet.

I have a set of Heine Gerricke mesh textiles for very warm weather. They’re provided with a waterproof liner to zip in, and it is showerproof. Great for summer day rides. The problem arises when touring that it’s possible to pass through several micro-climates / regions over the course of a day’s ride. On the one tour we did where I wore this kit we found  stopping to put on / take off the waterproof kit / liner for short showers frustrating. Particularly for my good lady pillion in her laminated waterproof kit who could weather the showers we encountered without needing to put on her waterproof over suit (actually, Berghaus walking over trousers and Heine Gerricke waterproof top).
 

Edited 16 hours ago by Steve_M