Great information. Loving the gear reviews. With that said, I hope you have intentions on creating a video in the near future that covers dual sport riding gear for extremely hot conditions. This has been the biggest struggle for me when it comes to choosing gear. The summer time, down here in the south, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, where the heat is practically unbearable due to the humidity factor, we need options. I lived in California for a year, I know the people who live there don’t understand what it’s like here. Fall, winter, spring, not a problem at all when it comes to gear. I can wear the same suit for those 3 seasons, and just change it up a little bit. Summer time on the other hand, it’s difficult to stay safe and protected, and not pass out from heat exhaustion.
Nice, and loving the multiple uploads in such a short period. The jackets itself looks like a slightly tweaked Sand 2 (if anyone can remember that jacket from 2014). What I never get is why so many manufacturers opt for this light silver, beige, white colour on something that is going to be used for adventure touring. They tend to get dirty pretty much right after the first use, and although they can be washed they are never the same.
The other thing I like about the rain shell fitting on the outside rather than the inside is if some rain sneaks up on you, it's faster to get on. PLUS, if it's already raining you're not taking off your shell and getting your t-shirt, base layer, or inside of the shell wet!
I have the original offtrack. The only thing I don't like about it is the big front top vents, you really have to put in the thermal liner if you want to turn it off. I think I'm going for the defender next. I really wish they would size the rain liner to be worn on the outside of the jacket like the offtrack.
This jacket has cheap non-YKK zippers that break easy and lots of Velcro. I returned for the Sand 4 which has higher quality zips, better arm vents, and zips/snaps and less Velcro. The Sand jacket liner can be worn over the jacket too, but maybe not as purpose built for that.
would be helpful if you added a section that would help to chose how suitable this gear is to certain riding styles comparing to competitors, where it works better and where its worse, for example depending on weather, on/off road, what features feel like gimmicks etc. also where it stands in the lineup, for example this vs sand 4, whats the difference between 2 lines of clothing
Great review. I have started to wear an Alpinestar Bionic Action jacket that I can wear a jersey over. If it's cold I can throw on a heated vest and wind and/or rain jacket and pants. All don't take up much space and much more flexible for weather changes. You mentioned that you might look at that in a future video. Looking forward to it.
Yes ! I also went that layering system. More modular (especially for on and off road use) and cheaper than that full set. Plus you can use your warm jacket and waterproof jacket outside of riding...
What about abrasion resistance in the road? I was thinking about going that way my self but want to also have a shell that is abrasion resistant on the road
Hi from Europe! Where would you see the difference to the Sand 4 Jacket? Which would you recommend in what environment or riding sytle? Thanks for the great review!
Good reviews. When you mention fit please include your weight and height. Thank you. Also, your Sand 4 is a Large and you went with an XL with the Offtrack 2? Did you find the Sand 4 in a large a little to "snuggly". Yes, you said snuggly in your Sand 4 review:)
I love this set! I keeo the rain liner in the pants and its still cool enough even here in florida, i dont mind my upper half getting wet as long as my garne sg12 dont become rain buckets
thank you for review, i was considering to buy Sand 4, but dont like the internal wp liner, now the Offtrack 2 has it over the jacket which i preffer, but you mentioned the potencial Sand 5, do you have any info or rumors that is coming for example this year? :)
If you were looking for pants for winter riding, but also for staying indoors a lot, would these suffice? The climate that I live in is not exactly cold, in winter it rarely goes below 5 degrees celsius and there's no central heating. So rooms are usually either not heated at all or with the AC. If I wore jeans underneath the riding pants, that would either be too hot on the bike or too cold inside, depending on the day. Besides, it's just too much fuss putting them on and taking them off. I find it hard to pick the right pair of pants to not feel cold while on the bike, but still maintaining that ability to stay indoors with riding pants on.
Hey Ian, what do you think of the Airbag Revit offers, that you can wear under your jacket? They talk about it on every product page, including the offtrack. I would also love to see a video on airbags for adventure and Offroad riding in general, as the technology seems to be picking up.
Looks like neck even though max wide is still pushing/tight on neck. That’s the issue w the euro brands, they have skinny euro dudes. They need to make the neck larger for Americans who have shoulder muscles
Question Ian, can you put the pants rain layer on the outside of the pants as well? I also much prefer my rain layer on the outside, been looking for some textile pants for warm summer riding, with the option to have a layer on the outside in rain
Hi, im between this Offtrack 2 H2O and the Sand 4, which one would you recommend ? Give me the liiight to choose one please, I’m looking for a traveling jacket, I Libe in Colombia and have all climates on the same trip, from very hot to rainy high mountains
I second Ian's comment. For me the Baja is a three and a half season ensemble (I'm coastal SoCal). Airflow is fantastic. If my ride will include off road, I remove the armor from the jacket and wear a Moose Racing armor shirt...the Baja flows enough to get air into and under my armor. I use a Triumph branded rain jacket or a THOR Pack jacket as a wind breaker layer when it cools down, and a heated liner when it gets cold. In between I use fleece mids, and Marino or tech fabric bases for cold or hot. Cool vest or heavy cotton sweat shirt soaked in water for crossing the Mojave in August =P Just bought the MCR zippered mid-layer Ian reviewed last week (through his link) and was very pleased with my test ride this weekend with it. I can tolerate cold better on my legs, but if I'm facing potentially cold weather, I have an old Fieldsheer wind/rain shell with full leg zippers that allow donning over the boots.
Why does everybody put some useless ugly pockets on their jackets? It makes them ugly, vulnerable and why put stuff outside, like making trouble for movement while riding. The look would be more clean and elegant without this unusable visual disturbance design!
That's the exact jacket I've purchased (same color even), still haven't had a chance to take it on a long trip, but it should do fine here in Colombia (where climate can drastically change within a couple hours). Are there any pants you would recommend for 4 season riding Ian, or what approach would you take?
