- This topic has 12 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 10 months ago by WeaponZero.
Broke down and bought a mesh jacket…
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May 2, 2010 at 5:58 pm #3921WeaponZeroParticipant
So, I honestly thought my new Scorpion full perf leather jacket would be all I would need for those super hot days, but the problem is that in order to get decent airflow in these jackets, you need to be moving at speed. When you’re not, you’re roasting alive. Those of you who commute on your motorcycles know that rush hour traffic often makes this an unrealistic situation as you spend just as much time sitting still in traffic as you do moving. This happened to me on Friday…
There was an accident involving multiple vehicles that temporarily closed down the liberty bridge while authorities were there taking care of things. This led to me being stuck in traffic for an hour on an 88 degree day in a full perf leather jacket. NOT fun and I was roasting alive inside my jacket which, at that point, had become a microwave oven.
When I got home, the very first thing I did was log onto newenough.com and sportbiketrackgear.com and start browsing around for mesh jackets. My price limit was $150. I ended up narrowing it down to:
Scorpion EXOwear Cool Rod mesh jacket (currently on sale for $99.00)
Speed & Strength Moment of Truth mesh jacket (currently on sale for $125.00)
ICON Hooligan 2 mesh jacket ($133.00 after 20% off ICON discount at sportbiketrackgear)After comparing the features and prices of the above three jackets I decided on the Speed & Strength because it appeared to offer the most protection (had ballistic nylon going all up and down the sleeves and shoulders), most adjustment, and came with a removable waterproof liner.
So, my jacket collection now consists of:
Scorpion EXOwear All-In leather jacket (relaxed fit, great for cooler weather)
Scorpion EXOwear Stinger leather jacket (sport fit, great for hot weather AS LONG AS YOU’RE NOT SITTING IN TRAFFIC)
Speed & Strength Moment of Truth mesh jacket
Teknic Freestyle textile jacket (which is due to be retired soon as I have gotten too small for it and it doesn’t have much in the way of adjustment).May 4, 2010 at 6:37 am #26157eternal05ParticipantAs long as you don’t think too much about what’ll happen if you go down.
I had a similar experience last summer. I’d vowed never to wear mesh, but a string of 105+ degree days here in Seattle changed my mind real fast. I ended up with the Shift Backdraft (which they don’t offer anymore, but it was $125), and while my commute got infinitely more comfortable, I can just tell how much less protective it is. Definitely worth it in really hot weather though…
Let us know how you like it!
May 4, 2010 at 6:57 am #26158eonParticipantWell in those 105+ degree days I nearly passed out through heat exhaustion last year. Bought a mesh jacket soon after but it was an expensive one (RevIT Turbine). I feel more protected in it than my original Teknic Freeway jacket. Hope never to put it to the test!
May 4, 2010 at 2:00 pm #26160briderdtParticipantAnything over 80, and I was in mesh. Yeah, it was an unusually warm season in Seattle, but I loved every day of it. Even the 109* day where it was cooler sitting at the stoplights than moving at 45…
May 4, 2010 at 3:20 pm #26161eternal05ParticipantI live in what is essentially a glorified greenhouse. On the hottest day last summer it was 117 degrees in my bedroom. At 10pm. Helllllll no.
I love the sun just as much as anybody (then again maybe not; I do live in the PNW), but I live in Seattle precisely so I don’t have to deal with that kind of heat.
May 4, 2010 at 3:33 pm #26162WeaponZeroParticipantI originally come from South Florida. I’m guessing that if I still lived down there, a mesh jacket would probably be my main jacket.
Like I said I’ll still wear the perf leather jacket if I know i won’t have to deal with city traffic cause as long as you’re moving you’re good. But the mesh jacket will definitely replace it for my commuter runs.
May 4, 2010 at 3:46 pm #26163JackTradeParticipantWhere I live (DC area) are brutal…usually mid to high 90s and 100% humidity. So it’s mesh jacket and pants for me from about May through September.
I too have the stuff that has heavy ballistic fabric at the hit points (elbows, shoulders, knees and butt), along with good fitting internal armor…makes me feel a little safer, and it’s better than what many riders wear during the summers here (i.e. tank tops/t-shirts and jeans, though I’ve already seen people riding in shorts!)
May 5, 2010 at 4:37 am #26183ShamRock229ParticipantI live in south GA so its high temp high humidity for 8 months out of the year…I wear my mesh jacket for about 5 of those 8 months…
Side note: I saw a guy on campus who hopped off of his SV650 wearing Columbia shorts and loafers!! I debated on whether I should have punched him in the face or not… unfortunately, I decided not to…
May 11, 2010 at 7:37 pm #26363mhlParticipantSo how do you like this S&S jacket after you’ve actually used it (if you already had)? I’m choosing a mesh jacket for myself now, and I’m down to the last two options – S&S Hang’em High and Shift Air Avenger. As it seems like Hang’em High is the same as Moment of Truth just in different styling, I’d love to hear you opinion on it.
Maybe someone else here has Air Avenger as well and would to review it?
May 11, 2010 at 10:08 pm #26371WeaponZeroParticipantThe Hang’em High mesh jacket is basically a Moment of Truth with graphics. The Shift Air Avenger is nothing special as far as mesh jackets go but it does include a very high quality breathable waterproof liner.
They’re both fine mesh jackets that do what mesh jackets do well, but the adjustable fit of the S&S jacket will make for a more comfortable fit regardless of your body type, guaranteed. The only thing the Shift has over the S&S is a higher-end removable waterproof liner. The one in the Shift isn’t uncomfortable to wear. Only you can say whether or not that justifies the $100 more you pay for the Shift.
I love the S&S Jacket. I’ve always been a big fan of their products because the adjustable fit of their jackets makes for the most comfortable riding jackets on the market. It vents like a mesh jacket should, unlike most mesh jackets the entire side of the sleeve is a heavy duty ballistic nylon so it doesn’t sacrifice much in the way of protection to achieve that ventilation you can only get with mesh. I love the fact that it had a stock back pad that actually works.
Here’s the pros and cons of both:
S&S Mesh jackets
PROS
-Affordable
-Highly protective for mesh jackets
-Great stock back pad
-Adjustable fit makes for comfortable perfect fit regardless of body type
CONS
-Removable waterproof liner is borderline useless as it’s so uncomfortable to wear you’d rather just get wetSHIFT
PROS
-Great removable liner
CONS
-Price is roughly $100 more than the S&S jackets
-Stock back pad is a worthless flimsy piece of thin foamIn my opinion the S&S offers superior protection and comfort due to the nature of its better stock back pad and adjustable fit that allows you to snug the armor up tightly to your body. It does all this at a price that’s $100 less than the Shift Air Avenger. I’d only recommend the Shift Air Avenger over the S&S if you absolutely needed that removable waterproof liner.
If you don’t need the waterproof liner or extreme adjustability then another jacket I strongly urge you to consider is the Scorpion Cool Rod. Currently on closeout from all the major online retailers for $99. It gives you the protection and quality of the S&S jacket sans the waterproof liner and not as much adjustment. It does come with a removable windproof liner that is breathable so it is comfortable to wear but it is NOT waterproof.
So really all it comes down to is whether or not the liner and adjustability are important to you. If you NEED a good waterproof liner with your mesh jacket and are willing to lose some protection for it and pay more for it, go with the Shift. Otherwise look between the Scorpion and S&S. And between those two it really all comes down to whether or not you’re willing pay an extra $30 or so for more adjustability in the waist and sleeves.
May 12, 2010 at 11:54 am #26386mhlParticipantThat’s a great review, thanks a lot. As I don’t really need that liner, I guess I’ll be fine with S&S one.
Though I’ve found another mesh jacket with additional protection in leather on shoulders/elbows – Cortech’s GX Air Series 2. Anyone has any experience with Cortech gear? Judging by the price – the quality should be on the level, but you never know until you actually try it.
May 12, 2010 at 1:48 pm #26293IBA270ParticipantI don’t think they are “unsafe” but don’t be fooled into thinking that they offer adequet abrassion resistance because they don’t…they can’t! Most of what’s on the market is made of polyester, or the same thing your favorite fleece jacket is made of. It will melt as soon as you contact pavement, and that means it melts on you, too!
Having said that; motorcycling is a managed risk. If you are riding in stop and go situation in extremely hot conditions, then maybe mesh IS the way to go for you. Make sure you leave all the armor in because that is all the protection you’ll like get in case of an accident.
May 12, 2010 at 9:55 pm #26395WeaponZeroParticipantCortech’s gear is awesome for the money. The GX Air Series 2 is definitely worth plunking the extra $100 or so down for over the S&S jacket if you’re willing to pay for it. I just tend to like S&S jackets because the adjustability of their fits is unparalleled and, unless youre the cookie cutter athletic body type with a V-taper to your torso that all riding companies seem to tailor their jackets for, will give you a more comfortable fit than any other jacket you can find. But that’s just me nitpicking.
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