Belstaff Trialmaster Waxed Cotton
Jacket Review
by "Burn" for webBikeWorld.com
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This is it, folks - get 'em while you can. It's the end of the
ride for the very famous Belstaff Trialmaster jacket (which is also
sometimes erroneously referred to as the Belstaff Trailmaster).
We've been told that Belstaff has discontinued the
manufacture of the Trialmaster waxed cotton jacket and pants, and is in the
process of selling
off the remaining worldwide stocks.
Friends in Manhattan tell me these things are hotter than
Kanye West with the fashionistas, and they are selling for $500-600 when one
can be found. Nothing like the end of an era to bring awareness to the
masses!
Motorcycling is filled with icons, and many of them are what
draws people to the sport. If there was a Motorcycle Clothing (and
Accessories) Hall of Fame (not a bad idea, that...) there are two jackets
that would be on display at the front door.
One of them is the
Schott Perfecto, the first -- and some say the only -- leather
motorcycle jacket, designed in 1928 (when it sold for $5.50 in a local
Harley dealership) and still made today by Union workers in the good ol'
U.S. of A. (since we've been touring Nostalgiaville lately, we ordered one and
will have a review coming soon).
And the other? You're looking at it, no question.
This jacket was worn by everyone from Sammy Miller to Che Guevara to Phil
Reed, who, Belstaff claims, wore it during wet weather motorcycle Grands
Prix.
My Mom had an intense phobia about what she called "The
Greasers" back in the '50's, she'd just about cover my eyes when -- heaven
forbid -- we drove by a hoodlum in a black leather motorcycle jacket.
Somehow it worked - I never did adopt their style of slicked back hair,
skin-tight pants and pointy shoes. I coveted old Brit bikes and the
Belstaff jacket was one of the first motorcycle related items I just had to
own.
Let's see -- that was nearly 50 years ago? And here we
are, and I finally got my wish. Who said motorcycling isn't magical?
That said, I'll have to admit that the reality is slightly
different than the fantasy, as occasionally happens when a long-term jones
is finally satisfied. The Belstaff jacket is still as cool-looking as
ever, and it's just the ticket for vintage British or European motorcycle
owners, along with a replica Davida pudding-bowl.
Don't expect any type of modern protection at all; the only
thing between you and the road is a thin layer of waxed cotton and the
famous plaid lining. But that doesn't bother me, and I can always wear
some Bohn armored underwear
underneath the Belstaff if I really wanted, which I don't.
The biggest disappointment with this legend is how
extraordinarily hot it is to wear. I should have known; after all, I
own another jacket icon, a Barbour waxed cotton jacket, and although it's
cooler than the Belstaff, I'll never understand how Britain ruled the world
wearing these things.
The Belstaff has but one way of getting air in and out -- a
couple of tiny brass-grommeted holes under each arm. Put on the
Trialmaster and prepare to get sweaty, because the combination of the waxed
fabric and the somewhat closely styled fit seems to lock in the moisture as
if it were Saran Wrap.
The other problem is lint. The black waxed cotton
attracts lint like a Neodymium magnet, and if you have any cats or dogs
around, you'll end up looking like you slept in the kennel.
I made the
mistake of dropping mine on the carpet and it has yet to recover. I'm
guessing that this effect will dissipate over time, as the initially sticky
coating of wax wears off, but I never had this problem with my Barbour.
Perhaps it's the black fabric that makes the lint seem more apparent.
If you can live with all that, there are a few redeeming
features other than the styling. The collar is a nice corduroy on the
inside, and closes with a brass snap and a short belt with brass grommets,
although I doubt most owners will fuss with it. All of the hardware,
including the hefty zipper, is real brass.
The cuffs have a two-snap adjustable closure. In
addition to the nice plaid lining, the sleeves are lined in nylon.
I'm
assuming there's an optional insulated liner than can be purchased for the Belstaff, although I've never seen one listed. The Trialmaster has
fittings inside that appear to be designed for a plug-in extra liner.
The Belstaff Trialmaster's styling is strongly influenced by its pockets and
the waist belt. The four big cargo pockets were one of the main
features that made this jacket the ultra-cool must-have back in its time.
These were cargo pockets way, way before cargo pockets were
the thing. They made the Trialmaster wearer look and feel like they just
rode in from the wilds with names like Ardanaiseig or Polokwane or wherever
the Queen directed them to maintain order.
The hip pockets
measure about 9" by 9" and they close with metal snaps and the two chest
pockets measure about 8” deep and wide and also close via snaps. An
internal zipper pocket lives inside the left breast and is lined with some
type of taffeta.
The belt has a simple metal buckle and metal
grommets along its length, but very few if any jackets use an external belt
nowadays, so this is an anachronism that may or may not work for you.
If you own a vintage British or European
motorcycle that's the same vintage as the Belstaff
jacket in its heyday, you owe it to yourself to get one
and feel the vibe.
By the way, if you're interested in the
Trialmaster, you may also want to check out two more
classic waxed cotton jackets, the
Barbour International or the
Filson Tin Cloth jacket.
The comments below are ordered from most recent to oldest.