‘Great protection and it’s stylish too’
Tested by Michael Neeves, one year This is at the top of the Alpinestars tree when it comes to racestyle leather jackets. Mimicking a race suit with plastic shoulder and elbow protection, the quality is top notch and there are no signs of wear, despite a year of heavy road testing – as you’d expect for its premium price tag (that said, you can find it for more than £100 less if you shop around).
The jacket is compatible with Alpinestars’ wired-in airbag, with all the extra wiggle room it needs to inflate in an emergency, but I wear it with the firm’s standalone Tech-Air 5 airbag vest instead.
Despite its sturdy elbow and shoulder armour and racy speed hump it’s well fitted, light and supremely comfortable both on and off a bike. It’s made from supple 1.3mm cowhide with a fabric collar, stetch panels, padding, vents, perforations, precurved sleeves, sturdy zips and a waterproof inside pocket. I generally wear it with riding jeans, but it also zips to Alpinestars leather bottoms.
Quality ★★★★★
Value ★★★★★
www.alpinestars.com