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REV'IT! R-Tech Jacket
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I
know what I'll be wearing this winter! A lot of
thought must have gone in to designing and manufacturing
this REV'IT! ensemble by someone whose mission is is to
conquer the elements. The way I figure it, if it's
too cold or damp for the R-Tech jacket/X-Vent pants combo,
then I definitely don't want to be on a motorcycle!
REV'IT! (yep, that's the
way they spell it) is new to the U.S.A., but has been
providing motorcycle clothing in Europe for about 8
years. The company is based in the Netherlands, so
they know a thing or two about cold and damp
winters.
REV'IT! offers an extensive line of nicely
styled jackets, pants and gloves in both textile and leather in
various styles and for riding in all sorts of
weather. I recommend checking out the REV'IT!
website to see some of their unique clothing. By
the way, REV'IT! is also looking to increase their U.S.
dealer base, so you may want to have your dealer contact
them for more information.
The REV'IT! design
philosophy is called "Engineered Skin"; REV'IT!
says that this concept translates into the use of high
quality and high-tech fabrics,
ergonomic design, fashionable styling and CE-approved
armor to create good-looking, safe and comfortable
garments. REV'IT! designers also wear what they make,
which helps ensure very functional products.
Most
of the materials for REV'IT! apparel is sourced from the
U.S.A., Germany or Italy, and the majority of pattern
cutting is done in Holland. The products are then
sent out for assembly, and the final details are completed
in Holland. This control over materials, patterns
and assembly helps maintain high quality and ensures the
end product meets design specifications.
There are probably three
different market types for motorcycle apparel. There's a
market for price-sensitive apparel, and the quality and
choices in that arena have improved dramatically over the
last several years. Then there's a middle market,
where the prices are a bit higher and the manufacturers
offer some unique features at a reasonable but higher
price point. In
the "high end" category, the apparel is often
more expensive, but the products usually offer very
unique and leading-edge features, the best or
"highest tech" materials and strong styling.
The first category includes
many companies that are not manufacturers, but are more
like distributors who basically re-label generic clothing
made in offshore factories, usually located in the
Indo/Asia region. The middle tier sometimes develop their
clothing line in-house, then have an offshore contract
manufacturer produce it to their specifications.
Then there's the "high-end", which includes only
a handful of manufacturers worldwide who spend lots of
effort on the design of their clothing and the choice of
materials and fuss over the details of the manufacture of
their products.
Based on the samples I've seen, it's my opinion that REV'IT! apparel
ranks right up there with the highest echelon, although
the prices are more reasonable than their competition.
An interesting feature
of REV'IT! clothing is the available size range that is
offered for all of their clothing, which is
broader than most competitors. Jackets are available
in sizes ranging from XS all the way up to XXXL, and the
pants are offered in both short and long leg
lengths. This is part of the REV'IT! design
philosophy; the customer has a better chance of finding
the correct fit if there are more sizes to choose from,
and a correct fit will provide better safety and comfort.
Through years of
experience, I've determined that I like my cold weather
riding clothing to fit a bit tighter than normal. A
tighter fit offers fewer places for cold air or drafts to intrude, and clothing insulation works better when
it's closer to
the skin. I normally take a U.S. size 36 or 37 waist street
pant with a 30 length, and a size 43 or 44 jacket, which
in most cases translates to a size large in motorcycle jacket
and pant sizing.
The REV'IT! R-Tech jacket
in size large has the snug fit that I like, but it may be
a bit too snug for some. The size
large X-Vent pants were fine everywhere except in the waist,
which was definitely too tight; I'd estimate the REV'IT!
size large as equivalent to a U.S. size 34/35 waist. The replacement size XL pants are a bit snug,
but fit comfortably.
REV'IT! claims to have spent a
lot of time figuring out how to cut and sew the material
patterns to "mold" to a rider's body, and I
found that both the jacket and the pants do feel very
comfortable in use. The bottom line is that
the REV'IT! sizes seem to run at least one numeric size
smaller than typical U.S. sizing, so plan accordingly.
REV'IT! R-Tech Jacket
Wrapping yourself up in the R-Tech jacket is a bit like
getting ready for a trip into outer space. I feel confident
that this jacket can be used in the most severe riding
conditions one is likely to encounter. It has the
most unique "storm proof" zipper and flap arrangement I've seen on any
jacket, with a total of five separate and overlapping
flaps in the front to seal out the elements.
The
engineering that went into the design of these flaps is
pretty amazing -- each one overlaps the other, and the
stitching of the outermost flap is offset from the center
so that no water can penetrate. I've actually laid
the jacket on a table several times just to experiment with the linings and
flaps and admire the way that this system was
designed. Someone really thought about this, because
the design offers outstanding protection from the elements, yet after you're all
buttoned up, there's no bulkiness at all.
Lining and Insulation
The R-Tech jacket has two separate zip-out liners which
allow a three-way choice of layering for any type of weather. Starting
from the outside in, the jacket has an attached perforated
liner that makes it comfortable to wear in warmer
conditions when the other liners are removed.
Next is an
"MML-Hydratex" breathable, waterproof and
windproof liner that is attached between the jacket and
the insulating layer
with two zippers, one on either side of the jacket front,
and it held at the bottom of the sleeves by two snaps in
each arm.
The MML-Hydratex liner has a very unique
feel -- it's a gossamer-thin textile that feels unlike any
other fabric I've touched. It's claimed to allow
water vapor to escape while also being waterproof and
windproof from the outside, and so far I believe it works
better than GORE-TEX (a product that has never met my
expectations). The MML-Hydratex liner adds about zero
thickness and weight to the overall garment, yet seems to
work well.
The
R-Tech's innermost liner is a quilted thermo type that is also
attached with two zippers, one on either side of the
jacket flaps and by two more snaps at the cuffs.
Here's the drill for entering the jacket: zip up the
MML-Hydratex liner, which then secures the internal quilted
lining (flap #1), and which covers the quilted liner's
zippers with flap #2. After that's done, there are
two wide MML-Hydratex flaps whose sole purpose is to seal
up the inner liner. These close over each other and
seal via a "hook and loop" series of fasteners
(flap #3). Now zip up the main jacket zipper, which
forms flap #4.
The outer shell is secured
by two very wide flaps (flap #5) that use "hook and
loop" fastener for the entire length. The
stitching of these flaps is offset from all other zippers
to prevent water ingress. Five flaps on each side of the
jacket equals a total of 10 levels of protection! If
water gets through this, you better be grabbing for your
life vest!
Pockets
About the only things I carry in my jacket pockets are spare
earplugs and my wallet. My feeling is that it's best
to avoid carrying anything that could hurt you if you take
a tumble, so cell phones, cameras, etc. are out. The
R-Tech jacket has more pockets than I need, but not as
many as some of the "Enduro" style jackets
offer.
Starting from the inside
out, the internal quilted liner has a left-hand chest
pocket of 140mm (5-1/2") wide by 190mm (7-1/2")
deep. There's also an inside zippered chest pocket in the
R-Tech's shell, accessible by unzipping the MML-Hydratex
liner or immediately accessible when the liners are
removed. This pocket is 150mm wide by 180mm
(7-1/8") deep. There's a zippered pocket just inside the
left-hand outer flap that covers the jacket's main zipper
closure. This pocket has
a 150mm (5-7/8") opening, and is about 150mm
deep. A perfect place for stowing a wallet.
There are two outside hand pockets,
one on either side of the R-Tech jacket and below the
waist cinch.
Each has a roughly 100mm (4") zippered opening and
each is about 100mm deep. These pockets are sort of
hidden underneath a "hook and loop" flap whose
edge is part of the contrasting color trim.
There's also an outer
zippered pocket below the left shoulder. The zipper
on this pocket is covered by two flaps, and the pocket is
130mm (5-1/8") wide by about 130mm deep. This pocket
is sewn so that it points to the left. This allows
you to slide your right hand in to remove the
contents.
Finally, there's a small, 100mm (~4")
wide by 60mm (2-3/8") deep zippered pocket on the
outside of the left sleeve. This pocket can be used
to stow an ID card
to enter a gated business or parking garage.
Outer Shell Features
The R-Tech jacket has a very comfortable collar
neck fabric. It's a very soft
"moleskin" type fabric that extends up the
inside of the collar and over to the outside to prevent any
chafing. The collar is also insulated, and it closes
with a "hook and loop" fastener to keep your
neck warm and cozy. The flap is a bit short,
which means that the collar can be a bit tight, depending
upon how many layers of clothing are worn
underneath. I usually wear a cotton turtleneck to
help keep my neck warm, and there's just enough room to
close the collar without getting choked. Although I
guess I also have a pretty thick neck at 17.5".
The MML-Hydratex liner,
when inserted, also has a separate 60mm (2-3/8")
high waterproof collar that sits inside of the jacket's
outer collar. I'm usually carrying a
two-day beard growth, and I hate it when a jacket's collar
pulls the hairs on my neck while I'm riding. The
R-Tech is nice and soft, doesn't pull and is more comfortable than
any other collar in my experience.
The R-Tech's shell is made
of the ubiquitous DuPont Cordura material, and it includes
Pro-Life (made in Italy) CE-approved hard elbow armor. The armor is
inconspicuous and a bit longer than most, extending from
just above the elbow
to down along the forearm. The back of the jacket
has a basic soft foam spine protector.
The R-Tech also has several
external straps to ensure that no fabric will flap around
in the breeze. There are two adjustable straps on
the arm, one on the upper arm and one on the lower
forearm. There are also two adjustable upper waist
straps located right under the armpits, and two wide
waist cinching straps. The waist cinches are
designed so that the loose ends will tuck underneath the
contrasting fabric piping, which is a nice touch.
 The entire jacket slides
off and on easily. Both liners stay securely in
place when the jacket is removed, unlike many other lined
jackets where you end up fighting the sleeves as they try
to pull out with your arm.
The sleeve cuffs have
zippers that can be opened to make it easier to
enter. There's a "hook and loop" closure
at the bottom of each cuff to help cinch it up and make it
easier to slide into a gauntlet type glove.
The
unprotected zipper end is exposed after it's closed, but
you'll probably be wearing gauntlet style gloves with this
jacket, which should keep the zipper from scratching any
painted surfaces.
Finally, the R-Tech has a
nice, modern style that isn't overdone, yet offers a
sleek appearance. The contrasting colored fabric is
tapered down from the top to the bottom, which makes the
jacket (and you!) look thin.
The contrasting fabric also has sections of Lumidex reflective material which are unobtrusive during
the day but reflect light when light is shined on it at
night.
The only thing missing from
the R-Tech jacket is a venting system. There are no
external vents in the front or back of the jacket.
The breathable liner must be doing it's job, as I haven't
yet been uncomfortable because of a lack of venting, but
I'll report back as the weather gets colder. Our
local weather has been very variable this year, and I
haven't been able to experience the jacket in a wide
variety of conditions. I'm also planning on wearing
the REV'IT! outfit during our next big rainstorm to test
its ability to keep out water, and I'll report back on
that also.
Summary
The REV'IT! R-Tech jacket has some unique features and
uses a selection of high quality materials that make it
stand out from the crowd. It's obvious that the
jacket was designed by someone who knows about riding in
cold, damp climates. REV'IT! offers many other
styles and designs of jackets and pants to fit a variety
of riding conditions, but the R-Tech is a definite choice
for winter riding. Note: Be sure to read the wBW
review of the matching
REV'IT!
X-Vent pants and the
REV'IT!
Ultra gloves.
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