VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P105
STANDOUT FEATURE
• Ultra-High-Quality and Super
High Tech
• Designed for extreme
weather conditions
RIDER ANALYSIS
The REV'IT! Stratum GTX Motorcycle
Touring Jacket/Pant combo drips of
quality. I've been wearing the suit for
several months, and it still looks and
feels as good as new. The outer layer
materials are still slightly stiff, but
the base layers are as soft and flex-
ible as ever. There is no sign of wear
or weakness; in other words, nothing
has broken or come apart yet (and I
doubt it will any time soon, either).
I've experienced extreme cold
and plenty of significant heat while
wearing the Stratum GTX suit, and it
passed my expectations with flying
colors. The suit's dual layers in light
snow kept me reasonably comfy for
roughly half an hour before riding
into lower elevations and warmer but
still cold temperatures. I never got
uncomfortably cold wearing the suit,
and I'm a sissy when riding in the cold.
I didn't feel the need to stop and thaw
out whatsoever. In the rain, I never felt
any wetness, but I have yet to wear the
suit in a real downpour for any length
of time. I have no doubt the suit will
perform well in these conditions.
In 80°-plus temperatures, the suit
kept me as cool as could be expected
thanks to its excellent venting, both
in the pants and jacket. I started out
on a crisp, chilly morning wearing
both layers several times and later
peeled off the outer Gore-Tex shells
when it warmed up into the upper
70s. The outer shells are somewhat
bulky and take up valuable storage
space in the bike's panniers, so if I
felt I could survive the morning with-
out them, I'd leave them at home.
I appreciated the long zippers on
the leg's outer layer that made it easy
to put on or take off. I also liked the
jacket's built-in kidney belt, which
gives it a secure and snug feel. I also
like how you can attach the rear of the
jacket to the pants and the suit's many
pockets. I didn't like, however, the
ultra-stiff zippers that are difficult to
operate, but that's because they are so
well-sealed. I guess you must take the
bad with the good here. The suit also
comes with a hood, which I never used
and eventually detached and is now
living in a drawer somewhere.
The suit is comfortable and fits me
well. If I had to guess, the suit, top and
bottom, run a tick on the small side.
Overall, the REV'IT! Stratum GTX
suit is impressive, and it better be
for the asking price. Is it worth the
money? That's hard to say, but if
you are considering plopping down
that kind of cash for a riding outfit, I
doubt you'll be disappointed.
Kit Palmer
• WELL-CONSTRUCTED
• EXCELLENT WEATHER AND
CRASH PROTECTION
• WELL-CONSTRUCTED
• PRICEY
• STIFF ZIPPERS
MOTORCYCLE
Cold weather is
not an issue while
wearing the Stratum
GTX suit.
