I ride lots of high speed dirt dual sport and was looking for something could keep up with the summer heat and humidity of Texas while still offering more abrasion resistance than a regular jersey for the in between dirt road pavement sections. In talking with Brian about mesh options for dual sport he suggested the Tactical Pro Jersey. This has turned out to be a solid piece of gear.
I wear it over a thin long sleeve bamboo shirt with Leatt elbow guards that offer impact and sliding protection from the elbow into the forearm. That combo along with a back protector in the hydration pack provides good protection without being ridiculously hot. For sure it's less breathable than a standard mesh jersey but much better than even the great mesh jacket I own which I don't feel provides anymore actual abrasion protection. The fit and comfort of the jersey are very good. Very easy to throw a rain jacket over and also easy (non bulky) to pack. Only reason I did not give it 5 stars is the black panels on the arms are still hot in the sun (need a lighter color) and I would like to see some Cordura reinforcements on the elbows and shoulders for additional abrasion resistance as the black material with the foam padding underneath does not really breath anyway.
This Jersey looks and feels tough! I'm using it for hot weather ADV riding, about a 50/50 mix of on & off road. I wear it over body armor. I have not crash tested it, and hope I never do, but it feels substantial enough to offer good protection. The ventilation is fantastic, and it fits as it should. If it gets cold, I put a Jacket over it that I have removed the armor from.
I think for extreme off road this would be the best thing out there. It works well for my use from a comfort/venting standpoint, but I do wonder how much abrasion resistance it would have on the road. As much as I like it, I still go back to a conventional armored jacket when it's cooler or the ride is mostly road.
Great padding around the ankle. I have a wide foot and these fit great.
A benchmark boot lives up to the hype. OK, we know that Gaerne makes a premium motorcycle boot, and the Balance Oiled are, if not their apex offering, pretty darn close to it. It is genuinely hard to describe how beautiful these boots are until you hold them in your hand. Everything about them oozes quality and attention to detail. At the same time, these boots are clean and simple. Everything you need and nothing you don't. Instantly comfortable and the gum rubber sole is awesome on and off the bike. I didn't purchase these for off-road use because they don't offer the requisite level of protection for anything more than a fire road. For me, these are an urban or weekend street boot that feels good, looks good and does everything I need it to. And boy are they a looker. People who know nothing about motorcycling comment on these boots. The consensus is that they are "wicked cool".
The Gaerne Oiled Leather Balance boots are a pretty complete package out of the box, but swapping out the OEM insoles for these babies is a very nice upgrade. Super comfortable and takes an already awesome pair of boots to the next level.
Fit was true to size. Very comfortable so far. Havenot hit any water yet so not sure how waterproof they are. Very happy with the purchase so far. Would recommend them.
You guys are always fair and consistent. Good company to deal with.