gagator79 wrote:Hello all,
Any recommendations on versatile jackets for ladies? My riding friend is looking for something to use in the changable fall weather in north Georgia. Oh yeah, and it has to look good too!!
All help appreciated!
I've posted this a couple of times before, but here goes again. My wife and I both wear Tourmaster's Cortech Sport II jackets. It's an excellent all-around coat, with a waterproof, breathable Cordura outer shell, and well-placed armor and padding in the back, shoulders, and elbows.
With the included full-sleeve zipout insulated liner in place, I'm all-day good down to the low '40's. Add an electric vest, and I'm good down to freezing for at least a couple of hours (and I'm a notorious lightweight when it comes to cold temperatures). The waterproofing is good enough to have enabled us to ride through some hellacious, all-day rain and stay dry without any additional rain gear (except for rain paints and gloves, of course). I've simply stopped carrying an accessory rain jacket, and really enjoy not having to outguess the cloud cover in turbulent weather. Remove the liner, and the jacket has enough well-placed vents to be tolerable up into the low '90's, although by that point we're usually resigned to either sweating profusely or swapping the Sports for mesh.
Personally, I think it's a good-looking, understated design (that goes particularly well with a good-looking, understated motorcycle), but style, obviously, is an individual concern.
The really good news is that Tourmaster has replaced the Sport II with a new jacket called the Cortech Advanced (3/4-length) and Advanced Sport (waist-length); apparently, however, the company has dropped the women's version of this jacket, and Competition Accessories has it for half-price--$140 for the 3/4-length and $135 for the Sport.
Here's the link.
http://www.competitionaccessories.com/c ... egory=2591
By the way, CA still has Tourmaster's excellent mesh jacket, the Cortech GX Air, on sale for about half price, $100. Yep, we have a couple of these too (although we paid $180 apiece for them). Great coat with a bit more robustness than you usually find in these garments. They're also available with an optional zipout liner, but I usually just wear a lightweight nylon windbreaker underneath when the morning starts out cool (with mesh gear, anything under 70 degrees is TOO cool for me; did I mention I'm a wuss in the cold?). Do note that these jackets are VERY tailored, so if you're between sizes, I'd buy the larger one.
If full- (but still reasonable-) price is no concern, Tourmaster's new lineup includes a nice-looking, ladies-only coat called the Trinity that my wife has been eyeing. Go here:
http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/home.php?cat=13
FWIW, I've worn Tourmaster's textile riding gear for over 20 years, and have always found it to be attractive, functional, and an excellent value for the money. And, more to the really important point, they have a dedicated women's line with enough colors to satisfy the style-conscious (you know who you are).
It is good stuff with proper armor in the right places and all come with liners for temperature variations.