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View Full Version : Review of Mesh Jacket and Pants


HarveyCreek
06-05-2008, 02:02 AM
After getting back into riding, even before buying my bike I got my first set of motorcycle clothing, which were the Olympia Moto Sports' Cordura textile Mustang Jacket and Pants. While I really liked their styling, over the last few summers I found that they could be a bit warm (especially the pants) during the warmer weather. Since Uncle Sam was kind enough to give us this tax rebate, I thought I'd put a portion of it to good use and get my self a nice set of mesh jacket and pants.

After a bit of research and having happy results with my existing clothing, I decided stay with Olympia Moto Sports and get their Airglide 2 Mesh Tech jacket and pants. In the last few weeks I've had the chance to wear these in 99 degree temperatures with 60% humidity and 50 degree temps with an inch of rain for the day, and am happy to say I made a good decision. On the 99 degree day I had some riding in stop in go traffic behind a garbage truck, I was a little uncomfortable, but it was not from heat but the smell from the truck. Once I got in the clear I was amazed how cool I felt, and in one shady tree lined location it was almost chilly. The mesh really opens up the airflow. Since the pants have a fair amount of mesh around the inseam, I was wearing bicycle shorts underneath, as the exposure might be a bit too much, though they have solid Cordura textile at all the wear points. Just a few days ago we had a good summer soaker for this area, and I was out in it. Since it was cool, I had the waterproof liners in both the pants and jacket, and for the 30 mile trip, I stayed warm and dry.

While both the jacket and pants liners are compete enough to be worn on their own, as they jacket has multiple pockets, and the pants have belt loops, I'm not to sure the world is ready for seeing me in those pant liners. Several velcro connectors keep the pant liners in place, while the jacket liner has velcro and zippers. The outer jacket comes with shoulder, back, and elbow CE approved armor, the pants of CE knee armour and padded hips. All removable for washing. The two front pockets on the pants have zippers, the back two pockets are typical jean patch pockets. The jacket has two breast pockets that velcro shut, two side pockets with zippers, and interior chest pocket that zippers and small interior breast pocket for cell phones. The major seams on both the pants and jacket are piped with Scotchlite reflective material.

If I have any complaints, it would be their pricing as they're a little pricey, but I bought mine from a local shop (I buy local when I can), and you probably could get them online for less. Maybe you can get a good deal from chromekid01...:D I've found the sizing to be true to pant and jacket sizes for me, though I've hear others say that the pants are a bit on the small size.

Schneiderman
09-04-2008, 11:21 PM
I have the Mustang pants, I think they're "ok". I took the knee armor out, IMO it is junk. Now I wear Icon Leg Armor underneath. The cordura in the mustang is supposed to save skin in a slide, but I really can't tell if the mustang pants would hold up or not. They are somewhat waterproof though, and I find them pretty comfortable, so they're not bad.

RonK
09-27-2008, 10:15 PM
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They sure don't look like mesh. But at $220., they are more than I prefer. Does anyone know of a cheaper place?

RonK

happymiles4me
09-27-2008, 10:43 PM
I have a Joe Rocket mesh jacket and
1st Gear Air Pants for summer wear. I have ridden in 90+ temps in comfort during the summer. The jacket does get hot if you get caught in stop and go traffic but I try to avoid that type of riding. The pants were $216 with taxes. Jacket was $170. Both have liners. The ones for the pants are waterproof.

Conleyevans
10-08-2008, 01:42 PM
i am excited to read that about the olympias... i just got their Patton jacket. i wore it today for the first time and thought it was very comfortable. i am looking for waterproof pants to go with it, preferably with armor. well, more precisely over pants, as i will want to wear them over my work khaki's. any ideas?