Aerostich Darien Jacket Review, After My First Big Trip 

Stitch jacket wearer here. Mine does the job extremely well. Got hit while wearing it, no road rash. got it repaired and still works well.

Aerostich sells a windproof pullover that works very well with this jacket. I have a Fallstaff jacket that isn't nearly as warm as it looks but with the liner I am very comfortable down to sub 50 F. Colder than that requires a warmer shirt underneath. I live in Florida and appreciate that it isn't very warm.

I have a Darian and a Darien light that I have had for 20 years. I have sent the light back for refurbishing one time. Because there is no mesh liner you will wear the gortex in places compromising the water “resistance”. I see they have made some changes like adding the sleeve adjustment straps , collar changes, and eliminated some pockets. The Darien’s both regular and light are good jackets though there are better choices now. They used to be a status symbol at rallies. I also toured the store and factory in Duluth. They are like Harley because they are repairable not desposible , not made in some far off land in a sweatshop. They can be tailored to fit you. I think I paid about $350 for mine. They are American made and that means something to me.

I have a one piece Roadcrafter 2 light and very short arms and legs. It was very nice being able to get a suit that is tailored to me.

Love my Hi Viz jacket! I clean it once a year at most and soak it in the tub and then use a paste of Borax (no bleach) and water using a scrub brush and then go over it again with Prosolve. Takes a bit of time but comes out looking like new and it is 7 years old.

Thanks for this review. I just ordered my Darien Jacket last week, also in Hi Vis Yellow!!

I have 10+ years on my Darian light Hi-vis. Yes the seam sealing tape does wear. But I went to a popup in CA and asked about repair. They looked at my jacket and GAVE me a roll of tape so I could do the repair myself. Hard to find service that good. Just bought an R3 light. Both work great.

Roll the bottom of the jacket under neath itself at front to shorten its length. I have a Darien Jacket still going strong made in 1999.

Been riding with a Darien suit for 5 years. Never failed me. However just like you I was surprised how much air come through... But happy in summer months. As for the vents having no mesh, it is something I got used to. The back vent, when I keep it open, I keep the two zippers in the center. As for the armpit vents, I don't open those too much, since having a bee fly inside my jacket once. Though less scary than having a bee fly inside my helmet going nearly inside my ear 😂. Enjoy the Darien.

Glad you had a great safe ride with your new jacket! I own a few myself and I'm now learning what to wear when, especially if it's gusty out here in Texas.

Your Klime alone keeps you warmer in the 50 degree range . Then that would mean it gets hotter sooner in the 60's and above. Which means the Darien is working better.

Perfect that on b-roll, your breast pocket is unzipped. That’s something I do all the time, occasionally losing items. Seems like the curse of the ‘Stich jackets. I am on my second Darien and had an original Roadcrafter purchased in 1996 and I have been consistently impressed with Aerostich. I visited the factory last year and that reinforced my perspective. Re: the back vent zipper, if you meet the two zippers in the middle, the hole is much less pronounced.

Thanks for the review. It seems to me that there are too many. "got to get used to it" stuff. I'll keep riding with my KLIM Carlsbad jacket.

A good inner could be 509 FZN Merino Hoody I like it in colder weather . Alain & Yellow

My key fob stays in my pants pocket. If they want it they have to take me too!

I just purchased the Warm & Safe heated shirt ( not the heated jacket). So far it’s worked well. I like the fact that it draws less power than a heated jacket.

I never used other brands of gear but I am familiar with Aerostich clothes. I lived in the NY/NJ/PA area while I owned a RoadCrafter 2 piece (which I kept for about 20 years) then went to a Darien (jacket and pants) which I had about ten years. Lots of trips and lots of miles. The suits were both very well built. I don’t think they are really broken in until they are washed 5-10 times (don’t laugh). Both my RoadCrafter and the Darien Jacket were royal blue. The blue fades over time but it remains quite serviceable for a long time. Both have wonderful pockets and the pit back zips and sleeve vents are awesome and driving air through the suit at speed. Both suits can be enhanced if you buy a bag of ice and fill the pockets. Alternatively, we used to spray our shirts with a spray maker and that works for about an hour or so as well. I favored the RoadCrafter for its comfort. It fit like a glove after break in. Very luxurious. The Darien on the other hand, is designed to allow you to tailor it to your environmental needs but I never liked it the summer, without something on under it like pants or sweats. I didn’t enjoy riding in the empty suit as much. Nor did it feel as protective. Now, in cold weather the Darien offered more flexibility in controlling your body temperature. I guess at the high or low temperature extremes, the Darien is better.For more than 90% of riding, I would take the RoadCrafter

This was a useful review. I could be way off, but the jacket strikes me as an armored and slightly heavier version of a gore-tex rain coat I had for years and never really liked so it's not grabbing me. I'm eyeing up the AD-1 pants sized to be pants, though. Not sized as over-pants, and in tan. I like grunge as much as the next guy, but not so much when it's attached to hi-viz. My Helite Turtle is high-viz and I also question the effectiveness. If the yellow running lights aren't enough, then I give up.

I ride 5-6 days a week all year long in NYC. That filth on the jacket would drive me batshit crazy. I do wear hi viz orange rain gear. I get a lot of stupid comments about that but I don’t care. It’s better than getting run over. Ride safe Craig.

Very interesting review, but is this jacket in fact the Darien Light? That would explain some of the details/features of the jacket and why it needs liners for warmth. I bought an Aerostich Roadcrafter last year (the most expensive jacket I have ever bought), and I love it. I always wanted an Aerostich. My jacket has some mesh lining behind vents. AND, I absolutely love the right chest pocket--it is huge. Hi-Viz for safety, and I think people do see it.

Thanks for the review. You and I have similar thoughts on the Darien. The collar was (and still is, to an extent) annoying. I hope it will get a little more comfortable as the fabric breaks in. I like your comments regarding our need to adapt ourselves to something new - rather than expecting everything too be effortless from the get-go. Too often, people complain that something is "defective" or of "poor design," when what they really need to do is give themselves some time to adapt to the thing in question. It is one of our super-powers, as human beings...the ability to adapt.

Buy the Darien fleece liner..it has zippers in underarms to match jacket

Thanks for review. Do you know when you are planning on leaving for your Alaska trip?

Do they sell a liner you can attach to the jacket? My Garibaldi jacket has a liner I can zip to the inside during the winter. I thread the cables for my heated gloves between the liner and the jacket.

Of all the reviews/comments I didn’t see anyone praised it for it’s rain protection. Or did I miss that. Val

Aerostitch and Klim are great brands, but if one doesn't have hundreds of dollars to spend on a jacket, there are less expensive alternatives that do the job just as well, and better in some cases. Case in point, I bought the HWK ADV jacket off of Amazon for 80 bucks and it has lasted 2 winters now with no issues and has performed well. It has a zip out thermal liner, abundant ventilation, CE rated armor, good pockets and is made of Cordura nylon. The velcro is still grippy, and keeps the cold and wet out very well. If needed, I wear a base layer under 45 degrees, and the collar irritation is something that all of them have. All in all, it's a great "budget jacket" and does everything a jacket costing $650 more does, spendy Goretex is highly overrated. People may make fun of my "banana jacket", but I'm at the age that I don't care, I'm still wearing it and staying warm, road grime and all, from a distance I still can be seen as a banana on a bike. In the summer months I switch over to my cheap Joe Rocket Hi Viz mesh to stay cool. Stay safe and warm!

Craig, did you snap the collar down in the low position when it got warmer?

Craig, great review as always. Leads to a couple of questions: First, since the vent across the back is horizontal, is there a place for back armor? Second, I have never see the Darian jacket, but it seems seriously tough (protection against the elements) . I am wearing a Klim Marrakesh jacket, which is 1000D Cordura throughout, but in a stretchy, breathable weave. It also must have layers in colder temps, and its not waterproof. But when you add the Klim Forecast Goretex rain and windproof shell, is it reasonable to think the combination is as tough as the Darian jacket or is not even in the same league? Again, I haven't seen the Darian, so I haven't been able to compere them myself.

Random question… are you a HAM? My friend is convinced you are. (I am… and this came up in random conversation about your review)

I bought beautiful new Vanson jacket & pants, but very often I ride in my 50 year old leathers. They are well broken in and look way cooler! 😢 Sometimes I wear a hi-viz with inserts that I picked up from the marked down rack at cycle gear. Branded BILT, it was around 80 bucks. Warm in cool weather, cool in hot weather (except the back insert area), waterproof (must be worn with gauntlet gloves), easy to don & doff, all in all a comfortable & serviceable jacket. The Sedici waterproof pants are more water resistant than waterproof tho.

I personally don't care for their jackets. They're boxy, uncomfortable, ugly and unrefined. I prefer either Klim, Dainese or Revit.

I don't see the benefit of this jacket compared to a similarly priced Klim Carlsbad.