Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Product Review: LDComfort and Twisted Core

Collapse
X
Collapse
  •  

  • Product Review: LDComfort and Twisted Core

    What you wear can affect how well you ride
    Core.jpg
    Staying comfortable not only adds to the enjoyment of the ride, it may also increase safety. When you are focused on your body's pain or discomfort, you are distracted from paying attention to traffic or road conditions. Motorcyclists spend a ton on aftermarket seats, backrests, highway pegs, etc., in an effort to improve the comfort of the ride.

    There is a growing number of clothing products that claim to increase rider comfort. I wanted to see for myself if any of the claims were true.

    The Testing Environment

    Each of the products below was tested during a 738-mile roundtrip ride from DFW to Midland, Texas, in July 2014. Ambient temperatures ranged from 79 degrees in the morning to 96 degrees in the afternoon. I should also mention that I am 6'-2" tall with 35" arms, a 42" chest and 33" inseam. I weigh 178 lbs. During this test I was wearing an Olympia AirGlide 3 mesh jacket, Olympia mesh riding pants and an HJC SyMax III helmet. My 2012 Goldwing is equipped with Baker Hand Wings which I use in temps above 90°F to increase airflow to the arms and chest. I also have a vent in my V-Stream windshield for additional airflow.

    LDComfort



    Since I first became involved with the Goldwing forums, I have read about how LDComfort products could keep a rider cooler in summer riding. My first experience was a few years ago when I received a pair of the LDComfort riding shorts for my birthday. Last year, I also acquired the LDComfort long-sleeve mock turtleneck undershirt and helmet liner.

    The LDComfort products are made from a stretchy "spandex-like" material and only come in black. The shorts are unique because they have very few seams in places that could cause discomfort when seated. LDComfort is designed to be worn tight against the skin, acting sort of like a second layer of skin. The company claims that the design of their products can regulate the body temperature in any type of weather. The theory is that they can keep you warm in the cold and cool in the heat.

    f7b2674b-8b57-45a6-a541-c5f92cac7ee0.jpgAs temperatures increased during the ride, I used a spray bottle to wet the sleeves and chest of the mock turtleneck during a fuel stop. When the air flows through the mesh jacket, there is a definite evaporative cooling effect. In fact, if you wet the garment in temps under 90 degrees, you may get cold. You can get the same cooling effect by wetting your skin, but moisture on your skin will evaporate very quickly. The LDComfort material holds the moisture longer, extends the evaporation time, and allows the cooling effect to transfer to your body.


    As the material begins to dry, the cooling effect will wear off. However, even when completely "dry", the material does the job of wicking perspiration which will then evaporate and provide some cooling. So, even without wetting the garment, it will increase rider comfort in hot weather. In 93-degree temperature, I found the wetting technique to last roughly 35 minutes before the garment dried out. Of course, these times will vary based on humidity and how much air p***es through your riding jacket.

    My only complaint with LDComfort is the fit of the mock turtleneck. The sleeves on my size Large are at least 2 inches too short (see photo above) and no Tall sizes are available. This becomes an issue when arms are outstretched reaching for the handlebars. Of course, if you do not have ape-like arms like me, that would not be an issue.

    The LDComfort Long Sleeve Mock Turtleneck sells for $56.98. The Men's Riding Shorts sell for $44.94. The Helmet Liner style I have sells for $24.50.

    For more information, go to www.LDComfort.com


    Twisted Core



    Unlike LDComfort, Twisted Core offers both Summer and Winter base layers. They also offer full-length "pants" which I wore underneath my Olympia mesh riding pants.

    Twisted Core claims to combine multiple fabrics with strategically placed melt-resistant zones, technical mesh to maximize air flow and help regulate body temperature, moisture wicking, anti-microbial and UV properties that protect and keep you dry. Flatlock seams and tagless technology eliminate irritation by reducing interior fabric bulk and unnecessary tags.
    f5543901-d2ac-4884-a016-729004aacc48.jpg
    The construction of the Twisted Core products is impressive. The material is much lighter than LDComfort but offers good compression. I tested the Summer Base Layer Shirt and Summer Base Layer Pants. The Large shirt fit perfectly, and had longer sleeves than the LDComfort.

    The shirt has compression material in the forearms to improve circulation. A lighter material is used in the upper arms and shoulders to maximize airflow. I'm not sure if it is a gimmick, but it seems to work. I found the Twisted Core garments to be very comfortable. As soon as I put on the Twisted Core long-sleeve top, my skin felt cooler. It is actually kind of strange, but nice. Unlike the LDComfort, the Large long-sleeve shirt fit me perfectly with enough sleeve length to cover my wrists (see photo at left).

    The wicking properties of the material did keep me cooler, and I felt like the compression properties were quite impressive.

    The Twisted Core Long-Sleeve Summer Base Layer Shirt sells for $59.99. The Summer Base Layer Pants sell for $49.99.

    For more information, go to www.TwistedCore.com

    IS THERE A WINNER?

    Both products helped me stay cooler in the Texas heat. Wetting the LDComfort material provided extra cooling for up to 35 minutes before drying out while the same effect with Twisted Core only lasted about 20 minutes. However, once the material has shed that moisture, I felt cooler in the Twisted Core. I should also mention that Twisted Core does not recommend wetting the material to improve cooling. Also, the Twisted Core was all-around just more comfortable. And then there's the sleeve length issue with LDComfort (for me).

    Both LDComfort shorts and Twisted Core full-length pants were comfortable. The LDComfort helmet liner is a must-have to keep the head cooler and prevent perspiration from soaking the helmet padding.

    For my money, Twisted Core is the way to go. I will be wearing their summer wear on all my warm-weather rides from now on. The LDComfort helmet liner is also a permanent part of my gear regardless of temperature.
    Last edited by Cruiseman; 10-23-2017, 09:13 AM.

    • Cruiseman
      #2
      Cruiseman commented
      Editing a comment
      Hard to say for sure. My head does not sweat as bad as yours, but I am guessing the LDComfort liner sure couldn't hurt. I have talked to other riders that wear one for just that reason.

    • rh.campbell
      #3
      rh.campbell commented
      Editing a comment
      I have the LD Comfort head liner and have used it a couple of times. Honestly, I cant say it made a big difference but I dont sweat a lot in a helmet, so my comments may not reflect your experience. If you want to wear it on a long trip, it cant hurt. Just make sure you get your hair cut short before you leave otherwise you may find you head is cramped in your helmet when wearing the liner.I will definately use it in the winter because it has a tail piece that comes down below my helmet which I can tuck into my jacket and will keep the cold air off the back of my neck.

      I ordered the top and bottoms from Twisted Throttle and these DO work. It's absolutely amazing how they keep you cool wearing only the shirt and my riding jacket. I set the Wind Wings to blow air up my sleeves, and one day in the 80's, I got so chilled, I actually had to put a sweater on that I carry at all time in the bike. Leaving in a couple of days for a week or two down the BRP, and an extended tour of West Virginia, and I will be wearing this gear the whole time. LD comfort shorts are excellent as well...no more underwear ridges in the back of my legs...

    • m45mcdan
      #4
      m45mcdan commented
      Editing a comment
      I have worn LDComfort long sleeve shirts for a couple of years now and really enjoy the product. Just order one of the many copper garments to see if they work on my hip discomfort which has suddenly appeared...gotta love this growing old process.

    Leave a comment

Categories

Collapse

Article Tags

Collapse

Latest Articles

Collapse

  • Sena Freewire Bluetooth Adapter Review (Long Term)
    by Cruiseman
    Ever since Bluetooth technology hit the market, Goldwing riders have been dreaming about cutting the cord and going wireless. Sena has made this easier with the introduction of the Freewire Bluetooth adapter.

    I have been testing the Freewire for several months on my 2012 Goldwing. I have been using the adapter connected wirelessly to the Sena 20S headset. The Freewire adapter connects to the Goldwing audio system via a special cord (included) that connects to the Goldwing audio DIN
    ...
    10-23-2017, 06:53 AM
  • FOBO Bike Bluetooth TPMS Review
    by Cruiseman
    There are a lot of choices in tire pressure monitoring systems. I have tried a couple myself, with mixed results. And quite frankly, if Honda had a decent TPMS built into the Goldwing, an aftermarket one would not be necessary. However, the Goldwing TPMS is inadequate, not displaying the actual pressure of each tire. As a result, many Goldwing (and other motorcycle) riders opt for an aftermarket solution.

    FOBO Bike Bluetooth TPMS

    The FOBO system is unique in that it is...
    07-01-2015, 05:50 AM
  • DynaBeads Review
    by Cruiseman
    Solving Front-End Wobble
    Can Dyna Beads Be The Solution?

    For the past seven years I have been reading about Goldwing riders experiencing the dreaded front-end wobble. I had personally never experienced this phenomenon until I purchased my 2012 Goldwing. My 2005 and 2007 were both "wobble-free" rides. That is the strangest thing about the "wobble"; some Wings have it, and some don't.
    ...
    10-04-2014, 06:55 AM
  • Doran TPMS Review
    by Cruiseman
    I was excited when I learned that Honda was including tire pressure monitoring (TPMS) on the 2012 Goldwing ABS that I purchased in 2011. I was less excited when I learned that the system only alerts you when a tire is low, and does not inform you which tire is low. In addition, there is no indication of the actual pressure inside the tire. Yet another oversight by Mother Honda. I suppose the factory TPMS is better than nothing, but it is far from elegant. So, when the opportunity presented itself for me to install, video, and review the TPMS from Doran, I was pretty stoked. ...
    09-15-2014, 07:24 AM
  • Intelliskin Review
    by Cruiseman
    When I received my package of Intelliskin products for testing, I immediately noticed two things: First, these garments look really impressive; and Second, there was no way I was going to fit into size Large! After an email to Intelliskin, a set of XL shirts was sent to me.

    Unlike LDComfort and Twisted Core, both of which claim to help regulate body temperature while riding, Intelliskin is geared toward posture apparel that physically connects with your body to achieve optimal posture...
    08-06-2014, 06:11 AM
  • My Favorite Aftermarket Products
    by Cruiseman
    I have been very fortunate over the past few years to install, test, review and enjoy several aftermarket products for the Goldwing. So, I wanted to take the time to recognize those companies who have the products that I recommend every Goldwing owner purchase. ...
    07-24-2014, 09:31 AM
Working...
X
😀
🥰
🤢
😎
😡
👍
👎