RST Pro Series Adventure II jacket and trousers

Reviewed by: Mikko Nieminen// RRP: Jacket £279.99, trousers £219.99// Sizes: Jacket 40-54, trousers 30-44// Colours: Black or silver// Info: rst-moto.com

One thing that you want from your riding kit is versatility. The idea with the RST Pro Series Adventure II jacket and trousers is that they should work everywhere, from the deserts of Sudan to the wilds of Borneo – and in good old Blighty too. And how do they claim to pull this off? By using layers, of course.

Both items have a removable waterproof lining and an equally removable thermal lining. There’s also a removable storm flap that covers the neck area. But it’s the ventilation that really makes this suit special; there are conventional zipped vents in the shoulders, back and arms, and very clever large vent panels on the chest and thighs where a patch of fabric can be folded away to reveal a nice big mesh area that lets plenty of air in. Operating the zips for this is a little fiddly, but well worth the effort.

Waterproofing is pretty good, but not bulletproof. It’s fine for a while but a couple of hours in driving rain did result in a few leaks here and there; mainly around the waist area, where waterproofing is difficult in any twopiece suit.

There are two external pockets on the jacket and four on the trousers, as well as an inside pocket in the jacket, but none in the waterproof lining which makes accessing the inner pocket awkward if using the waterproof layer.

Adjusters in the arms and waist are great to get rid of any flapping if you don’t quite fill the jacket, and the Velcro patches in the sleeves help seal the gloves in nicely.

Both items have flex panels to help movement, and they feel very relaxed while snug, allowing full movement on the bike.

The jacket and trousers can be zipped together to keep them from moving in a crash situation and also to block draughts.

Protectors are placed in the elbows, shoulders, back and knees (no hip armour). They are all made of soft and malleable material, which doesn’t restrict movement or hamper comfort.

Other cool features include a water bladder pocket on the back, and a removable map pocket that turns into a bum bag (I still haven’t been able to bring myself use it as a bum bag, but if you think that’s a look you can pull off, then go for it!).

This is a good, quality suit, and offers levels of performance usually only found in more expensive products.