First thing I did when I got my Darian Jacket was wash it twice in a row. The directions mention that that this softens up the jacket. I found an immediate improvement when I did that! I have washed it twice since and each time it just gets more pliable but continues to stay waterproof.
I have a Darian and a Darien light that I have had for 20 years. I have sent the light back for refurbishing one time. Because there is no mesh liner you will wear the gortex in places compromising the water “resistance”. I see they have made some changes like adding the sleeve adjustment straps , collar changes, and eliminated some pockets. The Darien’s both regular and light are good jackets though there are better choices now. They used to be a status symbol at rallies. I also toured the store and factory in Duluth. They are like Harley because they are repairable not desposible , not made in some far off land in a sweatshop. They can be tailored to fit you. I think I paid about $350 for mine. They are American made and that means something to me.
Love my Hi Viz jacket! I clean it once a year at most and soak it in the tub and then use a paste of Borax (no bleach) and water using a scrub brush and then go over it again with Prosolve. Takes a bit of time but comes out looking like new and it is 7 years old.
Aerostich sells a windproof pullover that works very well with this jacket. I have a Fallstaff jacket that isn't nearly as warm as it looks but with the liner I am very comfortable down to sub 50 F. Colder than that requires a warmer shirt underneath. I live in Florida and appreciate that it isn't very warm.
I have 10+ years on my Darian light Hi-vis. Yes the seam sealing tape does wear. But I went to a popup in CA and asked about repair. They looked at my jacket and GAVE me a roll of tape so I could do the repair myself. Hard to find service that good. Just bought an R3 light. Both work great.
Been riding with a Darien suit for 5 years. Never failed me. However just like you I was surprised how much air come through... But happy in summer months. As for the vents having no mesh, it is something I got used to. The back vent, when I keep it open, I keep the two zippers in the center. As for the armpit vents, I don't open those too much, since having a bee fly inside my jacket once. Though less scary than having a bee fly inside my helmet going nearly inside my ear 😂. Enjoy the Darien.
So far over the lst 55 years, I've been stung 4 times; ear, neck & face. The first time was off road riding. A wasp & I crossed paths & he was buzzing inside my helmet. I let go of the bars, undid my "D" Rings and pulled off my helmet - but too late - Zapped! Just then, holding my helmet in both hands, & not the handlebars, I rode a low spot on the trail, and through a 100 foot long stretch of mud. Lost traction and went down. The saving grace was I scooped up a handful of mud and packed it in my ear. (1971 OSSA Pioneer)
I came here to see if there was any change for the Darien Hi-Viz jacket I had more than 10 years ago and basically no change except a higher price. What I liked the most about it, was the waterproof convenience of just closing the vents and be ready for the rain. But after just one riding season and 5000 miles, the road grime was too much for me, also the GoreTex membrane was disintegrating in many places and got tired of patching it. The Velcro inside de jacket was also catching on my liners and damaging them. The collar was always irritating my neck and throat, even after stitching ultra suede provided by AerosStich as they recognized the problem back then. And the style was very “industrial”. So this time I went for a Revit Sand 4 H2O jacket and I am happier. Good to know I made a good decision.
Perfect that on b-roll, your breast pocket is unzipped. That’s something I do all the time, occasionally losing items. Seems like the curse of the ‘Stich jackets. I am on my second Darien and had an original Roadcrafter purchased in 1996 and I have been consistently impressed with Aerostich. I visited the factory last year and that reinforced my perspective. Re: the back vent zipper, if you meet the two zippers in the middle, the hole is much less pronounced.
Your Klime alone keeps you warmer in the 50 degree range . Then that would mean it gets hotter sooner in the 60's and above. Which means the Darien is working better.
Glad you had a great safe ride with your new jacket! I own a few myself and I'm now learning what to wear when, especially if it's gusty out here in Texas.
Since you did not ride in rain let me give you a tip I learned the hard way. I have been wearing Darien jackets on and off for about 10 years. The four large outer front pockets, two about chest high and two down around hip level, are not waterproof. They are pretty water resistant but in hard rain for more than about ten minutes, whatever you carry inside will get wet. I don't think Aerostich advertises them as waterproof since they are outside of the Gortex layer. I carry heavy-duty, small, plastic zip bags that are made for cell phones, and put my wallet or papers, whatever I might want to carry, in the bag, then in the pocket. Overall it is a great jacket.
Very interesting review, but is this jacket in fact the Darien Light? That would explain some of the details/features of the jacket and why it needs liners for warmth. I bought an Aerostich Roadcrafter last year (the most expensive jacket I have ever bought), and I love it. I always wanted an Aerostich. My jacket has some mesh lining behind vents. AND, I absolutely love the right chest pocket--it is huge. Hi-Viz for safety, and I think people do see it.
This was a useful review. I could be way off, but the jacket strikes me as an armored and slightly heavier version of a gore-tex rain coat I had for years and never really liked so it's not grabbing me. I'm eyeing up the AD-1 pants sized to be pants, though. Not sized as over-pants, and in tan. I like grunge as much as the next guy, but not so much when it's attached to hi-viz. My Helite Turtle is high-viz and I also question the effectiveness. If the yellow running lights aren't enough, then I give up.
I never used other brands of gear but I am familiar with Aerostich clothes. I lived in the NY/NJ/PA area while I owned a RoadCrafter 2 piece (which I kept for about 20 years) then went to a Darien (jacket and pants) which I had about ten years. Lots of trips and lots of miles. The suits were both very well built. I don’t think they are really broken in until they are washed 5-10 times (don’t laugh). Both my RoadCrafter and the Darien Jacket were royal blue. The blue fades over time but it remains quite serviceable for a long time. Both have wonderful pockets and the pit back zips and sleeve vents are awesome and driving air through the suit at speed. Both suits can be enhanced if you buy a bag of ice and fill the pockets. Alternatively, we used to spray our shirts with a spray maker and that works for about an hour or so as well. I favored the RoadCrafter for its comfort. It fit like a glove after break in. Very luxurious. The Darien on the other hand, is designed to allow you to tailor it to your environmental needs but I never liked it the summer, without something on under it like pants or sweats. I didn’t enjoy riding in the empty suit as much. Nor did it feel as protective. Now, in cold weather the Darien offered more flexibility in controlling your body temperature. I guess at the high or low temperature extremes, the Darien is better.For more than 90% of riding, I would take the RoadCrafter
I just purchased the Warm & Safe heated shirt ( not the heated jacket). So far it’s worked well. I like the fact that it draws less power than a heated jacket.
@@LivingOffTheSlab I plan to leave first week in July. Since you were there before, do you think that is too late. Leaving from Delaware. I also heard it could be the start of rainy season.
@@davidbarth3504 We were there The first two weeks in July last time and I thought it was a good time. It rained some but not constantly. But, be ready for it.
@@LivingOffTheSlab Thank you for the input. Unfortunately I will be solo and camping the whole time do to the time I have an allowed to go. I’m trying to make sure I am leaving the most optimal time. Hope to see you up there.
I wanted the jacket to be able to remove it easily in a restaurant, etc. The only big thing I would change is some kind of pocket rather than Velcro for fixing pads. The Velcro works fine, though.
Thanks for the review. You and I have similar thoughts on the Darien. The collar was (and still is, to an extent) annoying. I hope it will get a little more comfortable as the fabric breaks in. I like your comments regarding our need to adapt ourselves to something new - rather than expecting everything too be effortless from the get-go. Too often, people complain that something is "defective" or of "poor design," when what they really need to do is give themselves some time to adapt to the thing in question. It is one of our super-powers, as human beings...the ability to adapt.
Craig, great review as always. Leads to a couple of questions: First, since the vent across the back is horizontal, is there a place for back armor? Second, I have never see the Darian jacket, but it seems seriously tough (protection against the elements) . I am wearing a Klim Marrakesh jacket, which is 1000D Cordura throughout, but in a stretchy, breathable weave. It also must have layers in colder temps, and its not waterproof. But when you add the Klim Forecast Goretex rain and windproof shell, is it reasonable to think the combination is as tough as the Darian jacket or is not even in the same league? Again, I haven't seen the Darian, so I haven't been able to compere them myself.
Good question! I should have mentioned the back armour, or lack there of. You can purchase back armour, there are Velcro loops in the jacket for holding it in place. It would cover a large portion of the back vent, but the vent has two zipper pulls and can be opened from either side to create two smaller openings on either side of the back pad. So far, I have not purchased the back armour. I have a couple of options for wearing armour under the jacket.
I also have the Marrakesh and have been looking at different options to make it 4 season. To be fair, I also own the late model Latitude, which keeps me warm and dry. You could probably save some money and just go with a rain suit.
@@paulbercot6941The Latitude is a great jacket from what I hear. The Marrakesh is my favorite and I wanted to see if I could make it my only jacket for all seasons. Layering options I found are a Hotwired heated liner (like Craig talks about for his Darian), a Klim Zephyr windshirt, and a Klim Forecast Gore-Tex rain shell. These layers roll up pretty tight and take up little space in my panniers. Jury's still out on how well it all works in colder and wetter climates.
Do they sell a liner you can attach to the jacket? My Garibaldi jacket has a liner I can zip to the inside during the winter. I thread the cables for my heated gloves between the liner and the jacket.
Much rather have a jacket that isn't warm enough and layer up. EDIT - Be fancy and use "patina". Ex - My adventure jacket is well used and has a nice *patina* .
I didn't mean from you personally. I meant from the people responding to your post. I've been wearing a Klim for years, never disappointed me. So I was wondering what others were saying about its rain wearability. Val Thanks for responding so fast.
Notice in my comment I said “water resistance”. The Darien does ok but you will get wet in hard rain if riding in it long enough. There are cleaning and water proofing that can be washed in and sprayed on that helps.
Aerostitch and Klim are great brands, but if one doesn't have hundreds of dollars to spend on a jacket, there are less expensive alternatives that do the job just as well, and better in some cases. Case in point, I bought the HWK ADV jacket off of Amazon for 80 bucks and it has lasted 2 winters now with no issues and has performed well. It has a zip out thermal liner, abundant ventilation, CE rated armor, good pockets and is made of Cordura nylon. The velcro is still grippy, and keeps the cold and wet out very well. If needed, I wear a base layer under 45 degrees, and the collar irritation is something that all of them have. All in all, it's a great "budget jacket" and does everything a jacket costing $650 more does, spendy Goretex is highly overrated. People may make fun of my "banana jacket", but I'm at the age that I don't care, I'm still wearing it and staying warm, road grime and all, from a distance I still can be seen as a banana on a bike. In the summer months I switch over to my cheap Joe Rocket Hi Viz mesh to stay cool. Stay safe and warm!
I bought beautiful new Vanson jacket & pants, but very often I ride in my 50 year old leathers. They are well broken in and look way cooler! 😢 Sometimes I wear a hi-viz with inserts that I picked up from the marked down rack at cycle gear. Branded BILT, it was around 80 bucks. Warm in cool weather, cool in hot weather (except the back insert area), waterproof (must be worn with gauntlet gloves), easy to don & doff, all in all a comfortable & serviceable jacket. The Sedici waterproof pants are more water resistant than waterproof tho.
I ride 5-6 days a week all year long in NYC. That filth on the jacket would drive me batshit crazy. I do wear hi viz orange rain gear. I get a lot of stupid comments about that but I don’t care. It’s better than getting run over. Ride safe Craig.
The benefit is that its made in the united states, by americans. Buying this jacket, custom tailored for you, if needed, provides jobs to people here. You also get superior customer service for the life of garment.
@turdfergusson123abc I definitely agree with buying American. I have higher expectations from American products than I do others. So... it's hard for me to support lesser functional or quality products from USA. US brands need to represent our country well! btw... I've owned Aerostich products since the late 80's (maybe early 90's).
To my knowledge Klim will not repair your jacket if in an accident. Aerostich will. With Aerostich you can get a custom fitted jacket if you need it. Items such as sleeve length, and additional length at the waist may be beneficial if needed. I still have a Klim mesh jacket but find I wear the Aerostich most of the time. Of course when comparing the two from a storage perspective it’s much easier to store the Klim mesh jacket. Aerostich also has a waxed canvas line and those jackets are beautiful.
Klim will replace the jacket, if the accident is not your fault. You have to submit the jacket and the police report. They did not replace my wife's jacket, because the accident was here fault.
I did 8000 miles in May 2024 wearing my older Darien hiviz, still the best
First thing I did when I got my Darian Jacket was wash it twice in a row. The directions mention that that this softens up the jacket. I found an immediate improvement when I did that! I have washed it twice since and each time it just gets more pliable but continues to stay waterproof.
I have a Darian and a Darien light that I have had for 20 years. I have sent the light back for refurbishing one time. Because there is no mesh liner you will wear the gortex in places compromising the water “resistance”. I see they have made some changes like adding the sleeve adjustment straps , collar changes, and eliminated some pockets. The Darien’s both regular and light are good jackets though there are better choices now. They used to be a status symbol at rallies.
I also toured the store and factory in Duluth. They are like Harley because they are repairable not desposible , not made in some far off land in a sweatshop. They can be tailored to fit you. I think I paid about $350 for mine. They are American made and that means something to me.
Love my Hi Viz jacket! I clean it once a year at most and soak it in the tub and then use a paste of Borax (no bleach) and water using a scrub brush and then go over it again with Prosolve. Takes a bit of time but comes out looking like new and it is 7 years old.
Tell me you're an engineer without telling me you're an engineer ❤
Aerostich sells a windproof pullover that works very well with this jacket. I have a Fallstaff jacket that isn't nearly as warm as it looks but with the liner I am very comfortable down to sub 50 F. Colder than that requires a warmer shirt underneath. I live in Florida and appreciate that it isn't very warm.
Stitch jacket wearer here. Mine does the job extremely well. Got hit while wearing it, no road rash. got it repaired and still works well.
I have a one piece Roadcrafter 2 light and very short arms and legs. It was very nice being able to get a suit that is tailored to me.
Thanks for this review. I just ordered my Darien Jacket last week, also in Hi Vis Yellow!!
I have 10+ years on my Darian light Hi-vis. Yes the seam sealing tape does wear. But I went to a popup in CA and asked about repair. They looked at my jacket and GAVE me a roll of tape so I could do the repair myself. Hard to find service that good. Just bought an R3 light. Both work great.
Been riding with a Darien suit for 5 years. Never failed me. However just like you I was surprised how much air come through... But happy in summer months.
As for the vents having no mesh, it is something I got used to. The back vent, when I keep it open, I keep the two zippers in the center. As for the armpit vents, I don't open those too much, since having a bee fly inside my jacket once. Though less scary than having a bee fly inside my helmet going nearly inside my ear 😂.
Enjoy the Darien.
Oh yeah, I have been stung in the face while riding. It is amazing how you can keep your cool, even in pain, to safely stop the bike.
So far over the lst 55 years, I've been stung 4 times; ear, neck & face. The first time was off road riding. A wasp & I crossed paths & he was buzzing inside my helmet. I let go of the bars, undid my "D" Rings and pulled off my helmet - but too late - Zapped! Just then, holding my helmet in both hands, & not the handlebars, I rode a low spot on the trail, and through a 100 foot long stretch of mud. Lost traction and went down. The saving grace was I scooped up a handful of mud and packed it in my ear. (1971 OSSA Pioneer)
I came here to see if there was any change for the Darien Hi-Viz jacket I had more than 10 years ago and basically no change except a higher price. What I liked the most about it, was the waterproof convenience of just closing the vents and be ready for the rain. But after just one riding season and 5000 miles, the road grime was too much for me, also the GoreTex membrane was disintegrating in many places and got tired of patching it. The Velcro inside de jacket was also catching on my liners and damaging them. The collar was always irritating my neck and throat, even after stitching ultra suede provided by AerosStich as they recognized the problem back then. And the style was very “industrial”. So this time I went for a Revit Sand 4 H2O jacket and I am happier. Good to know I made a good decision.
Roll the bottom of the jacket under neath itself at front to shorten its length. I have a Darien Jacket still going strong made in 1999.
Perfect that on b-roll, your breast pocket is unzipped. That’s something I do all the time, occasionally losing items. Seems like the curse of the ‘Stich jackets. I am on my second Darien and had an original Roadcrafter purchased in 1996 and I have been consistently impressed with Aerostich. I visited the factory last year and that reinforced my perspective.
Re: the back vent zipper, if you meet the two zippers in the middle, the hole is much less pronounced.
Your Klime alone keeps you warmer in the 50 degree range . Then that would mean it gets hotter sooner in the 60's and above. Which means the Darien is working better.
Thanks for the review. It seems to me that there are too many. "got to get used to it" stuff. I'll keep riding with my KLIM Carlsbad jacket.
Love my Carlsbad
Glad you had a great safe ride with your new jacket! I own a few myself and I'm now learning what to wear when, especially if it's gusty out here in Texas.
Since you did not ride in rain let me give you a tip I learned the hard way. I have been wearing Darien jackets on and off for about 10 years. The four large outer front pockets, two about chest high and two down around hip level, are not waterproof. They are pretty water resistant but in hard rain for more than about ten minutes, whatever you carry inside will get wet. I don't think Aerostich advertises them as waterproof since they are outside of the Gortex layer. I carry heavy-duty, small, plastic zip bags that are made for cell phones, and put my wallet or papers, whatever I might want to carry, in the bag, then in the pocket. Overall it is a great jacket.
Thanks, I did know that, but baggies are a good idea.
Very interesting review, but is this jacket in fact the Darien Light? That would explain some of the details/features of the jacket and why it needs liners for warmth. I bought an Aerostich Roadcrafter last year (the most expensive jacket I have ever bought), and I love it. I always wanted an Aerostich. My jacket has some mesh lining behind vents. AND, I absolutely love the right chest pocket--it is huge. Hi-Viz for safety, and I think people do see it.
No, it is not a Darien Light.
This was a useful review. I could be way off, but the jacket strikes me as an armored and slightly heavier version of a gore-tex rain coat I had for years and never really liked so it's not grabbing me. I'm eyeing up the AD-1 pants sized to be pants, though. Not sized as over-pants, and in tan. I like grunge as much as the next guy, but not so much when it's attached to hi-viz. My Helite Turtle is high-viz and I also question the effectiveness. If the yellow running lights aren't enough, then I give up.
I never used other brands of gear but I am familiar with Aerostich clothes.
I lived in the NY/NJ/PA area while I owned a RoadCrafter 2 piece (which I kept for about 20 years) then went to a Darien (jacket and pants) which I had about ten years. Lots of trips and lots of miles. The suits were both very well built. I don’t think they are really broken in until they are washed 5-10 times (don’t laugh). Both my RoadCrafter and the Darien Jacket were royal blue. The blue fades over time but it remains quite serviceable for a long time. Both have wonderful pockets and the pit back zips and sleeve vents are awesome and driving air through the suit at speed. Both suits can be enhanced if you buy a bag of ice and fill the pockets. Alternatively, we used to spray our shirts with a spray maker and that works for about an hour or so as well.
I favored the RoadCrafter for its comfort. It fit like a glove after break in. Very luxurious. The Darien on the other hand, is designed to allow you to tailor it to your environmental needs but I never liked it the summer, without something on under it like pants or sweats. I didn’t enjoy riding in the empty suit as much. Nor did it feel as protective. Now, in cold weather the Darien offered more flexibility in controlling your body temperature. I guess at the high or low temperature extremes, the Darien is better.For more than 90% of riding, I would take the RoadCrafter
A good inner could be 509 FZN Merino Hoody I like it in colder weather . Alain & Yellow
I just purchased the Warm & Safe heated shirt ( not the heated jacket). So far it’s worked well. I like the fact that it draws less power than a heated jacket.
You have the regular Darien, right? Not the Darien light version? I'm considering this jacket for long trips. Thanks!
Yes, the regular Darien. It is stiff at first, but loosen up.
Thanks for review. Do you know when you are planning on leaving for your Alaska trip?
June
@@LivingOffTheSlab I plan to leave first week in July. Since you were there before, do you think that is too late. Leaving from Delaware. I also heard it could be the start of rainy season.
@@davidbarth3504 We were there The first two weeks in July last time and I thought it was a good time. It rained some but not constantly. But, be ready for it.
@@LivingOffTheSlab Thank you for the input. Unfortunately I will be solo and camping the whole time do to the time I have an allowed to go. I’m trying to make sure I am leaving the most optimal time. Hope to see you up there.
Did you consider a 1-piece Aerostich for your Alaska trip? What design changes would you make to the Darien jacket?
I wanted the jacket to be able to remove it easily in a restaurant, etc. The only big thing I would change is some kind of pocket rather than Velcro for fixing pads. The Velcro works fine, though.
Thanks for the review. You and I have similar thoughts on the Darien. The collar was (and still is, to an extent) annoying. I hope it will get a little more comfortable as the fabric breaks in. I like your comments regarding our need to adapt ourselves to something new - rather than expecting everything too be effortless from the get-go. Too often, people complain that something is "defective" or of "poor design," when what they really need to do is give themselves some time to adapt to the thing in question. It is one of our super-powers, as human beings...the ability to adapt.
For sure, everything has its quirks.
Buy the Darien fleece liner..it has zippers in underarms to match jacket
Craig, great review as always. Leads to a couple of questions: First, since the vent across the back is horizontal, is there a place for back armor? Second, I have never see the Darian jacket, but it seems seriously tough (protection against the elements) . I am wearing a Klim Marrakesh jacket, which is 1000D Cordura throughout, but in a stretchy, breathable weave. It also must have layers in colder temps, and its not waterproof. But when you add the Klim Forecast Goretex rain and windproof shell, is it reasonable to think the combination is as tough as the Darian jacket or is not even in the same league? Again, I haven't seen the Darian, so I haven't been able to compere them myself.
Good question! I should have mentioned the back armour, or lack there of. You can purchase back armour, there are Velcro loops in the jacket for holding it in place. It would cover a large portion of the back vent, but the vent has two zipper pulls and can be opened from either side to create two smaller openings on either side of the back pad.
So far, I have not purchased the back armour. I have a couple of options for wearing armour under the jacket.
I also have the Marrakesh and have been looking at different options to make it 4 season. To be fair, I also own the late model Latitude, which keeps me warm and dry. You could probably save some money and just go with a rain suit.
I can only compare to the Latitude jackets or Bandlands pants I have and I think they are pretty comparable as far as durability.
@@paulbercot6941The Latitude is a great jacket from what I hear. The Marrakesh is my favorite and I wanted to see if I could make it my only jacket for all seasons. Layering options I found are a Hotwired heated liner (like Craig talks about for his Darian), a Klim Zephyr windshirt, and a Klim Forecast Gore-Tex rain shell. These layers roll up pretty tight and take up little space in my panniers. Jury's still out on how well it all works in colder and wetter climates.
@@4940markhutchins What size Zephyr and Forcaster did you get compared you your jacket size?
My key fob stays in my pants pocket. If they want it they have to take me too!
Do they sell a liner you can attach to the jacket? My Garibaldi jacket has a liner I can zip to the inside during the winter. I thread the cables for my heated gloves between the liner and the jacket.
You can add a zip in liner, but generally liners are layers of individual prices of clothing. Personally, I find it much easier to use layers.
Much rather have a jacket that isn't warm enough and layer up.
EDIT - Be fancy and use "patina". Ex - My adventure jacket is well used and has a nice *patina* .
What made you choose the Darien over the Roadcrafter ?
Thought it would be lighter, cooler and more flexible by adding layers.
@@LivingOffTheSlab Make sense , thanks
Craig, did you snap the collar down in the low position when it got warmer?
I did yes.
Of all the reviews/comments I didn’t see anyone praised it for it’s rain protection. Or did I miss that.
Val
I did not "get to" ride in the rain, but others mentioned it works well.
I didn't mean from you personally. I meant from the people responding to your post. I've been wearing a Klim for years, never disappointed me. So I was wondering what others were saying about its rain wearability.
Val
Thanks for responding so fast.
Notice in my comment I said “water resistance”. The Darien does ok but you will get wet in hard rain if riding in it long enough. There are cleaning and water proofing that can be washed in and sprayed on that helps.
Aerostitch and Klim are great brands, but if one doesn't have hundreds of dollars to spend on a jacket, there are less expensive alternatives that do the job just as well, and better in some cases. Case in point, I bought the HWK ADV jacket off of Amazon for 80 bucks and it has lasted 2 winters now with no issues and has performed well. It has a zip out thermal liner, abundant ventilation, CE rated armor, good pockets and is made of Cordura nylon. The velcro is still grippy, and keeps the cold and wet out very well. If needed, I wear a base layer under 45 degrees, and the collar irritation is something that all of them have. All in all, it's a great "budget jacket" and does everything a jacket costing $650 more does, spendy Goretex is highly overrated. People may make fun of my "banana jacket", but I'm at the age that I don't care, I'm still wearing it and staying warm, road grime and all, from a distance I still can be seen as a banana on a bike. In the summer months I switch over to my cheap Joe Rocket Hi Viz mesh to stay cool. Stay safe and warm!
Random question… are you a HAM? My friend is convinced you are. (I am… and this came up in random conversation about your review)
A Ham radio operator? No. And I am actually a very reserved person, but you can't be that for the camera.
I bought beautiful new Vanson jacket & pants, but very often I ride in my 50 year old leathers. They are well broken in and look way cooler!
😢
Sometimes I wear a hi-viz with inserts that I picked up from the marked down rack at cycle gear. Branded BILT, it was around 80 bucks. Warm in cool weather, cool in hot weather (except the back insert area), waterproof (must be worn with gauntlet gloves), easy to don & doff, all in all a comfortable & serviceable jacket.
The Sedici waterproof pants are more water resistant than waterproof tho.
I ride 5-6 days a week all year long in NYC. That filth on the jacket would drive me batshit crazy. I do wear hi viz orange rain gear. I get a lot of stupid comments about that but I don’t care. It’s better than getting run over. Ride safe Craig.
I personally don't care for their jackets. They're boxy, uncomfortable, ugly and unrefined. I prefer either Klim, Dainese or Revit.
I don't see the benefit of this jacket compared to a similarly priced Klim Carlsbad.
The benefit is that its made in the united states, by americans. Buying this jacket, custom tailored for you, if needed, provides jobs to people here. You also get superior customer service for the life of garment.
@turdfergusson123abc I definitely agree with buying American. I have higher expectations from American products than I do others. So... it's hard for me to support lesser functional or quality products from USA. US brands need to represent our country well! btw... I've owned Aerostich products since the late 80's (maybe early 90's).
To my knowledge Klim will not repair your jacket if in an accident. Aerostich will. With Aerostich you can get a custom fitted jacket if you need it. Items such as sleeve length, and additional length at the waist may be beneficial if needed. I still have a Klim mesh jacket but find I wear the Aerostich most of the time. Of course when comparing the two from a storage perspective it’s much easier to store the Klim mesh jacket. Aerostich also has a waxed canvas line and those jackets are beautiful.
Klim will replace your coat if in an accident. Aerostich look like a very well made coat just wish they would make them a little better looking
Klim will replace the jacket, if the accident is not your fault. You have to submit the jacket and the police report. They did not replace my wife's jacket, because the accident was here fault.