This spring the REV’IT! DIRT Series off-road motorcycle riding gear collection caught my eye. Billed as offering the best off-road experience, the head-to-toe collection is designed around the concept of modularity, allowing you to layer differently depending on the terrain, weather, and conditions. It includes the full gamut – gloves, boots, pants, armor, and jackets – easily mixed and matched for rain, heat, mud, and any off-road trouble you plan to get into.
Suffice to say, the marketing pitch sold me hook, line, and sinker. I’ve long craved flexibility for my riding kit, but never fully unlocked that concept by pairing pieces from different brands. This collection had the chance to be the holy grail if it worked anywhere close to how it said it would.
My go-to heuristic for testing any piece of gear is this: if I forget I’m wearing it, then it’s probably damn good. That applies to almost anything, but especially moto apparel. The best apparel should fade into the background and let you focus on the trail in front of you, not the excess sweat on your back or the lack of dexterity in your fingers. For my type of riding – mostly dirt roads and trails in Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah – I need gear that is comfortable, durable, breathable, and flexible, which is far from guaranteed.
REV’IT! DIRT Series Moto Riding Gear Review
The kit is built out in four steps, each with a few colorways to fit your style — especially if you’re keen on natural colors and minimalistic design because that’s the only option. Start by picking your protectors, then the right jacket and jersey, pants, and then gloves and boots, to keep your digits flexible, warm, and dry.
Time To Ride
For some context, the riding season near my home in Wyoming is short — sometimes just 5-months — so we try to get out as much as possible between early May and the end of September. I do a few larger trips each fall to the desert and nearby ranges with good moto access, but the vast majority of my time on the bike is no more than a tank of gas from my driveway.
My daily driver is a DRZ400, and I also did some of the testing on a KTM 450. Very few of the miles were on pavement and almost none on the highway — but that’s the point of this collection, anyway. To date, I’ve put 20-plus days on this kit, with at least a handful that were wet, muddy, and cold, perfect weather for proper testing.
Rev’it! DIRT Series Tested
Let’s dive into each piece. I’ll let you in on what stood out, and what I would change.
Proteus Underjacket
The Proteus is rated CE-level 2 for the armor on the shoulders, elbows, and back, and CE-level 1 for the chest. I was impressed the most on warm days — 80 degrees and higher — with how cool I would stay. Articulation at the joints is better than most armor, both for comfort and dexterity.
Over the course of a riding season, I’ve had a few issues with wear in small areas, like the inside of the arms, making me wish REV’IT! had additional stitching to reinforce these areas, but that’s a small gripe in the grand scheme.
Element Jacket
My review sample looks brand new after hundreds of miles of thick brush on tight trails. Outside of super warm days, it breathes well enough to be worn all the time. The fabric is akin to a hardshell rain jacket, meaning it’s flexible, stretchy, and reinforced in the shoulders and arms for abrasion.
The CE-level 1 protectors in the elbows and shoulders can be upgraded if desired. The hood can be removed, but don’t write it off immediately — I use it all the time when scouting trails or taking a break off the bike.
Sierra Jersey
The fit allows for armor underneath and a jacket on top of it, and the jersey comes with nice touches like thumb loops to prevent sleeves from sliding up and a goggle wiper in the chest pocket. Best of all, it doesn’t try to be more than just a high-quality jersey.
Continent Pants
Frankly, I think REV’IT! is selling these pants short by saying they are just splash-proof, as they’ve kept my lower half dry during a full afternoon ride in rain and sleet.
For those really pushing the limits, knee braces integrate easily and additional knee protectors can be added pretty seamlessly. Built-in vents will keep you cool, and they come with enough pockets, without going overboard. I’m tall and lean so they fit well, but for large riders, I would recommend sizing up because they definitely feel a little Euro.
Expedition H2O Boots
After 1,000+ miles, the only small issue I’ve had is some wear and tear on the shifter toe guard — but they remain waterproof. A Hydratex laminated shell helps reduce bulk, and the unique hinge system maintains a high level of protection while allowing wide freedom of movement to shift, brake, and walk around off the bike. The Vibram soles are durable and the BOA enclosure system allows the boots to come on and off easily, unlike every other pair of enduro boots out there.
Caliber Gloves
The Calibers do all this. They fit snug (consider sizing up for large hands) and are CE-certified for abrasion resistance, while still being well ventilated. The neoprene cuff — something I noticed later on — is great at keeping dirt and water out.
