Leather Motorcycle Jacket Buyers Guide Alpinestars Octane
A Buyer's Guide to Leather Jackets - More Than Skin Deep
Alpinestars Octane $430 With its precurved sleeves and zippy graphics, the full-leather Octane had us thinking it was purpose-built for the dragstrip rather than a road trip. But a couple of rides proved otherwise. The key is in the labeling, apparently-Alpinestars says this is a "relaxed fit" (RF) jacket, so it was cush in any riding position. The leather fell nicely onto our torso, while the mandarin collar felt more comfortable than it looked-probably due to the stretch fabric and an adjustable closure. Perforations dot the upper chest and arms and stretch panels hide under the arms. Those stretch panels do provide comfort, and adjustable waist tabs on either side help tailor the fit. We also like the zippered sleeves with Velcro cuff closures. The soft armor in the shoulders and elbows is CE-approved, and a foam back pad comes standard. But where the Octane really scores is with its inclusion of chest protection-two inner pockets house Alpinestars' proprietary foam chest guards (sold separately). The Octane doesn't have vents, but we're still pleasantly surprised with the goods. | RATINGS | | Comfort | 4 | | Protection | 4 | | Versatility | 2 | | Overall | 3.3 | Notes: Great comfort and protection, and the only jacket here with chest armor. Specs Leather: 1.2-1.4mm full-grain cowhide Protection: Removable CE armor in shoulders and elbows; forearm padding; upgradable foam back pad; chest pad option Storage: 2 outer and 2 inner pockets Venting: Perforations in upper chest and arms; stretch panels under arms Liner: Zip-out thermal vest Miscellaneous: Drop back panel; attached zipper pulls; no reflectivity View Related Article
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