Summary Classic styling, excellent construction,
unique D-Dry liner and probably the best venting of any
non-mesh 3/4-length jacket I've tried makes the D-System D-Dry
jacket a four-season standout.
Background
Search webBikeWorld for the keyword "Dainese" and you'll
find just
three articles featuring that storied brand.
And if that isn't sad enough, two are edited press releases and
only one is an actual webBikeWorld review of a Dainese product: the
Jet Stream Tourer helmet, published in February of 2007. Pretty
pathetic, eh?
As the Editor, my weak excuse is...well, I don't really have an
excuse, I'll admit.
That's going to change, with the improved distribution
of Dainese products in the U.S. and a direct source for Dainese motorcycle gear
through our affiliate at
Revzilla, we hope to feature many more Dainese reviews in 2010.
Come to think of it, that sounds like a New Year's resolution,
no?
Also, Dainese owns AGV, and AGV S.p.A. (AGV Italy) sells helmets
directly to Parts Unlimited for distribution in the U.S.A. We also learned that AGV is no relation to AGV Sport,
despite the alliteration of the appellation.
webBikeWorld visitors from around the world have been clamoring
for more Dainese and AGV reviews, so this is good news all around.
Speaking of which, we also have an AGV K3 helmet review in the works, so stay
tuned.
A browse through the Dainese product list is a mind-boggling
experience, that's for sure. Literally hundreds of products to choose from
makes for a wonderful way to kill 3+ hours or so on a rainy (or snowy)
afternoon. It was a tough decision, but from the entire catalog, we decided to go with a classic for
this year-ending webBikeWorld review: the Dainese D-System D-Dry jacket.
And out of the hundreds of motorcycle products, there are dozens
of jackets, so choosing one can be tough. Some of them are priced lower and some priced much higher
than the D-System D-Dry jacket shown here.
There are jackets made from textile, leather and various combinations and all of them have curious-sounding
names like the Gator Evo Gore-Tex; the Nector Gore-Tex; the Rapture Pelle (as
compared to the Lucky Pelle, Vintage Pelle, Imatra Pelle Pro and the SF Pelle);
the Zurigo and many more.
Sound confusing? It can be. Search for a combination
of "Male", "Touring" and "Jackets" and you'll find 6 screens, each with 12
jacket choices. But in the end, the Dainese D-System D-Dry jacket was chosen for a
couple of reasons.
First, it's probably the most representative of the
Dainese 3/4-length jacket lineup, with all the features we've come to expect
from a 3/4-length jacket. It also has a more reasonable price than, say,
the $1,299.00 "Monotone" (that's what they call it) jacket.
It's also similar to some of the other types of water-resistant,
3/4-length jackets we've reviewed, so comparisons can be made. Finally,
the D-System D-Dry jacket is new for 2010, which means that it incorporates the
latest and greatest technology from the Dainese labs.
And the D-System D-Dry jacket definitely has a few unique
features that distinguish it from the crowd, so let's take a look.
The Dainese D-System D-Dry Jacket Shell, Liner
and Construction
It's not clear what the "D-System" terminology means in the extensive library of
Dainese technical language (they actually have a "D-pedia" that explains it all)
but "D-Dry" refers to the special liner used in this jacket. It's probably
best to start by describing all of these "D-" items, as they rather define the
philosophy behind this particular apparel item.
I'll have to guess that the term "D-System" refers to the
"system" capabilities of the jacket, with its removable arms, which I'll
describe in a minute. The D-Dry liner feels different than other
"waterproof" (i.e., what we call water-resistant) liners in similar jackets
covered in this review series.
The D-Dry liner is removable and it acts as the water-resistant
barrier for the rider. The outer shell of the jacket appears to be made
from a Cordura-like material. Dainese doesn't indicate which type of
material is actually used, but it
has the look and feel of a 500 or so Denier Cordura, commonly used on motorcycle
jackets.
The liner attaches to the jacket with separate zippers on either
side of the front placket, along with a snap at the back of the neck and,
surprisingly, only one snap at the sleeve cuff. The single snap to hold
the sleeve cuff means that the liner feels like it's coming out with my arm when
I take the jacket off. It doesn't, but I'd prefer a second snap or a
zipper at the cuff to keep the liner securely positioned.
The D-Dry liner has a very soft and comfortable inner fabric
sewn to the inside, attached in a way that does not compromise the water
integrity of the shell with through stitches. The outer fabric of the
D-Dry liner is a bit different than typical, with a softer feeling material than
is usually found in this type of water-resistant lining.
What this means is that the D-System D-Dry jacket shell will
absorb water in a rainstorm and the liner will (hopefully) prevent the water
from reaching the rider. Many webBikeWorld readers have questioned this
type of system, but there really isn't a truly waterproof outer shell that will
also breathe the way the outer shell/inner liner system does.
Indeed, this "system" is one of the most distinguishing features of the
D-System D-Dry jacket. This is one 3/4-length jacket that should work for
all four seasons. The special D-Dry fabric is pretty high-tech stuff,
which was apparently developed by the "D-Tec" subsidiary of Dainese, which, by
the way, is also said to be working with NASA on space suit material designed
for a Martian adventure.
Dainese is one of the few motorcycle clothing manufacturers to
test their water-resistant liners using standard laboratory methods, so the
system should be about as water-resistant as they come. We did not get a
chance to evaluate this because the fast onset of winter and the snowstorm of
the decade (21" deep and, so far, the snowstorm of the Century) means no rain to
ride in.
An indoor evaluation using various combinations of water
pressure does indicate that the D-System D-Dry
jacket shell does repel quite a bit of water, leaving us unsure of how much rain
it would take to actually soak the outer liner. The D-Dry liner also was
water repellent in our evolutions and one thing's for certain -- the liner
breathes like no other.
The jacket also has an outstanding ventilation system, but not
all of the zippers and vents are water-resistant (i.e., "waterproof") and, in
fact, the sleeves are open underneath for ventilation -- all the more reason why
a good water-resistant liner is important. I'll get into all of this in
the next sections.
The D-System D-Dry jacket is very well made, with high-quality
seams and obvious care in the construction. Features like rubber-covered
metal snaps and Fiocchi Prym
metal spring snaps in the liner do make a difference. This example did
have a few loose thread ends hanging here and there which were quickly addressed
with a pair of scissors, but otherwise the quality is excellent.
Shell and Liner Conclusion: The bottom line here is
that the design and construction of the D-System D-Dry jacket makes it unique in
the 3/4-length motorcycle jacket category.
D-System D-Dry Zippers and Vents
The D-System D-Dry jacket features an extensive venting system that is about as
good as it gets without using mesh panels.
The most interesting feature is the open vent under the arms --
something that has been standard on the Aerostich Darien jacket for many years
and for some reason not copied by other manufacturers. It's curious to
note that as implemented on the D-System D-Dry jacket however, the underarm vent
is always open for business. It does not close, but instead is hemmed with
a wide section of elastic fabric that doesn't really cover it completely.
The sleeves on the jacket are removable; a feature we've seen on
a few other jackets. But I'm not sure how many riders actually remove the
arms and the armor underneath, so this capability doesn't really excite us very
much. It is possible to partially unzip the zipper to allow more
ventilation if desired.
With the D-Dry liner installed, the air only circulates out the
pair of rear vents at the top of the back, which are also permanently open but
covered by a flap. With the D-Dry liner removed, the low-pressure area around
the rear vents helps pull the air through the jacket from under the sleeves
without billowing the shell.
An always-open vent under the arms may seem strange for a
four-season jacket, but to be honest, I didn't even notice the vents until I
happened upon them after riding in some colder temperatures. So the D-Dry
liner apparently helps isolate the cold air coming through the jacket.
It's also important to note that this jacket does not have an
insulating liner. But this was another feature I didn't know was missing
when riding in 45 degree F weather. It's actually surprising that the
jacket can work so well in colder temperatures with both the open underarm vents
and no thermal liner, but it does.
Besides the underarm vents, the jacket features horizontal vents
on either side of the upper chest. These are simple vents that open with a
non-water-resistant zipper. Each arm has a huge vent zipper that opens
from just above the wrist to the upper arm. I have not opened these vents
because the weather is just too cold, but I think they will work very nicely in
warmer weather.
The jacket also has short zippered vents in the midsection under
each arm. These zippers and the arm vent zippers have a long attached
zipper pull for ease of use.
The water-resistant vertical zipper seen in the photos on the
right-hand side of the chest covers a water-resistant pocket that's a handy
storage location for a wallet or cell phone.
Vents and Zippers Conclusion: The D-System D-Dry
jacket has a unique and useful venting system that should make this jacket about
as versatile as they come for four-season use while remaining resistant to water
and useful in the winter.
Underarm vent on the D-System D-Dry jacket is always
open for business.
D-Dry liner has a very soft gray-colored inner fabric.
BUY YOUR
Motorcycle Books, GPS, Electronics,
Training Videos, Clothing and More
at the
wBW Amazon.com Store!
D-System D-Dry Jacket Sizing and
Fit
The jacket is listed under U.S. sizing in North America, but the sizes are
converted from the European scale in which the jacket is produced. This
one is a Euro size 54 and it fits very close to the U.S. size 44 that is shown
on the Dainese size charts.
I hedged back and forth between a 54 and 56 because, like just about every
other piece of motorcycle apparel, I'm in-between sizes. But I'm glad I
ended up with the size 54, which is just a touch on the snug side for me,
because with the liner removed and only a T-shirt or light turtleneck
underneath, the jacket fits perfectly for warm-weather use.
I think this D-System D-Dry jacket in size 44 should fit perhaps a 42.5 to a
44 U.S. men's chest with 34" sleeve length (street clothes), but I think anyone
over a size 44 would probably be better off with the 56 Euro.
For my in-between size (U.S. men's 43" chest, 34" sleeves and medium build),
if I was going to bias the jacket for warm weather, I'd buy the 54 and if I was
biased towards colder weather use, I'd buy the 56, which would allow the use of
a sweater or heated vest underneath.
The jacket also has a pair of easy-to-use waist adjusters, which allow the
jacket to be tightened at the waist for a better fit and to help block any air
that may try to come up from underneath.
Jacket Sizing Conclusion: The D-System D-Dry jacket appears to
run true to the Dainese size charts to maybe just a touch small.
Pockets External: The jacket has what could be considered as the basic
arrangement for a 3/4-length jacket, with two large square front lower pockets
and two square chest pockets also in the front.
The lower pockets close with two large snaps only. The actual opening
for the pocket is folded over so that it sits upside-down when the pocket flap
is closed. This is a simple arrangement that works, because it avoids
having to fuss with a zipper or Velcro when wearing gloves. These pockets
appear to be water-resistant and are lined with a soft light-gray material that
feels similar to the inside of the D-Dry liner.
The upper chest pockets close with both Velcro and a single snap towards the
arm side of the pocket and they close tight. They also appear to have a
water-resistant lining. These pockets are more difficult to open when
wearing gloves because they really don't have a tab to grab on to.
The jacket also has a horizontal pocket in the rear, but we couldn't find a
way to stuff (or over-stuff) the pocket with the sleeves and shoulder armor if
removed. One or the other perhaps, but not both. However, the
removable D-Dry liner does fit nicely inside the rear pocket.
The rear pocket is also covered with a full-length, non-water-resistant
zipper with a long zipper pull. The pocket appears to have a
water-resistant lining however.
The left sleeve has a clear vinyl covered "Technical Pocket", accessible
through a smaller zipper inside the left arm vent zipper. This pocket can
be used to hold an ID card or possibly an electronic toll pass (or money).
The pocket has a 100 mm wide entry and it's 80 mm deep.
Internal: The liner has a horizontal zippered pocket on the
lower right-hand side, which is an unusual location for an internal pocket but
welcome nonetheless. The liner also has the standard horizontal zippered
pocket on the left-hand side at the upper chest. Both pockets are
relatively deep and wide.
The jacket shell features a horizontal zippered pocket on the left-hand
chest. There is no vertical pocket inside the placket, but the outer
vertical pocket serves this purpose and allows access to a wallet or cell phone
without having to unzip the jacket.
Pockets Conclusion: The lower pockets are easy to use when
wearing gloves and the internal pockets with zippers are handy and welcome.
Logos and stripes are highly reflective.
Upper vent and collar of the Dainese D-System D-Dry
jacket.
Insulating Liner
The D-System D-Dry jacket does not have an insulating liner but the system as
described above seems to provide better than expected comfort in colder
temperatures.
Padding and Armor
The D-System D-Dry jacket comes with CE-approved removable elbow and shoulder
armor. The elbow armor has longer coverage than normally found but the
shoulder armor is about average. These are specially designed Dainese
inserts that feel like they will offer a high level of protection.
The jacket has a pocket in the back that will fit several versions of Dainese
back protectors, such as the G1 or G2 Air Shield, but these are optional and the
jacket does not come with a back protector or padding. Since this jacket
is a "keeper" that should serve the owner for a long time, it is recommended
that a back protector is purchased with the jacket.
Sleeve cuff has a large cinch with only two snaps but
also features a zipper for ease of entry.
Wearing the Dainese D-System D-Dry Jacket
The jacket is comfortable when riding, helped by the outer shell material, which
feels softer than the material traditionally used for motorcycle jacket shells.
The armor is well designed and does not interfere with arm movement, yet the
slightly snug fit keeps the armor in place where it belongs.
The shell does not include additional external abrasion-resistant material,
so I'll have to assume that the shell fabric is designed to serve this function.
The absence of additional abrasion-resistant material is becoming more
commonplace on motorcycle jackets, discussed in the
Firstgear Teton jacket
review which was also covered in this 2009 "waterproof" jacket review
series.
The D-System D-Dry jacket feels slightly shorter than average for a
3/4-length jacket, which helps to keep it comfortable in a variety of riding
positions.
The jacket does not have an adjustable arm cinch strap system and I don't
miss these at all. The arms are snug without feeling restrictive and the
overall design and the cut of the fabric feels like it will keep the armor in
place.
Overall, the jacket is very comfortable and its form-fitting shape is
flexible enough to protect the rider without feeling too restrictive.
Reflective logos on the Dainese D-System D-Dry Jacket.
Reflectivity
The jacket has a pair of highly reflective strips on either sleeve, along the
lower sides and behind the Dainese Fox head logo on the sleeves and the rear of
the jacket.
The Rest of the Story
Attachment Zipper: The jacket
also has an internal 8" zipper on a piece of stretch fabric, which allows
it to be attached to other Dainese brand pants. Dainese does offer a
matching pair of D-System D-Dry pants designed for this jacket.
Stitching: Most of
the seams are single-stitched. The material used for the
stitching is unknown and it is mostly external. The stitches are straight
and indicate high quality. The overall design of the jacket has apparently
minimized the number of seams and the jacket has a relatively streamlined
appearance.
Sleeve Cuffs: The sleeve cuffs
have a vertical zipper plus a two-position snap feature. The outer
attachment for the snaps is slightly large and I think this makes the cuff
diameter slightly larger than normal, so the sleeve cuffs can't be cinched up as
tightly as they could be if Velcro or some other system were used.
Neck: The neck has two snaps but
no adjustment, which is surprising and may also be problematic for some.
It would appear that both in the neck and the sleeve cuffs that fashion or style
took some precedence over function. There's some extra room in the cuffs
over my 7.25" wrists and the neck is slightly tight on my admittedly large 17"
neck.
The stand-up collar on the D-Dry liner has its own
snap and the lack of adjustment on the outer collar of the shell just fit me
with no room to spare for a turtleneck underneath. This may not be a
problem for owners with narrower diameter necks, but the opposite problem may
also occur, where those with narrow necks may find the collar too loose.
Comparison: Without a lot of
experience in the entire Dainese jacket lineup, it's difficult to make a
comparison. But I'd say that the D-System D-Dry jacket is a close
competitor to the
Rev'it
Off-Track jacket (review), which is soon to be replaced by the Rev'it Sand
jacket for 2010. Both jackets are priced identically and both feature
unique venting systems. The Off-Track jacket uses more mesh and has
removable mesh panels. It would be a very difficult choice, which may come
down to availability and current sale pricing.
The
Opinionator -
Dainese D-System D-Dry Jacket
Picks...
...and Pans.
Very nice styling
and design.
Excellent wind
blocking.
Comfortable and
snug fit.
CE-approved armor.
Availability of
back protectors to fit.
Excellent
ventilation.
Some loose
threads and ends.
Non-adjustable
collar on jacket and liner.
Minimal
adjustment on sleeve cuffs.
Sleeve cuffs
slightly bulky.
Slightly biased
to moderate temperature wear.
Conclusion
The Dainese D-System D-Dry jacket is unique in that it
features a more extensive venting system than most other jackets of this type,
but the D-Dry liner acts as the water- and wind-resistant barrier.
It's surprisingly warm and comfortable even in colder weather, especially
considering that it does not have an insulating liner. The D-Dry liner
also feels like it has excellent breathing capabilities.
This
could easily work as a four-season jacket in all but extreme climates and with
the addition of a Dainese back protector, the owner could have a single jacket
that may well meet all requirements and should provide long-term service.
Please
send
comments to
Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.
Not all comments will be posted. Posted comments may be edited.
From "B" (1/10): "I always respect the quality of your
reviews so was very interested to read the (D-System D-Dry review) one as
initial reports of the jacket had me seeking out one earlier last year.
Dainese kit has always fitted me very well and user experience with their
Gore-Tex textiles has made me a fan of their garments. This has been
helped by having a Dainese Pro-Shop in close vicinity to my location in the UK.
As a rider of an adventure style bike (KTM 990) the D-Dry Jacket, on paper,
was exactly what I have been after. On trying on the jacket though I was
immediately struck by the incomplete closure round the arms where they zip to
the body of the garment.
This is unlike the BMW Rallye Jacket where the zipper goes right around.
Given the upright riding position on the KTM I was very concerned about the wind
and possibly rain channeling through the gap and rather than gamble and spend
£250+ decided to shy away. The shop owner said they use a similar
principle on Dainese sport style textiles and he'd had no complaints but
obviously wasn't prepared to offer a "sale or return" on the D-Dry.
I was concerned that on a warm day ride without the liner as the temperature
dropped, say in the evening, the cooler air would channel in making the rider
cold, forcing a stop to install the liner. In wet weather would rain again
channel through the gap chilling the rider and compromising the effectiveness of
the liner? Too many questions to gamble on a purchase I felt!
Since then your comprehensive review of the jacket is the first I have come
across and seems to suggest the closure under the arm in not an issue. I am
intrigued to know, in the main, what your riding position is with the jacket; it
would be good to know who else out there has bought this jacket and if they have
any comments on the arm closure.
I doubt you can throw any more light on my concerns but hopefully you can
understand them and agree they raise an interesting discussion point!
Editor's Reply: I believe you are referring to the gap
under the arms? Yes, this is a bit different, but so far not a problem and
my feeling is that the ventilation it offers for summer use seems worth any
potential tradeoff, for my riding conditions anyway. Wearing the liner
underneath keeps the rain out.
It's possible I suppose that if it got cold at night after riding during the
day with the liner removed that the gap might be a problem, but doesn't appear
to be on any of the bikes I ride when wearing it, including the Multistrada.
There may be a tiny percentage of day/night riding when this might happen, but
every jacket has a compromise, and I guess this is one of them.
The opening does offer better ventilation than most of the other 3/4-length
non-mesh jackets we've tried and many riders in hot-weather climates would
appreciate this. Dainese has many other jacket styles available as
mentioned in the review, so perhaps there are others that better fit your riding
conditions.
From "I.B." (12/09): "Just read the review and would like to
make a general comment on textile clothing using the "waterproof layer" system.
I've been riding for 40+ years all over Europe and have had many textile jackets
and trousers. Dry liners are the one type I've used once and stayed away
from since.
It's a system used by quite a few manufacturers, BMW included, and one which
I find a poor substitute for a properly waterproofed jacket and trousers.
There are 2 main reasons for this: Firstly, If you are out in heavy
rain the outer jacket allows water to pass through to the waterproof layer which
then protects the rider from getting wet. Problem here is that the outer
jacket (in most cases) holds the rain water and becomes very heavy and once
taken off just drips and drips and drips. You pull over for a warming
coffee and leave 2 gallons of rainwater behind when you leave.
Secondly. It's a nice day, you are out for a ride and then ... wham, bam
thank you ma'am ..... a thunderstorm!
You either find somewhere to hide out of the rain but by then you're already
wet, continue riding because you're already wet or you take off your jacket and
get wet trying to insert the dry liner! And it's even worse if you have
trousers using dry liners!
There is a third option ..... wear it all the time, but that rather defeats
the point of a removable dry liner. My personal opinion is that it's a
cost saving option to save having a good outer jacket material."
Editor's Reply: This issue was discussed previously in
our reviews of "waterproof" jackets. The problem is that there really are
no outer jacket shells that we are aware of that are both waterproof and
breathable. So the outer breathable shell and inner water-resistant liner
system is pretty much the only cost-effective way to go.
Tourmaster and others used to make jackets with outer poly shells that were
waterproof, but the material did not breathe and became very damp inside in both
warm and cold weather. Just about every manufacturer stopped making those.
Even the shells with Gore-Tex or other linings bonded to the inner surface are
still not waterproof on the outside material, although those types, if made
correctly, can work, but are very expensive due to the Gore licensing
agreements.
As we mentioned previously, one of the most effective solutions is to simply
carry a cheap vinyl waterproof outer shell to throw on over the jacket if it
starts to rain.
Hopefully someday a textile will be developed that is both waterproof and
breathable and can be used on the outer shell, which might solve the problem."
