Firstgear Everest Jacket

FIRSTGEAR EVEREST JACKET

CW EVALUATIONS

Surviving the Kiwi Challenge

THERE ARE FEW TOUGHER TRIALS FOR a riding jacket than touring New Zealand, a country with everything from roadside glaciers to subtropical rain forests. That’s just where we went with Firstgear’s multi-faceted Everest jacket.

At first glance, the parka-like Everest might seem more at home climbing mountains than on a motorcycle. “It’s all the rage in Europe,” says Paul Golde, of Firstgear parent company Intersport Fashions West (333 S. Anita Dr., Suite 1025, Orange, CA 92668; 800/416-8255). Apparently, as they did in the past with the venerable waxed-cotton Belstaff jacket, Euroriders looking for warmth and weather protection wear the jacket over leathers, with rainpants at the ready for really heavy precipitation.

Rest assured, the Everest has plenty of ride-related features. Its shell is constructed of waterproofed oxford nylon, with protective foam padding at the shoulders, elbows and spine. Reflectorized lettering on the back and small Scotchlite triangles on the arms aid nighttime conspicuity. Corduranylon patches provide additional scab protection at the elbows. A folded, zipped, velcroed and buttoned front closure wards off wind and water; an adjustable plastic-buckled belt cinches the jacket at the waist. Velcro seals the wrists. A padded, elasticized collar with a detachable/washable terrycloth strip secures the neck area.

A sleeved, full-length Thermolite liner zips and snaps into the jacket. Off-the-bike features include a zip-on bivouac-style rain hood and Firstgear’s unique “cold-weather harness,” an elasticized strap that runs under the wearer’s crotch and holds the jacket down at the hips during windy conditions-it stows away in a hidden pocket.

There’s ample storage space in the Everest: two chest pockets, two folded/velcroed hand-warmer pockets, an inside breast pocket (in both jacket and liner) and an outsiderear fanny pack. The latter is too small to accommodate the liner, but we found it useful as home to a small tool roll, Totes and thermal glove liners.

Enough with the features, you say, how’s the blasted thing work? Pretty much as advertised. The Everest is damn-near waterproof; even after a brutal all-day soaking in one of New Zealand’s torrential downpours, only a trace amount of liquid sneaked past its many seams-and that was defeated by the liner. With liner in place and all openings cinched shut, the jacket is toasty warm into the mid-40s (lower, of course, with thermal layering or an electric vest). Liner out, anything up to about 85 degrees is comfortable; hotter and you begin to notice the Everest’s lack of vents.

All of this makes for one very versatile jacket. Available from Firstgear dealers in sizes S-XXXL and in three two-tone color combos, the Everest isn’t cheap at a suggested retail of $406, but we think it offers excellent value for the money-whether you ride in New Zealand, New York City or Newport Beach. □