Quality gear for years of service and protection against the elements.
I had just received the Aerostich Darien jacket and AD-1 jean-cut pants and was excited to try them out while on a two-day motorcycle trip. I was expecting to ride through rain, sand and hot weather, so the ride would make for the perfect test of this riding gear.
The Darien jacket is made of tough, abrasion-resistant 500 denier Cordura with a GORE-TEX lining, while the AD-1 is fully seam-taped HT500 denier nylon with a three-layer GORE-TEX lining.
I started off in temperatures of about 10 C. With the jacket’s vents zipped closed, I was incredibly comfortable and found the gear breathed but didn’t allow the wind to affect my core temperature. The temperature slowly rose past 23 C and I began to feel the heat. Opening the pit-zips while riding was easy enough, and once I stopped, I opened the remaining vent on the back to allow airflow through the jacket.
As I slowly gained altitude, I found myself riding through flurries on snow-covered roads in -2 C, which warranted closing the jacket’s vents. Even without base layer changes, my core temperature remained warm. As I rode down from the summit, the snow turned into a heavy three-hour downpour – yet the gear held up and I remained completely dry.
The Look
Some say that looking good is half the battle. If you’re a fashionista and that’s how you feel, then this may not be the gear for you. This stuff isn’t meant to drop jaws while you cruise down Main Street. Personally, I find the styling of the Darien jacket great. It’s utilitarian, it’s well made and it withstands harsh conditions.
I was really happy with the pocket placement and how the pockets are built into both the Darien jacket and the AD-1 pants. Having owned a couple sets of women’s gear, I find the biggest flaws in those tend to be pockets that are only large enough to fit a couple of coins and maybe a tube of lip balm – all of which I could never get at because I don’t have the hands of a five-year-old. I ditched my tank bag for a day to see how much I could fit into my new riding gear. I rode with my map, camera, phone, first-aid kit, multitool, wallet and a water bottle packed in my suit. I looked like the Michelin man, but I still rode comfortably because the pockets are attached to the outside of the core jacket – not on the inside, which takes up valuable space.
The Darien jacket offers two cinches on the arms and one on the waist to give a customized fit for the ride and layers I was wearing that day. The AD-1 pants have a stretchy cutout V in the back so the waist doesn’t bunch up when it’s tightened with the money belt that’s part of the package.
The Fit
I’ve struggled in the past to find a set of gear that fits me properly and offers the same comfort, protection and versatility that men’s gear offers. Yes, there is some great women’s gear out there and, with the ever-expanding female riding demographic, I anticipate we’ll continue to see more. Aerostich offers women-specific options, but, more important, offers gear that fits. Darien jackets are offered in closely spaced graded sizes in addition to short, regular and tall fits, for a total of 41 sizes. Optional fit alterations are available. Those features are why you won’t find Aerostich gear in retail shops. Go to aerostich.com, enter a list of your measurements in the “fit calculator” and Aerostich will recommend the size of garment that will fit you.
The Darien Jacket
The Darien jacket retails for $785 and comes in a range of colours. The jacket is comfortable and easy to layer with undergarments. It has a relaxed fit with a ¾-length design, which means the Darien is longer than many other jackets. While riding, I did the famous “cutaway” hem roll to minimize the material in the front while sitting. However, having a longer jacket is valuable, especially while riding in mud … or falling. Overall, the fold-down collar, cinches and well thought-out pockets make this the best jacket overall that I’ve ever ridden in.
The AD-1 Pants
The AD-1 pants retail for $522 and come in black, grey or tan. The pants have articulated knees and a gusset crotch, which makes the pants incredibly comfortable to ride and move around in. The pants have a two-way zipper from foot to hip on the outside of each leg, which is great for accessing things in your pants pockets, taking the pants on or off while wearing boots or for easy access in case of a leg injury. (The worst thing when someone has a leg injury is cutting off the riding pant to assess the damage. Not only does this completely ruin the rider’s gear, but it also exposes them to sometimes harsh conditions.)
The downside to the AD-1 pants is the lack of vents, although I still found the material to be very breathable in hot conditions. I am sure Aerostich has its reasons for not including vents – most likely, that it could compromise the quality of the pants.
The only thing I would suggest to people who are thinking of purchasing Aerostich gear is to know the difference between the types of padding offered in the suits. The Darien jacket and AD-1 pants come with the option of TF3 or TF6 armour for the elbows, shoulders and knees. TF3 becomes more flexible in colder weather (from 12 C – 24 C; TF6 is stiffer in cold weather and softens up around 21 C. Getting the pants to mould to your body takes some time. Understand that this gear is like a wearing a new pair of Carhartts; they are stiff at first, but once worked in, you’ll never want to ride wearing anything else.
If you’re looking for gear that that’ll keep you dry, fits perfectly and that you plan to wear for many kilometres and years to come, the Aerostich jacket and AD-1 pants should definitely be considered as you shop around. The company stands strongly behind its gear and have put years of experience into its garments, of which are made in Duluth, Minn. When you look and feel an Aerostich suit, understanding why so many people continue to wear theirs after many years of riding isn’t difficult. I now have ridden thousands of kilometres while wearing this gear and the Darien jacket and AD-1 pants now are my favourite set of riding gear – the organization, durability and fit are top-notch. I would highly recommend Aerostich to anyone looking for something to wear that will be comfortable for riding in any conditions and on any terrain.
About Aerostich
Aerostich, created in 1983, remains a grassroots company with deep values in local production, quality and customer service. If your Aerostich clothing doesn’t fit you perfectly, let the company know. You will pay just the shipping charges when returning the garment and the company will exchange a standard suit for another to ensure you ride away in the perfect gear for you. As well, the company offers easy repair options: all suits can be repaired at the Aerostich warehouse. The Roadcrafter suit, for example, is made of 120 pieces, so if you badly abrade a section, you can get just that piece replaced. This gear is also famous for its durability to withstand abrasions on hard surfaces.
Aerostich also has a “Ride More” guarantee with its one-piece suit: if you aren’t riding your motorcycle more with your new gear, you can send it back for a full refund within 30 days. Call 1-800-222-1994 or go to aerostich.com for more information.
