If maximizing ventilation is your main priority, then it\u2019s going to be very hard to beat Klim\u2019s Baja S4 jacket\/pant combination. Almost three-quarters of its outer shell is Schoeller\u2019s Dynatec High Tenacity Mesh. The only parts that don\u2019t offer ventilation are the impact areas (knees, butt, shoulders and elbows) which are covered by some tough-wearing Superfabric.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/lastwordnov2021feature-1-300x145.jpg\")
The Dynatec material really does flow incredibly well; it is seemingly the most porous of the mesh fabrics I\u2019ve tested. It\u2019s quite incredible how much air passes through the entirety of the Baja suit, with the pants alone passing so much air that it almost feels like you\u2019re wearing shorts (at least that\u2019s what it felt like riding around on a barely-above freezing April morning).<\/p>\n
Neither the S4 jacket or pants sacrifice much protection in their quest for airflow. Like I said, all the impact areas are layered in Superfabric \u2014 a layer of \u201carmour plates\u201d resting on a base cloth \u2014 and it is very abrasion-resistant. The S4 also has a full complement of D3O armour, the pants featuring knee (common) and hip (not as common in ventilated gear as it should be) CE Level 1 protection while the jacket has elbow, shoulder and back D3O pads \u2014 again, all CE approved \u2014 giving the S4 an AA overall CE rating.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also worth noting that the protectors are available from Klim in a thicker Level II D3O version. I\u2019ve already upgraded to the Level II protectors at the hips and knees and, while they do feel bulkier while walking around, on the bike there\u2019s barely any discernible difference in comfort.<\/p>\n
To protect you from the elements, however \u2014 and with such porosity, the S4 really does need protection when the elements get nasty \u2014 Klim has a purpose-built two-piece rain suit that is exclusive to the Baja. Constructed of a stretchable Schoeller material, the Enduro S4 suit is completely impervious to even the most torrential of downpours.<\/p>\n
Just as importantly, if said downpour is a sudden squall, the rain suit is extremely easy to put on \u2014 the pants zippered both from the hem and the waist, making slipping into the suit quick and simple.<\/p>\n
The combination of Baja S4 vented suit and Enduro rain suit is truly primo gear. And, making the Enduro system even more marketable is the fact that they are sized to fit the corresponding Baja garment. If you take a large S4 vented jacket, simply order a large Enduro jacket.<\/p>\n
The only problem is that quality doesn\u2019t come cheap. Oh, the basic Baja S4 suit is reasonable enough: the jacket retails for $750 and the pants sell for $600, for a total of $1,350. But the Enduro jacket and pant rain suit combination, at $780, costs almost as much as many basic pant-jacket combos. And, if you opt to upgrade all of the armour to Level II, you\u2019re looking at more than two grand for the whole kit and caboodle.<\/p>\n
Klim\u2019s other issue is that its biggest strength is also its singular performance flaw. It flows so much air that, even in moderate temperatures, things can get a little chilly. And since it\u2019s all mesh, the only way to restrict airflow is to don the aforementioned rain suit. Unfortunately, that\u2019s a little like having an on\/off switch for an air conditioning system. At, say, 16 degrees C, your only choices are to suck it up and risk a little chill, or don the rain suit and sweat a little. The Baja\u2019s airflow is prodigious, but there\u2019s no way of moderating it.<\/p>\n
DAVID BOOTH\u2019S maximum temperature index before melting: 38\u00b0<\/p>\n
Rukka StretchAir<\/strong><\/p>\n Like the Klim Baja suit, Rukka also offers its StretchAir system as a pant\/jacket combination. That\u2019s pretty much where any similarities end. Unlike the Baja suit, which (unsurprisingly) has an adventure cut, the StretchAir offers a sports-oriented feel, with styling very similar to a two-piece leather racing suit. In fact, the Rukka jacket and pants can be zipped together, thanks to an attachment system that goes around almost the entire waist area. The combination actually feels more natural when zipped together.<\/p>\n Unlike virtually every other vented garment I\u2019ve seen \u2014 including the Klim ones above \u2014 the StretchAir is not constructed of a combination of mesh in non-critical areas and tougher, abrasion-resistant materials, usually Cordura, on expected impact areas. Instead, both jacket and pants are constructed completely of Cordura AFT (as in Air Flow Technology), <\/p>\n with the impact areas simply getting a double layer.<\/p>\n Despite being made entirely of vented material, the StretchAir garments don\u2019t allow as much cooling airflow as the Klim system, simply because the Cordura weave is much tighter than Klim\u2019s Schoeller mesh. It\u2019s still much cooler-riding than an equivalent leather or non-mesh textile garment, but for sheer ventilation, the Rukka system is not in the same league as the Klim.<\/p>\n Where Rukka excels is in protection \u2014 or, more accurately, impact resistance. Simply put, there\u2019s more D3O thermoplastic polyurethane in Rukka\u2019s StretchAir than in any other street suit I\u2019ve ever tested. Hell, there\u2019s more armour in the Rukka pants than most racing suits. Not only is all the XTR armour of the thicker Level II variety, but each piece of armour covers vastly more area than pretty much any competitive padding I\u2019ve tried. The jacket\u2019s elbow armour and the pant\u2019s knee protectors are absolutely immense, the latter not only covering the knee but most of the shin as well, and there has to be at least three times the amount of D3O thermoplastic polyurethane in a Rukka hip protector than many competing pants.<\/p>\n Actually, I was wrong: there are two more similarities to Klim outerwear. First, like the Baja suit, the Rukka comes with excellent rainproof overgear; second, also like the American brand, the Finnish gear isn\u2019t cheap. The jacket and pants combine for $1,125 and, by the time you throw in the Gore-Tex StretchDry rainsuit, you won\u2019t get much change from two grand. Also like the Klim, there\u2019s no way to regulate the StretchAir\u2019s airflow. Either you get maximum ventilation, or you shut it all down; there\u2019s no in between.<\/p>\n DAVID BOOTH\u2019S maximum temperature index before melting: 32\u00b0<\/p>\n Dainese D-Explorer<\/strong><\/p>\n Regulation of airflow, meanwhile, is the Dainese D-Explorer\u2019s raison d\u2019\u00eatre. One of the few true four-seasons jackets out there, where most adventure style textile jackets rely on (mostly ineffective) zippered vents to cool the wearer down, the D-Explorer uses the same style of porous fabric as traditional mesh jackets, only it covers them with modular flaps.<\/p>\n Two such flaps cover most of the front of the jacket. There\u2019s also a huge vented area covering the entire back protector area, and a zipper along both sleeves which opens up a vent that runs the full length of the arm. The accompanying pants also have a large vented area in the upper thigh area, just below the pockets. Open all the jacket\u2019s vents and the airflow is just about comparab<\/p>\n le to the Rukka and trails the Klim by about 10 or 15 per cent (that\u2019s according to my completely subjective \u201cI\u2019m-f\u2019ing-freezing-out-here-wearing-vented-motorcycle-gear-at-6-degrees\u201d index).<\/p>\n But maximum airflow is not the D-Explorer\u2019s killer app. Nope, what makes Dainese\u2019s jacket (and to a lesser degree, the pants) unique is that each of those modular flaps can be tailored to regulate airflow. A scorching day sees all flaps at maximum aperture but, as the sun sets (and temperatures drop), a quick tug of a few zippers reduces ventilation as necessary. And, when things get chillier, you can close the flaps entirely, and add both a Gore-Tex rainproof layer and\/or a Thinsulate vest. The D-Explorer is perfectly suitable for any temperature from 5 to 40 C \u2014 or even lower if you, as I do, pair it with a heated vest instead of the Thinsulate one.<\/p>\n As for protection, first-gen D-Explorers like my own have elbow, shoulder, knee and back protectors, all certified to Level I, as well as abrasion-resistant fabric on all the impact zones. The second-generation version introduced last year ups that to Level II protectors, which are also ventilated, while also incorporating Trixior D-TEC abrasion-resistant material on the shoulders, elbows and knees. Better yet, the second gen jacket is actually cheaper by about $100 than the US$899 I paid five years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n Nothing\u2019s perfect, however, and the D-Explorer has two faults. First off, the trousers come with no hip protectors, nor are there pockets to accommodate anything you might like to add. For that reason, while I whole-heartedly recommend the D-Explorer jacket, I\u2019m less enthusiastic about the pants. Second, the compromise that allowed Dainese to reduce the jacket\u2019s price is that they have combined the rain and insulating layers, which means things are going to get plenty toasty if it rains on a hot summer day. Considering that the D-Explorers\u2019 entire raison d\u2019\u00eatre is versatility, this is a little disappointing.<\/p>\n DAVID BOOTH\u2019S maximum temperature index before melting: 33<\/p>\n Olympia Airglide<\/strong><\/p>\n Olympia basically invented the three-layer multi-season jacket with its Airglide and, all these years later, it\u2019s still the go-to jacket for those looking for versatility on a budget. Indeed, despite my protestations that I\u2019d happily buy her a new jacket, my significant other swears by her now eight-year-old Airglide. Oh, I\u2019ve upgraded the armour in every pocket (early Olympia armour resembled nothing more than a bunch of Styrofoam packing chips melded into the shape of an elbow or knee), but she loves the cut and breathability. Essentially the entire jacket, except for the Cordura-reinforced impact areas, is mesh. If the temperature drops (or it rains), she zips the inner rain suit and, when things get really nasty, she zips the insulated vest into the rain layer. I\u2019ve had two such three-layer Olympia jackets myself. and they\u2019re the best bang-for-your-buck to be had in the multi-season segment.<\/p>\n That\u2019s even more true now that, in its 6th generation, the $470 Airglide now sports modern Level II Powertector Hex-Pro armour in all the impact areas. The three-layer design persists \u2014 shame on you Dainese \u2014 but, in the interest of even more versatility, the rain layer can now be worn inside or outside the jacket. We\u2019ve tried it and, in one of those (tragically) rare examples of spousal accord, we both agree that we like the older, inner-only system. Olympia makes matching pants ($330), but we\u2019ve made far less use of them than the jacket.<\/p>\n DAVID BOOTH\u2019S maximum temperature index before melting: 35\u00b0<\/p>\n Alpinestars Tailwind Tech-Air Compatible<\/strong><\/p>\n That said, no amount of passive armour will ever match the protection offered by an airbag, and while many companies are now offering stand-alone inflatable vests that can be worn with a ventilated jacket, Alpinestars, Helite and Dainese offer vented textile jackets that specifically incorporate an airbag.<\/p>\n Of the two that are mated with electronically-controlled air bags (the Helite uses a tether cord), I\u2019ve only tested the Alpinestars version. The Tailwind replaces the discontinued Viper (which I\u2019ve reported on previously) and features more of an adventure-touring cut, a much more effective rainproof layer (which add to its versatility in terms of both warmth and waterproofing) and appreciably more venting. As air bag systems go, it\u2019s one of the cooler-running garments, if not the most frigid. That said, the air bag itself blocks much of the airflow directed at the chest, leaving the venting in the arms and shoulders to supply the bulk of the wicking effect. Hence the reason it scores lowest on my ventilation index.<\/p>\n The Tailwind, like the Klim jacket, only comes with Level I armour at the elbows and shoulders and, unlike the Viper it replaces, you can\u2019t upgrade it to Level II. That said, Alpinestars Tech-Air system provides excellent clavicle protection, which mitigates the concern over shoulder safety. Furthermore, despite being rated for lesser protection, the Tailwind\u2019s elbow pads are huge, covering more of the forearm area than any of the armour (save Rukka\u2019s D3O XTR).<\/p>\n And the Tech-Air system does offer a versatility of a sort. Unlike Dainese\u2019s stand-alone inflatable gear, Alpinestars\u2019 air bags are swappable between jackets. I use the Tailwind during the heat of summer, then switch the airbag over to the Tech-Air Compatible Revenant for the spring and fall. All that versatility comes at a price, however: the best price I\u2019ve seen for the Tailwind and Tech-Air bag combo is around $1,350. Throw in the aforementioned Revenant for full four- DAVID BOOTH\u2019S maximum temperature index before melting: 29\u00b0<\/p>\n Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n So, where does that leave us? What is the best jacket\/suit when climate change rears its ugly head? Well that, of course, depends on what your priorities are. If\u2026 You want maximum ventilation from a two-piece sporty riding suit, Rukka\u2019s StretchAir is essentially a zip-together two-piece riding suit made of Air Flow Technology Cordura instead of leather. It fits tight, has by far the most comprehensive passive armour and will still flow a goodly amount of air. It\u2019s also quite fashionable, receiving a surprising number of compliments from non-bikers.<\/p>\n You want maximum ventilation for minimum money, Olympia\u2019s Airglide is still a great buy; all the more so since they\u2019ve upgraded to Level II armour. Olympia also has a new Expedition jacket that offers flap-covered mesh, much like D-Explorer (though the venting areas are smaller). I have not tested it yet but am hoping to convince she-who-refuses-to-upgrade that it might be an excellent evolution of her obsession with Olympia.<\/p>\n You want maximum impact protection from a ventilated pant\/jacket combination, may I suggest you mix and match the Alpinstars Tailwind jacket with the Rukka StretchAir pants? Not only do the colours match \u2014 their respective black hues are almost indistinguishable \u2014 but they have zippers so they can be zipped together for maximum protection (though they will have to be made compatible). And, thanks to the jacket\u2019s airbag and those humongous D3O protectors in the Rukka pants, you\u2019ll be well protected against things that go bump in the night.<\/p>\n You want truly versatile four-season protection, nothing beats Dainese\u2019s D-Explorer. It flows as much air as any garment here save the Klim, but zip up all the panels and then add the Thinsulate layer \u2014 or, better yet, a heated vest \u2014 and you\u2019ll be more afraid of icy roads than frost-bitten nether regions. If I can figure out how to zip the first generation\u2019s separate liners into the second gen\u2019s outer shell, I\u2019ll be getting a new second-gen D-Explorer as soon as possible. Just the jacket that is; the pant\u2019s lack of hip armour is a deal-breaker for me.<\/p>\n Author\u2019s message: You\u2019ll note that little mind was paid to the various comfort criteria for each of the garments tested here. For one thing, fit is a very personal affair. For another, the discussion of their relative airflow capabilities and impact protection already took up enough room in this issue.<\/p>\n Also, other than the Klim (for its immense airflow) and the Rukka (for its superlative impact protection), the ventilated pants that make up part of the suit combination of the products tested here were given short shrift. That\u2019s because, with the advent of new single-layer Kevlar jeans \u2014 the Kevlar being woven into the fabric rather than requiring a separate, second layer \u2014 they\u2019re generally a much better all-round solution than textile pants. Stay tuned for a round up on biking jeans soon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Lack of airflow on a stinking hot day can ruin a perfectly good ride. By the time you read this, 2021\u2019s incredible heatwave will be (hopefully) over. Like pretty much everyone, motorcyclists have had to find ways to cope with heat that threatens to melt roads and minds. And, judging by the riders I saw […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":87,"featured_media":58140,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[373,2069],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Rukka-R9100004x-226x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Dainese-R9100016x-201x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Olympia-Airglide-6-A42Y1078-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/motorcyclemojo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Alpinestars-R9100013x-149x300.jpg\")
All of the preceding gear has relied on passive armour, and all now offer Level II armour (the Klim suit as an option, of course). The Rukka is especially overwhelming in how much D3O it manages to stuff into one suit.<\/p>\n
\nseason capability and you won\u2019t see much change from two and a half grand. That said, you\u2019ll be very well-protected.<\/p>\n
\nYou want maximum ventilation, nothing touches the Klim Baja S4. If the climate really does get serious about changing, I suspect this will be the most popular summer riding suit in motorcycling. Yes, it\u2019s expensive (especially when you add the rain suit and D3O upgrades) and, of course, the sheer volume of air it moves compromises its cold weather performance. But when the mercury is heading for 40, there\u2019s nothing more comfortable.<\/p>\n