Top 10 adventure bike jackets 2023

My inspiration, so to speak, for this review, came from a comparison of adventure jackets that I read recently in a magazine. Now I am not a great fan of product reviews that appear in magazines. By and large, motorcycle journalists simply don’t know enough about gear and how it works. They usually don’t ride in the gear they’re testing. And they don’t get the kind of feedback that people like us get from hundreds of customers who buy it; and who then report back to us on their findings. 

Some might suggest that we too have a conflict of interest; after all, we sell pretty much everything we review. Well, in theory yes, but in practice not so much. We call it the way we see it. If we don’t think much of a product, we will highlight the issue. And we feel we can do this because we sell lots of products, and what we have found is that customers will often buy a product we have criticised because the feature or facet we are talking about does not concern them. Or, if the issue concerns them, they’ll buy a different product from us.

Conflict or not, rest assured that our reviews do ruffle feathers. We are often contacted about our reviews by aggrieved manufacturers, but our response to them is invariably that if we didn’t highlight issues the chances are that nobody else would. In fact, we are actually performing a useful service for them, we explain. It‘s a view, of course, that they don’t always agree with!

Suffice it to say that our views are just that. As ever in life there are no ‘rights’ and no ‘wrongs’; there are just shades of opinions. But our opinions are based on a considerable amount of knowledge, lots of experience, and the constant feedback we get from the kinds of customers who use their gear in the manner that was intended. 

Adventure jackets with laminated membranes may look the part. They will often look right on an adventure bike. They sit longer; they are rarely black, they have lots of vents, and so on. But, in truth, these jackets are really just touring jackets in the ‘adventure’ style. And this should perhaps not surprise us because, in truth, a lot of adventure bikes these days are just touring bikes with long-travel suspension. 

These adventure-style jackets can still be fantastic bits of kit. And if you want to go touring somewhere warm, but in the knowledge that it might also rain, then a laminated, adventure jacket may be just what you need. And so, in this review, we are going to make a distinction between what we are calling ‘proper’ adventure jackets where the membrane can be removed, and laminated adventure jackets where the membrane cannot be.

Of course, there are still a few adventure-style jackets out there with drop-liner membranes, but such jackets are little more than slightly cynical exercises in styling, and will not be up to much when the going gets tougher. They won’t vent well, and they will ‘wet out’ in the rain.

Anyway, let’s look at our ‘Top 10 adventure jackets’. Now, apparently, this is what we have to title a review like this in order to rank highly on Google and YouTube. But here’s our little secret; our Top 10 actually includes 11 jackets. Don’t tell anybody!

[dukesublime]

Huge thanks for posting these videos sir. I always love your chat. Harsh but always fair lol

[markperkins]

I enjoy your reviews specifically because of your honesty and how obviously factual they are based on your experience and customer feedback. Now, to offer my feedback and slightly disagree with your opinion of laminated jackets in hot weather. I own a Klim Kodiak jacket and live in Australia (New South Wales) to be specific, with latest Summer being mild with only high 35-40 Deg C days. In previous years I’d owned a Dainese Teren jacket and even with all vents open and the water drop liner removed it was too hot! The Kodiak with all vents opened actually managed to vent better, even when the air is hot and if I wet actually the evaporative cooling made the jacket quite comfortable. I ride a Multistrada and yes, it is essentially a comfortable tourer with little off-road riding, but love the Kodiak and don’t find the laminated exterior uncomfortable after “break in” and copes far better with heavy rain and even the cold weather we experience in the Snowy Mountains in Winter (rarely below -5 deg C) was comfortable with just adding a puffer jacket and a long sleeve T shirt. The warranty and quality of build impressed me though the price here is up there with Rukka, but the fact it vents much better is why I chose the Klim. I will be doing a 16 day bike tour in UK, France, Sardinia and Corsica in August and September, so consider I’ll be well prepared for whatever weather we have thrown at us. Keep up the detailed reviews and if I need to replace any gear while there, I will definitely drop in.

[Longstride]

That was probably the best and most honest and comprehensive review of the latest jackets I’ve seen and just what I was looking for! However in the UK my definition of “adventure” has to include the cold and rain 🤣 so I’m happy with a liner. I’ve been wearing Rukka pro type jacket for over ten years in both summer and winter with just a t-shirt underneath quite happily. I’ve also just realised you’re only up road from me so I’ll def pop by soon! Cheers!

[pneumaticman]

Very grateful for your content. You’re one of the few people I trust completely. Wish I was in the UK to shop from you.

[Alexanderpaal]

Good info thanx.
I prefer the Klim Carlsbad both for on & off roading spring/summer. Live in Scandinavia & yes it rains & there are northwinds. Size: Suits a vikings well, proper protection including back, rather lightweight, variety of colors, totaly waterproof & well vented. When autumn/ winter i use the Klim Badlands Pro. Had a highspeed crash last summer & survived only with a broken shoulder. Jacket used Carlsbad & pants…probably saved my life together with My Shoei Neitech2. Please get a rotatiating dolly so we can see the backside. GS GS & more GS. I ride Honda: Transalps, Africa Twins & VFR1200X….So GS is not synanamous to Adventure riding.
The Power Of Dreams ❤

[rjsalameh]

I just purchased a Klim Marrakesh Jacket based on your glowing reviews!! you are right it's a bit baggy around the waist, but I can live with that. TY for posting the great videos!!!

[MickBla]

I am a happy user of the Klim Marrakesh and Zephyr; Scott (jacket and pants) and Rokker chinos (the ones with water repellent feature) combo (plus TOG24 down jacket for these extra cold days). This is a great set which serves me well in +40°C touring in Italy or France, as well as below 0°C conditions here in the UK (occasionallyin heavy rain). Very comfortable, easy to wear and looks really nice when I'm on my 1200RS 😂 Thank you Chris for reiterating that I've made a great choice investing in this particular set! 👍🏻

[martinwilson]

Baja S4 jacket and trouser for me - max airflow combined with max protection - down jacket underneath if it is cold with Scott Ergo Pro jacket and trousers over Baja S4 set for wind/rain protection - layers way to go.

[flyingfox]

I’m from Australia, it’s hot and when it rains it can be tropical heavy.
I can’t reconcile your definition of an ADV Jacket. I have both detachable wet liners and laminated jackets. Realistically I never stop to insert the wet liners it simply is too inconvenient, hence I always wear the laminated jacket. It’s a KLIM Badlands and it outperforms under every and any conditions, and yes we spend more time off the black top than on it!

[StanfordCrane]

Another excellent video Chris. I have a Long Way Up jacket and your thoughts are spot on. The venting is good enough that I wore it on a 400 mile ride here in California where the temperature on the highway hit 109 degrees F. Also the grey color works well with my Gauntlet Gray Pan America 1250 S. I have the pants too and fortunately, the length is perfect for me.

[Geshmaal]

The Trek-R seems like a pretty nifty jacket, good to see Rukka stepping up their game and offering a removable liner that can be worn as an outer shell.

[purificator]

This channel is the living proof that peaky blinders can convert into a normal life business around a passion

[karacakestelli]

Kudos to this gentleman. He says as he sees it. Wonderful. I am so gullible that whenever I am in front of a salesman, he convinces me (guess what usually with more expensive products!). But Chris is presenting these material based on actual usage situations. Not made up one. Thanks

[dumptrump]

5:10 "Very few are (BMW) GSs that go off the black stuff..." The only time 99.9% of BMW GSs go "Off the black stuff" is when they park up at their local Starbucks at the weekend.

[AdventuresonZero]

I've owned the Long Way Up set for about 8 months now and I agree with Chris on the weight, it was my first impression when I lifted the set out of the shipping box, 'wow this is heavy'! However, the set has held up well and is my go-to for winter riding thanks to the waterproof Gortex. The one niggle I have about the pants (I'm 6'2, so fit is proper) are the location of the vent zippers, they are right on the crease of the thigh. When sitting down, they can dig into my legs. After wearing them for several months, they've been 'broken in' a bit, so not as uncomfortable, but still noticeable. Belstaff only would need to adjust the zips at an angle to contour the natural crease in the groin to prevent this, a slight oversight in my opinion. Other than that, I love the look, feel and utility of the Belstaff LWU top and bottoms.

[joshsharp]

What a brilliant review! I’m retired and have all the time in the world to waste it watching motorbike related things and if I was buying new gear to wear this is the shop I’d go to. The trouble is it’s in Guildford and I’m in Cheshire and Chris might say “mail order!” But then I’d never get to sample the shortbreads and super fresh coffee. Off to check the train times to Guildford….

[matthewoakley]

I’m not sure I agree about laminated membranes.
They allow excellent venting. My 7 yr old Klim badlands suit is still cooler than a knox shirt in 30 degrees, yet add a soft shell and heated waistcoat and I can do 400miles on motorway rain in December !
One problem with layering is you have to carry it, and you need to stop to put on a water proof layer. I tend to be optimistic until too late!

[franc]

Klim...that little horizontal line above the i is called a macron. Macrons indicate long vowels sounds, therefore the pronunciation of Klim rhymes with climb! Thanks for an excellent video and some fine reviews.

[kee]

Such a great and helpful video full of excellent info. YOu're truly talented at this Chris. Thank you.

Thanks for reaffirming I made a mistake with my jacket choice!