I have to admit that I’ve got a thing for riding apparel, jackets especially, and particularly the modern textile jacket. A good leather jacket is great and stylish, but I appreciate the features, comfort and flexibility of a well-designed and practical textile jacket.
The only problem, if it can even be called a problem, is that they’re not always suitable for ‘social’ events; you always look as if you’re wearing a bike jacket, which isn’t always appropriate, no matter how much we might like the look.
I hope you have all read Bjorn’s review of the latest arrival to these shores, the BobHead range of biking apparel, brought in by the guys at Behind The Bars. In BobHead, there is a range of products that tick a lot of boxes not ticked by other offerings on the market right now.
(Yes, I know that two reviews of the same product in a short space of time is slightly overkill, but, having tried them for myself, I couldn’t resist singing their praises.)
There are two types of jacket; leather and what BobHead call ‘protective’ shirts, with a cotton outer. It is with the latter that this review is concerned.
Basically, what you are looking at is what looks like an ordinary brushed cotton ‘lumberjack’ shirt, but with a very useful level of built-in impact and abrasion resistance.
Behind the cotton layer is a layer of Kevlar, which provides the abrasion resistance as well as a surprising level of wind protection. Behind that is a mesh lining and, incorporated into that, is shoulder, back and elbow armour; not full, thick armour, as you might find in a dedicated adventure jacket, which would be too bulky, but protection all the same. High-quality YKK zips fasten at the front and the cuffs, with gunmetal poppers finishing it off.
It’s stylish, comfortable and could literally be worn anywhere. In the heat of a Gauteng summer’s day, it is a warm jacket – there is no ventilation – but, given the tendency for evenings to be cool, you would appreciate the insulation on the ride home in the dark. Similarly, it’s not waterproof, but again, I don’t see that as a deal-breaker, given the number of waterproof over-jackets that pack up super small and are carried easily.
If I have any slight criticism, it is that there are only two chest pockets, neither big enough to fit a modern smartphone (that’s an issue that you don’t have with the Camel Protective Jacket as introduced by Bjorn in his review). It’s not a deal-breaker and is rendered null and void if a backpack or waist pack is worn.
But, really, in the face of style and comfort, any minor criticisms melt away, and this jacket is supremely comfortable and, to my mind, very stylish. It’s the apparel equivalent of a modern classic motorcycle, such as a Triumph Bonneville; retro style on the outside, modern engineering and safety on the inside.
One thing I would point out is that, when ordering online, make sure to go for a larger size than you might normally expect to. I generally take a Medium and, while the Medium Lumberjack shirt fits me like a glove, I would appreciate a little more room, which a Large would afford, if only to be able to wear more than a t-shirt underneath. To their credit, this is something that BobHead recognise, stating on their website that the sizing is based on European measurements and that other countries should consider moving up a size or two when ordering.
I’ll bring you a long-term report in a few months, but for now, I can’t recommend the Lumberjack Protective Shirt highly enough. It’s something different.
For more information on BOBHEAD gear, visit – www.behindthebars.co.za
