From the outside, the Metropolitan looks like a stylish, well-tailored 3/4-length parka, but on closer examination this is a thoughtfully designed, protective motorcycle jacket. Its outer shell is made of a water-repellent polycotton material that feels like a soft, supple lightweight canvas, backed with a waterproof Hydratex membrane. Cuffs are designed to snug down around your wrists, with elastic on the underside and a two-position snap, making it easy to pull your glove gauntlets over them. A thickly padded hood with subtle reflective striping zips to the tall collar, and heavy-duty snaps hold it in place at each side and the back so it doesn’t flop around in the wind. Pockets abound, with two large front stash pockets, two zippered ones on the chest and numerous inner pockets for documents, your phone, etc. I only wish the big stash pockets opened wider; it can be tough to get my hands inside, especially with gloves on. My favorite feature, though, is the luxuriously plush detachable thermal liner, with an extra-tall puffy collar that acts as a cushion between your face and neck and the stiffer polycotton shell. With the liner snapped in, slipping on the Metropolitan is like getting a hug from a cloud made of silk.
One of my jacket pet peeves is zippers with small teeth; they always seem to get snagged and the tiniest amount of grit or dirt is enough to choke them up. So imagine my relief when I discovered the Metropolitan’s zipper is made of big, beefy teeth and glove-friendly metal pulls. It’s a double zipper, so you can zip it up as far as you’d like, then unzip the bottom for comfort while sitting on the bike (see photo above). The Metropolitan is an urban-styled jacket meant to transition seamlessly from riding to casual wear, so Rev’It uses unobtrusive, soft Seesmart CE level 1 armor in the shoulders and elbows; there’s a pocket for an optional Seesoft CE level 2 back protector. If you want more protection, all of the armor is removable and replaceable.
True to its design, I found the Metropolitan to be supremely warm and comfy not just while riding, but also when walking around off the bike, plus it’s fashionable and completely unrecognizable as a motorcycle jacket. The Metropolitan is available in women’s sizes XS-XL, for an MSRP of $359.99.
For more information, see your dealer or visit revitsport.com.
Source: RiderMagazine.com
