Hot Weather Riding Jackets

[RedShift]

The hot weather is here in the U.S. (Summer started today meaning the sun is going south again   ).

I've been thinking about getting a mesh jacket, something well engineered with a zip-in windbreaker in case it clouds over or I get close to a breeze blowing off of Lake Michigan (that can easily drop the temperature 20F).

I've taken a fancy to the FirstGear Mesh-Tex 3.0 Jacket. Seems like it hits all my requirements (such as coming in RED and Tall sizes), and has a good price (~ US$130).  The reviews on epinions.com seems to glow about it.



Anyone have any experience with this or have a favourite "flow-through" jacket?

[CndnMax]

I dont know anything about that jacket, but i have a tourmaster intake jacket and ive used it in +115 weather-just keep moving- it has a rain layer and a "winter" layer taht comes with it. and its also in red .
http://tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=43&cat=3

[natedawg120]

I have a joerocket phenix 4 and I love it.  It comes with a zip in waterproof lining which also kills all wind what so ever. 

[facepants]

I have a fieldsheer johnny cool mesh.  Comes with a zip in liner and works pretty well. Too well sometimes...

[Y2K6GS500F]

I just purchased the Cortech GX-Air jacket and I love it.
With the liners removed, It's cool enough to deal with the warm weather we have been getting in South FL (~90F) lately.
It seems well made and it has both a zip in Cold Weather and Wet Weather liner. So, it's really an all season jacket.
It also has CE Armor and Leather at possible impact points.

Cortech Website:
http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product.php?productid=10&cat=25

Hear is a link to video review of the jacket, that helped me decide:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMacPGOBqRk

It's list price is $189, but most online stores have it for $170 or less. I found it for about $146 (w/free shipping) from:
http://www.imotorcyclestore.com/productt.cfm?cid=S03CORGXB&pt=MX3Y4
They don't list that price on the website because Cortech asks them not to. Email the customer service department, and they will give you the lower price.

Hope this helps.  

[Unnamed]

I also have a GX Air and love it. It has leather inserts along the bottoms of the forearms and down the back to provide good abrasion resistance in a fall, and CE armor in the shoulders and elbows. The leather-covered areas get a bit hot, but I think it's worth the slight discomfort. With both liners in I've ridden in temps as low as 35 degrees without much trouble either (around town only). Last year I crash tested it with a 40 mph lowside and it held up perfectly. The elbow armor took a lot of the impact and barely even got scuffed.

All in all it's a great jacket. On very hot (100+) days it's a bit warmer than some mesh jackets are, but I think the extra protection is worth it.

[RedShift]

Tourmaster GX Air w/ Leather

Oooooooo!!  Sounds great.  Not sold on it, but thanks for the links and endorsements.  Will look deeper into this and the others you guys suggest.  Thanks for the replies -- and the rest of you who read this -- don't stop your suggestions.

Lay down your thoughts and experiences.  Gives others besides myself useful info.   

[debtman7]

I'm still pimping my tour master magnum air. Yeah, it's completely leather but it's all perforated. CE eblow, shoulder and back armor plus memory foam on the shoulders too. Removable liner is good down to the 40's (yeah, I've tested it). I've ridden in it  up to 96 degrees. This thing flows a serious amount of air and while in theory mesh is a bit lighter, to date I have been comfortable enough in it riding in the heat that I'm not willing to trade down to mesh to be a fraction of a percent cooler and less protected. Even in the mid 90's it's fairly comfy, you feel warm but that's pretty much because it is warm. Biggest problem I get that hot is my back gets sweaty, thanks to the giant back pad, but you'd have that issue on an armored mesh jacket too.

Now if I ever run across a closeout mesh jacket in my size (brocton cycle has some really good deals on fieldsheer's for like $30 but none in my size) I'll probably pick one up just to wear on those mid 90's and above days, but otherwise I'm happy with my perforated leather in the heat.

[RedShift]

Keep the recommendations coming.  And don't be concerned DebtMan; I haven't come to any decision.

Thought I'd share what I'm riding with now.  Have a Joe Rocket Meteor 3 jacket that's 5 years along.  Works well from 26°F (lining zipped in) to low 80's (lining out, vents open and the neck loose to enhance flow).  Anything more and a T-shirt under begins to gather body moisture (spine for sure) even when moving.

I rather like the jacket but am convinced that loosening the jacket to permit air flow lowers its protection capability.  If I roll in it I'm sure I'll loose skin and rash almost as badly as if I were not wearing anything.  But keeping it tight is not really an option with this jacket if ambient is well above 80°F, hence the search for new seasonal protection.

So Tour Master/Cortech, Fieldsheer, and Joe Rocket Phoenix huh?  Anybody "road test" a Summer Jacket?  (Frankly I hope not...)

[VaRider07]

I have a joerocket phenix 4 and I love it.  It comes with a zip in waterproof lining which also kills all wind what so ever.

I have same jacket as natedawg, and it works just fine....make sure you take out the windproof lining though.

[frankieG]

i also have the joe rocket, for about 3 or 4 years now, best i have seen for the price

[bombadillo]

http://www.motoxoutlet.com/

lots of good deals!!

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I also have a GX-Air, and can't recommend it highly enough. Crash tested at 30mph, then 60mph.. held up great both times, small hole in the arm from the 2nd wreck, barely a mark on me. I still wear the jacket. Cool in weather up to 100+, warm down to about 25 (That's the coldest I've ever ridden)

[FearedGS500]

i have a shaZam! mesh jacket and love it .. i live in texas so we all know its gets pretty hot here . and mine does just fine . as long as i'm moving and does fine in 30 degree weather

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Hahahahaha... I think he means "Shift"

[Unnamed]

I also have a GX-Air, and can't recommend it highly enough. Crash tested at 30mph, then 60mph.. held up great both times, small hole in the arm from the 2nd wreck, barely a mark on me. I still wear the jacket. Cool in weather up to 100+, warm down to about 25 (That's the coldest I've ever ridden)

I think it was NGFL who convinced me to buy mine, and I'm grateful. I suppose if I lived in some really hot place like Arizona I might be happier with a thinner jacket (no leather inserts to block wind, no CE armor to trap heat), but in Chicago the GX-Air has worked great for me. By the way I started a poll on the same question about a year ago and got a couple pages of responses, that might be another useful reference Mr. Shift.

[pherako]

when i got hit by the minivan, and slid all of 10 feet, i rubbed through my mesh joe rocket phoenix. it saved my skin, but i still got a bit of road rash. if you plan on getting sliding around at all, i would think a thicker jacket than mesh would be nice. as my ninja buddy says.. "rather sweat than bleed" I like the rocket though, it was well-ventilated.

[PuddleJumper]

I have the Mesh Tex II.

The liner is OK for cool but not cold weather. The liner is a single layer only.
Not really water proof.

With the liner out, It's good in Oklahoma summers. It does get a bit warm at a stop though.

For winters, If you layer underneath and put the liner on it's good down to around 50 F maybe. If you put a windbreaker over the top, it's good down to 35 F.

I've not crash tested it yet and hope I never do, so I can't help you there.

BeSafe.

[RedShift]

Wow -- interesting reading.  Thanks for the input.

Rubbing through kinda goes against the objective, but these types of jackets are quite likely a "drag once and throw away" kind of device.

I'm pleased to read about NGFL's story -- hope you've got all you "get off's" out of your system.    That you are still using the jacket is an excellent testament to the Cortech GX-Air jacket's tenacity.

The multiple layers caught my eye.  Up here in Michigan there is a big swing in temperatures between first thing in the morning and middle of the afternoon.  Can be 30-40°F.  Layers makes sense.

Great reading.   

[trumpetguy]

I have a Fieldsheer Mach III --- the Mach IV is out now and is better because it has leather exterior pads.  I chose the Fieldsheer because it has an OVER-liner not an inner-liner. 

There is a waterproof windbreaker stored in a pouch on the back of the jacket.  I keep mine in my tank bag for quick easy access.  When it's cool or rainy, put the windbreaker (it's actually two layers thick) over the mesh.  The mesh then acts as insulation, keeping you ery warm.  Ideal for summer showers as well -- that rain can be cold!

Same price range as the FirstGear.