Scorpion EXO-400, Hat-Trick Jacket, Icon Knee/Shin Guards, Twenty-Niner Gloves

Scorpion EXO-400

This helmet offers great protection being both SNELL and DOT approved. I could squeeze into a small but it crushed my head, a medium fits perfectly. It has forehead, chin and exhaust vents the outside but they seem kind of flimsy, and unless you look really close you can’t always tell if they’re open or closed. Most of the airflow from riding seems to come from underneath the chin, but even sitting at stop lights in 85 degree heat with the visor down it wasn’t overwhelming. The visor by default is scratch-proof on the outside and fog-proof on the inside. I recently bought a mirror shield visor without those coatings and it fogged up with a breathy exhale, which never happened on the factory one. (side note, the mirror visor did not diminish night time visibility to an unsafe degree). And the visor quick-change system is a bit wonky but it works. It does have a breath guard, which is also pretty flimsy and doesn’t seem to do a whole lot. The inside is very plush and comfortable, and the padding is removable for washing which is nice. There seems to be quite a bit of wind noise at 60+, but I couldn’t tell you if that’s more or less than normal. Overall, for $139, (how much I paid for it) I’d say it is an excellent helmet for the price.

Scorpion Hat Trick Jacket

I love this jacket. It might seem a bit pricey >$200 but it’s worth every penny. The outside looks awesome and has reflective strips on the front and back for visibility, which is nice because it’s a mostly (or completely) black jacket otherwise. The great thing about this jacket is it has 3 layers. The textile and mesh outer layer with CE approved armor in the elbows, shoulders and back allows for both airflow and protection. A second layer is a wind/water proof liner that also has a collar to cover a bit of your neck. I wore this once just to test it out on a cool night ride, and it definitely keeps the wind out, cannot attest for water but I’m sure it works. The last layer is a thermal liner. I haven’t been able to test this layer yet but I can imagine it’ll keep me warm well into the 40’s if need be, very warm jacket with all layers in it. Two outside hand pockets, one or two inside breast pockets, depending on the layers you have in. Great jacket.

Icon Field Armor Knee/Shin Guards

I got these because I wanted to ride to work and I can’t wear riding pants in a corporate office! I know I could have opted for over-pants but I like these very much. The armor is vented and allows for a decent amount of airflow, even when worn under jeans or other pants. They velcro around your calf in 3 spots, and once around the back of the knee. They are one size fits most, and I have pretty thin legs, but they stay up fine with boots. I’ve even worn them to walk around and grab a bite to eat and they aren’t a bother, if not for being a little warm. Also, they fit underneath any pants I’ve worn them with which is nice. Cheaper than riding pants, but they obviously don’t offer any hip/thigh protection. $65 for these guys, not a bad get.

Icon Twenty-Niner Gloves

Simple mesh gloves, no knuckle protection aside from a thin layer of gel. The palms are slightly padded and add a bit of comfort and they fit pretty well. They are vented but you really only feel a good amount of air if you angle the knuckle vents just right, but they don’t get too hot so it’s not a problem. They have a single velcro wrist strap that is pre-curved to prevent it from snagging or coming off, but this also can make them tricky to get off because it does not stay un-velcroed unless you hold it. They also leave creases on my hands after a few hours of riding, maybe I’m gripping too tight I don’t know. $30 seems like a lot for these to be honest.