![]() ![]() In fact, the only complaint I have with the jacket is the hook portion of the Velcro on the collar tends to grab the fabric cover of my helmet’s chin strap. The collar is lined with a soft fabric and features a cutout where it contacts the throat – something many jackets overlook. The jacket has a nylon belt that is D-ring adjustable while the pants use Velcro adjustments. The Andes jacket and pants connect via a zippered waist panel that is elasticized for comfort. The Drystar shell has three Velcro-closed pockets for things that need to stay dry. The giant lower back pocket offers a convenient place to store things like the jacket’s liner. At chest level, two exterior and one interior pockets offer quick but only water resistant access to small items like your cell phone or wallet. The two lower front hand pockets are zippered and covered with a storm flap to ensure watertightness. The jacket has tremendous cargo carrying capacity that ranges from easy to access but only water resistant to hard-core waterproofed storage. Bionic Chest Pads can be added for $40, but no Bio-Armor option is available for the chest.ĭaily use of the Andes points to Alpinestars’ well thought out approach to designing its gear. A Bio-Armor Back Protector will only set you back $30. I opted for the $80 Bionic Air Back Insert with dual honeycomb construction for protection as well as ventilation. ![]() Optional Bio-Armor or Bionic protectors are available for those who want more protection. The jacket also features two chest pockets and one back protector pocket that come with poly-foam padding. The major impact areas on the elbows, arms and knees are the same 600-denier poly-fabric textile as the rest of the jacket but with, according to Alpinestars, a special “TPU (Thermo-plastic Polyurethane), in print texture form… applied to critical wear areas to help protect the outer surface.” The Andes Drystar also receives printed reflective coatings that accentuate the style of the gear while providing important nighttime conspicuity. This foam-based armor is flexible enough to be comfortable and allow free movement while providing energy absorption on impact. The rider’s bendy parts are covered by CE-certified Bio-Armor elbow, shoulder, and knee protectors. The armor offered in the Andes lives up to Alpinestars’ reputation for building sturdy, protective gear. Product Review: Joe Rocket Classic ’92 Jacket Review This pairing has become my regular gear for winter rides. On a recent ride where temperatures dropped down below freezing, my body was kept quite warm. Unfortunately, the Drystar membrane is not quite as breathable as Gore-Tex, which Alpinestars uses on its top of the line Tech-Touring gear.įor colder weather, the Andes has removable thermal liners in the jacket and pants. The pants offer a zippered vent on the back of each thigh to extract moisture and heat, but there are no corresponding air intakes. When closed, the flap creates a dam that prevents direct water access to the main zipper. The gauntlet on the jacket’s front zipper is divided into two pieces, allowing the top half to be snapped open for more cooling air to the rider’s chest. Product Review: Alpinestars 2014 Street Collection Still, the jacket gets toastier than those equipped with Gore-Tex. You’ll never get the cooling as with a perforated jacket, but the two intake vents at the shoulders do a decent job of grabbing the wind blast and directing it between the jacket’s layers. In dry weather, this dual construction allows the air to circulate between the two layers and draw moisture (remember the liner is breathable) and heat away through the two exit vents.
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