Summary: A feature list as long as your arm,
slick styling and an expanded size range all at a reasonable price make the
Scorpion XDR Commander a top choice in a 3/4-length jacket.
Background
2008 will go down as the Year of the 3/4-length Jacket. Suddenly,
motorcycle clothing
manufacturers have re-discovered the market for jackets of this type --
possibly a side effect of the continuing increase in dual-purpose motorcycle
sales?
It's kind of funny how development seems to
come in fits and starts. It's sort of like water finding its own level -- as
soon as a new technology or manufacturing technique is developed, it spreads
through the industry and jumps evolution a notch or two and drives
competition.
That's good news for motorcyclists, right? The
old-timers out there will remember that it wasn't very long ago at all when
the only choice for cold weather riding was a surplus parka or my favorite,
a snowmobile suit.
Back when webBikeWorld was started -- it will be 9 years old
this coming January -- there were only a handful of companies making
half-way decent 3/4-length jackets. If you got a few
patch pockets, a zip-in liner and maybe a windproof outer shell, you
considered yourself lucky. The outer shells mostly served as the
waterproof barrier, but the problem was that the waterproof treatment made
the jacket impervious to air flow.
Each year has brought new technology and improvements;
indeed, I'd say that new fabric technologies and garment construction
techniques show up in motorcycle clothing about as quickly as any other
outdoor sport I can think of. The clothing and jackets of today are
pretty incredible, with soft outer shells and breathable yet waterproof
liners.
I guess I'm a born geek, but thinking about how we're
bending technology to make life more comfortable and safe for motorcycling really gets me
excited. I appreciate it because I remember only too clearly
how tough it was back when I first started riding.
This Scorpion XDR Commander jacket is a good example.
It's hard to believe that Scorpion has come so far so fast.
I'll be
the first one to admit that when they first hit the market selling helmets
back in -- 2005 I think it was -- I thought they'd be just a flash in the
pan. After all, who did they think they were, a startup company with
the gall to muscle the Old Boy existing motorcycle clothing network with such an outrageously bold
marketing message?
But it wasn't long after that I realized what a
revolutionary thing this was for the entire motorcycle marketplace.
It forced the Old Boys to quickly return to their stuffy drawing boards, and
motorcyclists have been reaping the rewards.
Now here we are, only a couple of years later, and Scorpion just
announced the XDR "Xtreme Distance Rider" lineup, featuring high-tech fabrics
and construction techniques with jackets, pants, gloves and even vests and
shells for men and women. If you thought Scorpion was only a helmet
company, think again.
The long-distance riding market is one of the toughest in all of motorcycling
to crack, because the customers for this type of gear are very fussy, demanding,
knowledgeable and not afraid to do what it takes to obtain products that work.
Long distance, all-weather riders, 'round the world adventure-touring types,
Iron Butt riders and even couriers and year-round commuters know the value
of the good stuff.
Can the Scorpion XDR Commander jacket satisfy this sharp
crowd?
Scorpion XDR Commander Jacket removable neck warmer wind block.
Outer Shell
It goes without saying that modern 3/4-length jackets are feature-rich, and
the XDR Commander doesn't disappoint. We've been riding with it for
several weeks, and it seems like every day brings another surprise feature I
didn't know was there.
Let's start with the outer shell, which is made from a soft version of the DuPont Cordura
that motorcyclists have come to depend on. The jacket is available in
Black, Bray (shown here) and Neon, to match the
Scorpion EXO-700 Neon helmet.
The jacket shell exhibits excellent quality in the construction and fabric
materials. Scorpion uses their "Exo-Stitch" Safety Seam process for
stitching many of the panels together, which is apparently a process where
the top layer is folded over to form a hem, then one of the rows of double
stitches goes through three layers of fabric while the second row of
stitches on the outer edge is covered by the fold and stitches the bottom
layer to the folded-over lower section of the hem. Got that?
Large sections of the shoulders and arms are covered in thicker (black)
Cordura fabric, and the shoulders, elbows, lower rear and upper back and
chest also have sections of Schoeller Keprotec for added abrasion
resistance.
This is high-tech stuff used on some of the best -- and
most expensive -- motorcycle garments in the world. But, as you'll
see, the XDR Commander is priced down where the proletariat like us can
still afford it.
The shell material is very comfortable, and even the extra Cordura and Keprotec doesn't make it feel stiff. Reflective panels and logos are
blended here and there into the design, and we created an animated image
(see below) to show the results.
Also, this is one 3/4-length jacket shell that feels comfortable and works
well when the liners are removed. This is partly due to the sizing but
also due to the cut and the materials (see "A Word About Sizing" section
below). The full-length attached mesh lining also helps in this
regard.
Front seals up nice and tight.
Removable Neck Warmer
Neck warmers seem to be all the rage this year. We hadn't noticed them
before, but this is the second 3/4-length jacket we've seen this year with
this welcome feature.
The neck warmer wind block on the XDR Commander attaches with a full-length
zipper around the neck. It's very comfortable, being fully padded and
lined with a fabric that feels like a cross between micro-fleece and
chamois.
It's slightly difficult to find the hook-and-loop sections along the top
when you're battening down the hatches, and nigh impossible when wearing
gloves, so I get everything secured before I put on the rest of my gear -- a
small price to pay for ultimate warmth.
The neck warmer can be removed and stowed in the back cargo pocket or
elsewhere. The neck underneath has a single snap with no adjustment.
It fits my 17.5" neck with no problems.
Here's an interesting twist and attention to detail: all of the snaps on the
XDR Commander jacket are metal, but the upper three snaps have hard plastic
external covers, while everything below that, including the lower pockets
and bottom three snaps, have soft rubber covers to help prevent paint
scratches.
Animated photo illustrating the liners in the XDR Commander jacket.
Outer shell open.
Underneath outer shell and waterproof liner; yellow lined zipper is the
insulating liner.
Between shell and outer waterproof liner.
Zippers, Adjustments and Attachments
The XDR Commander uses a variant of the multi-layered zipper approach to
sealing the front of the jacket, as illustrated in the photos above.
The jacket has a removable full
length insulating liner that attaches with a one-piece zipper that goes up
one side, around the neck and back down.
Looking down at the plackets, about 50 mm outboard of the insulating liner
zipper are thin YKK zippers on either side that seal a separate, removable
waterproof/windproof liner. These zippers must have been custom made
for Scorpion because they're double stitched with a yellow stripe, the
Scorpion colors!
Zip up that liner, and a large fabric flap is exposed that then seals over
the top of the liner zipper and attaches left to right with hook-and-loop.
Next comes the outer shell zipper, a hefty nylon-toothed unit. The
zipper pull is nice and large and it's covered with a semi-hard plastic and
the Scorpion logo.
Zip that up and the final external flap of the jacket covers everything from
left to right and snaps shut with the combination metal/plastic/rubber snaps
described above.
Combined with the neck warmer/wind block, all of this does a great job at
keeping out the cold. After riding with this jacket on several cold
mornings in the low 40's (F), I think the XDR Commander does a better job at
keeping any cold air from leaking in than probably any other 3/4-length
jacket I own.
The jacket has two very large web and hook/loop adjusters on each sleeve,
located at the bicep and forearm. These are very hefty units and they
loop around wide and strong pieces of plastic-like material that are sewn
directly into the sleeve, making them heftier and more heavy-duty than any
other sleeve adjusters I've seen.
One of the unique features of the XDR Commander is the "zig zag" side waist
adjuster. This is a wide webbed strap that goes back and forth along
each side and attaches in the back of the jacket with hook-and-loop.
Here are two photos; the top photo is a close-up of the
massive upper arm adjuster sewn under the shoulder Cordura and Schoeller
section. The second photo shows the unique waist adjustment system:
Upper arm adjuster attaches to substantial rubber block.
Unique "zig zag" waist adjustment system.
The jacket also has a section of elastic sewn into the rear, just above the
cargo pocket (photo above), and vertical zippers are located above the lower hem under
each arm on the sides. A section of this zipper can be seen in the
photo above, located between the "e" and "b" of the "web" in the
webBikeWorld logo.
The sleeves have a vent zipper that starts just below the upper arm adjuster
and continues to just under the lower arm adjuster. Below that is a
zipper at the sleeve cuff, and the cuff is also sealed with a hook-and-loop
flap.
It's interesting to note that the sleeve cuff zipper opening does not have a
gusset sewn in underneath, but I'm not sure how this might affect the
waterproof integrity of the jacket. I assume the inner waterproof
liner will keep out the moisture.
The jacket also has waterproof (or water resistant, according to Scorpion)
zippers covering the two horizontal vents on the upper chest. The
upper back of the jacket has a large horizontal zippered vent with zippers
that open from either side.
It's been too cold to wear only the shell sans liners, but I'm expecting the
vents to work better than most because when the liners are removed, there's
only a mesh attached lining underneath the shell and in back of the vents,
which should allow air to readily flow through.
Lower arm showing open cuff, adjuster and vent (L to R).
A Word About Sizing
As you can see, the Scorpion XDR Commander jacket can be sealed up nice and
tight to minimize cold air pockets and also to help keep the CE-approved
armor from shifting around.
The straps and seals also help minimize any extra bulk when the insulating
and/or waterproof liners are removed.
I'd much rather have a jacket shell that's a bit snug rather
than too large to minimize the size differences when the liners are removed
for warmer weather.
The XDR Commander shown here is a size large, and I usually
take a U.S. men's 43 or 44 jacket with a shirt sleeve length of 34".
Scorpion's sizing chart lists a size large as a 42-44 with a 34" sleeve, and
the XL as a 44-46 with a 35" sleeve. As you can see, I'm right on the
borderline, but I think I'd have been better off in the size XL.
I need the extra arm length for reaching to the handlebars,
and the body of the jacket and the sleeves on this one seem tight, even with
the sleeve and waist adjusters let all the way out (that's not me in the
photos). If I take out the liners, it's a perfect fit -- just a touch
too tight though with everything installed.
I'll have to assume this holds true for the other size
ranges, so you may want to keep that in mind. I think that if you plan
on keeping the liners installed, this size large would be a good fit for a
42-43" chest and a 33" sleeve length.
Horizontal vent at upper back has two zippers with large pulls.
Close-up of front chest vent with waterproof zipper.
Back to the Liners
Scorpion calls the insulating liner their "Everheat Thermoliner". I'm
not sure what makes it different, because it looks similar to other
insulating liners I've seen, but it does seem to do a good job.
It's also a higher quality garment than usually found in a
motorcycle jacket. As you can see from the photo below, it has a strip
of "KwickWick" fabric up the back, which is different from the rest of the
material. This strip is covered with a thin section of a type of
material that feels like taffeta on the outside back of the liner.
The KwickWick liner's sleeves are attached inside the sleeve
cuffs of the waterproof liner with twin loops and straps, and here's a "why
don't they all do this" invention from Scorpion: one of the loops is colored
yellow, so you can match the correct snap with the correct loop!
This may seem like a tiny detail, but as you probably can
guess, this eliminates the fussing around trying to match the sleeve loop to
the snap when you're re-inserting the liner. Thanks Scorpion!
The waterproof and windproof liner has a luxurious looking
outer coating; ditto inside, where it's lined with permanently attached mesh
and a really nice fabric along the hem, printed with the Scorpion logo.
This is major detailing here -- detailing that probably no one would notice
if it wasn't there, but it really adds to the impression that this is one
serious jacket and worth twice the list price Scorpion has set.
And that's not all, because the imprinted fabric at the hem
of the waterproof liner is matched with the same imprinting on the inside
hem of the jacket shell! Very cool stuff, especially for folks like me
who notice and appreciate these details.
The waterproof liner has another interesting feature; you
may have noticed in these photos that the sleeve ends have a thumb hole,
much like mountain climbing or ski gear. Sticking your thumb through
the hole keeps the sleeve from pulling up and the soft elastic material
keeps some of the air from seeping into the sleeve.
It's optional --
you don't have to stick your thumb in there if you don't want, so don't
worry. If you don't, it just acts as an elastic sleeve cuff.
Chest pockets and vents.
Pockets
Pockets have become a competitive factor and seeming advantage in 3/4-length
motorcycle jackets. I have one question: Who the heck uses all
these pockets anyway?
The pocket count keeps going up -- I have a feeling it's a "you never know
when you might need it" psychology going on here, like the person who rides
5k miles per year buying a BMW R1200GS Adventure and outfitting it with
every long-distance accoutrement known to man.
But, no problem there -- we're all a little guilty of that, right?
Sportbike owners buy carbon fiber bits and knee pucks; on/off roaders buy
engine guards and touring bikes are outfitted with enough luggage to carry
the in-laws. Whether we use it or not is besides the point...
In any case, The XDR Commander has its share of pockets. Four in the
front in the usually up/down places; two up top that appear to be waterproof
and are sewn on as "patch" pockets. The right side has a vertical
zipper for access behind the patch pocket and a waterproof zipper on top to
access the pocket itself. The underside pocket is a great place for
stowing a wallet.
The upper left side has a horizontal hook-and-loop flap access on top and
the same vertical zipper for access to the pocket underneath the patch.
By the way, most of the flaps that use hook-and-loop on the XDR Commander
also have a sewn-on rubber grab nub, which is yet another nice detail touch
that gives a professional look while aiding the "grabability" of the flap
itself.
The lower front includes two horizontal pockets covered by a large flap with
two snaps each, and the snaps are covered with rubber. In addition to
the snaps, these flaps also seal with hook-and-loop and underneath is a
zipper that opens into the pocket itself. A nice styling touch here is
that these pockets are not patch pockets, but are instead sewn to the inside
of the jacket shell, giving the lower portion of the jacket a smoother look.
In back lives one of those big horizontal cargo pockets; this one is covered
by a wide flap with the rubber grip. Underneath is a swath of
hook-and-loop and the flap covers a horizontal zipper. This is the
place to store the neck wind block when it's removed so that it doesn't get
lost.
Inside the shell there's a horizontal zipper pocket in the
insulating liner, covering the same in the waterproof liner, covering the
same in the outer shell.
I'm sure I've probably missed one or two more, but if this
isn't enough pockets for ya', buy a tank bag!
Animated photo showing the reflective material on the XDR Commander jacket.
Reflective Material and Piping
The XDR Commander has a few sections of reflective material on the front,
back and sides and the "Scorpion" logos on the bottom of the sleeves are
also reflective, which is kind of cool. This can be seen in the photo
above.
Padding and Armor
The XDR Commander uses their "Exo-Tec" CE-approved semi-hard armor in the
shoulders and elbows and a soft pad in the back of the shell. The back
pad is contained in a zippered pocket, which is unusual, so it can be
replaced with something more substantial if desired.
The shell also has a connection zipper and Scorpion makes the XDR Invasion
pants which would make a nice match with the XDR Commander jacket.
Miscellaneous
I've been wearing the jacket for about a month but I'm sure I've missed
something! Our tall friends will also be pleased to learn that the XDR
Commander is available in a wide range of sizes, including tall. The
sizes range from S to XXXL, and the jacket is available in Tall sizing (1.5"
to 2" longer in body and sleeve length) in sizes from L to XXXL.
The XDR Commander is available in Black, Gray (shown here) and Neon.
Also, the jacket has a rear pass-through for a hydration hose, along with a
clip on the upper right to hold the tip of the hose in front.
Conclusion
The competition for your hard-earned dollars has never been hotter, and this
is fantastic news for motorcyclists! I'll be the first to admit that I
mistakenly did not take them seriously at first, but Scorpion has proven to
me that they are very serious indeed at providing excellent motorcycle
clothing and helmets at very competitive price points.
They've also raised the bar with the XDR series, and the
Commander jacket I think is a winner. They must have done their
homework on this one -- it's not just another 3/4-length jacket thrown out
there just to say they have one; this is indeed a serious "Xtreme Distance
Rider" jacket worthy of the name.
|
wBW Product
Review: Scorpion XDR Commander Jacket |
|
GET YOUR
Scorpion XDR Commander Jacket using this link to the Motorcycle
Superstore
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|
| Available
From:
Scorpion USA |
List Price: $339.00
($354.00 for sizes XXL and XXXL; $364.00 for LT to XXXLT). |
| Colors: Black, Gray, Neon Sizes: S to
XXXL. Also offered in tall sizes from L to XXXL; tall is 1.5"
to 2" longer in body and sleeve length. |
Made
in: Indonesia |
| Review Date:
November 2008 Notes: Jacket provided by Scorpion for
this review (more).
Be sure to check with manufacturer or retailer for current retail
pricing. |
Note: For informational use only. All material and
photographs are Copyright © webWorld International, LLC - 2000-2009. All
rights reserved. See the webBikeWorld®
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►Reader Comments and
Owner Feedback
Please
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comments to
Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.
Not all comments will be posted. Posted comments may be edited.
From "S.K." (7/09): "Love the jacket overall, although I
have only used it for two months and not in heavy rain. One tip that I
wanted to pass on was that Knox Forcefield Back Armor insert “003” was a
perfect fit to substitute for the cheapo foam back pad (although in fairness
to Scorpion everyone seems to use the same cheapo foam pads!)."
From "J.D." (1/09): "While I do indeed like my Scorpion
XDR, I think the author failed to note a very important point: During even
moderate rail, water will run down the internal waterproof liner directly
into your gloves, thoroughly soaking them in very little time.
This because those big zippers on the outside of the sleeves collect the
water and send it directly to that internal liner. The effect is that
everything above the writes stay nice and dry, but the design of the jacket
serves to completely defeat my waterproof gloves & the separate glove-shells
(also water proof).
This is a pretty critical design flaw for anyone that rides
in all weather conditions, such as myself. I love every other aspect
of this jacket, but having to always ensure I have spare gloves and
frequently needing to put both pairs in the dryer at the end of the day
takes a toll on ones enthusiasm."
Editor's Note: Some manufacturers and
riders recommend wearing the gloves inside the sleeves when it rains, perhaps that will
help?
From "P.C." (12/08): "I've had this jacket for about a
month and completely agree with the review, particularly related to quality,
sizing and the plethora of pockets. I am a size 42" w/ 32" sleeves and
the Large fits well. One feature I did not see mentioned is a design
that allows the incorporation of a
Camelback hydration system (review), with a storage pocket accessed
through the rear vent zipper, a rubber grommet to allow the tube through the
jacket fabric and a clip on the chest that holds the tube.
Great review - great jacket. Thanks."
From "J.R." (11/08): "Your review was very good
for this jacket (as usual) but I am returning my jacket because of a flaw in
its design. You failed to mention, or possibly didn't notice that the
bicep vent zipper and the arm adjustment plastic things will pinch your
bicep when you put on a helmet or open your visor.
I have only had the jacket for a few days but I cannot bear
this minor and constant irritation. It is possible that not all users
will experience this but I cannot get over it. It seems that they were
adding a bit too much "style" on the jacket with the big plastic adjusters
to the detriment of the jacket's function.
It is very warm and fits great and seems to be very high
quality but I believe that they need to take care of this problem. I
am looking forward to seeing if any other users experience this same problem
or if it is just me.
Thanks for all your hard work and keep up the great
reviews."
From "M.S." (11/08): "I just received my jacket, and
woow, what a jacket. The limited pics of this jacket do no do it
justice. I bought the neon and it sure is a true neon green jacket,
very bright (blinding). I was surprised how heavy it is w/ all the
liners.
Your review was spot on, including how it tight it fits w/ the liners on; I
don't think I will wearing the liners (I leave in So. Ca). The quality
is outstanding, In my opinion this jacket is more flexible than the
(Aerostich) Roadcrafter.
This "adventure" jacket should make others take notice, Scorpion is on it!
I am also considering the new (Scorpion EXO-700) Neon helmet (review).
Your review sealed the deal for me (I am a mark for your site). I
definitely recommend this jacket, I have the AWE pants on order. Keep
up the awesome job, your reviews are spot on."
From "K.M." (11/08): "Thank you for finally posting a
review of Scorpion Gear! Yay! I use a Scorpion EXO-700 helmet
(which I love), and the Scorpion Deuce pants (which I ALSO love). I
plan on adding some Scorpion XDR gloves to the list as well.
In my opinion, Scorpion is the best bang-per-buck motorcycle
product out there! Quality, tough, and functional gear at very
reasonable prices. Now if Scorpion would just make some boots.....hmm
:-) Keep up the great work. Great, unbiased, and informative reviews.
Thank you."
