Armadillo Jackets - My personal opinion

pocphil · Post by **pocphil** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 7:03 am

Armadillo had a few jackets on display at the Cleveland MC show last weekend and they asked to come by the shop for a demo after the show.

They brought by about 7 different jackets for us to check out, it wasn't the full range, so I'll only comment on the Jackets we actually tested.

Ladies Macintosh Scarlett $250: The jacket is not warm lined and constructed of a nylon outer and a polyester liner. I am not a fan of Nylon jackets as they offer ZERO abrasion resistance and they will melt to your skin if you slide in them for any more than a few feet. The knit thumb-hole wrist cuff was sewn into BOTH of the jackets we tried incorrectly which either made it an incredibly awkward pinky hole, or would rotate the armor to the top of your elbow giving you no protection in a crash. Seriously, buy a proper jacket, that isn't made of a petroleum byproduct and sew in your own armor. You can buy a whole set of proper Teknic armor for $43 from any parts unlimited dealer . The tag in the back of the jacket said "London" but the tag on the inner sleeve said made in China. This jacket is definitely not worth $250. I argue that if you took out the armor the buyers at Target would turn their noses up to it. There was also no reflective material anywhere in this coat.

Men's Macintosh $250: I haven't felt this dorky since I was 8, and that was in the 70's and I had the exact same crap belt on my jacket then. The only difference was that jacket cost $10 and came from Kmart. OK, I'm not a mod, I'm not fashionable at all, and I don't know how to dress. I DO know how to crash, and you couldn't pay me enough to volunteer to go down at even sidewalk speeds in this jacket. The armor isn't contoured to match the shape of my body, and there's nothing holding it in place, so as soon as I make impact that armor is slipping out of the way and it's gonna be my skin and that nice melty nylon / polyester become one 2nd degree burn that's gonna be hell in the E.R. Once again, no reflective anything. Felt like wearing a shower curtain with a cheap plastic buckle.

Men's City Rider $190: I actually kinda liked this jacket, it has two velcro straps that cinch down your armor to keep it where you need it, it comes in a nano-flage urban camo that actually has 3m reflective in it. Offensive nylon again. Our rep swore it had Cordura Nylon reinforcement between the armor and your skin, but I inspected it thoroughly and there was no cordura anywhere in the jacket. The jacket has a ton of zippers closing off access to pockets and the armor. The problem was they chose a very poor quality zipper and you needed either 3 hands or a friend to get it to operate smoothly.

Men's Parka Khaki $310: I think this should be their ONLY product. Ok, it's still crappy nylon and it's gonna rip to shreds in the first crash because nothing is double stitched or safety stitched. There's still not a shred of reflective tape on this thing anywhere, but it's got cool pockets for all your stuff, a removable liner and armpit vents. When I put it on I noticed whoever sewed it together completely screwed up the right sleeve. The armor was on the FRONT of my elbow...not kidding, the guys doing the demo tried over and over again to make it right, but there was no helping it.

I think the Armadillo business mantra must be "Fashion first...then sew in some armor...they'll buy it" Nothing we saw was stitched together in a manner that would hold together in a crash. The nylon material itself was so thin there's no doubt I could tear it with my bare hands.

Out of the 7 jackets we tried on 4 of them had manufacturing defects. The sales guys swore these must have been "returns" that had mistakenly come out on tour with them. Not Cool either way.

My 2 cents: I wouldn't want to crash in ANY of these jackets. I wouldn't want to crash in my Davida helmet either. Sometimes people do things that don't make sense so they can look cool. Unlike the Davida which will give you SOME protection in a crash, I do worry that these may actually end up melting to you (I've crashed in a nylon Alpha flight jacket before and had it melt to my arm and back...it's awful).

When Corazzo first came out, I tried their stuff and I didn't care for the fit so I returned the lot. A year later they approached me again and they'd gotten it sorted and the quality had gone up dramatically. I signed with them because they had the combination of quality and style I could get behind. Let's hope these guys can commit to the same thing. In the interim, I'm not going to be persuaded by any amount of flashy marketing or euro-chic models.

We also carry Cortech / Tourmaster, certain Alpinestars products and certain Joe Rocket and Icon Products. There are many jackets out there today that give you excellent protection without making you look like a power ranger.

[email protected] · Post by **[email protected]** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 12:38 pm

thanks for the review i havnt bought a riding jacket yet allways alittle sceptical right now i use an army field jacket thinking about placing my own armor in it

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:09 pm

I appreciate the time you took for this very thorough review as well. I'm heading up to the Chicago show today, and one of the things that I'll be looking at are jackets, so this helps.

Rob

pocphil · Post by **pocphil** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 2:40 pm

We've found that even though they tend to target the adventure rider and BMW rider the tourmaster stuff is selling really well, folks like the features and safety.

For a mens jacket that does everything for under $200 without looking like a power ranger:

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product ... =273&cat=3

For the Ultimate "Safety" jacket (this thing has more vents, pockets and features than anything else I've seen.

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product ... =240&cat=3

It also comes in Hi-Vis yellow for the super-safety minded.

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product ... 250&cat=25

This may be too "touring" for me...but I like the idea.

DIPA · Post by **DIPA** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 4:59 pm

Thanks for the review, phil. There's been a lot of buzz about these Armadillo Jackets, it's nice to hear from someone who has actually seen them in person and tried them on.

It's unfortunate that there isn't much choice when it comes to combining fashion with safety. There is a HUGE hole in the market for a company that can make a sturdy, safe, armored jacket that fits and doesn't look like a motorcycle racing-inspired jacket (especially for the ever-growing population of female riders!) As much as I might look like a little football player in my Joe Rocket jacket, I'm confident that it will protect my skin if I go down (and it did last weekend when I had a slight mishap.)

jmazza · Post by **jmazza** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 6:01 pm

DIPA wrote:There is a HUGE hole in the market for a company that can make a sturdy, safe, armored jacket that fits and doesn't look like a motorcycle racing-inspired jacket (especially for the ever-growing population of female riders!)

Well, the obvious answer is Corazzo. But there ought to be more like them.

Thanks for the reviews, Phil. Their stuff does look pretty good so it's good to have a more in-depth look.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 8:09 pm

Thanks for your great review Phil! I'd been thinking about the men's Armadillo as a gift, but not having any access to it without just blindly ordering it was putting me off a bit (well, that and the huge price tag).

I'd heard a rumor that Corazzo was working on a parka, so we'll see if that comes to fruition. Meantime I'm looking for a reasonably priced vintage Trialmaster...anyone?

bluebuddygirl · Post by **bluebuddygirl** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 1:03 am

I was disappointed at the Cleveland show that there were Armadillo jackets on display, but there wasn't anywhere that I could see where you could actually try them on, and now I know why. I bought myself a mesh jacket and figure I can buy a "normal" jacket in a larger size than normal and wear it over the mesh when it isn't hot enough for the mesh alone. I like the "power ranger" reference, although I am already in the habit as referring to it as the "transformer" look.

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 3:18 am

I've been riding with the Parka this winter. I reviewed it when I first got it and pointed out my initial concerns. My reason for this jacket was to keep warm and I can tell you without any hesitation that it does that in spades. Yesterday it was 19 degrees when I left for work and the jacket performed marvelously. I've also ridden in about 70-75 degree weather with the lining removed and the pit vents open and it didn't over heat me at all.

Now with that said, I have to update on it a little bit here. Their quality control is lacking at best. I've had several seems come undone (all on the inside: pocket linings, etc) but nothing on the outside. The outside seems seem very sturdy, not even a single stitch has come undone on the outer shell, but the inner shell just isn't the same story. I've not had the chance to test the armor yet, but I still maintain that it's better than a heavy winter coat. The armor in my jacket is exactly where it's supposed to be and doesn't shift in a way that would cause injury in an accident. I also hate the hood and it's draw-strings... unless you tuck them in the collar when you zip up they smack my helmet while I'm cruising down the road. That's very annoying. I tied them up in knots so that they don't flop around... a minor concern at best, I guess.

I'm waiting to see what they do with it warranty-wise because they want me to send the jacket in for repairs. That's just not good, since I've had one or two issues (button fell off almost immediately) since I first got it. I've been waiting to update my original review until I see how they handle the replacement.

I can't speak for the other jackets. I absolutely think they were looking at styling first when they designed these jackets. I got mine because of the wind and waterproofing and because it's a REALLY warm jacket that has incorporated (but untested) armor in it.

I do think I paid too much for it. I've got 2 Alpine stars summer jackets that have much closer quality control, albeit a power ranger look and they were easily a hundred or two less. I just wanted a normal looking jacket and the Armadillo comes through on that part. I do want some reflective material on there, but again, I'm waiting to see if I get a replacement or a repair.

I'll give another update when I find out how they're going to fix my jacket, especially since one of the pros to buying it was the 3 year warranty.

Here's a bit on how it holds up in a crash: My local shop owner told me of a few weeks ago where a guy who had also bought the Parka was in an accident where he'd run the red light on a Buddy. He basically got T-boned and did some asphalt sliding. The jacket came out unscathed and the EMT's complimented him on his safety gear. He didn't sustain any notable injuries other than bruising, etc. This isn't first hand, but I trust my shop owner very much and she did see the parka after the fact. I wouldn't be surprised if the buttons came off in the accident, though.

IF, and this is a big if, they handle their warranty in a reasonable manor then I would buy this jacket again if I had to do it over. I however would not, under any circumstances, order one without trying on the one that I'm buying. I think they have a problem with quality control. Hopefully they'll get better with that as I think they've got the potential for a really good line of riding gear.

I hope I don't run off too many of their potential customers with the above. Overall I'm VERY happy with this jacket. Again, just to restate: I bought this as a winter jacket that happens to have some considerations for armor. It is also completely wind and waterproof, which was the second major selling point to me.

Hope that helps put some perspective on it from someone whose used one for a while now.

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:22 am

DIPA wrote:It's unfortunate that there isn't much choice when it comes to combining fashion with safety. There is a HUGE hole in the market for a company that can make a sturdy, safe, armored jacket that fits and doesn't look like a motorcycle racing-inspired jacket (especially for the ever-growing population of female riders!) As much as I might look like a little football player in my Joe Rocket jacket, I'm confident that it will protect my skin if I go down (and it did last weekend when I had a slight mishap.)

Well, much like high fashion the options are there, you just need to look a bit harder and perhaps be willing to pay a lot more for them. Like you, I don't like wearing bulky motorcycle gear emblazoned with huge logos and so on. A lot of European brands make some very nice-looking, sleek riding gear: Hein Gericke, Frank Thomas, and Dainese, for example. (I also love Belstaff—the real Belstaff, not the fashion line—but most of their riding gear doesn't have armor.) Other, more common brands usually have one or two models outside the motorcycle crotch rocket jockey style.

I wear a Corazzo Max almost every day. They were supposed to be coming out with a parka, but it didn't happen this year. I'm hoping it gets a public unveiling at Amerivespa.

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:29 am

siobhan wrote:Thanks for your great review Phil! I'd been thinking about the men's Armadillo as a gift, but not having any access to it without just blindly ordering it was putting me off a bit (well, that and the huge price tag).

I'd heard a rumor that Corazzo was working on a parka, so we'll see if that comes to fruition. Meantime I'm looking for a reasonably priced vintage Trialmaster...anyone?

The problem with the Trialmaster is that there's no armor and they don't have armor pockets. I got some armor to add to mine (which is actually a Tourmaster, I think, but is similar to the discontinued Trialmaster XL500, with a zip-out quilted lining), but once I stuffed it in, the jacket no longer fit.

You can occasionally get lucky and snag a Trialmaster for a couple hundred bucks on eBay, just look out for fakes. Also, there are a few different versions of jacket carrying the Belstaff label, made in different parts of the world; its a confusing mess. You can also buy new ones from the UK, and you can also buy the similar Barbour jackets here in the US.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 10:39 am

If you're looking for something similar to the Trialmaster, you might like to check out the the FirstGear Kilimanjaro 4.0. On sale at Cycle Gear for only $170. That's nearly half price.

http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=50 ... _51-2309_G

I'm no expert but they look pretty good to me. I am going to scoot over there tomorrow and check one out.

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 5:40 pm

Skootz Kabootz wrote:If you're looking for something similar to the Trialmaster, you might like to check out the the FirstGear Kilimanjaro 4.0. On sale at Cycle Gear for only $170. That's nearly half price.

http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=50 ... _51-2309_G

I'm no expert but they look pretty good to me. I am going to scoot over there tomorrow and check one out.

And much more basic, simple look than the 5.0 version, nice!

Be careful riding out there in this weather, Skootz. I've been in the cage for a few days.

stickykitteh · Post by **stickykitteh** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 6:49 pm

but what if i want to look like a power ranger?

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 6:54 pm

stickykitteh wrote:but what if i want to look like a power ranger?

Then you have it easiest of all.

Cheshire · Post by **Cheshire** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:43 pm

I was wondering what ya'll were talking about with this "power ranger" stuff...so I started browsing through the other jackets on that site.

Oh my.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 8:01 pm

ericalm wrote:Be careful riding out there in this weather, Skootz. I've been in the cage for a few days.

Roger, Rodger... thanks.

I'm still sitting inside looking at the sky... it was supposed to be sunny not rainy today!

I stayed inside working for the last three rainy days so that come sunny Sunday I could go out and play. What a rip!

That said, while I've been "working" I've been reading all the riding gear threads on MB doing my research for buying my first summer riding gear. A bunch of great info here. A shout out of thanks to all who have posted.

I am having a hard time settling on a jacket. As I wear the ever so cool black leather Halcyon Goggles (http://www.classicpartsltd.com/leathergogglespg1.htm), and like a more vintage-retro inspired aesthetic (like some of the cool photography at the Davida www site), the whole power ranger thing is not even remotely going to work for me. I'd be a culture conflict on wheels...

There really is a shortage of cool, vintage inspired, protective clothing out there that can work in the hot CA summer. Winter gear is easier because you can wear leather which has a greater vintage-ish selection.

I wish Corazzo would take it to the next level and design something, functional and protective, that has some of that nice European styling.

laxer · Post by **laxer** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:09 pm

Not to hijack the thread. I've been scootering without a real jacket for awhile now and I'd like to get one, but I'm way short on cash. I know it's a little bit powerranger/transformer, but I'm looking at the Vega Nitro:

http://www.cbxmanmotorcycles.com/Vega-N ... acket.aspx

because the price is right. Is this actually a decent jacket or is it just a silly knockoff? Thanks.

Post by **ericalm** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 9:56 pm

laxer wrote:Not to hijack the thread. I've been scootering without a real jacket for awhile now and I'd like to get one, but I'm way short on cash. I know it's a little bit powerranger/transformer, but I'm looking at the Vega Nitro:

http://www.cbxmanmotorcycles.com/Vega-N ... acket.aspx

because the price is right. Is this actually a decent jacket or is it just a silly knockoff? Thanks.

Vega specializes in decent-quality, lower cost gear. I wear a Vega helmet. Most of the reviews I could find for Vega jackets (though not this one specifically) say that they're good quality "for the price."

Lostmycage · Post by **Lostmycage** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:23 am

One note on gear purchasing. If you have an eye for the future and some extra scratch, ALWAYS buy off-season. During the winter you can usually find summer gear for 50% or less. The same applies to winter gear. Now is the perfect time for looking at summer gear. July will not be so good, unless you're looking at a winter set-up). It's kinda common sense, but not often realized.

pocphil · Post by **pocphil** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 7:30 pm

A note on "buying off-season" this year there were some killer deals to be had. Dave at Metro Scooters in Cincy was selling Corazzo jackets at nearly $100 off. I don't know if he has any left, but it's worth a call. We put ALL of our Alpha *non armored* jackets on clearance as we're now taking the stance that if it isn't armored, we're not going to sell it.

The Tourmaster Trinity

http://www.tourmaster.com/xcart/product ... d=45&cat=3

is one of our most requested ladies jackets. The fact that it is a true 4 season (waterproof with removable, quilted liner) and it can be had for $130 is an added bonus. Seriously, unless you HATE the look of it, this is an excellent, feature-packed jacket for short money.

Alpinestars have done great with their womens jackets. The Alpinestars Stella gets rave reviews at under $200.

The Teknic Vogue ladies jacket is dead sexy, but they've started adding more "branding" and patterns and it's starting to lose the classic style it once had.

hackett · Post by **hackett** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:47 am

laxer wrote:Not to hijack the thread. I've been scootering without a real jacket for awhile now and I'd like to get one, but I'm way short on cash. I know it's a little bit powerranger/transformer, but I'm looking at the Vega Nitro:

http://www.cbxmanmotorcycles.com/Vega-N ... acket.aspx

because the price is right. Is this actually a decent jacket or is it just a silly knockoff? Thanks.

I wore one all summer last year. I slid in it once, but it held up so well that I didn't feel the need to replace it. Can't say I like the look of it all that well, but the logo patches do come off with a seam ripper or a pair of nail scissors.

thehypercube · Post by **thehypercube** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:00 am

I have the Armadillo armored hoodie. I haven't fallen yet, but I can testify to the windproof and water resistance. The armor is pretty absorbent and I wear my clothes fairly tight, so I can't see how it could move all that much.

The fit is perfect and comfortable. I can wear it when I'm not riding as an everyday jacket without fighting crime on a kids tv show. The only minor thing that bothers me is the top of the zipper has a little corner that scratches at my neck sometimes if I'm not wearing a scarf. Nitpicky, yes, but I don't want to deal with a warranty complaint as they are in the UK. I'd have to send the jacket overseas for that?

laxer · Post by **laxer** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:20 pm

hackett wrote:
laxer wrote:Not to hijack the thread. I've been scootering without a real jacket for awhile now and I'd like to get one, but I'm way short on cash. I know it's a little bit powerranger/transformer, but I'm looking at the Vega Nitro:

http://www.cbxmanmotorcycles.com/Vega-N ... acket.aspx

because the price is right. Is this actually a decent jacket or is it just a silly knockoff? Thanks.
I wore one all summer last year. I slid in it once, but it held up so well that I didn't feel the need to replace it. Can't say I like the look of it all that well, but the logo patches do come off with a seam ripper or a pair of nail scissors.

Good to know, Hackett, thanks. Also, I see that you're riding the scooty puff jr. How's that working out for ya?

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 8:08 am

Finally stopped raining here so I went and checked out the Kilimanjaro jackets in person. Both the 4.0 and the 5.0.

Both models are somewhat bulky but really very nice, well made, thick and solid feeling jackets. If I ever went for a scoot in a hurricane, or a sand storm, or hail storm, swarms of locusts... this is the jacket I would want. In both the 5.0 and the 4.0 there are pockets everywhere. I could loose things in these jackets. Very cool that when the lining is zipped out it actually becomes a light weight jacket for when you are not riding. (I preferred the styling of 5.0's inner jacket but both 4.0 and 5.0 are equally warm and comfortable.) To me neither 4.0 or 5.0 are really great summer jackets - at least not for the hot Southern California summers. They are just a little to heavy for my liking. But maybe they are perfect for a little father north. Definitely they are great for spring and fall - and winter in CA.

All in all I give them both two thumbs up for quality. If you dig this kind of styling then all around I think you'd be happy.

Back to you, Siskel and Ebert...

chloefpuff · Post by **chloefpuff** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:20 am

Thanks for the headsup on this brand, Phil. Although I am sorely disappointed, it's best to find out before I shell out the money buying it online.

But I love the styling........love love love the look of the ladies' mac.......