USER REVIEW - Xelement - Combination Armored and Cordura Vented Motorcycle Jacket Review

The following a a Motorcycle jacket review by the BBM user Sangria7.

I am very new to the motorcycle riding community, and as a new rider it is very important for me to have good riding gear. Unfortunately, I have found that a lot of reviews on storefront websites are not detailed enough for my taste. At the same time, I heavily rely on these same reviews on whether or not to purchase a particular item.

Before one month ago, I had never bought any motorcycle gear, let alone a jacket. Leatherup.com was recommended to me for inexpensive motorcycle jackets. Many new riders have a lot of questions, especially when buying a first jacket. Leather or textile? Black or colorful? Armor or no armor? These are the same questions that went on in my head. After browsing Leatherup.com, I finally purchased the Xelement Combination Armored & Cordura Vented Motorcycle Jacket for $69.95 plus S/H.

The Good

I currently live in Houston, Texas, so the summers here are quite hot and are normally in the high 90’s. I was looking for a riding jacket that would provide a lot of ventilation. When I got the jacket, I was pleasantly surprised on the looks. The jacket itself is very nice looking and fits well. However, I suggest ordering one size larger than normal, as the Xelement sizing chart runs small. The quilted liner comes out to make the jacket a very breathable. The liner is not very thick but would probably work between 50-70 degree weather; however, this is not why I bought the jacket.

This jacket rocks in hot weather. I have taken the jacket out on test drives in high 80 degree weather and it kept me very cool. The inner mesh allowed for very good ventilation. The front vents easily pushes air towards the rear vent. Storage room was great as it has an inside zipped pocket and two pockets on the outside. The jacket overall is very comfortable and can probably keep rider’s cool in very hot weather.

The Bad

Though this jacket is a combination Cordura and leather with CE Armor, I would not trust it in a wreck faster than 45 MPH. The Cordura is very lightweight which contributes to the jacket’s ability to cool the rider. The jacket is advertised with” premium leather”, but upon closer inspection the leather is very thin and superficial at best. The CE armor is also lightweight and is made of ¼ inch foam padding. In fact, the armor is almost a nuisance as it so thin and feels weak. Lastly, by no means is it waterproof, though you probably could spray it with some waterproofing spray.

Conclusion

This jacket does exactly what it was built for; to keep you well ventilated and cool in hot weather. It is so cool that it feels like you are not even wearing a jacket at times. Just remember it does not offer a lot of protection, but it’s better than wearing just a t-shirt. It is a great riding jacket for in and around town, as I have been using it for. I would not recommend wearing this on the interstate.

Pros

• Looks great and very comfortable
• Great ventilation and mesh system
• Lightweight and portable
• Versatile with liner
• Very affordable

Cons

• Limited protection and armor
• Cordura and Leather is on the thin side
• Not suitable for high speed / Interstate / long trip riding

Specifications

Xelement advertises this jacket that can “withstand the harshest conditions” and has “premium leather on shoulders.” It is also advertise with the following features for a sale price of $69.95:

• Removable CE Certified Armor on Elbow and Shoulder
• Made Of 100% Cordura fabric and premium leather
• Zip-out quilted liner
• Zippered cuffs
• Long zipper vents on front
• Two outside zipper pockets
• Left inside chest angled zipper pocket
• Inside Velcro cover cell phone pocket with pen holders on the removable quilted liner
• Lined with mesh lining
• Back and side spandex for added comfort