PRoductreviews REV'IT Defender Pro GTX By Bill Wiegand #180584
THE OLDER I GET, THE MORE PAR- ticular I get about the gear I buy. I guess I’ve been too cold, too hot or too wet too many times to put up with it anymore. There’s a lot of great gear out there,
and if money were no object I’d have a dozen different sets of outfits to wear. But, money is an object, which makes my decision even more difficult as I know I’ll be living with whatever I choose for many miles. After spending way too much time
surfing the web researching options, I realized I kept coming back to the REV’IT Defender Pro GTX jacket and pants. I took that as a sign. REV’IT’s website says the Defender Pro GTX is designed for “those who dream of exploring uncharted hori- zons and don’t stop until they fulfill that dream.” Well, as a dreamer and a sucker for marketing hype, I placed my order. Then, with the tracking number generated, I impatiently fol- lowed my order from Philadelphia to my Illinois home. Hearing the deep rumble of the
UPS truck stopping in front of my house, I arrived at my front door just as a man in brown did. My new gear was here. I hoped I had made the right choice. Out of the box, I found the
Defender Pro GTX jacket and pants comfortable and easily adjustable over the base and mid-layers I put on. So far, so good. The Defender Pro GTX jacket and
pants are made using a proprietary Teflon-coated fabric called PWDshell 750D, with a heavier PWDshell 1000D material used in the impact areas of the elbows, shoulders and forearms. Other materials used include leather on the inside of the knees and anti- slip pads on the butt to grip the seat.
26 BMW OWNERS NEWS February 2017 While the Teflon coating on the outer
shell helps repel water during light showers, the real rain protection is offered by a zip-in Gore-Tex liners. While the liner also offers an extra layer adding a bit of warmth in cool weather, for cold weather riding an addi- tional mid-layer or heated gear is necessary. To accommodate the use of mid and base
layers, the Defender Pro GTX offers an adjustable rail system on the forearms and waist to allow riders to move adjustment straps as needed. On the forearms, a single strap can be moved about six inches up and down the “rails” while on the waist, two straps offer adjustment from just under the armpit to the waist. A zippered gusset on each hip offers additional jacket sizing, and Velcro straps at the wrists secure cuffs over gloves. Impact protection is offered by Seeflex
CE-Level 2 armor in the shoulders, elbows, back and knees, while Seesoft armor pro- vides hip protection. Jacket venting is provided by two large
chest vents, two mid-body vents, full arm vents and a horizontal back vent just below the shoulders. Front and rear thigh vents offer flow air through the pants. Ample storage is offered by two mid-
chest pockets, two lower pockets with hand warmer slits, an expandable rabbit pouch in back, a left sleeve pocket and two inside pockets. There is also a “secret” pocket sewn into the hem of the jacket in case you need to stash some cash or documents when traveling in suspicious places. The pants offer two zippered hip pockets. One of my favorite REV’IT features, the fleece- lined collar and its five-position adjustable snap along with the hook to hold the collar open when needed, is designed into the Defender Pro GTX. Reflectivity is offered by front and rear panels No doubt about it, REV’IT’s Defender
Pro GTX comes with an impressive list of features. After nearly 40,000 miles over
nearly two years, the Defender Pro GTX has proven to be a solid choice. Riding in sub-freezing temperatures, I
was comfortable with my heated gear. Wearing only a t-shirt and with all the vents open, I was just as comfortable riding in the desert of southern Nevada with tempera- tures above the 100-degree mark. I can also attest to the protection offered
by the Defender Pro GTX. Riding the Washington BDR, an ankle-twisting low- side and a rib-cracking highside proved the gear’s durability with only a buckle showing damage. With my cracked ribs healed, a couple of impressive get-offs along the Nevada BDR left me only embarrassed. Some riders hate Gore-Tex liners and
prefer gear with a Gore-Tex outer shell. In choosing the Defender Pro GTX, I chose lighter gear with the option to add rain resistance as needed. With 20/20 hindsight, I now believe a Gore-Tex shell may have been the better choice. Perhaps it’s because the Teflon coating on the jacket and pants weakened over time allowing the outer shell to become saturated in the rain, but the gear seems to take longer to dry. That’s not a problem in the heat of the summer, but put- ting on gear still damp from the previous day ride and heading out into 40 degree temperatures is no fun and has me surfing the web again. Wet weather aside, I can say that overall,
I’ve been happy with my purchase of the REV’IT Defender Pro GTX jacket and pants. The outfit looks good, is comfort- able, offers solid protection, vents well and with the Gore-Tex liners, keeps me dry. As a motorcyclist, can I really expect to
be perfectly comfortable in every riding condition, or is occasional discomfort sim- ply part of the charm of being a rider? The REV’IT Defender Pro GTX carries
an MSRP of $899.99 for the jacket and $639.99 for the pants. For additional infor- mation and to find a dealer near you, visit
www.revitsport.com.
member tested
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