REV’IT! Offtrack Adventure Jacket Review: A Sleeper Hit For Active Climates
Pros
Visually appealing/Finely detailed / Quality Construction/Excellent protection / Outstanding ventilation/Multiple useful pockets
Cons
Sizing an issue for some bodies / Liners not stand-alone pieces / Optional inserts should be standard
Past Gear Limitations & Current Option Diversity
For most of my decades-long riding career, the fitment of the proper protective riding gear, including jackets, has been a challenge in fitting my 189.2cm (6ft 2.5in), long arm and 34in inseam frame.
Going ‘oversize’ to get sleeves that don’t end two to three inches short of the wrist and have enough length often resulted in looking like I’m wearing the whole nine yards instead of just six; most frustrating.
However, with time, consumer demand and market focus, manufacturers and suppliers are getting the messaging in producing more diverse products, many with very good size and fit ranges, especially in the adventure-touring market segment.
The result is that, for the most part, I can pick from a decent range of gear from various brands that fit and function comfortably with only a few sizing concessions and less material yardage…
The REV’IT! Experience
In being a long-term admirer of REV’IT! products, my overall experience with the brand has been limited to more of an admiring bystander than functionary, although one older lightweight mesh jacket did fit me perfectly, which seemed to be an anomaly at the time…
Zooming in to the present, one product that gives me positive thoughts regarding fitment, along with comfort, warmth, and dryness (these are good things), is the new REV’IT! Offtrack Adventure Touring gear.
Since (very) early spring, the Offtrack jacket and matching pants (the subject of a separate review soon to be linked here) have been keeping me quite warm and very dry even during use in weather that felt like late winter rather than spring. Now headed into warmer days, and humidity, the liners are out and the vents are being opened; versatility to the fore here.
Offtrack Jacket – First Impressions
First impressions count – as do details – which can indeed make or break a product early on. But true to form like most REV’IT! gear, the Offtrack pieces are feature rich, well detailed and superbly finished.
Acquiring The Best Size & Color
With the opportunity to review the new Offtrack jacket and pants laid out, it now came down to the critical discussion regarding sizing and to a lesser extent, color selection. My concerns expressed earlier regarding fitment was offset by the fact that our local reseller, Ottawa Goodtime Centre, had early stock of the Offtrack pieces in a variety of sizes to try on.
Accordingly, an XZL (4XL) jacket got identified as the best fit, with some compromise – the 3XL is a close runner-up as the sleeve lengths are virtually identical between the two sizes, but other factors came into play – more on these later. The Silver-Green color scheme was chosen.
With the jacket and pant sizing confirmed along with colors (Black/Silver for the pants), an email was sent off and a week later, the jacket and pants were delivered into my waiting arms by the reseller with coordination and efficiency. It’s all good.
In-Person Assessment
All Offtrack color combinations are visually attractive including the mottled Sand/Blackbut the Silver-Green combination, with its multiple-hued panels and stylized high-vizand reflective inserts, gets a lot of (very) positive comments.
I know, I know, the Offtrack pieces are advertised as a ventilated mid-weight adventure touring combination but as stated above, both pieces, especially the jacket, have been surprisingly good from cold environments up into its intended environmental use range.
And while not a total fan of multiple insert purposed layers, I must also acknowledge that the Offtrack waterproof and thermal inserts or liners work extremely well.
So Far So Good
So in still leaning towards Gore-Tex based outer liners, with extra wearable layering underneath, it hasn’t taken a big leap to get comfortable with configuring the Offtrack pieces as desired. Adjust before heading off or alternatively, be prepared to adjust dynamically (e.g. remove or add inserts once on the road). Note: Planning and preparation.
The Offtrack Combination
As noted above, my usual gear solutions are diverse in often having to mix-n-match pieces, often between brands, for the desired fit and functionality. This is not a totally negative situation, but just reality and one familiar to lots of other riders.
So, having a jacket and pants that form a great looking, very functional combination is rather refreshing. And in having an early look at one of the Offtrack jackets, my ‘worth a close look’ radar activated so when given the opportunity to review both jacket and pants, there was no hesitation.
Breaking Down The Offtrack Jacket
Construction
Offered as a three-layer garment comprising an outer shell and separate removable layered waterproof and thermal liners (inserts), the Offtrack jacket feels a bit bulky initially and admittedly is heavy. Although, for the right reasons – design features, full cut construct and (critical) protective pieces.
The outer shell is a tough conforming comfortable mix of synthetics with Polyester (dull) 450D for the main panels and 600D inserts in the expanding lower arm areas.
3D air mesh is used for the upper front torso inserts along with Power Mesh inserts behind the zippered front VCS (ventilation control system) panels.
Stylized and strategically placed high-viz inserts and reflective striping add a modicum of conspicuity day and night while also adding to the overall visually attractive styling of the Offtrack jacket.
Ventilation
The distinctive black 3D air mesh panel runs from the upper chest area on either side of the front zipper, over the collarbone/neck areas to the upper back, forming a large ventilated section over what is (often) a critical cooling area.
Vertically zippered VCS panels on the chest allow managed air flow through the inside Power Mesh layer. The panels, once unzipped and released from two small top hidden snaps, can be folded back diagonally and secured in place for even greater ventilation.
A large easy to use (even with heavy gloves) bright yellow wrist to elbow zipper provides easy entry into the jacket sleeve for glove layering, access to the liner insert tabs, or for extra ventilation when needed – all without compromising protection.
Adjustability
The jacket hem features left and right drawable (elastic) adjusters so the bottom of the jacket can be adjusted in to keep the elements out and lower garment profile or loosened off to increase airflow on or off the motorcycle.
A large mandarin-style collar with soft padded liner (seen below) is easily adjusted thanks to the REV’IT! flexsnap slider-style mechanism that is a standardized and valued fixture on jackets. Collar shape and adjustability facilitates the use of a layered weather-hood as well.
On the left side of the collar, a small catch allows the collar tab to be hooked back in place when increased air flow without the flapping collar effect is desired.
Long and short lower back connection zippers – the long one is hip to hip length for connecting compatible REV’IT! Pants for a more enclosed combination. The shorter double zippers are available for use with the outer pants or the weatherproof liner.
An optional Challenger cooling vest insert is also available – it zips directly into the outer shell using the short (liner) side zippers.
Armor Pockets & Adjusters
Armor pockets, lots of them, is something appreciated in any jacket or jacket and pant combination worn, but especially valued for adventure touring gear; the following section has the lowdown.
- Mesh pockets for SEEFLEX CE-level 2 protective inserts at the shoulders and elbows allow some positional adjustment of the inserts to best protect body parts.
- A full back insert pouch awaits fitment of an optional SEESOFT CE-level 2 Type RV back insert (now fitted)
- Accommodation for the SEESOFT CE-level 1 chest protector pieces is present as well
- An upper arm snap adjuster and lower arm sliding adjuster allow fit customization to accommodate layering, movement, and ventilation needs.
Protection
Proper sizing and fitment of any protective insert are important. In this regard the REV’IT! SEESOFT, SEEFLEX, and SEESMART products are hard to beat – they are available for a wide range of products and fitment applications and all certified to the highest CE standards.
In the Offtrack Jacket, SEEFLEX Level 2 CE protection inserts are provided at the shoulders and elbows. The new standard used provides consistent impact protection under a wide range of temperatures without sacrificing user comfort.
Two SEESOFT inserts are also provided: one being for a SEESOFT CE-level 2 back protector insert (Type RV) that is a recommended upgrade, now done – it was the first thing added before leaving the store with the jacket and pant combination.
This specifically-sized back protector for my Offtrack jacket is Type RV – Size 06 (49-52cm) and other size options are available and listed by garment size so that the proper (best fitting, best coverage) insert is used.
But in adding the protector into the jacket, we noted that the jacket became considerably less ‘loose’ when it was put on again – this is not an unknown and it’s one reason for the upsizing.
Whether back protection is a must or a consideration it is best to try on the garment with the back pad or other applicable protection pieces installed.
This SEESOFT protector is formed of four dynamic layers, so it is somewhat thick, and it does take up space; excellent from protection and safety perspectives but it can impact sizing and thus comfort.
The second optional insert (not yet procured), is for the Divided Chest Protector SEESOFT CE-level 1, comprised of left and right protector inserts that fit into the inner left and right mesh pockets of the shell, identified by the red tabs.