Skins - What do you get from wearing them?

**Mystic13** · 16th February 2011, 08:17

I see a few riders down at the track where "Skins" under their leathers.

What's the benefit in wearing these?

Do they work as you expect?

Wouldn't they make you hotter?

Cheers

**blackdog** · 16th February 2011, 08:18

imagine it prevents chaffing

if it's really cold you could wear four...

**avgas** · 16th February 2011, 08:36

Wait the rest of you can take off your skin?

**Devil** · 16th February 2011, 08:38

They assist by wicking sweat away from your skin, and also make your leathers easier to get on and off.

That is in addition to the benefits provided by good compression gear (you'll have to google for that stuff).

**onearmedbandit** · 16th February 2011, 08:40

+1. I wear an undersuit under my leathers during the summer. No more sweaty t-shirt for me.

**KiwiNinja** · 16th February 2011, 09:18

I wear skins purely to ease getting my leathers on and off rather than for the compression benefits. They are great for a hot summer as they catch a lot of the sweat and means you don't have material bunching underneath your kit.

By the way there are also other brands of compression gear other than Skins which are just as effective. I use Canterbury as they are near half the price of Skins. I think Body Armour is another one.

**Devil** · 16th February 2011, 10:51

Originally Posted by KiwiNinja

By the way there are also other brands of compression gear other than Skins which are just as effective. I use Canterbury as they are near half the price of Skins. I think Body Armour is another one.

Under Armor
Manic Compression

**Mystic13** · 16th February 2011, 11:08

I checked the price of skins and decided to post to find out if they worked and how.

So let me see if I have this right. You feel drier?

Leathers are easier to get on and off.

I have no problems getting the leathers on and off. When I come off the track or a ride my T-Shirt can be fairly soaked.

So do the skins feel wet?

Just popped on a couple of sites and see Canterbury sell "Hot" and "Cold" ones. Apparently the "Hot" is for wearing when hot and will make you cooler and vice versa. This stuff borders on the realms of magic for me. I keep thinking how can this possibly work. (edit - just read a web page while typing this and I understand a bit more now)

So it seems to work. All I need to do is figure out whether I go Skins, Canterbury or Body Armour etc.

And I found this general article;

http://www.nzcompression.co.nz/pages...hy-Compression

Information overload....

**Deano** · 16th February 2011, 11:23

I'm waiting for my Manic Compression brand to arrive. $85 incl frieght.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 16th February 2011, 11:32

I have an undersuit for my leathers: its coolmax (I think) but not compression. Makes a huge difference to comfort and ease of putting leathers on and off.

**DVS 69** · 16th February 2011, 12:22

I wear skins under my leathers, I do this for three reasons, 1) Easyer for us more solidly built fellas to slip into ya leathers, 2) No bunching , 3) No rubbing ...

Since wearing this type of under garment (under leathers) i've found them to do a awesum job of keeping you feeling dryer, i think somebody has mentioned they kinda pull the sweat away from ya skin. I also wear mine to boxing training and they work fantasticly, and i think the compression tightness is to aid in recovery of sore muscles etc. I'd recommend this type of clothing to any outdoors or active people, great way of not getting sunburnt too.

BUT .......... I was at the track one day an a guy came up to me and asked if i'd crashed wearing my skins. I said no i havnt, he pulled up his sleeve and showed me a burn from the friction of his skins under his leathers after he had crashed,

Long story short i still wear mine i've met alot of racers that wear them and crash and never have a problem so i dunno what ta think ...........

Anyway theres my 20 cents worth.

**Gremlin** · 16th February 2011, 19:04

When you bin at the track, there's less chance your leathers will be cut off (unless you mangle yourself real good) as we can get your leathers off much more easily.

I mean... I was so horribly disappointed not to get a naked sweaty man when I pulled his leathers off...

**Little Miss Trouble** · 16th February 2011, 19:21

I must hurry up and order some manic compressions gear, at present I require help getting my leathers off after a long ride...

**Kendog** · 16th February 2011, 21:31

They are well worth the money. As others have said they minimise the impact of sweat and make getting in/out of leathers so easy.
Under Armour is my favourite brand.

**Mystic13** · 16th February 2011, 21:31

Yep, I'm convinced enough to make a first buy. So do I buy just a top or pants to check it out first or just go the whole hog. I've spent too much on bike stuff lately. And still have more purchases to make.

Thanks for all the info.