Product review: Dainese D-Explorer Gore-Tex Jacket

That is a ridiculously expensive jacket. But so far, so good! The Dainese D-Explorer has an outer shell made in a range of materials that include the hard shoulder protectors that are said to have the same abrasion resistance as leather. Plus that stretchy Mugello textile that I rather like on my other Dainese jacket. Enormous vents close off in sections, or altogether. All the fabric that closes the vents remains in the jacket which is extremely convenient. Zip-in Gore-Tex and Valtherm warm liners take care of wet, cold and wet-cold riding conditions. I haven't tested them but the Gore-Tex liner on the pants was flawless, so I don't expect any surprises.

The D-Explorer jacket is a three-fourths cut adventure touring jacket, that means many pockets. The main front pockets are both waterproof ––tested in the washing machine no less. Outside each is a convenient quick-access pocket which I think makes the jacket look a bit cumbersome. A hunter pocket across the back, a waterproof pocket on the left sleeve, and two pockets on the outside and inside of the left chest is the full complement. Wow.

CE Level 1 Wave 2 back protector is included, andthe jacket also has pockets for chest protectors. That's a great all-round spec. Does it work?

Yes. Emphatically yes. The jacket fits snug and sharp as Dainese's gear tends to and it looks good. The vents work wonderfully and it feels just a little bit bulkier than the AirTourer S-ST which I prefer for urban commuting. The neck of this jacket, by far, is the most comfortable of all the jackets I have ever owned.

Niggles? The sleeve and torso adjusters are impossible to use when wearing the jacket though they're easy to cinch when there is no one in the jacket. I also think the zip and two snaps on the cuff are not as adjustable as I would have liked the cuff to be. This is a seriously good, extremely versatile jacket. Matched with the pants, the D-Explorer set feels great. But the expense? This is Dainese's top adv gear, and the quality, effectiveness and materials all fit the price. It is, that said, expensive enough for Dainese to not stock this in India - I had to get them to order it especially for me.

I find that moto-gear lasts a long time, and while I do raise an eyebrow at the total price, I don't mind the expense. The D-Explorer is the sort of quality and versatility that I was expecting. It should last almost 10 years barring crashes in my riding. Across that time period, though, the price isn't quite as outrageous. At least, that is what I am telling myself.

Price: Rs 69,999

Available at: 

Dainese India,
dainesedstore.in

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