Olympia Phantom Suit

Olympia Phantom Suit

One piece, four seasons

DON'T PURCHASE THE OLYMPIA PHANtom for short stints in the saddle, quick trips to the gym or commutes to the office that require a swift change of

clothes. Buy it instead for long hauls, multi-day continental crossings, rides in which you may encounter nature's full bag of tricks, pleasant or otherwise.

What makes this militaiy flight-suit-inspired coverall so good when traveling great distances is its construction: heavy-duty cor dura-nylon shell with a waterproof! breathable membrane, removable insulated liner, loads of pockets, forearm and torso vents. But that doesn't make it any less fantas tic around town, especially when it comes to keeping out the ele ments. It's just that donning and doffing the suit, particularly with the liner in place, is a protracted affair.

Beyond the two chest pockets (there are eight storage options in all, including an interior cell-phone pock et), the Phantom has no buttons or snaps, just yards of zippers and hook-and-loop

tape run ning from the neck to below the beltline and up the outside of both legs to the waist. The hook-and-loop is particularly stout; pulling this stuff apart to gain access to the zippers requires pa tience, especially when the suit is new.

That said, the Phantom (neon yellow/black or pewter/black; S-4XL siz ing) is an excellent value. It is all-day comfortable, j fully armored, cleanly styled and-big points here-rea sonably priced. Just remember: Once you're in, you'll want to stay in. Come to think about it, that's not such a bad option...

DETAILS

Olympia Moto Sports 824 Locust St. #100 Hendersonville, NC 28792 866/473-4327 www.olympiamotosports.com Price... $450

A Adjustable knee-armor pockets compensate for different leg lengths A Roughly half the price of an Aerostich Roadcrafter owns v Arm vents backed by perforated nylon mesh; bare arms subject to polka-dot-pattern sunburn V Full complement of armor, but coverage could be better