VOLUME ISSUE OCTOBER , P121
hold the inner layer and rain cover when
not in use, and I found this pocket to be
very handy and perfectly placed so as not
to interfere with my backpack. The jacket
also has a neoprene cell phone pocket
inside, with a reflective phone image so
you can find it in the dark. Never seen
that before.
The main front zipper is two-way, so
you can zip the bottom open a bit to keep
the jacket from riding up under your chin.
This zipper system is nonnegotiable for
me; I can't stand a jacket riding up and
interfering with my helmet. Kudos to
Tourmaster for adding a simple feature
that makes such a huge difference.
I took my time writing my review for
this kit, and my procrastination paid off
in that I got to wear it in both hot and
cold conditions. When autumn rolled
in, I added the liners to this
gear, which I'm really starting to like by
now. One thing about layered gear I have
always hated is that most liners look like
absolute crap, so you're basically forced
to bring an extra jacket if you plan to go
out to dinner or walk around town with-
out looking like a total buffoon. That's not
the case with the Zephyr kit; the jacket
liner is quite fashionable, and I love the
fact that the sleeves can be zipped off for
even more style and versatility. Tourmas-
ter calls this liner a mid-layer, and you'll
probably need a heavier thermal base
when temperatures get frigid, but I found
the kit to be perfect for cool fall days
down to about 50 degrees.
Another thing I really like about the
new Tourmaster Zephyr kit
is that the wet-weather
protection, at least for
the jacket,
MESH JACKET & PANTS
jacket-to-pant connection.
Available in small through 4X,
the Zephyr pants come in black
only, while the jacket comes in
three color options: all black,
gray on gray, and two-tone
black and beige with orange ac-
cents. The jacket and pants are
backed by a four-year warranty.
STANDOUT FEATURE
Highly versatile gear that won't break
the bank
RIDER ANALYSIS
Tourmaster sent us the black-and-beige
kit with orange highlights, so it looks per-
fect on the KTM. As I took off for my first
ride with the liner removed, I was a bit
chilly on that balmy 80-degree day. The
air streams right through the mesh pan-
els, and I was only wearing a lightweight
wicking-style T-shirt with bicycle shorts
underneath the kit, so yes, I was a bit
chilly at first. Both the jacket and pants
have lots of Velcro adjustment points, so
you can keep everything as tight or as
loose as you like. The collar on the jacket
has hold-downs on both sides (as every
riding jacket should) so you can pin the
collar down for even more airflow.
I love that the jacket has lots of pock-
ets inside and out, and the pants have
large cargo pockets with zippers and a
magnetic clasp to hold down the dust
cover. Secure cargo pockets are a must-
have for me, as I keep my Garmin inReach
in my left cargo pocket on every ride. The
jacket has a large fanny pack pocket to
this kit, and my procrastination paid off
in that I got to wear it in both hot and
cold conditions. When autumn rolled
in, I added the liners to this
new Tourmaster Zephyr kit
is that the wet-weather
protection, at least for
the jacket,
The Zephyr jacket
has plenty of
pockets, inside
and out.
