“Hey, Sam, try not to hurt yourself, would ya?” It was the last week in February, and I could barely cross the office without hearing those words (or some semblance thereof) again and again. Sometimes they’d be offered as a straight-faced warning, other times lobbed as a humorous taunt. The bottom line was, everyone seemed fairly certain that I was going to crash. My colleagues. How I adore them.

Truth be told, everyone had good reason to blather on about my impending doom. You see, I’d just been tapped to attend an off-road school where I’d learn the skills necessary for handling large dual-sport bikes in dirt. I was then to put those skills to use banging around the Mojave Desert. Anybody who’s ever done that sort of riding knows that the possibilities for getting tossed are endless.

If I were to preserve myself at all, I needed some serious gear. And who better to turn to than Andy Goldfine, owner and soft-spoken sage behind Aerostich RiderWearhouse. I explained my situation to Andy (cold mornings, hot days, dirt, mud, possible rain, probable wipeouts). He suggested a pair of the company’s Combat Touring Boots (serious footwear, to be reviewed in a future issue) and the renowned Darien jacket and pants. Andy also felt I should opt for the lightweight version of each, without optional electric liners, as I was going to be in the desert, not the Sierras.

Both the jacket and pants are made of an absurdly tough Cordura/Gore-Tex combination and feature Viscoelastic TF2 energy-absorbing, removable foam pads that actually get stronger the harder and faster they’re struck. For better or worse, during my desert sojourn I put these pads to the test many more times than I’d care to admit. But my shoulders, arms, elbows, and knees remained fully protected and entirely intact. Viscoelastic TF2 rules!

The jacket has eight pockets, waterproof venting, a cinch belt, fixed Velcro for additional padding, a sleeve-mounted map pocket… and the list goes on. It’s not just a jacket, it’s a machine. As if that’s not enough, there’s also a very stylish windblocking fleece that can easily be worn on its own when your riding day is done.

Honestly, I can’t say enough about the Darien jacket and pants. If you fancy yourself hardcore, you should be wearing this stuff — whether you plan on crashing or not. RB

SOURCES

Darien Jacket
$367-587
Sizes S-XXXL

Darien Pants $287
Waist size 30-46
Aerostich RiderWearhouse
800/222-1994
aerostich.com