HD Mesh Jacket - Review

[Pine Tree]

With a few miles under various temperatures, here’s my opinion of the new HD men’s mesh jacket p/n&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; 98225-06VM. Fit … Using HD’s online sizing chart, I ordered a size “M� listed as fitting chest sizes 38 to 41 inches with a sleeve length of 34 to 34 ½ inches.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; I wear a size 41 and while I found the chest size in this jacket adequate, the sleeves are about 1 ½ inches too short even without the elbow padding in place.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; This end of the jacket’s sizing range did not allow for much more then a short-sleeved shirt to worn underneath. This jacket’s collar needs to be cut at a more “chest-down� angle.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; Standing, the collar is comfortable but sitting causes the front of the jacket to bunch and that forces the collar into the front of the neck.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; Unzipping only allows the jacket to rotate rearward and develops a large gap on the back of the neck. Finish … The jacket is listed as “Black� but its two-tone fully-ventilated, nylon mesh material suggests a more accurate description of “Grey� as most of the jacket is that color.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\;&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; Removable armor is supplied and installed in both the shoulder and elbow area. &nbsp\\;\\\\\\; The “reflective Bar &amp\\;\\\\\\; Shield logo patch on back� leaves a lot to be desired.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; The back patch is simply a small white plastic 3-inch Bar &amp\\;\\\\\\; Shield with hardly any reflectivity.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; The orange piping running the length of the sleeves is also reflective…but just barely.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; Oncoming traffic would be on top of the rider before they caught sight of the reflective features of this jacket. The mesh material is smooth and quite.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; Zippers are good but the two front “ hand-warmer pockets� are small and not really worth the effort.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; There are two inside breast pockets but they are on the small side as well. Riding behind an Ultra Classic’s fairing, I found good airflow through the sleeves but noticed very little in the chest or back.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; Riding in temperatures hovering in the upper 50’s, the ride was quite cool.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; Larger and longer jacket sleeves would have allowed for a long-sleeved shirt to be worn underneath.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; And temps in the upper 80’s to low 90’s were comfortable as the skin was not in direct sunlight. I was unable to obtain information concerning this jacket’s abrasion resistance.&nbsp\\;\\\\\\; Because of its nylon mesh material, I suspect it would not do well when compared to materials like heavier denier Cordura of Kevlar. Overall, I would give this jacket a “C-� and would probably not buy it again.

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[OneBlackFly]

On the contrary, my good man. I have this jacket and can't fault it for the reasons you give. I find my L - Tall size just right in all respects. I'd give the jacket an A. But to each his own.