So Cal Winter is here! Looking for a good riding Jacket

I am looking for a good enduro type jacket. I have never owned a quality riding jacket since I ride in mostly fair weather. I am going to be spending a decent amount of time riding in the high deserts of So Cal, and also in the mountains of Baja this winter and am looking for recommendations on Jackets.

I know I want a jacket that has a lot of vent zippers since I will be riding and want to cool down as the day warms up. I like the jackets that can turn into a fanny pack as that would be really cool to be able to carry it with me without wearing it.

I also like the jackets that the sleeves zip off and can be stored in the jacket's pockets.

The only real thing I absolutely need in a jacket is that it is decently waterproof.

Thanks in advance!

-Blake

I have a few jackets.

Here is what i love:

1) A rear (lower back) zippered opening for tools or power bars or whatever.

2) Vents, and more vents. Everywhere. Front chest and under arm seem the most important. But back is also good to have.

3) Both snaps and zipper front.

4) Zipper shut chest pockets, and hand pockets-preferably lined with fleece.

5) I LOVE my No Fear jacket that folds into its rear back zippered pocket with two semi-beefy straps. Making the jacket a little ball that straps around my waist if it gets too hot. Very cool feature.

6) My old BMW 'dakar' jacket has plenty of night visibilty with reflective material all over it.

7) Optional elbow and shoulder inserts for just riding around town on my 610.

8) Elastic around waiste to keep the air out.

9) Very comfortable and beefy and fleece lined collar to keep the wind out.

10) Compatiple with water from a camelback.

There are so so so many companies now that make these kinds of things. Seems like Klim is trying really hard. But even the big name companies have hardcore jackets. I mean 'No Fear' isnt exactly my first choice for gear, but they did sponsor me and had some surprisingly great gear. Just some ideas for ya.

Blake, don't forget Leatt compatibility. I have no experience with this one, but it appears worthy of a look.

acerbis desertika

http://mx1west.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=189\

I have a Rocky Mountain jacket that is pretty good, not perfect...folds up into it's own waist pack, no go with Leatt though.

Arms zip off, lots of zippered vents. ARC Backcountry...looks like they now have a section of 'Adventure jackets'.

http://www.rockymountainatv.com/typ...venture-Riding Gear&webTypeId=463&webCatId=58

Im looking at this jacket over at Atomic. What do you guys think? It has a lot of pockets, looks warm, has vents, and stuffs into a fanny pack.

http://www.atomic-moto.com/servlet/the-137/MSR-Storm-Jacket-Waterproof/Detail

Ya, I didn't really think about that. I also have the Flight vest I wear, and am thinking that this should go over the jacket.



I don't know how all this is going to fit together. When wearing a jacket, do people generally wear a chest protector on the inside, on the outside, or not at all? What are all of your thoughts.

Thanks,
Blake

Blake,

I wear a Koerta(?) pressure suit over a Leatt. I just purchased this jacket, made to work with the Leatt, http://www.troyleedesigns.com/blais/ to wear over everything, for the winter. It has lots of vents, is waterproof, removable collar to work with the LeattI also have that Ogio flight vest thing but don't wear it in the summer, too hot.

I haven't ridden in the jacket yet but am doing the VCMC District 37 ride in Bishop this weekend. 400+ miles, I'll let you now how it goes.

Sweet, thanks. Are you wearing your flight vest on the ride? Please snap some picks of you in full gear. I would love to see how everything fits together.

Thanks,
Blake

I'm bringing ALL of my kit. I have that new Klim helmet with the stoopid amount of vents...Friday will by it's first ride. Anyway, bringing everything so I can try out every possible combination.

HAHA....I saw that helmet. It looks CrAzY

Sweet. I am really digging the Blais Jacket. Please take photos for me. It looks like the way to go for me. I will probably wear the Letta and Chest Protector under it, and throw the Flight Vest over it. I found it for $189 + free shipping here:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001U2EU8K

How much did you get it for. Can I get a better deal than that? Also what about sizing? I am 6'1" and 180 lbs. Will I fit everything under a large. Thanks for the help!

Blake

P.S. We have the same bike!

I have used this one from Motosports, great price if they have your size.

http://www.motosportz.com/HVA-SS/Rooster_jacket_details.htm

I have two Thor jackets that I really like. The Ride jacket is very nice, lots of venting and pockets, a zip-out fleece vest, drawstring closures for the waist and collar, nice fit, and it is really tough. Great for when it's really cold and you don't expect to shed it in the day.

My other jacket is the Thor Phase jacket. It's a rung down on the quality ladder (cheaper zipper pulls, fewer pockets, no fleece liner), but the key is it has zip-off sleeves and a big pocket to store the sleeves. This one's great for when you expect things to warm up after your ride gets going.

I just looked on thor's website, and the jackets have both been redesigned from the models I have (2007 Ride, 2008 Phase). It doesn't look like the new Ride jacket has the zip-out fleece vest, which is a shame-- I wear that vest all the time (around the house, in the garage, to work).

Anyhoo, that's my two cents.

http://www.thormx.com/product.jsp?path=2085,2086,2092,8333

I've got three riding jackets. A FOx one with lots of pockets and vents with sleeves that zip off, a Thor Ride jacket, same features as the Fox and a KLIM Goretex jacket. I use the Klim jacket the most. It was the most expensive, but it's light, breathes and folds up tight and compact. I find that it's all I usually need for the CA desert. I don't like riding with bulky jackets if I don't have to. If I rode in the extreme cold, I'd probably wear the Thor or Fox jacket, but for now, those are only used around camp.

http://www.klimusa.com/b2c/KlimUSA/ecom/ecomEnduser/items/xt_itemDetailNF.aspx?siteId=1&itemNum=3048-140-000

Rich,

I'm curious how you think the Blais jacket fits. I am going to buy one, but not sure if I want to get the L or the XL. I am 6'2" and 180 lbs. See the photos earlier in the thread of me. Thanks for all the help!

-Blake

Blake,

Sorry for the delay. I contacted the company, blaisracing.com, I think, and asked for a size recommendation. I was going to get an XL, because of my experience with the Koerta, but he recommended a large instead. I'm 5'9", 170lb, 41" chest.

I did the VCMC D37 Bishop ride this weekend. I wore the jacket the first day, with long sleeve tech-t, Koerta, Leatt, and jacket. We went from 4k to 9500ft, with snow above about 9300ft. Spent about 2hrs bulldogging the bike through snow drifts, etc. Woulda been VERY nice to zip off the sleeves. But once I got moving again I was fine.

My quick notes:

• If you are committed to wearing the Leatt, then you really only have two choices: the Acerbis Desertika and the Blais jacket. My sense is that Desertika is more of a windbreaker, this is a sturdier Enduro jacket so I went with this. I've seen guys modify other jackets to work with the Leatt, but I don't really like the other two enduro jackets I have so didn't want to buy a non-Leatt jacket only to have a tailor dork around with it.
• I wear either a Ogio flight vest or a camelback. The flight vest is an additional warming layer in the winter and I love the convenience of the pockets in the front. The pockets on the front of the Blais jacket are very nice, but this was a short day-ride so no need to use the jacket pockets. However, the flight vest covers up the chest and back vents, leaving only the arm vents. You can just unzip the jacket a bit to let more air in but, there you go.
• Couldn't figure out how to store the jacket into the fanny pack dealio on the back. I was dealing with it on the trail, in the snow, while hot and tired and not much patience. I may try to figure it out but will likely end up stowing the jacket some other way, on the bike most likely
• If the sleeves zipped off it would be a perfect jacket. I may cut up one of my other jackets, removing the sleeze zippers, to see what a tailor could do with it.

Go over to Advrider. com and search Blais jacket. You'll find a good review.

Recommended but, as with most things, may require some modifications or compromises based on your personal comfort priorities, riding style, how you carry gear, etc

Rich

So I just got the Blais jacket in the mail. Here are the photos of me trying it on. I got an XL so I could fit it over everything.


This is me with my chest protector, Leatt brace, and my 661 2x4 elbow pads on.


This is the jacket over that. It fits good, just a bit long in the sleeves.


Here is me with the Ogio Flight vest on.


And here is the jacket on over all of that. It fits like a tailored suit. It feels good, and keeps everything together nicely, but does not restrict my range of motion.


With the collar removed, it fits perfectly around the Leatt brace.






And it rolls into itself to turn into a fanny pack!


I really think I'm going to love this jacket. It is really well made. I'll post back to this thread and let you know how it worked out after the H4T, cause I'm going to basically be living in it for a week down south.

-Blake

In case any of the other women riders are looking for suggestions on a jacket, I thought I'd mention that the Klim Stow Away jacket comes in an XS. I just got one last week. It's a lightweight shell made out of Gore-Tex Pac-Lite.

I also have a Fox Dakota jacket. It's made out of more durable fabric and has built in elbow pads, which I like, but I discovered right away that it's not a cold weather jacket. The wind goes right through it.

I've figured out that I really prefer to layer, so that I can adjust to changing weather easily. That's why I bought the Klim Stow Away. It's windproof and waterproof, fits over my chest protector, and several layers if needed. I can fit a fleece jacket, down jacket, and chest protector under it, yet it still looks decent with just a jersey and chest protector. I normally wear a women's small, so I went with the XS in the Klim.

Blake

looks good! I wear the vest over the jacket. Can you describe how you folded it into the fanny pack? I tried for a few impatient minutes but couldn't figure it out