Cortech Dino Leather Jacket | Gear Review

Cortech Dino Leather Jacket.
Cortech Dino Leather Jacket.

Today’s riders enjoy a wealth of high-tech riding gear such as synthetic-material, abrasion-resistant jackets with wondrous breathable-yet-waterproof layers that offer an incredible level of service. Yet leather jackets such as this Vintage Brown Dino jacket from Cortech still offer remarkable appeal, function and versatility.

First off, there’s the scent of leather that synthetic-material garments can’t possibly duplicate. I still remember how proud I was as a budding teenage rider to finally move upscale from a denim jacket to a genuine leather jacket and to this day, a hard-wired connection in my brain defines motorcycling as the scent of leather and castor oil. There’s also a tactile connection; the soft feeling in hand with the mildly “distressed/antiqued” 1mm-thick leather strikes an excellent middle ground between comfort and abrasion resistance. The rubbed-leather finish provides some handsome accents to the jacket’s overall appearance, and the styling offers a classic look.

High-quality, heavy-duty YKK brass zippers supply sturdy wear and another classic-look accent. Brass zippers are hard enough to scratch painted surfaces such as a fuel tank, but the Dino keeps the zipper pulls and teeth hidden away well. You’ll notice their scratchy nature when you dive a bare hand into the handwarmer pockets or the left-side breast pocket, but it’s not a real problem. There’s additional internal storage in the form of an inside pouch pocket, mobile media storage pocket, plus another smaller, zippered pocket on the right side that I used for stowing earplugs. In the past, Cortech’s media pockets ran a touch small in size, but this one is now large enough to fit most current smartphones.

A fixed liner provides reduced friction and added comfort; just add another garment with a thickness of your own choosing if you need to layer up. Three-position adjustable waist belts lend a more tailored fit, and snap-equipped adjusting straps stay in place securely. The removable CE-approved armor protects the shoulder and elbow areas, and an articulated high-density back protector features molded-in creases between sections that provide “give” to the back protector, making it more comfortable, especially off the bike.

The neck area is cut generously to fit turtleneck garments or neck warmers, and a short, slim strap can be snapped in either of two positions or left open without undue flapping. In general, I detest snap closures in the neck area; snaps are more fiddly than Velcro closures, and punching your thumb into your throat to close a snap sucks. However, Cortech designers offset the snaps to the left side of the throat area, proper. So you still have to fiddle with the snaps, but at least your eyes don’t bug out when you’re doing it.

The Dino jacket comes in Black or Vintage Brown in sizes XS to 3XL. MSRP runs $299.99, pricing that’s more than competitive against fashion-wear leather jackets while offering genuine motorcycling features and protection. 

For more information, call (888) 922-9269 or visit cortech.net.

Source: RiderMagazine.com

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