January 2009 than one in the low 30s. The lady compared to traditional fabrics at the parts store couldn’t believe of equal or greater thickness. I was riding on such a cold day. The material is breathable and I had her run her hand up my the patented construction and sleeve to feel my skin. She was fabric allow some air to pass amazed at how warm I felt. When through while some fibers warm Warm to the touch I arrived home, I had Kim do the and hold warmer air molecules Gator Skins Thermal Underwear keeps you warm while someone same thing since it was the whole in. Sounds technical to me, but Reviewed by Mike Staudt else might think it doesn’t do the trip and not just half. She stated hey, it works! They are proudly Photos by Kim Staudt job. It comes down to opinion, she felt warm skin, too, and not a made in the U.S.A., just the I have ridden down to 20 de- and if you ever want a second bit of coolness. My hands were a way they should be. grees through the years and rid- opinion, just ask the wife! That’s little cool, but I wore my thinnest For proper fitting, the shirt ing gear has certainly changed, gloves. With my thicker should be worn loose, like a but I haven’t. I still wear the pair, I would have been T-shirt. If it’s tight, it stretches same head-to-toe leather, but warm there, too. apart and loses its warming what I wear under the leather Kim’s test came on a ability. It only stretches hori- has changed immensely. I used 47-degree day. We rode zontally and not vertically. It is to roll newspapers and line the to a little barbecue place also water-repellent, but only if sleeves and jeans for warmth we like to frequent for worn loosely. If stretched too as a lot of my friends did. Soon dinner. Round trip was much, it opens up the mate- I tried using long underwear. 40 miles and again, we rial and water can get in. The Better, but still not the answer. were on similar roads leg thermals are to be worn to I turned to more shirts, hooded with the same speeds. a snug fit since they are under jackets, and bib overalls, and She dressed in jeans, your pants. Gator Skins’ spe- it got to the point where I felt T-shirt, leather jacket, cial weave will not fray even if restricted because I couldn’t chaps, gloves and a hel- you get a hole in them, which is move under all the clothes. met with the same three very hard to do. More and more companies pieces of Gator Skins Cleaning Gator Skins is began producing underwear- underneath. She gets simple. Wash them in cold or type gear to keep you warm. I cold quite easily and was warm water and hang them to have tried some and I can’t say skeptical about whether dry, or throw them in the dryer one beats another, or even any- it would work as well on an air cycle. Drying in a hot thing I have ever come up with for her. I waited till we dryer will cause the fibers to on my own. I don’t like the silk stopped to eat, and she tighten up. If this happens, you ones at all. It just doesn’t seem said, “I am warm and can quickly fluff the item back right for a man to be wearing my arms, legs and hands to normal as it cools. They will silk. Electrics also came onto don’t feel cold at all! not shrink, so you don’t need to the scene with gloves, vests, The material is light- allow for shrinkage when or- pants, socks—you name it. The weight and isn’t confin- dering. idea behind that was invented in what I did. I tested them and so ing or itchy. The stuff really does Fat Mike met with the 1919. It’s called a toaster and I did Kim. She has 10 years riding work!” Kim normally doesn’t manufacturers and proposed ain’t a slice of bread. solo under her butt and 20 behind like to ride below the 55-degree making them for the biking I learned about a line of me, so she’s certainly qualified to mark and she thought she could community. Long negotiations products called Gator Skins, be a good test rider. easily ride in comfort down to 35 and revised plans finally made and the description made me I wore the shirt, leg thermals degrees. Gator Skins a reality. wonder if the stuff is for real. and gloves on a 32-degree after- While some people will Now you have no more ex- “Best damn riding shirts made,” noon. My ride would take me to want the Gator Skins for these cuses not to ride in the cold! according to company owner a parts store to pick up a gear for temperatures, others will want Fat Mike, and that’s at 70 mph the garage door opener. Round them for riding in higher temps at 60 degrees! No jacket—just trip would be 30 miles and the with a varied degree of clothing. the Gator Skins shirt. This stuff roads would range from residen- You can choose the weight of the had to be put to the test and I tial to Interstate, and a local high- jacket, whether you want chaps, wanted to be the test rider. Fat way, too. Speeds ran from 30 to extra gloves, etc. The choices Mike’s got 44 years riding 70 mph if you follow the posted can be matched to the conditions on the road and my 30 years speed limit. Travel time was on the day of the ride. seemed to qualify me to review one hour, and I concluded that I The Gator Skins technology his claims. love this stuff! Dressed with the comes from DuPont researchers. Some tests can be con- three pieces against my skin and The material, a silver-colored mi- firmed with test equipment a short-sleeved T-shirt, jeans, crofabric, is knitted from fibers that documents the results. But leather vest, chaps, headgear and that are smaller than a red blood www.gator-skins.com testing clothing for warmth is gauntlet gloves, I was warm. It cell. They hold a greater amount [email protected] quite subjective. I may think it felt like a 55-degree day rather of warm air next to the skin when 717.755.7105