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Dualsport Jacket Recomendations?

Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 6:20 pm
by Bucho
So I'm a little out of the loop on current dualsport/adv gear.

I really just have two outfits for riding gear. My offroad kit, is a pair of klim enduro pants and a jersey on top. If its cold I layer a bit. If its rainy I wear some frog togs over the top.
I also have a 20 year old Aerostich 1 piece Roadcrafter. Its great for road riding. Its even pretty good for light dualsporting. BUT at temps rise and for more hardcore dualsporting its not so great.

Because I"m happy with Aerostich, I've considered just getting a Darien Light jacket and paired with my Klim pants would probably work great. I'm not adverse to spending money on good gear. If its something I'll wear for next 10+ years, its worth the money.

Lately, I haven't done too much dualsporting, a few days trips here and there. But I'm going to be planning some more trips. Hopefully a week long trip each year. For that alone I'd like to get a decent jacket.

2nd question, should I get a jacket w/ built in armor elbow/shoulder/spine? Or a looser fitting jacket designed to wear a pressure suit underneath?

My only other consideration is I'd like it to be waterproof.


I'm not in any huge rush to buy something. My TX trip is postponed till this Novemberish of this year. I'd like to get something for this upcoming trip.

Re: Dualsport Jacket Recomendations?

Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 6:42 pm
by Marylander
I don't think you'd fit in my medium darien or you'd be welcome to borrow/try it out. I do like the darien. I don't feel that much difference between the weight of the "light" and the regular. I've got light pants and a regular jacket. I got the darien for dirt cheap on ebay. It was in like new condition with the ~$250 liner. I think I paid $225 total. :cheers: I put a good back protector in it as they don't come with one (just like the roadcrafters).

Re: Dualsport Jacket Recomendations?

Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:04 pm
by juddspaintballs
Any of the good DS jackets will have built in armor with cinch straps to keep them in place while you're wearing it. If you want truly waterproof, get something with a Gore-Tex shell, not a liner. Liners suck. If you're not averse to spending the money, Klim is not a bad way to go, especially with the DAMN discount at JT. I've bought a bunch of Klim stuff from Mike at JT in the last year and I couldn't be happier with the stuff. The Badlands Pro jacket and Carlsbad pants kept me safe in a 80 mph get-off in October.


For somewhat DS stuff where I'm not terribly concerned about getting wet, I wear an old pair of Klim Dakar pants with the D3O armor added to them and a A.R.C. Battle Born jacket that isn't really waterproof at all but really comfortable and cheap enough I don't mind crashing in it off road. It's lightweight enough for my tastes, too. I tried the A.R.C. Battle Born pants and they weren't great.


The waterproof DS/Off-Road setup from Klim would be the Traverse line. I'd take a look at those and try them on at JT's. The Gore-Tex they're made out of is a couple generations newer than Aerostich's and breathes much better.

Re: Dualsport Jacket Recomendations?

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2021 7:00 am
by smdub
I'm in a similar boat. I bought a Klim Dakar jacket (mail order) for the KAT last year. I couldn't believe how poorly cut it was made. The sleeves are cut for standing around and not reaching in front of you. I was shocked given the reputation of Klim. I have monkey length arms and the sieves were still too long. No idea who they designed that thing for.
I didn't know there was a local-ish dealer that stocked Klim. Juddspaintballs, I'm assuming the JT you speak of is the one in Freedeick? I'd like to try on more of their gear as they seem to have a really odd fit. I have a thin/fit riding buddy w/ the Latitude jacket and it's a balloon through the chest.
I've been very happy w/ the cut/design of my RevIt gear.

I've also decided to go down the path of breathable jacket and put a light goretex-like jacket over top when rain is threatening. If 95% of the riding I do is in the dry, I dont want gear that doesn't breathe. It's just a different compromise.

Since I'm ranting, I'm fairly pissed about companies with jackets designed for outdoor activities but have a cut for standing around at Starbucks. I have Carrhart jackets and the sleeves are set slightly forward AND have gussets at the back. It's an awesome work jacket made to work w/ your arms in front of you. I'm on th hunt for a 'puffy' winter coat I can stuff in the motorcycle bags. Boight a top of the line synthetic LLBean hooded coat w/ top marks in the climbing/hiking magazines. Comes in tall sizes and was a perfect slim/athletic fit when I got it! Unil I tried to actually DO something in it... Holly crap, even driving the car to work it tries to cut off the circulation in the front of my shouldes! It's almost like they sewed the sleeves on backwards. If you reached in front of yourself, it pulled tight across the back. There is NO WAY you could mountain climb in it. :censored: It was very much like that Klim Dakar I ordered. WTF, do people design jackets for activities where you have your arms in front of you w/ sleeves sewn on the geometric sides instead of slightly forward (or at least add gussets)? I have an expensive Columbia parka that is the same. I can't ski in that! :rant off:

Re: Dualsport Jacket Recomendations?

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2021 7:41 am
by Marylander
If the jacket doesn't have built in waterproofing I prefer a shell to go over rather than a liner. I've got an alpinestars durban that I took the goretex liner out of and I'll never put it back. At least it makes a decent standalone rain jacket.

I prefer built in waterproofing...

Re: Dualsport Jacket Recomendations?

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:25 am
by Rut Row
I've had two Klim Badlands jackets and pants. I got both sets at JT's. They fit great and kept me dry on two separate occasions during 9-hour plus rains. They were very warm. DAMNed expensive though. My #1 complaint is the pants weren't long enough when sitting. I had to wear a set of gaiters to keep road spray from getting the top of my boots and leg wet.

Either Wingfixer or Junior has the DS jacket I wore when we did the PPIHC. You might check with them - they may pass it on to you gratis.

Re: Dualsport Jacket Recomendations?

Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:36 am
by Laoch
Rut Row wrote: Fri Mar 05, 2021 9:25 am I've had two Klim Badlands jackets and pants. I got both sets at JT's. They fit great and kept me dry on two separate occasions during 9-hour plus rains. They were very warm. DAMNed expensive though. My #1 complaint is the pants weren't long enough when sitting. I had to wear a set of gaiters to keep road spray from getting the top of my boots and leg wet.
Said the freakishly tall guy :lol2:

My recent jacket is the Icon Raiden, I have an earlier version. More for colder weather or adv type riding. It has a liner, armour multiple pockets, water resistant. Great jacket at a better price than some others.
For down and dirty DS riding I have the ARC battleborn jacket, I wear armour underneath and you'd need layers if it's cold. But this is a versatile jacket. The sleeves come off, it has good vents, multiple pockets, a large rear pouch and it packs away into itself with a belt to carry. Not water proof again, but I usually carry a rain shell.

What next? Want to talk about oil?

Re: Dualsport Jacket Recomendations?

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2021 10:26 am
by aai
Phil as you probably already know Bobs is a Klim dealer and other brands mentioned. Sometimes they have sales, fitting rooms for sure.
https://www.bobsbmw.com/store/specials? ... 0220498183

https://www.bobsbmw.com/store/files/siz ... atters.pdf

Re: Dualsport Jacket Recomendations?

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2021 10:50 am
by smdub
I work just down the street from Bob's. They don't have much of a selection.

Re: Dualsport Jacket Recomendations?

Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2021 10:55 am
by aai
you're right, the deeply discounted stuff definitely never fitted me :lol2: Awhile ago, I convinced myself to take a drive up to Revzilla in PA to do a wardrobe. From what I heard that's what's typically stocked in that store.