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Gearbag
GEARBAG: FirstGear Jaunt Jacket And HT Overpants
Ken "Hawkeye" Glassman warms up with a Jaunt Jacket, and the HT Overpants from FIrstgear.
Both of these garments performed well when I used them in 38-degree morning cold, and later removed the jackets lining when the temperature hit 70. (Photo: Ken "Hawkeye Glassman)
After a brutally hot summer, Fall came to the Chicago area abruptly, with early October temperatures dipping below 40-degrees in the morning, and some afternoons only getting up to the low 50’s. Fortunately, I got some new cold weather togs from Firstgear, and I am very impressed. I tested the Jaunt Jacket, and the HT Overpants. Both pieces performed well above my expectations, and at a price point that is affordable for anybody who wants good quality high tech performance riding gear.
The Jaunt Jacket is a three season jacket laden with features you might not find on jackets costing twice as much. It is made with a tough, UV resistant 600-denier outer shell, with a waterproof, yet breathable high wicking poly mesh lining. It keeps the rain water out, yet won’t trap your body’s perspiration to leave you with a damp clammy feeling. It also comes with removable CE approved armor in the shoulders and elbows for extra protection in the event of an unexpected get-off. But to be fair, there are plenty of jackets that can boast the same specs. It is the long list of rider-friendly features that really set this jacket apart.
First, it has a full length storm flap that both Velcro’s and snaps shut. There is a dual zipper so it can be opened from the bottom and top. The full sleeve zip out quilted lining has a special cell phone pocket, and another large wallet pocket. The lining’s sleeves secure to the outer shell, so that they stay in place when removing your arms from the jacket. And the liner’s cuffs are made from a stretch material, and even have their own Velcro tighteners, so there’s no chance of cold winds or water to creep in and up your arms. The liner also is held in place in several areas around the shell with snaps, so that it won’t shift on you while riding.
With the liner removed, the jacket also has the same phone and wallet pocket inside, and a full 10 inch zipper to attach riding pants. The exterior of the jacket has four large cargo pockets with storm flaps and Velcro closures. They’re easy to get into and they will keep out rain water. The neck portion of the jacket has a fleecy soft material, and a microfiber neck roll for all day comfort, and the snap closure has 4 adjustment points for the perfect fit to snug up around your neck.
When the weather gets warmer, you can open two vertical air vents running up each side of the front zipper, and also open two shoulder vents, with clever Velcro tabs that hold the vents open to allow the air to rush in. And those tabs are easily operated with one hand, even with gloves on. And there are two vents that open on the upper arms, too. On the back of the jacket, you have two long vertical zippered vents to allow the air to exhaust out for maximum flow. Another great feature is a large drop tail rear pocket that can hold gloves or a neck warmer. The waist and upper and lower arms also have adjustment straps to make sure no material will flap in the wind at speed. Firstgear thought of everything with this jacket, and all of the features are useful, work well, and are appreciated.
The HT Overpant is another feature-laden piece of riding gear. The outer shell is also made of strong waterproof Hypertex 600 denier polyester. It has padded hip protectors and removable, adjustable CE knee armor, so they stay in the correct position when seated. The seat and knees are articulated for comfort in the saddle. For ventilation, there are two large zippered thigh intake vents with rubberized zippers to keep water out. Two large waterproof front pockets can store contents in the shell, and also have pass-throughs to access pockets in the liner. A third easy access pocket is located on the right thigh.
For easy on and off, even with boots on, there are large zippers that run from the upper thigh to the cuff, and the cuff has both an inner storm elastic closure and the outer shell has a Velcro closure tab, so wind and water are definitely kept out. There are adjustable side waist tabs for a perfect fit. And a full 10-inch conjunction zipper lets you connect to the jacket.
What really sets this overpant apart from anything I’ve ever seen is that the removable liner is a stand-alone pair of pants. That is, you can remove the shell, and wear the liner as a lighter weight riding pant, or to walk around town after you long day of riding. They look like a pair of black nylon jeans, with a pair of front pockets, waist adjustments, and even belt loops. It too has thigh-to-cuff zippers for easy on and off, and lightweight fiberfill insulation. It’s a great idea, and when you’re on a long tour, it will save you some space in your saddlebag by being very compact to pack, or not needing an extra pair of pants. And of course, the overpant doesn’t have to be worn with the liner, and can be worn over a pair of jeans if desired, as a wind breaker layer or in the rain.
Both of these garments performed well when I used them in 38-degree morning cold, and later removed the jackets lining when the temperature hit 70. I also tried wearing the pant shell over my jeans, with the lining removed, and they are still as comfortable as they are versatile. Another great thing about the HT Overpants is that you can order them in regular or short inseam lengths. Having a short 28” inseam makes it very difficult to buy pants that don’t bunch up at the bottom, but these pants fit me well.
I tested both garments before I looked up the prices, and I would have thought that they were much more expensive. It is easy to see how much craft and workmanship went into each piece with all the zippers and Velcro, and snaps, and how wonderful each piece fits and feels. The jacket retails for $199.95, and is available in sizes Small through 3X Large. It also can be ordered in Tall, from size Medium through 2X Large. The jacket comes in 5 colors, red, black, blue, white and neon yellow. I chose the yellow for the hi-visibility factor, and it is bright enough for Stevie Wonder to see, which I really like. Whether I’m riding in bright sunshine, cloudy overcast conditions, or at night, I like the idea that motorists will definitely see me.
The HT Overpants cost $249.95 with the removable stand-alone pants liner, or you can buy just the Overpant Shell, which is made with lighter weight material, without a lining for $179.95. They come in both Men’s and Women’s waist sizes, (the women’s pants are cut specifically for women’s shape) and in Regular, Short and Tall inseams.
Nothing makes a long day in the saddle more enjoyable than wearing the right clothing, with all the convenient features. You can learn more about FIrstgear by visiting their web site at www.firstgear-usa.com. They can be ordered by your local dealer through the Tucker Rocky catalogue, as they are the exclusive distributor of Firstgear products.
The Jaunt Jacket is a three season jacket laden with features you might not find on jackets costing twice as much. It is made with a tough, UV resistant 600-denier outer shell, with a waterproof, yet breathable high wicking poly mesh lining. It keeps the rain water out, yet won’t trap your body’s perspiration to leave you with a damp clammy feeling. It also comes with removable CE approved armor in the shoulders and elbows for extra protection in the event of an unexpected get-off. But to be fair, there are plenty of jackets that can boast the same specs. It is the long list of rider-friendly features that really set this jacket apart.
First, it has a full length storm flap that both Velcro’s and snaps shut. There is a dual zipper so it can be opened from the bottom and top. The full sleeve zip out quilted lining has a special cell phone pocket, and another large wallet pocket. The lining’s sleeves secure to the outer shell, so that they stay in place when removing your arms from the jacket. And the liner’s cuffs are made from a stretch material, and even have their own Velcro tighteners, so there’s no chance of cold winds or water to creep in and up your arms. The liner also is held in place in several areas around the shell with snaps, so that it won’t shift on you while riding.
With the liner removed, the jacket also has the same phone and wallet pocket inside, and a full 10 inch zipper to attach riding pants. The exterior of the jacket has four large cargo pockets with storm flaps and Velcro closures. They’re easy to get into and they will keep out rain water. The neck portion of the jacket has a fleecy soft material, and a microfiber neck roll for all day comfort, and the snap closure has 4 adjustment points for the perfect fit to snug up around your neck.
When the weather gets warmer, you can open two vertical air vents running up each side of the front zipper, and also open two shoulder vents, with clever Velcro tabs that hold the vents open to allow the air to rush in. And those tabs are easily operated with one hand, even with gloves on. And there are two vents that open on the upper arms, too. On the back of the jacket, you have two long vertical zippered vents to allow the air to exhaust out for maximum flow. Another great feature is a large drop tail rear pocket that can hold gloves or a neck warmer. The waist and upper and lower arms also have adjustment straps to make sure no material will flap in the wind at speed. Firstgear thought of everything with this jacket, and all of the features are useful, work well, and are appreciated.
The HT Overpant is another feature-laden piece of riding gear. The outer shell is also made of strong waterproof Hypertex 600 denier polyester. It has padded hip protectors and removable, adjustable CE knee armor, so they stay in the correct position when seated. The seat and knees are articulated for comfort in the saddle. For ventilation, there are two large zippered thigh intake vents with rubberized zippers to keep water out. Two large waterproof front pockets can store contents in the shell, and also have pass-throughs to access pockets in the liner. A third easy access pocket is located on the right thigh.
For easy on and off, even with boots on, there are large zippers that run from the upper thigh to the cuff, and the cuff has both an inner storm elastic closure and the outer shell has a Velcro closure tab, so wind and water are definitely kept out. There are adjustable side waist tabs for a perfect fit. And a full 10-inch conjunction zipper lets you connect to the jacket.
What really sets this overpant apart from anything I’ve ever seen is that the removable liner is a stand-alone pair of pants. That is, you can remove the shell, and wear the liner as a lighter weight riding pant, or to walk around town after you long day of riding. They look like a pair of black nylon jeans, with a pair of front pockets, waist adjustments, and even belt loops. It too has thigh-to-cuff zippers for easy on and off, and lightweight fiberfill insulation. It’s a great idea, and when you’re on a long tour, it will save you some space in your saddlebag by being very compact to pack, or not needing an extra pair of pants. And of course, the overpant doesn’t have to be worn with the liner, and can be worn over a pair of jeans if desired, as a wind breaker layer or in the rain.
Both of these garments performed well when I used them in 38-degree morning cold, and later removed the jackets lining when the temperature hit 70. I also tried wearing the pant shell over my jeans, with the lining removed, and they are still as comfortable as they are versatile. Another great thing about the HT Overpants is that you can order them in regular or short inseam lengths. Having a short 28” inseam makes it very difficult to buy pants that don’t bunch up at the bottom, but these pants fit me well.
I tested both garments before I looked up the prices, and I would have thought that they were much more expensive. It is easy to see how much craft and workmanship went into each piece with all the zippers and Velcro, and snaps, and how wonderful each piece fits and feels. The jacket retails for $199.95, and is available in sizes Small through 3X Large. It also can be ordered in Tall, from size Medium through 2X Large. The jacket comes in 5 colors, red, black, blue, white and neon yellow. I chose the yellow for the hi-visibility factor, and it is bright enough for Stevie Wonder to see, which I really like. Whether I’m riding in bright sunshine, cloudy overcast conditions, or at night, I like the idea that motorists will definitely see me.
The HT Overpants cost $249.95 with the removable stand-alone pants liner, or you can buy just the Overpant Shell, which is made with lighter weight material, without a lining for $179.95. They come in both Men’s and Women’s waist sizes, (the women’s pants are cut specifically for women’s shape) and in Regular, Short and Tall inseams.
Nothing makes a long day in the saddle more enjoyable than wearing the right clothing, with all the convenient features. You can learn more about FIrstgear by visiting their web site at www.firstgear-usa.com. They can be ordered by your local dealer through the Tucker Rocky catalogue, as they are the exclusive distributor of Firstgear products.
2013 Yamaha FJR1300
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