I know this has been hashed to death so I'll keep it simple: I've read most of the posts but I want to cut through all of it. Would you buy Gerbing, Warm and Safe, or something else. Please no drama: lol3
Warm n Safe is my choice. Gerbings is more widely avilable on retail level if you want to get into a shop to try on and buy. Don't think you will go wrong with either choice. Comfortably snug over a light base layer is the best fit for maximum warmth. JR356
I like my powerlet jacket with the wireless controller. Very nice. It is better than my old gerbings, but that was not microwire, so it is not really a fair comparison.
warm n safe, because it is so damn reliable, and well you can upgrade for a small fee every couple years just for fun Plus, Mike seems like a cool guy that actually rides and you can speak directly with him. Give it a try; send him an email and see if it takes more than a couple hrs. for a response. He's a little salty, but that is what makes him cool
I have both a Gerbing and a Tourmaster liner, happy with both. Have the Gerb single and dual controller and use my Tourmaster gloves with both liners. If I had none now, I'd buy either one.
Warm and Safe. Because : - you can get a waterproof jacket liner - I had a Gerbing vest. Disliked it enough to sell it and buy my Widder.
What about Storm rider? Are they the only ones that have a fabric "heating element" and don't use wires? Can they all be washed and drip dried? I am leaning towards the Storm so if there is any bad news out there I sure would appreciate the heads-up. Thanks, John
I have Gerbing and I'm happy with it! But, as a universal caveat, carry non-heated equipment that will get you home if that stuff fails... Reserve chute, belt and suspenders, etc. Think, "What if...".
Gerbings I have had nothing but luck also I was at Americade two years ago at the Gerbings bothe talking to a guy for about 15 minutes about their products and come to find out he was the owner. He was genuinely excited about their new products coming out and he rides.
WnS, because they support their gear very well, have wonderful customer service, have a presence here on the forum, and offer discounts to inmates.
From the exo2 stuff I've had, the vest has held up well (from a heat standpoint), the gloves have been garbage. The StormRider vest still keeps me warm after three long seasons, but the outer fabric definitely is showing it's age, and then some. The gloves, well, I've had to send them in for warranty twice, and leather of the third is falling apart so quickly, I'd hate to see what would happen if it touched pavement. I've since gone to hippo hands and like the result much better. If I were to buy right now, Warm-n-Safe for the nearly unanimous positive reviews.
I've got an old skool Gerbings jacket (HD branded, picked up on sale for 50% off, years ago) that I keep waiting to die so I can upgrade to micro wire . . . . though it isn't gonna do the job completely if the electric heat fails (great caveat for all heated gear, btw), it IS warm enough on it's own that I won't become a fatality . .. . Same Same some Gerbings gloves (also super-sale from the local HD dealer) . . . . . If either were to go peaar shaped today, I'd buy more of the same . . . . .