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I have both a First Gear and a Joe Rocket jacket and pants. Gonna wear one to the Rally, so yesterday, I did a back to back ride, first with the First Gear, then with the Joe Rocket.
First Gear Jacket is identified as a "LTHRMESHT" on an inside tag. It is black, red and silver. Mostly closer-weave mesh, with perforated leather at elbows, shoulders and full-length of spine, with pads sewn in behind leather. Leather is rather thin and quite supple, pads are very flexible- neither look very substantial, and I wonder how much help they would be in event of a crash. Removable-crash-pad pockets are in place at spine, elbows and shoulders; CE armour fits (except spine pocket, which is too narrow,) but only "high density" pads came with the jacket. Three exterior zipper utility pockets and one interior snap pocket. 6-inch zippers at wrist.
Joe Rocket jacket- model not found. All black, more open weave mesh used on entire exterior. CE-compliant pad pockets at elbows, shoulders and spine, non-removable pads at shoulders, spine and duck tail- same unispiring material as FG. 2 exterior zipper pockets. Removable interior rain liner.
FG pants- actually two pair- one is all mesh, other has same thin leather as jacket. All-mesh has pad pockets at hips and knees, and three exterior zip pockets (one at knee); "Leather-Tec" only had pad pockets at knees- NO utility pockets. 11-inch zippers at the ankles. Leather-Tec pants has a cool-looking checkerboard stripe at the knees.
JR pants- Same mesh as JR jacket. Sewn-in pads at hips, pad pockets at knees. Two exterior zip pockets. 22-inch zippers at knees.
Evaluations:
Heat- JR is the winner. More open mesh was noticable cooler, esp. when stopped.
Protection- main material- I suspect the FG would provide better abraision protection.
Protection- pads- JR is winner, both jacket and pants. More and/or bigger pockets for aux. pads. Leather on FG is, frankly, a joke. Appears to be there more for looks than protection.
Utility/ease of use: JR inches ahead- long leg zippers giving it a small advantage over the more utility pockets on the FG- I sometimes wear my gear over street clothes, which can be done with the JR pants, but is IMPOSSIBLE with the FG.
Being all black, the JR suit LOOKS better when I am riding my green Sprint ST- but the FG looks better when I am away from the bike.
Which suit will I wear to the the Rally? Still thinking... your ideas?
First Gear Jacket is identified as a "LTHRMESHT" on an inside tag. It is black, red and silver. Mostly closer-weave mesh, with perforated leather at elbows, shoulders and full-length of spine, with pads sewn in behind leather. Leather is rather thin and quite supple, pads are very flexible- neither look very substantial, and I wonder how much help they would be in event of a crash. Removable-crash-pad pockets are in place at spine, elbows and shoulders; CE armour fits (except spine pocket, which is too narrow,) but only "high density" pads came with the jacket. Three exterior zipper utility pockets and one interior snap pocket. 6-inch zippers at wrist.
Joe Rocket jacket- model not found. All black, more open weave mesh used on entire exterior. CE-compliant pad pockets at elbows, shoulders and spine, non-removable pads at shoulders, spine and duck tail- same unispiring material as FG. 2 exterior zipper pockets. Removable interior rain liner.
FG pants- actually two pair- one is all mesh, other has same thin leather as jacket. All-mesh has pad pockets at hips and knees, and three exterior zip pockets (one at knee); "Leather-Tec" only had pad pockets at knees- NO utility pockets. 11-inch zippers at the ankles. Leather-Tec pants has a cool-looking checkerboard stripe at the knees.
JR pants- Same mesh as JR jacket. Sewn-in pads at hips, pad pockets at knees. Two exterior zip pockets. 22-inch zippers at knees.
Evaluations:
Heat- JR is the winner. More open mesh was noticable cooler, esp. when stopped.
Protection- main material- I suspect the FG would provide better abraision protection.
Protection- pads- JR is winner, both jacket and pants. More and/or bigger pockets for aux. pads. Leather on FG is, frankly, a joke. Appears to be there more for looks than protection.
Utility/ease of use: JR inches ahead- long leg zippers giving it a small advantage over the more utility pockets on the FG- I sometimes wear my gear over street clothes, which can be done with the JR pants, but is IMPOSSIBLE with the FG.
Being all black, the JR suit LOOKS better when I am riding my green Sprint ST- but the FG looks better when I am away from the bike.
Which suit will I wear to the the Rally? Still thinking... your ideas?
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