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I decided to pick up some touring gear (read: warm gear) because my perforated leathers don't cut it in the cooler months. That and they aren't remotely waterproofAfter doing a whole lot of reading I decided to get the Fieldsheer Adventure jacket and pants. My leathers are Fieldsheer, and I really really like them, so I figured I would give the company another shot. On top of that, you can't beat their prices. I ordered them both from motoxoutlet.com (slow shipping, awesome prices). Both pieces arrived to today, so I figured I would give some first impressions. Sadly, the pants don't fit so I'll have to wait to review those when the larger ones arrive.
So, the jacket. I opted for the black/silver jacket, and I must say I really like the look of it. It has more reflective material than any touring jacket I've ever seen in person, and it actually has it arranged in a cool pattern, not just big bars; it's very eye catching. The forearms and biceps have a row of snaps that let you adjust the coat to fit you, as well as adjustable waist straps on both sides, and at the wrists (both velcro). Once you have everything dialed in it fits very well, and I'd imagine could fit a wide variety of people. There are pockets all over the jacket, both inside and out. There is also a neat pocket at the base of the back that your passenger can use to stick their hands in to keep warm. Neat idea.
The jacket material isn't super stiff out of the box, which is nice. With that being said, I have a feeling I'll have to wear it for a while in order to get it really broken in and soft. Right now when I sit on a normal chair the neck does creep up a bit. I'm sure that will go away with time/wear.
The neck and wrists have this really nice soft material on them that's very comfy, and feels like it won't become annoying, though only time will tell. The detachable neck gaiter is a nice idea, but seems pretty thin (and is a pain to get closed properly without a mirror to look in). I have a feeling I won't be using that, instead opting for a separate gaiter worn under the jacket.
The jacket has armor in all the standard places, and it's all very thick, hard armor; not of that thin foam crap (even the back is hard armor). Once adjusted and strapped up the armor also seems to stay in place very well over the proper areas. The shell of the jacket also has additional pads sewn throughout for added protection.
With the liner in (which also comes out and is wearable on its own) the jacket is a bit more cumbersome to move around in, but not bad at all. I went outside for a few minutes with the jacket and pants on and didn't feel a hint of wind anywhere (and it's definitely blowing today). I won't be able to give this a real road test for another couple weeks, max (bike is still winterized, and I'm lazy). I was also able to wear a hoodie under the jacket with the liner out. I'm going to have to experiment and see what layering strategy keeps me the warmest.
I don't really want to go all out and shower in this gear to test its waterproofness, but will let you all know how it fairs if/when I get stuck in the rain. Apparently the whole jacket is waterproof, and I've heard it does very well in the rain.
That's all for now. Stay tuned for pics and a review of the pants when they arrive (figure a week or so).
Pics:
Picasa Web Albums - Sean - Fieldsheer Ad...
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Originally Posted by schleppy
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