Few materials provide the comfort, durability, and casual style of denim, and Highway 21’s Stronghold Motorcycle Jeans are designed to uphold a classic jean look and feel while including extra protection and abrasion resistance for riding.
The Highway 21 Stronghold jeans feature a single-layer denim blend of Dyneema fiber, cotton, nylon, polyester, and spandex. They also include Sas-Tec flex-armor in the knees and detachable hip armor pockets (hip armor sold separately).
The jeans have a YKK front zipper, and a leather watch pocket gives the jeans a stylish touch.
Highway 21 Stronghold Motorcycle Jeans in Blue
Highway 21 Stronghold Motorcycle Jeans in Blue
The Highway 21 Stronghold motorcycle jeans are available in regular and tall sizes 32-38 in blue or black for $199.95.
The versatile ProRace sport boots are waterproof, windproof, and breathable thanks to the BMW Climate Membrane, and the napped leather leg liner adds comfort. Some of the many features include: a form-fitting shin guard, interior reinforcement at the toes, shock absorbers at the heel, a shift-lever guard, an anti-slip rubber treaded sole, a washable insole, and replaceable side plastic sliders. The ProRace motorcycle boots are available in black with a RACE inscription on the shin guard in men’s sizes 39-48 for $379 on the BMW Motorrad Ride Collection webpage.
The Sinister motorcycle jacket has injection-molded reinforced shoulder caps, CE Level 2 armor in the elbows and shoulders, and a removable spine pad. The reflective trim across the back and on the elbows allows for better visibility.
Besides providing protection, Joe Rocket also took measures to make this jacket comfortable, including the Variable Flow ventilation system, Full Flex elbows, pre-curved sleeves, stretch panels in the underarms and underside sleeves, and an adjustable waist.
The jacket has YKK zippers throughout, including zippered cuff closures, plus two belt looks for jacket to pant attachment.
The Joe Rocket Sinister motorcycle jacket is available in black in sizes S-3XL for $399.99.
The Aerostich R-3 one-piece motorcycle suit is made of mil-spec 500D Cordura TLTex fabric and slips on easily over street clothes. It’s waterproof for all-weather riding yet unlined to keep it lightweight.
In addition to the Codura TLTex fabric, the R-3 has a 1000D abrasion-resistant layers in the elbow, shoulder, and knee areas, as well as as TF impact armor in those areas.
It also has full-length waterproof zipper entry system, a fold-down dual-height collar, nine pockets, ventilation, and fit-adjustable tabs for the ankle, wrist, and waist.
Every suit is made by experts in Aerostich’s factory in Duluth, Minnesota. There are more than 60 graded sizes for men and women, but if you can’t find the right fit, Aerostich will alter the R-3 to your exact measurements or make a custom-tailored suit. An R-3 in one of the standard sizes starts at $1,527, alterations start at an extra $20, and a made-to-measure R-3 is $2,397.
For more information on the R-3 one-piece suit, visit the Aerostich website.
There are plenty of riding jackets, pants, gloves, and other gear designed to keep riders warm when the temperatures drop, but keeping your neck warm while riding can be a challenge. Like its HeatRub baselayers, the Zerofit HeatRub Neck Warmer helps riders preserve heat using “heat threads,” which create friction and warmth as you move.
Given its small size and light weight, the Neck Warmer is easy to pack, so it’s always handy when you need it. The drawstring at the top keeps it in place, and its simple design matches any look.
The Zerofit HeatRub neck warmer is available in black or gray for $34 at the Zerofit USA website.
With specialized motorcycles comes specialized gear, especially ADV motorcycle gear. Adventure-bike helmets blend features of full-face helmets (such as a chinbar and a faceshield) and dirtbike helmets (such as a peak visor and lots of ventilation). ADV apparel is typically made of durable textile materials and offers protection from wind, rain, cold, and hard objects.
Over the past year, I’ve tested some Sedici ADV gear: the Viaggio helmet and Garda WP jacket and pants. “Sedici” sounds Italian, and the products have Italian names (viaggio means “voyage”; Garda is the name of the largest lake in Italy), but Sedici is an in-house brand sold exclusively by Cycle Gear and RevZilla (both are owned by Comoto). The gear is designed in the U.S. and made overseas in China and Pakistan.
The Viaggio helmet has an injection-molded ABS plastic shell, an internal EPS liner, and a removable, washable comfort liner. It has a removable peak visor as well as a drop-down sunshield. The faceshield protrudes out just above the bottom edge, providing a wide lip on both sides to easily raise the shield. The faceshield has an anti-scratch coating, but it does not lock when closed, there are no detents for partially open positions, and it does not accommodate a Pinlock anti-fog insert. For those who prefer to ride with goggles, the faceshield can be removed.
The Viaggio, which meets both DOT and ECE safety standards, is a comfortable, reasonably light helmet (the size Medium tested weighs 3 lb, 10 ounces). The interior padding seals well enough around my cheeks and neck to reduce the worst of wind noise (though I usually wear earplugs), the large eyeport offers good visibility, and a tried-and-true D-ring secures the chinstrap. Thanks to the clear faceshield paired with the drop-down sunshield, I don’t have to swap out a tinted faceshield when the sun goes down.
My biggest challenge with the Viaggio is ventilation. There are only three intake vents – one in the pointy chinbar (which is backed by metal mesh) and two small ones at the top, both of which are closable – and two exhaust vents in the back. With the vents open, the helmet moves an adequate amount of air for street riding on mildly warm days, but I wanted more airflow on hot days and during the exertion of off-road riding. Riding with the faceshield up and the sunshield down or with the faceshield removed and goggles on brings in significantly more air, but neither of these tactics is advisable at highway speeds.
Despite a few shortcomings, the Viaggio is a solid adventure helmet for a reasonable price. It retails for $179.99 in the Mappa (Italian for “map”) graphic with topographical lines, which is available in sizes XS-2XL in three colorways: Grey/Black/Hi-Viz (shown), Black/Grey, and Sand/Black. It’s also available in solid colors – Matte Black, Pearl White, and Hi-Viz Yellow – in sizes XS-3XL for $149.99. The Viaggio Parlare (Italian for “speak”) comes with an integrated Sena DWO-5 Bluetooth v3.0 communication system, and it comes in Matte Black or White in sizes XS-2XL for $289.99.
Sedici ADV Motorcycle Gear: Garda WP Jacket and Pants
If you’re like me, you’ve discovered the wonders of stretch fabrics. Jeans, pants, shorts, shirts, and even jackets made from fabrics blended with elastane or other stretchy fibers are more comfortable than plain cotton or polyester and more forgiving of wide waistlines, lumpy love handles, and prominent paunches. While stretch fabrics are now common in casual clothing, you don’t see them as much in motorcycle apparel.
That’s why I was happy to discover that the Sedici Garda WP Jacket and Pants are made of 600D stretch fabric that’s 92% polyester and 8% spandex (fun fact: “spandex” is an anagram for “expands”). The spandex allows the garments to move easily with the body, so there’s no binding or restricted movement. There’s a waterproof membrane laminated inside the outer layer, and the garments are lined with stretchy athletic mesh.
While I found the jacket and pants to be very comfortable both on and off the bike, the pants, which have elastic panels along the waistband, tended to slide down. They close securely at the waist with a metal clasp, a metal button, and an adjustable hook-and-loop strap, but the strap provides only a small range of adjustment. To avoid having to hitch up my pants throughout the day, I wanted to be able to tighten them more. Because I have a 34-inch waist, I ordered a size Large, which covers waist sizes 34-35 inches. I probably would have been better off with Medium pants (32-33 waist). If the pants had belt loops, I could have worn a belt, but they don’t.
The Garda jacket and pants have 1200D reinforcement areas, textured rubber panels, and CE Level 2 armor at the elbows, shoulders, and knees. The jacket has a foam back pad, which can be replaced with an optional Axial CE Level 2 back protector ($34.99), and the pants have pockets for optional Axial CE Level 2 hip armor ($19.99). The jacket also has an outer back pocket for an optional hydration bladder.
Ventilation, adjustability, and pockets abound. The jacket has six adjustable vents, and the pants have two, all of which seal with waterproof zippers. While the vents allow some cooling relief, the full-coverage waterproof membrane traps in heat. The jacket has adjustment at the collar, cuff, forearm, upper arm, hip, and waist, and the pants have adjustment at the waist and lower leg. The pant legs have zippered gussets covered by a flap secured with hook-and-loop tabs, and there’s sufficient room to zip the gussets closed over heavy ADV boots.
The jacket has a total of six pockets, including two waterproof cargo pockets in front and a large cargo pocket across the lower back. The pants have two waist pockets, which are fine for keys, earplugs, and other small items, but they force bulky items like a phone or wallet into the crease of the hips when seated. Side cargo pockets would be a welcome addition.
Other than a few nitpicks, the Sedici Garda WP Jacket and Pants provide the comfort and versatility needed for adventure touring in cool to warm conditions. They don’t provide adequate ventilation for hot weather, and with no thermal lining, you’ll need to add your own baselayers or heated liners in cold weather. Pricing is $249.99 for the jacket and $219.99 for the pants. Both are available in sizes S-5XL in Silver/Black (shown), Sand/Black, or Black.
Helmet? Check. Jacket with armor? Check. Gloves with knuckle protection? You bet. Chaps? Ugh, hold on. I’ll be ready and waddling out the door in about five. I owned a pair of chaps, but honestly, I never wore them. I typically just threw on my sturdiest pair of jeans and then laced up my riding boots. But I always felt a little vulnerable when it came to my legs – until I discovered motorcycle jeans.
The Highway 21 Blockhouse Jeans are a classic straight-leg pant made of 12-ounce denim with Aramid fiber reinforced panels over 70% of the jeans – from the hips to below the knees in the front and about halfway down the thighs in the back. They include CE Level 1 removable knee armor and removable hip armor pockets (hip armor sold separately).
The Blockhouse Jeans have some pros and cons in my book. For starters, I’m not crazy about the color. I opted for the Oxford Blue, and it turned out to be a much lighter blue than it appears on the Highway 21 website, almost a baby blue color. It’s not bad, but it’s not my preference. They also come in Black.
The “Oxford Blue” shown on the Highway 21 website (but not quite representative of my pair)
Highway 21 Blockhouse jeans in Black.
My biggest gripe is the pockets for the knee armor. These are supposed to look like regular jeans, so a pocket on the exterior wouldn’t look as clean, but the interior access on the Blockhouse Jeans is below the knee where the pant leg is narrower. I have a different pair of riding jeans where the pocket access is above the knee, and it’s worlds easier to get the armor in. With the Blockhouse Jeans, it’s a fight to get the armor out and back in every time I wash them. Also, even though the product description says the pockets are adjustable for different heights, given the size of the armor, I’ve only been able to fasten the hook-and-loop in one position.
However, in the bigger picture, the Blockhouse Jeans are comfortable and roomy without being baggy. I have worn them over a pair of heated pant liners, and while it was a little snug pulling the jeans on at first, they quickly loosened up to be just about right. Speaking of the heat, with the Aramid panels separate from the denim, they’re warmer than my other pair of motorcycle jeans that have the protection woven into the denim. To give you an idea, on a recent interstate ride on a naked bike on a particularly cold day (28 degrees with a 10-mph north headwind), I had forgotten my heated pant liners and only had long johns, the Blockhouse Jeans, and rainsuit pants to block the wind, and my legs were perfectly fine. When the weather is colder, these are definitely my go-to pair.
The Highway 21 Blockhouse Jeans come in men’s waist sizes 30-42 (Tall sizes available for 32-38) for $129.95.
The jacket comes with a zipper and a hook-and-loop storm flap, ventilation in the back, a corduroy-lined inner collar, a nylon comfort liner, and reflective stripes.
The pants feature elastic in the waist and cuffs, leg zipper gussets for easy boot entry, and melt-resistant material.
The jacket is available in Black, Red, Hi-Viz Yellow, and Orange in sizes S-3XL, and the pants are available in Black in sizes S-4XL. The suit is available for $84.99.
When we’re talking about a motorcycle jacket, protection and comfort are the main considerations. Once those are met, what else do we look for? That varies by personal preference, but for me, it’s style and pockets. And that’s what Joe Rocket provided for me.
Let’s start with pockets. Yes, pockets! It’s well known that ladies clothing often suffers from a lack of pockets, and when we are blessed with pockets, they’re often too small to hold anything larger than a quarter and a roll of ChapStick. So when I see any type of clothing with extra pockets, I snatch it up. The Joe Rocket Ladies Wicked Jacket has four exterior pockets, four spacious interior pockets, and that cool distressed leather look, so I was immediately drawn to it.
The leather on the Joe Rocket Wicked jacket is 1.0-1.1mm vintage-distressed cowhide, and it has heavy-duty metal YKK zippers. It also has a black reflective strip on the back, a ventilation system, four adjustment points on the arms and waist, and two belt loops to attach it to pants.
I don’t have a windscreen on my motorcycle, so if I’m riding on a cool day, the wind cuts right through me. The Wicked jacket blocks all of that out. I wore it during a ride on a cloudy 40-degree day with nothing but a long-sleeved T-shirt underneath and was quite comfy.
The jacket has armor pockets in the back, shoulders, and elbows, but armor must be bought separately (a full set from Joe Rocket runs $69.97). I had an easy time getting the armor into the shoulders and elbows but struggled with the spine armor. I had to bend it more than expected to squeeze it in, but once in place, it sprang back to its normal shape. With the armor added, the jacket was a little tighter in the shoulders, but I still had enough movement to be comfortable for longer periods of riding.
I haven’t worn this jacket in warmer temperatures yet, but it does have some ventilation in the armpits. The zippers on the forearms open nearly to the elbow, which would also provide nice airflow up the arms. The vest liner is easy to remove whenever needed as well.
This jacket has everything I was looking for in a riding jacket. The leather with the additional armor has me well-protected, the pockets hold everything I need with room to spare, and I have to say I look pretty cool wearing it. It’s available in Black for $349 in sizes XS-2Diva.
If you live in a colder climate (as I do) and are wondering (as I was), “What could a California company possibly know about heated motorcycle gear?” you should know that “California Heat” is something of a misnomer. The family-owned and operated company is based in Maryland and presumably named after how you should feel riding in sunny California.
I don’t live in California, so as I geared up for my February trip from my home at 6,000 feet in Southern Utah to Las Vegas for the AIMExpo show, I was excited to try out California Heat’s 12V Jacket Liner ($230), Pant Liners ($190), and Gauntlet Gloves ($175), all covered by a lifetime warranty. [Note: Make sure to check the info for each product to see what’s included and what you must purchase separately for operation.]
The Dual Dial Temp Controller allows you to control two heat zones independently.
The windproof and waterproof gloves are made of nylon and leather with a tricot lining and Thinsulate insulation. They feature heating elements on both sides of the hands from the wrist to the fingertips. There is a rubber squeegee on the left thumb, and the index fingers are touchscreen compatible, but given the thickness of the fingertip, it’s a little clumsy.
A great feature I haven’t seen on some other heated gloves is the 90-degree L-plug. California Heat could take it up a notch by adding an L-junction or plug on the cords that come out of the jacket liner as well, which would make it less cumbersome to slide the gloves over the cuffs of your riding jacket after the gloves are plugged into the liner.
Otherwise, as to the wind-resistant, water-repellant ripstop nylon jacket liner, I have no complaints. It has zipper pockets for the wires when not in use and other regular pockets, including two outer pockets and three inner pockets (I especially appreciated the zippered one). The pant liners are the same composition as the jacket, also with zippered pockets for the wires, and speaking of zippers, the pants have zippers halfway up the sides to make boot management easier.
The 12V jacket liner has zippered pockets for the wires when not in use.
When I left my house for Las Vegas, it was in the low 40s. I was on the interstate with an 80-mph speed limit, so I had the added wind chill factor, but I also had my windshield, and it was sunny, which helped. I run a little warmer anyway and am pretty used to colder temps, so when I started, I set both the jacket and pant dials on the Dual Dial Temp Controller ($100, sold separately) just barely above “off.” The website says the controller has “20 variable stages up to 135 degrees.” There are tactile soft “clicks” on the dials, and I counted more than 30 clicks, so I just used a visual reference. I was plenty comfortable at the lowest setting, but even on the ride back when temps were in the upper 30s, I didn’t need to turn it up much past a third of the dial.
With my job, I don’t have the luxury of only riding during my area’s warmer season, and with the California Heat gear, not only is my job easier but I now look forward to extending my riding season. If they could just bring some California heat to all the snow on the roads…
