My wife and I both have textile jackets and mesh jackets. Unfortunately there's not enough storage space to bring both on a ride or trip so we usually end up using the textile jackets on anything more than a day ride. My HJC textile is nice but it only has a couple litte vents under the arm that basically flow nothing. So if it is 75 degrees or above it can be pretty uncomfortable. Cathy gets little air since she sits behind me and is about 1/2 my size so she roasts too. So we decided to try the Joe Rocket Alter Ego jackets.
http://www.joerocket.com/catalog/item.cfm?products_id=127
These are 3 in 1 jackets that go from full textile with waterproof liners to full textile without liner to 3/4 mesh with textile outer arms and shoulders. The waterproof liner zips out. The textile chest, back, and underside of the arms zips out as one panel. It comes with a built in backpack to carry the liner and textile panel if needed. Although we haven't ridden with them yet we are impressed with the ingenuity, fit, and quality. They obviously offer a lot of flexibility but also more protection than our full mesh Firstgear Mesh jackets due to the textile shoulders and outer arms and better armor. We're now able to have a full range of weather protection from one jacket. I'd say these jackets will be good in anything from 50 degress to over 100.
If you're looking for these have a little patience and keep checking ebay. The list price is $249 and the common internet price is $224. Somebody had them on ebay for $249! Some deal. I kept checking ebay and found someone that had them for $160 But it Now plus $20 for shipping. So we got both jackets for $340 including shipping. I'm pretty happy with that deal. We will be handsomely modeling them in a few weeks at the Midwest Galena Rally.
Joe
http://www.joerocket.com/catalog/item.cfm?products_id=127
These are 3 in 1 jackets that go from full textile with waterproof liners to full textile without liner to 3/4 mesh with textile outer arms and shoulders. The waterproof liner zips out. The textile chest, back, and underside of the arms zips out as one panel. It comes with a built in backpack to carry the liner and textile panel if needed. Although we haven't ridden with them yet we are impressed with the ingenuity, fit, and quality. They obviously offer a lot of flexibility but also more protection than our full mesh Firstgear Mesh jackets due to the textile shoulders and outer arms and better armor. We're now able to have a full range of weather protection from one jacket. I'd say these jackets will be good in anything from 50 degress to over 100.
If you're looking for these have a little patience and keep checking ebay. The list price is $249 and the common internet price is $224. Somebody had them on ebay for $249! Some deal. I kept checking ebay and found someone that had them for $160 But it Now plus $20 for shipping. So we got both jackets for $340 including shipping. I'm pretty happy with that deal. We will be handsomely modeling them in a few weeks at the Midwest Galena Rally.
Joe
. (best ebay score yet for me)
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