[ngl826]

Just a quick gear question – I’m looking to buy my first motorcycle jacket and hoping for some advice. I’ll be using this jacket mainly for commuting in NYC. The qualities I’m looking for are:

-3-season use
-Textile (but not mesh)
-CE armor
-Not too flashy but VISIBLE (so, not all-black).

I think I’ve narrowed it down to these three jackets – just wondering if anyone has experience with any of them and can weigh in. Has anyone here owned any of these jackets? What do you like/dislike about them? (I’ve read the great review of the Airglide on this site – that was what initially got me interested in it!)

-Firstgear Kenya
-Olympia Airglide
-Scorpion Holeshot (I’m particular interested in feedback on this jacket because I haven’t heard much about it, in comparison to the other two.)

Thanks so much!!!!

[WeaponZero]

The Holeshot is Scorpion’s absolute bottom-of-the-line textile jacket. It is very basic and offers next to no features other than the basics, which are a ballistic nylon protective textile shell, zippered venting, armor, and that’s about it.

The Olympia Airglide is a mesh jacket which serves a completely different purpose. It’s for riding in extremely hot weather where conventional perf leather or textile jackets don’t offer enough venting. Think 90+ degree days and ridiculous humidity. It does sacrifice some protection over textile to achieve this venting but still has you covered with a good measure of protection.

Finally, the Firstgear Kenya is a typical waterproof jacket. It sacrifices some venting over something like the Scorpion Holeshot to give you the ability to stay dry in the event you’re caught in a downpour.

Basically, what we have here are three completely different jackets that serve three completely different purposes and shouldn’t even be compared.

[ngl826]

Thanks for all the information! Very helpful. I had no idea that the Holeshot was Scorpion’s bottom-of-the-line jacket…I was just drawn to it because I’m really trying to avoid flashy, sportbike-y jackets, and it’s more subtle. But that’s definitely not a reason to buy a jacket, and it sounds like I’ll be steering clear of it.

Gotta say I’m surprised by what you say about the Airglide – I’ve actually read that it’s intended to be a 3-season jacket, like the Kenya, and intended to be useful in temperatures ranging from very hot to fairly cold…check out this quote from Olympia’s website:

“Enhanced function and versatility are the key elements offered in our new Airglide 3 jacket. Heat, wind, rain and cold are no match for this cutting edge style. Constructed in authentic Dupont Cordura® with ballistic nylon mesh panels, this jacket offers maximum airflow with superior abrasion resistance. For added safety, the Airglide offers double rows of 3M Scotchlite® piping at the chest, back and sleeves. Equipped with a sporty two stage, wind and waterproof / breathable Thermolite® insulated liner jacket, this style delivers the ultimate in multi season riding comfort.”

[WeaponZero]

Basically its the same thing as the scorpion hat trick. A basic mesh jacket tat provides you with removable liners that you use depending on the weather. Personally I am not a fan of these types of jackets as the outer shell is still a basic mesh jacket which is the least protective type of jacket out there.

[WeaponZero]

Duplicate post

[Rab]

I would disagree that the Olympia Airglide Jacket is a “mesh jacket”. It’s a multi-part armored textile and mesh jacket system which is so much more than a simple mesh jacket.

The outer shell (jacket) has CE armor (elbows, shoulders and back) and is a Cordura textile jacket, with “ballistic nylon” mesh panels (~50/50 in terms of cordura vs mesh). It also comes with a waterproof/windproof liner jacket(s). This is a one-piece inner jacket on my (earlier version) jacket, but is, I believe, two separate liner jackets in the newest versions. It/these can be zipped to the outer shell or just worn underneath as the weather dictates.

This gives it great flexibility in terms of weather as the armored outer shell can be worn on it’s own for hot weather or worn in conjunction with the waterproof/windproof liner(s) for cooler weather.

It also has hidden elastic at the waist which allows we middle-age guys to “spread” a little without having to buy new gear.

The 3M reflective piping doesn’t look like much, but it lights up like a Christmas tree at night.

I would wear a rain suit over it if I were expecting heavy rain, but would have no fear of being caught in the rain with it alone.

I’ve been wearing my Airglide I jacket 4 to 5 days a week, 3 seasons of the year (NorCal) for 3 years now and have been wearing the matching airglide over-pants (which are similar), 4 to 5 days a week all year. Never once has there been a failure of a zip or seam etc.

I’ve come off the bike in them a couple of times (at low speed) and can’t see any damage to the jacket/pants other than light scuffing.

They cost a bit more than most other jackets and pants of this type, but the quality is there to justify it.

[WeaponZero]

Most, if not all of the features you just described are found on many other jackets out there that can be had for less. Is the quality worth it? I can’t say. But the Scorpion Hat Trick offers all of the same features you just mentioned from the liners to the expandable waist (a feature found on every riding jacket out there, even the cheapest ones). The only area where they differ as far as I can tell is that the Scorpion is mainly a mesh outer shell with the tougher textiles covering the impact zones (shoulders, outside of the arms, and a good bit of the back).

EDIT:

I think that before the OP starts shopping for a jacket, he should strongly consider whether or not waterproofing really is an important feature to him. If it’s not, then I strongly consider him to look at a lot of other jackets that are more focused.

[Rab]

Not quite. The Airglide has Cordura at all the likely touchdown points, not mesh.

Yes, it’s not as protective as a leather jacket (nor as heavy, hot and sweaty in hot weather), but it has armor for your joints which many leather jackets lack. Also most leather jackets are horrible when wet and take forever to dry. The Airglide not nearly so much.

The Cordura is much stronger than other materials that are used in some “full textile” jackets as I’ve proven to myself (don’t ask). I don’t know about the strength of “ballistic nylon”.

Where “full textile” jackets have the edge is in their waterproof membranes, whereas the outer shell of the Airglide will get wet in the rain (well as wet as nylon type material gets (not very). The Airglide’s inner waterproof jacket will keep you dry though.

With full textile jackets in hot weather, you have to mess around with lots of vents which are often difficult to open and close due to their location.

It’s all about compromises…

[WeaponZero]

ballistic nylon is simply a generic term for all of these similar materials. Cordura is a ballistic nylon, as is Carbolex, and Dynax, as is I believe Kevlar. Also, the Hat Trick doesn’t have mesh at the impact zones/touchdown points. approximately 25% of the jacket is a ballistic nylon.

[Rab]

Yes, I agree that there are other jackets of this type out there now although the Airglide may just have been the original.

I would say however, that this type of jacket is the most versatile that I’ve come across and is the only jacket I have that I would want to wear 3 season (I also have a vented full textile and a vented leather jacket).

Geography may play a part in this however as it is often 90-100+ degrees in the Summer where I live but it gets chilly in the spring and fall.

If I only had one motorcycle jacket, the Airglide type of jacket would be my choice (and was my only jacket for a couple of years).

[Rab]

In Olympia’s nomenclature, “ballistic nylon” is what the mesh is made of, DuPont Cordura is the textile part.

I also have a “Carbolex” and “ballistic polyester” jacket and it tore no problem at all when I fell over on concrete chasing our youngest (on foot).

It is definitely not in the same league as DuPont’s Cordura in my experience.

[WeaponZero]

DuPont’s Cordura is simply another kind of ballistic nylon.

[WeaponZero]

I’ve tried on jackets of that style and even owned a few. I’m not saying they don’t have their place. But I can say that, as a sport rider, when I’m out there trying to have the most fun I can on the bike, I need a jacket that fits way more snugly, like a second skin. I do tend to ride faster and better with form fitting gear on versus gear that’s cut like that. It’s why my Stinger perf leather jacket is my favorite. So personally I don’t deal with liners. The way I like my jackets to fit I couldn’t fit a liner under them if I wanted to. I’d rather save up and buy a second jacket for that. Also, Alpinestars textile jackets have a reputation for holding up just fine in 70mph crashes. And they only use a “600 denier polyester fabric.”

[Rab]

Then I would say that not all “ballistic nylons” are created equal

[ngl826]

Thanks for all of the help, guys. To answer WeaponZero’s question about what kind of jacket I want – what I’m looking for is a reliable 3-season textile jacket. I don’t plan on riding in a ton of rain, and I don’t plan on riding in winter, but I do want a jacket that can serve my needs pretty decently from ~40 degrees to ~85 degrees.

I know that’s a tall order, and I’m not looking for anything perfect – I don’t mind being a little hot in the summer, or wearing extra layers under my jacket in the late fall. But for now, because I’m just starting out on a motorcycle, I don’t want to buy more than one jacket – so I’m just looking to buy one decent, all-around jacket.

So, my more detailed requirements:
-Not a mesh jacket – ideally, it’d be Cordura, but at the very minimum, some kind of 600+D non-mesh nylon.
-Nothing longer than waist-length.
-CE-approved armor.
-Doesn’t need to be a waterproof shell – just needs to have the option of waterproofing – either waterproof shell or waterproof liner.
-Must be versatile for spring, summer and fall.

Right now I’m thinking I will be giving a closer look at the Firstgear Kenya and the Olympia Airglide (I’ll probably shop around for a used Airglide 2, because I much, much, much prefer the aesthetic of it to the 3).

Any other jackets I should take a look at?

[Author]

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