melensdad
Well-Known Member
I posted a thread about some Rev'it Tornado 2 pants and got a question about a jacket I own. Gave the short answer to this question on that thread.
So here is the full answer, with photos. Hope this helps.
The Kilimanjaro is a waterproof shell with a modest amount of venting. I've never worn it in a torrential downpour but its good in modest rain, which is the hardest rain I've worn it in. Zippers are YKK brand and several are their WaterProof style, some are only their WaterResistent type. The shell material is some sort of cacona (sp?) material that is similar to Gore-Tex. It is claimed to be breathable like Gore-Tex but is made by a different company. The "37.5" refers to the natural body temperature (98.6F for us Americans) and the claim is that the material helps the body maintain the proper temperature. Not sure how. I think that is just hype.
That said I really like the jacket a lot. Hanging with other gear, you can see it is NOT a HI-Viz jacket but the green patches do help it stand out a bit.
It is NOT insulated. You need to layer under it for warmth. If it is breathable it is about the same as the real Gore-Tex branded stuff that I own, which I don't find particularly breathable. I have other brands that claim breathability and don't find those particularly breathable either. If you are comfortable in Gore-Tex on a hot sunny day then you will probably be comfortable in this ... if you sweat in Gore-Tex on a hot sunny day then you will sweat in this. I sweat in this jacket on hot sunny days if I don't have airflow going through the vents.
I have worn this from 50 degrees (F) up to the mid-80's (F). It is comfortable up to about 80, if and only if, you are moving. Get stopped and you will start to bake if it is sunny and humid. This jacket is best below 75(F) degrees. At 50(F) wearing a merino pull over and a sweater, with all the vents closed, I was comfortable. I wish it had a bit more venting for high humidity and really hot days.
The fabric is tough but still flexible and still soft enough to the touch to be comfortable. There are also stretch panels that help make it even more comfortable. There is claimed abrasion resistance that is similar to moderate grade Cordura. Fabric on the body is 420 denier and the impact areas are 620 denier. I hope to never test that out. I also hope to never test out the body armor. As for armor, it is D3O CE Level I armor at the elbows, shoulders and back. The back protector is D3O's upgraded T5 armor, which offers impact protection over a wider temperature range. It is apparently adjustable, but the jacket fits me like it was tailored for me. I own a size large, wear a 42L in a suit coat. In addition to the armor there are 2 chest "pads" that are only padding, not CE rated. I suppose they might protect from some rock impacts?
In addition to the impact protection and abrasion resistance there are some reflective pieces for night riding. Mine is the White/Black/Green style. Not quite HI-Viz, but it is fairly eye catching. They do offer a bright yellow HI-Viz jacket. I would have preferred that, but I got this from a dealer who was closing them out, he had 1 in my size and I got it at about 1/2 retail when I also bought some other gear.
The cuffs have 2 way zippers which are really nice for allowing some venting but still keeping the cuff in place. The shoulder vents are nice, flow some air, but the velcro that is used to hold them open could have been designed a bit better to allow more air flow. There are exterior 2 chest pocket, those are nice but would be better if they were mesh inside so they could do double duty as vents + pockets. Sadly they are not. Cuff pocket is nice for holding a garage door opener or I-Pass. Collar is nicely adjustable and comfortable. Rear vents are nice, flow plenty of air, but can't be zipped up/down while wearing the jacket.
Waterproof zippers on the chest pockets. ... These chest pockets are lined with a wind resistant nylon so even if you open them on a hot day you will NOT get any real airflow. I honestly am thinking of taking this jacket to a seamstress and having her change the inside of the pocket material to mesh. If they were mesh the pockets would do "double duty" as both vents and pockets. Not a perfect solution but it would help on a hot and humid day.
Air vents at the shoulders with velcro tabs to keep them open. The velcro works, but could be better.
Collar detail. It is secure, adjustable and comfortable.
1 of the chest pads, located behind the chest pockets, using D3O material. It is not CE rated.
Right size internal zipper pocket above a lower pocket that has a velcro top closure.
Back armor.
Left size internal pockets. There is a dedicated phone pocket and a grommet for running heated gear.
Zippered hand warmer pockets on the outside, there are also torso adjusters on the side of the jacket.
2 adjusters on the arm to keep it in place plus velcro at the cuff.
There is no zipper to connect the tail of the coat to your pants, however the tail of the coat is a bit longer than the front and there are shock cord cinches to adjust it.
2 zippered back vents that help flow a lot of air and work great in conjunction with the shoulder vents. These cannot be adjusted up or down while actually wearing the jacket (unless you are a hell of a lot more flexible than I am or have baboon length arms).
So here is the full answer, with photos. Hope this helps.
The Kilimanjaro is a waterproof shell with a modest amount of venting. I've never worn it in a torrential downpour but its good in modest rain, which is the hardest rain I've worn it in. Zippers are YKK brand and several are their WaterProof style, some are only their WaterResistent type. The shell material is some sort of cacona (sp?) material that is similar to Gore-Tex. It is claimed to be breathable like Gore-Tex but is made by a different company. The "37.5" refers to the natural body temperature (98.6F for us Americans) and the claim is that the material helps the body maintain the proper temperature. Not sure how. I think that is just hype.
That said I really like the jacket a lot. Hanging with other gear, you can see it is NOT a HI-Viz jacket but the green patches do help it stand out a bit.
It is NOT insulated. You need to layer under it for warmth. If it is breathable it is about the same as the real Gore-Tex branded stuff that I own, which I don't find particularly breathable. I have other brands that claim breathability and don't find those particularly breathable either. If you are comfortable in Gore-Tex on a hot sunny day then you will probably be comfortable in this ... if you sweat in Gore-Tex on a hot sunny day then you will sweat in this. I sweat in this jacket on hot sunny days if I don't have airflow going through the vents.
I have worn this from 50 degrees (F) up to the mid-80's (F). It is comfortable up to about 80, if and only if, you are moving. Get stopped and you will start to bake if it is sunny and humid. This jacket is best below 75(F) degrees. At 50(F) wearing a merino pull over and a sweater, with all the vents closed, I was comfortable. I wish it had a bit more venting for high humidity and really hot days.
The fabric is tough but still flexible and still soft enough to the touch to be comfortable. There are also stretch panels that help make it even more comfortable. There is claimed abrasion resistance that is similar to moderate grade Cordura. Fabric on the body is 420 denier and the impact areas are 620 denier. I hope to never test that out. I also hope to never test out the body armor. As for armor, it is D3O CE Level I armor at the elbows, shoulders and back. The back protector is D3O's upgraded T5 armor, which offers impact protection over a wider temperature range. It is apparently adjustable, but the jacket fits me like it was tailored for me. I own a size large, wear a 42L in a suit coat. In addition to the armor there are 2 chest "pads" that are only padding, not CE rated. I suppose they might protect from some rock impacts?
In addition to the impact protection and abrasion resistance there are some reflective pieces for night riding. Mine is the White/Black/Green style. Not quite HI-Viz, but it is fairly eye catching. They do offer a bright yellow HI-Viz jacket. I would have preferred that, but I got this from a dealer who was closing them out, he had 1 in my size and I got it at about 1/2 retail when I also bought some other gear.
The cuffs have 2 way zippers which are really nice for allowing some venting but still keeping the cuff in place. The shoulder vents are nice, flow some air, but the velcro that is used to hold them open could have been designed a bit better to allow more air flow. There are exterior 2 chest pocket, those are nice but would be better if they were mesh inside so they could do double duty as vents + pockets. Sadly they are not. Cuff pocket is nice for holding a garage door opener or I-Pass. Collar is nicely adjustable and comfortable. Rear vents are nice, flow plenty of air, but can't be zipped up/down while wearing the jacket.
Waterproof zippers on the chest pockets. ... These chest pockets are lined with a wind resistant nylon so even if you open them on a hot day you will NOT get any real airflow. I honestly am thinking of taking this jacket to a seamstress and having her change the inside of the pocket material to mesh. If they were mesh the pockets would do "double duty" as both vents and pockets. Not a perfect solution but it would help on a hot and humid day.
Air vents at the shoulders with velcro tabs to keep them open. The velcro works, but could be better.
Collar detail. It is secure, adjustable and comfortable.
1 of the chest pads, located behind the chest pockets, using D3O material. It is not CE rated.
Right size internal zipper pocket above a lower pocket that has a velcro top closure.
Back armor.
Left size internal pockets. There is a dedicated phone pocket and a grommet for running heated gear.
Zippered hand warmer pockets on the outside, there are also torso adjusters on the side of the jacket.
2 adjusters on the arm to keep it in place plus velcro at the cuff.
There is no zipper to connect the tail of the coat to your pants, however the tail of the coat is a bit longer than the front and there are shock cord cinches to adjust it.
2 zippered back vents that help flow a lot of air and work great in conjunction with the shoulder vents. These cannot be adjusted up or down while actually wearing the jacket (unless you are a hell of a lot more flexible than I am or have baboon length arms).
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