Anyone with a Klim Badlands?

[Mr_Gone]

I am finally in a place in my life where I have both the time and money to tour quite a lot, and the money to buy some top-end equipment. And since I currently believe "Buy the Best You Can Afford," I have been looking at some somewhat rather pricey jackets, specifically the Klim Badlands Pro, which is $900 jacket.

Does anyone own/wear this jacket, and if so would you be willing to share your thoughts / feelings / impressions / suggestions / experiences on the jacket? Before I drop just short of a grand on a jacket, I'd like to hear the consensus opinion.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. I don't mind spending money. I am opposed to wasting it.

My second choice is the Klim Latitude. Feel free to chime in on that, also.

[black hills]

been looking at it myself, let me know what you think if you get one

[Mrs. DantesDame]

I have the Klim Latitude, but I'm not sure if I'm qualified to really say much about it yet. I haven't worn it that often since I got it, so I haven't reached the "second skin" stage of ownership. However, here are some random thoughts:

- Excellent waterproofness. Just be sure to close all of the vents  
- Seems "stiff". This may change as I wear it more often, but right now I feel a little awkward in it (but only when walking around; on the bike it feels fine)
- It is noisy. Again, off the bike only, but when I walk out of the office EVERYONE can here me swish-swish my way down the aisle
- Nice pockets. I'm not entirely keen on the two inside front pockets, but everything else seems good.
- I have the black model, Dan has the grey. They both look good and the KLIM logo is tastefully applied
- I haven't worn it in warm weather, so I can't say how well it vents. From the placement of them, it would appear that it would be effective
- Personal issue that the neck velcro flap is not long enough to go around the turtle fur and connect to the other side (easy fix; I just hate having to "fix" something new)
- Also pet peeve that the jacket/pants zipper is one of those weenie 8" things that doesn't do much. The pant side zipper also seems incredibly difficult to access. I'll be installing a 3/4 circumference zipper this month.


I bought mine from Touratech in Seattle and they were very good about working with me on sizing, etc. I'm not sorry I bought it    If you have specific questions/concerns, ask away!  

[Kneescrubber]

I've never heard of that brand before. What makes them worth that much money?

[Mrs. DantesDame]

The Latitude is "only" $560.  

It has a lot features that I like, the most important being that the outer layer is waterproof. That means no additional rain gear to carry around, and when it does start to rain, the rest of the jacket isn't absorbing all of the water even though the inner layer is keeping me dry.

Here's the webpage for their stuff  

[R Doug]

The Badlands is overkill IMHO unless you're going to be doing a long ride around the world in some technical places.  

I recently acquired a new jacket as I lost some weight and my Aerostich jacket was way too big for me.  The Latitude 840 Jacket was high on my list as my experience with Klim's offroad gear has been most excellent.  My Thor and other offroad pants would quickly show signs of wear and my Klim stuff held up very well even with all my getoffs in the dirt.

I ultimately decided on the RevIt Defender GTX jacket based on its versatility and ultimate sizing as it fit me the best out of the two.  The advantage of the Klim Latitude was it has a waterproof shell, which, similar to my 'Stitch Darien, means I would never have to pull over and put on rain gear when it started to rain.  That said, this was also the disadvantage of the Latitude for me as it would be warmer than the Defender in summer temps.  

So, the jacket I chose gets high marks for 4 season versatility with EXCELLENT venting.  But, when the rain starts to get heavy, I need to zip in the Gortex innerliner to keep my body dry.  Both are great jackets.  It comes down to what features are most important to you.  

[Mr_Gone]

I have the Klim Latitude, but I'm not sure if I'm qualified to really say much about it yet. I haven't worn it that often since I got it, so I haven't reached the "second skin" stage of ownership. However, here are some random thoughts:

- Excellent waterproofness. Just be sure to close all of the vents  
- Seems "stiff". This may change as I wear it more often, but right now I feel a little awkward in it (but only when walking around; on the bike it feels fine)
- It is noisy. Again, off the bike only, but when I walk out of the office EVERYONE can here me swish-swish my way down the aisle
- Nice pockets. I'm not entirely keen on the two inside front pockets, but everything else seems good.
- I have the black model, Dan has the grey. They both look good and the KLIM logo is tastefully applied
- I haven't worn it in warm weather, so I can't say how well it vents. From the placement of them, it would appear that it would be effective
- Personal issue that the neck velcro flap is not long enough to go around the turtle fur and connect to the other side (easy fix; I just hate having to "fix" something new)
- Also pet peeve that the jacket/pants zipper is one of those weenie 8" things that doesn't do much. The pant side zipper also seems incredibly difficult to access. I'll be installing a 3/4 circumference zipper this month.


I bought mine from Touratech in Seattle and they were very good about working with me on sizing, etc. I'm not sorry I bought it    If you have specific questions/concerns, ask away!  

Awesome response! I like the pros and cons. It really does help me make my decision.

I am still considering the Klim Latitude, especially since it's $340 less than the Badlands. But I love the styling of the Badlands, plus I think the armor is a little better, and the Badlands has the Goretex Pro shell while the Latitude has the Goretex Performance shell. I guess the difference in shells is the number of layers (or so I've read), with the Pro shell has a little better durability regarding interior wear.

While I realize that buying a $900 jacket might seem like overkill, I do plan to keep it for years and year... so the amortized cost isn't much per year.

I guess what I'm looking for is a do-it-all 4-season jacket, and the Klim jackets seem to come closest to that (unattainable) ideal.

[Mr_Gone]

I've never heard of that brand before. What makes them worth that much money?

Kneescrubber, I'm not sure anything makes any jacket worth that sort of money. That's my big dilemma. For a 4-season jacket with excellent waterproofing and excellent armor, I think I can justify spending the $ since I plan to keep it for years and years. Heck, if I keep it for 10 years, that's only $90/year and that doesn't seem so bad.

I don't mind making a mistake. I object to making a foolish mistake. So I've been doing a ridiculous amount of research. A ridiculous amount. A stupid amount of research, really.

From what I understand, Klim originally started with snowmobiling gear, then moved into motocycling gear. So I hope they know what they're doing when it comes to outer shells and waterproofing. Worth the money? I don't know. I'm trying to figure that out.

[the drummer]

Nice to know that someone else also,spends a bunch of time doing research!! I too waste (according to my wife!) countless hours reading/searching riding gear.
  It's a big investment based on versatility,durability,protection,and comfort!! I personally have nothing against comfort!! With that all said, I have been looking at Rev'it or
Klim. Also check out Macna riding gear from Twisted Throttle.com. Good luck in your search and let us know what cha' find!! Speed Safe...

[Mr_Gone]

Nice to know that someone else also,spends a bunch of time doing research!!

I probably waste a stupid amount of time researching my motorcycles, and my gear. I have probably watched the Revzilla videos for about 25 different jackets, and watched each video three or four times. I actually enjoy the research.

I'm 99% sure I'm going with the Badlands, so long as it doesn't weigh 25 pounds. I'll definitely provide a write-up after my purchase.

[R Doug]

It looks like we're all alike here in terms of time spent doing research.  I'm sure you know this, but Webbikeworld is an excellent resource.  


Klim Badlands.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/klim-clothing/

RevIt Defender.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/rev-it/defender-gtx-jacket-review/

[Papa Lazarou]

If money is no object, nothing can beat the Rukka Armacor. I mean that-nothing. Rukka stuff is incredibly tough and comfy too. Best in the world.

[Mr_Gone]

It looks like we're all alike here in terms of time spent doing research.  I'm sure you know this, but Webbikeworld is an excellent resource.  

Klim Badlands.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r4/klim-clothing/

RevIt Defender.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r2/rev-it/defender-gtx-jacket-review/

I did look at webbikeworld and watched their videos several times. I decided on the Badlands over the Rev'It Defender because the Gore-Tex waterproofing is built into the outer shell of the Badlands, where the Defender has a liner.

My quest has been to simplify my riding gear... that is, I can take off on a trip and carry a minimum amount of do-it-all apparel, which will carry me through temps ranging from the teens to the 100s, rain or shine. Plus I dislike stopping and having to zip in a liner when it starts to rain. I wanted to be able to just keep riding and not worry about either zipping in a liner, or donning my rainsuit.

Truthfully, I'm still considering the Klim Latitude, also, because I think it's a great jacket that will do 99% of what I want it to do. I think the Badlands has better summer venting, though, and that was another deciding factor.

[Mr_Gone]

If money is no object, nothing can beat the Rukka Armacor. I mean that-nothing. Rukka stuff is incredibly tough and comfy too. Best in the world.

I looked at the Rukka Armas and also the Kalifornia. Since I was looking for a 3/4 length jacket, that ruled out the Armas (although I believe it is a fantastic jacket). And I believe the Kalifornia has a Gore-Tex waterproof liner, and in my quest for simplicity I didn't want a liner system. I wanted one jacket to do it all, as simply as possible, for all seasons, in all temperature ranges, in all sorts of weather.

I mean, is that too much to ask?

[Kneescrubber]

..I wanted one jacket to do it all, as simply as possible, for all seasons, in all temperature ranges, in all sorts of weather.

I mean, is that too much to ask?

 


Come ride the Texas Panhandle and West Texas with me next July and/or August. You'll be shucking that Gore-Tex shell in a New York minute.

[black hills]

 


Come ride the Texas Panhandle and West Texas with me next July and/or August. You'll be shucking that Gore-Tex shell in a New York minute.

   while I would love the nice jacket, my Kilimanjaro combined with a Castle mesh jacket covers everything from 30-110  

[Mr_Gone]

 

Come ride the Texas Panhandle and West Texas with me next July and/or August. You'll be shucking that Gore-Tex shell in a New York minute.

I have no doubt you are correct. I don't get the severe high temps you experience in Texas, but I do get 100-degree-plus temps plus 90% humidity in Arkansas... for which I'll probably switch to my mesh jacket.

I have been informed by several Badlands jacket owners that the jacket is hot in hot weather (what jacket isn't) but that it's endurable so long as your moving. So the venting is pretty good. Not as good as a mesh jacket, I'm sure, but for the sake of reducing my gear I think the Badlands will at least allow me to eliminate my rain gear while allowing me to wear it 10-11 months out of the year... switching to mesh when the temps skyrocket over 100.

I realize that no one single jacket is perfect for every day of the year... but a guy can dream, can't he?

[Kneescrubber]

I have no doubt you are correct. I don't get the severe high temps you experience in Texas, but I do get 100-degree-plus temps plus 90% humidity in Arkansas... for which I'll probably switch to my mesh jacket.

I have been informed by several Badlands jacket owners that the jacket is hot in hot weather (what jacket isn't) but that it's endurable so long as your moving. So the venting is pretty good. Not as good as a mesh jacket, I'm sure, but for the sake of reducing my gear I think the Badlands will at least allow me to eliminate my rain gear while allowing me to wear it 10-11 months out of the year... switching to mesh when the temps skyrocket over 100.

I realize that no one single jacket is perfect for every day of the year... but a guy can dream, can't he?

I'm from the Texas Gulf Coast. Specifically Beaumont. There's a reason I don't live there anymore.

   while I would love the nice jacket, my Kilimanjaro combined with a Castle mesh jacket covers everything from 30-110  

^ My Kilimanjaro and Aerostitch Darien overpants do everything I need them to. And have for the last 10 years. At a fraction of the price.

[Mr_Gone]

I'm from the Texas Gulf Coast. Specifically Beaumont. There's a reason I don't live there anymore.




^ My Kilimanjaro and Aerostitch Darien overpants do everything I need them to. And have for the last 10 years. At a fraction of the price.

When all the $ is spent, I won't be spending full price on the Badlands, and when I add the Traverse pants (also at a discount), I still won't be paying much more than the price of a new Kilmanjaro and a pair of Darien pants. The total price will be surprisingly close, actually.

I realize that I'm paying a premium for Gore-Tex and even for the Klim branding, but the lifetime warranty is an important selling point for me.

[Kneescrubber]

When all the $ is spent, I won't be spending full price on the Badlands, and when I add the Traverse pants (also at a discount), I still won't be paying much more than the price of a new Kilmanjaro and a pair of Darien pants. The total price will be surprisingly close, actually.

I realize that I'm paying a premium for Gore-Tex and even for the Klim branding, but the lifetime warranty is an important selling point for me.

 

[Mr_Gone]

I'm from the Texas Gulf Coast. Specifically Beaumont. There's a reason I don't live there anymore.

Kneescrubber, I gotta ask: why move away from Beaumont? Couldn't stand the weather? (Stevie Ray Vaughn reference, btw). Just curious.

[Kneescrubber]

Kneescrubber, I gotta ask: why move away from Beaumont? Couldn't stand the weather? (Stevie Ray Vaughn reference, btw). Just curious.

One word: Humidity

[miles]

Come ride the Texas Panhandle and West Texas next July and/or August. You'll be shucking that Gore-Tex shell in a New York minute.

Did that in my two-piece Roadcrafter.  115 degrees in the Big Bend area wasn't too bad with all the vents wide open.  I've ridden plenty in very hot places (by very hot I mean significantly over 110 degrees F) and I prefer a well vented suit to mesh any day of the week.

[bungie4]

If money is no object, nothing can beat the Rukka Armacor. I mean that-nothing. Rukka stuff is incredibly tough and comfy too. Best in the world.

... and you thought the Klim stuff was pricey! They've got nothing on those Hutti-Tutti Finlanders!

[ABStrommer]

I checked out everything on the market and ended up with the BMW Tourshell jacket and pants.  They just felt the best tailored and the armor is awesome.  Plus it doesn't have any gaudy logos all over it.  Totally waterproof shell and decent venting.  Of course, many will say that the BMW gear is overpriced, but it fell between the two Klim lines in price (and I ride an RT, so the discrete BMW logos are fine).

If I had an adventure bike and did lots of off-road, the Badlands would have been my choice (if not the Adventure Rally).

[Kneescrubber]

Did that in my two-piece Roadcrafter.  115 degrees in the Big Bend area wasn't too bad with all the vents wide open.  I've ridden plenty in very hot places by very hot I mean significantly over 110 degrees F) and I prefer a well vented suit to mesh any day of the week.

We've had this discussion before.  

[bomber]

I don't have but one piece of Klim gear (Chanook pants), but there is a metric ton of info, opinion, and kitty litter on the brand over on ADVRider (which seems to the the demographic Klim is aiming at ----

Spending the dough that Klim asks would, for me, make the decision as muck about longevity and after sale support as anything else . . . . . both are discussed at great length over there . . . .

[Mr_Gone]

I don't have but one piece of Klim gear (Chanook pants), but there is a metric ton of info, opinion, and kitty litter on the brand over on ADVRider (which seems to the the demographic Klim is aiming at ----

Spending the dough that Klim asks would, for me, make the decision as muck about longevity and after sale support as anything else . . . . . both are discussed at great length over there . . . .

bomber, I'm a member over at advrider as well, and I slogged through dozens of threads... basically anything that mentioned Klim or Badlands or Latitude. Nearly everyone over there says that Klim is top-notch stuff, (except for a few guys, of course, who opinions were equally valuable to me), but I am not exactly the "adventure" touring guy. I'm a road touring guy and a daily commuter. I don't go off-road. So I've definitely been wondering if the Badlands is overkill for what I need in a jacket.

I plan to live in my jacket on a daily basis, though, not only for long trips but also for commuting to/from work, so I was hoping for some insight from someone who wore the Badlands every single day. I think I have a good mental picture of what I'm buying, and the customer service I'll be receiving, but I always solicit input when I'm going to drop $ on something as expensive as a Badlands.

[Mr_Gone]

I checked out everything on the market and ended up with the BMW Tourshell jacket and pants.  They just felt the best tailored and the armor is awesome.  Plus it doesn't have any gaudy logos all over it.  Totally waterproof shell and decent venting.  Of course, many will say that the BMW gear is overpriced, but it fell between the two Klim lines in price (and I ride an RT, so the discrete BMW logos are fine).

If I had an adventure bike and did lots of off-road, the Badlands would have been my choice (if not the Adventure Rally).

I definitely looked at the BMW apparel, also, and even though I don't do any adventure/off-road riding, my decision to go with Klim instead of BMW specifically came down to a couple points.

First, I heard one or two horror stories about Klim apparel and after-the-purchase customer service, while I heard dozens of horror stories about the BMW stuff. Maybe that's just a numbers game, though, as a lot more people probably have the BMW gear instead of Klim. Nearly universally, Klim customer service seemed to be better, particularly with the lifetime "Guaranteed to Keep You Dry" promise that can be fulfilled by either Klim or W.L. Gore — that's two chances to get my jacket either repaired or replaced if I get a defective one.

Second, I couldn't find a BMW jacket with all the features on my "wish list." Either the jacket had poor venting, or a removable waterproof liner, or lacked something else that I just didn't want to settle for. I have absolutely no doubt that BMW stuff is very, very good... I just think the Klim Badlands hit my sweet spot when it came to nailing ALL the features I wanted.

[Mr_Gone]

I just pulled the trigger on buying a Badlands Pro jacket. I ordered it from Mike at Tellico Moto. Mike was great! The price was fantastic!!! Mike didn't have the jacket in stock in my size and color, so he'll be ordering it from Klim and having it sent directly to me. I should have it by next weekend. [fingers crossed]

I will try to post some feedback on the jacket here, after I've ridden in it for a few hundred miles.

[expatbrit]

When all the $ is spent, I won't be spending full price on the Badlands, and when I add the Traverse pants (also at a discount), I still won't be paying much more than the price of a new Kilmanjaro and a pair of Darien pants. The total price will be surprisingly close, actually.

I realize that I'm paying a premium for Gore-Tex and even for the Klim branding, but the lifetime warranty is an important selling point for me.

I have to say -- I've been very impressed with the Kili, especially for the price. I had several niggles with mine, but it was very waterproof, vented well enough, and had more than enough pockets. I did replace it, and with something dramatically more expensive but that had more to do fit and finish and (hopefully) better venting. I could never find a set of trousers that worked as well, though.

Good luck with the Klim stuff; it was high on my list of gear choices and is pretty affordable as Goretex Proshell stuff goes -- probably because it really is just an abrasion resistant shell. Looking forward to getting a review

[GRN]

I've been doing quite a bit of research lately as well. My bottom line is I'm tired of replacing multiple sets (mesh/solid) mid-level jackets/pants every couple of years because I either get tired of the shortcomings (not really waterproof) or just wear them out. I know several guys who live in KLIM gear, are comfortable in the same jacket and pants all year, live on their bikes all year, and go in search of opportunities to punish it. These are all fellow riding professionals who don't care about trends and logos, they just want shit that works, and they swear by their KLIM gear. The big bonus is that I was just informed that I qualify for the pro purchase program - which doesn't influence my decision to buy their gear, it just significantly expedites my ability to do so and makes it much easier to sell to the finance minister.  

[expatbrit]

I checked out everything on the market and ended up with the BMW Tourshell jacket and pants.  They just felt the best tailored and the armor is awesome.  Plus it doesn't have any gaudy logos all over it.  Totally waterproof shell and decent venting.  Of course, many will say that the BMW gear is overpriced, but it fell between the two Klim lines in price (and I ride an RT, so the discrete BMW logos are fine).

If I had an adventure bike and did lots of off-road, the Badlands would have been my choice (if not the Adventure Rally).

My girl just picked up this jacket, and so far (mostly cool weather) she /loves/ it. It fits really well, though she's decidedly on the slim side, the armour seems great with the exception of the oversized back protector, and the liner is incredibly warm. Have to wait for next summer to see how the venting works, though; it looks reasonable, but not 'huge', as it were. Definitely a good looking jacket, though the colour choices are uninspiring AND not teribly bright.

I ended up in a Stadler Force Pro, which was on the Rukka pricing and made me cry like a little girl at the damage it did to my bank account, but they were the only people who'd make what I want.

This summer, I was "really happy" in my Kili on the way to Laguna Seca, with temps up over the 100 mark several times in NW NM/SE UT. It's not black, so have to see what solar gain does for the Stadler, thoguh I am impressed with the venting.

[Max Wedge]

Watching this thread for my future research....

[bungie4]

Saw posted today the Polaris has bought Klim. Lets hope they leave it them the hell alone. Otherwise they'll have a line of hardcore enduro chaps.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Yeah, I read that news with mixed feelings  

[R Doug]

Isn't Polaris one of the largest manufacturers of high quality snowmobiles?  Isn't Klim the premier snowmobile gear manufacture?  I'd say there's not one thing to be concerned about.

[Mr_Gone]

I have no idea if Polaris is going to change Klim, but I suspect they won't make significant changes. I certainly hope everything stays the same. Klim is already growing just about as fast as they can handle, which would indicate (to me, at least) that they've hit upon a winning strategy. Why mess with success? Unless you're one of those guys on the Sonic commercial.

[MacGyver]

I just picked up the Badlands Pro jacket and it's a beast.  It will KILL coat hangers.  It weighs a lot for a jacket. 15 lbs I'm guessing, I haven't measured it.  I've been riding with an Olympia AST jacket for the past 5 odd years and the AST feels like a Tarp jacket in comparison.   The Klim has the venting methods down to a science.   My comfort level in MF'in HOT weather seems to improve if I seal off all front vents and only open the rearward ones.  I don't enjoy accelerated dehydration.  

One itty bitty little detail that I misinterpreted were the two velcro flaps at the top of each shoulder.


  I assumed they were for a camelback water tube hold down but I was advised otherwise.  You actually spread your collar wide and allow massive airflow around your collarbone/armpit area like a big sail. Combined with the opened armpit vents, you literally feel like your wearing a long sleeve t-shirt.  Humidity aside, it will dry you out after a stop/go sweat-soaked traffic jam.

It has a long coat tail hem which I really appreciate since I have a long torso.

Having a chest protector included is impressive as well.  The armor's claim to fame is that the durometer increases with the severity of force applied to it.  At rest it has the flexibility of neoprene.   There is a kidney belt elastic band built into the jacket which assists in keeping the back protector located in place while you are pinwheeling off the outer radius of a curve. *shrug*



The jacket will make your actions a bit robocop-like for the first 1000 or so miles but it breaks-in gently.  I feel confident this piece of kit will keep your guts together in a get off on tarmac or dirt.   Better than my old AST would... or did... *flexing left shoulder*

[Mrs. DantesDame]

You actually spread your collar wide and allow massive airflow around your collarbone/armpit area like a big sail. Combined with the opened armpit vents, you literally feel like your wearing a long sleeve t-shirt.  Humidity aside, it will dry you out after a stop/go sweat-soaked traffic jam.

Good to know!!  

The jacket will make your actions a bit robocop-like for the first 1000 or so miles but it breaks-in gently.

Ah - glad to hear that. I had some trepidation about the stiffness of this jacket. Looks like I need to go get some riding in

[Mr_Gone]

I just picked up the Badlands Pro jacket and it's a beast.  

Great review!!! I ordered a Badlands Pro jacket last week and expect it to be delivered Wednesday or Thursday. Your review just reinforces my belief that I made the right choice.

I wonder if there is a way to speed up the break-in process? Anyone have any ideas.

[GRN]

I wonder if there is a way to speed up the break-in process? Anyone have any ideas.

Rhino stampede.

[Mr_Gone]

Rhino stampede.

Dude, I just got rid of my rhinos earlier this year. The summer drought caused hay prices to just skyrocket, and it was too much to import hay from Africa. Damn you, global warming!!!

[Mr_Gone]

After a week of "We're trying to find your jacket order" at Klim, my Badlands should arrive tomorrow. I actually have a Fedex tracking number, so there's something in that box, and it should be a Klim Badlands Pro. (fingers crossed)

Christmas is a couple weeks away, but this is a gift to myself for earning zero performance awards this year.

Is it ridiculous that I'm impatiently tracking this jacket thru Fedex like CNN tracks Santa Claus on Christmas Eve?

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Is it ridiculous that I'm impatiently tracking this jacket thru Fedex like CNN tracks Santa Claus on Christmas Eve?

Nope, not at all  

[Mr_Gone]

Nope, not at all  

I wonder if Fedex will grant me access to the GPS tracking system on their truck?

[bomber]

I wonder if Fedex will grant me access to the GPS tracking system on their truck?

you could ask to ride along if you get to the FEDEX barn early enough . . ..

[GRN]

Dude, I just got rid of my rhinos earlier this year. The summer drought caused hay prices to just skyrocket, and it was too much to import hay from Africa. Damn you, global warming!!!

Swiss chard works, grows fast, grows anywhere... gives them some wicked diarrhea though  

[Mr_Gone]

Swiss chard works, grows fast, grows anywhere... gives them some wicked diarrhea though  

 

Rhino diarrhea... uh, no thanks. Been there, done that.

[Mr_Gone]

you could ask to ride along if you get to the FEDEX barn early enough . . ..

Seriously? Is that an option? Because I might just do that.

No, really. Stop laughing.

 

[bomber]

Seriously? Is that an option? Because I might just do that.

No, really. Stop laughing.

 

surely you don't think you're the only kid on the board?

;-}

"I'm too excited to sleep!"

[expatbrit]

Nope, not at all  

Not even remotely. Stalking packages is fun. And even legal...

[Mr_Gone]

Okay, I received my Klim Badlands Pro jacket yesterday afternoon. And since I was alone in the office, I wore it around the building for about an hour just getting the feel for it. Yes, I’m a dork. Stop laughing.

I also wore it on the ride home, and on the ride in to work this morning. The temp this morning was right around freezing. I have a short commute, but I felt comfortable with just a t-shirt and Polo. But I could definitely tell that I would need a heavier layer or a fleece or a heated liner if I wanted to ride longer in cold temps. This is definitely not a winter jacket, on its own. This weekend, I’ll go on a longer ride to see how warm the jacket is.

Here are my initial thoughts on the Klim Badlands Pro jacket:

— Sizing. I ordered an XL since I’m 6’3” and 210 pounds with a 44" chest. Maybe 215… depends on how much weight I’ve gained over the holidays. Anyway, the Klim sizing chart had me between a Large and XL. I’m really glad I went with the XL, because there’s no way I could have layered underneath with a Large. Even with the XL, layering will be tight (which isn’t necessary a bad thing). Truthfully, I probably could have gone with an XXL if I planned to do lots of cold-weather riding with multiple layers and/or heated gear, but for use a base layer and a heavy mid layer, I think I’ll be fine with an XL.

— The jacket is heavy and very stiff. It won’t get any lighter, obviously, but the weight isn’t really all that bad. Further, I believe that after wearing it for some time on the bike, it will break in and loosen up. Sitting on the bike, it’s very comfortable, and some serious thought was given to rider ergonomics. Right now, the jacket feels like medieval chainmail. Later today, I plan on having some co-workers shoot at me with large-caliber rifles to check the bulletproofing. Well, nothing bigger than a .30-06, obviously.

— It’s not as long as I thought it would be for a 3/4-length jacket, although I’m taller than average, so maybe it’s just me. On my FJR, the jacket doesn’t bunch up at all, which is a good thing, and it’s comfortable.

— The photo-reflective panel across the back of the jacket works extremely well. I turned out all the lights in my apartment and shined an LED at the jacket; the photo-reflective panel reflected an astonishing amount of light straight back. I was seeing a white dot in my vision for two minutes after that little experiment.

— Wearing only a Polo-style shirt under the jacket, you can definitely tell it’s just a shell. There’s no padding inside the jacket. It feels hard and stiff.

— It has a bunch of logos and tags.
4 “Klim” logos
3 “K” logos
1 “Gore-Tex” logo
1 “Gore-Tex Pro Shell” logo
1 “Deflexion” tag
1 “D3O” tag
1 “Cordura”
1 “Scotchlite Reflective Material” tag
1 “Made in China XL” tag
1 “Klim” tag
1 “Gore-Tex” tag

There are probably more logos and tags somewhere, but I’m not going to go searching for them. Sheesh.

— In photos, and even in the Revzilla product video, all the logos and tags didn’t bother me regarding the aesthetics of the jacket. They sort of bother me now that I have the jacket. The logos really do give the jacket a billboard image. If people ask me about Klim, I’m going to tell them it’s my last name and that I’m ridiculously famous. And rich.

— All the zipper pulls have the Klim-yellow thread, and there are A LOT of zippers, so there seem to be a lot of yellow flashes when you’re walking around and looking at yourself in the mirror. All the zippers seem tight, which probably has something to do with the water-resistant covers (gaskets?). And I have already found that you have to really make sure the zippers are zipped all the way up into the zipper garages, which takes an extra few seconds.

— Did I mention that it’s heavy? It probably weighs 10 or 11 pounds, but in all honesty the weight isn’t that bad for a heavy-duty jacket. The more you wear it, the lighter it seems. I walked around my neighborhood last night, trying to see some meteors, and I wore the jacket. After a half-hour or so, I was still comfortable with just a sweatshirt and the jacket in 40-degree temps (Fahrenheit). I have no doubt that with a good base layer and a fleece, I’ll be warm enough down to freezing and maybe below that. I’ll try to check that this weekend.

— There are a lot of pockets. A lot. An absurd number of pockets, really. I stopped counting somewhere around 42 pockets. Calculating the odds, I’m 100% certain that I will lose things in the jacket pockets and NEVER find them again. Who needs this many pockets? A magician? A pocket salesman? If you’re carrying enough stuff to fill all these pockets, you need 1) a bigger bike, and 2) sidecases and maybe a topcase.

— The jacket is obviously well-constructed. The Gore-Tex/840D Cordura/Armacor fabric seems like it will hold up well in a crash. I’m not going to test this if I don’t have to. The stitching looks very good, and it’s double-stitched where the cloth panels come together. There were a couple places, however, where I found loose stitching. Not a big deal. The zippers seem sturdy, but only time will tell with how long-lasting the zippers will be since these are high-use features.

— It is made in China.

— The collar seems comfortable to me. And with the drawstring, I can cinch it tighter around my neck so that it’s comfortable and blocks the cold air. A nice touch. I wish there was a little more padding around the drawstring, which is easily felt through the thin collar fabric — not a big deal, but it’s a detail that Klim missed. The collar doesn’t seem too high for me, but then I’m a tall guy. YMMV. There’s only a small gap between the top of the collar and the bottom of my helmet, which dramatically reduces wind noise around the helmet and the wind chill on exposed skin.

— I just found 17 additional pockets! And 1 secret pocket!!! Really, there are almost too many pockets on this jacket. The rear pocket (“rabbit pouch”) is huge. You could probably keep three or four good-sized rabbits in there, no problem. Or two fat ground hogs. Or a small capybara. Probably you’ll want to keep some rabbits in there. Or maps. Whatever. Your choice.

— The interior pockets are mesh, and don’t really seem very durable if you’ve got keys or anything else that hard/metallic in there.

— The armor feels fairly comfortable, but will take some getting used to. The back protector is light, flexible, and completely unnoticeable even though it’s HUGE. The shoulder armor is comfortable, but I need to move the elbow armor up a little bit, and I haven’t yet figured out how to do that yet. This could be a challenge.

— The two Dow Corning Deflexion chest protectors are nice to have, but I’ll probably take them out when I’m just commuting to work or riding around town. If I’m going to be on the highway/interstate for longer periods of time, I might stick the chest armor back in, since any crash on the highway will probably involve higher speeds and the extra protection would be nice. But around town, the Deflexion pieces just feel a little constrictive, plus they reduce the weight of the jacket a little bit.

— Did I mention all the logos and emblems and tags? The only advertising opportunity missed on the jacket would involve neon and/or blinking LEDs.

— The jacket itself is comfortable, except for a couple areas. The shoulders are very, very stiff on the panels where you see the yellow “K” and the photo-reflective strip with “Klim” written across it. Also, when I bend my elbows, the jacket is extremely stiff right at the elbow joint and even binds a little bit, because three pieces of fabric come together right there and are double-stitched, and this is the bottom of a zip pull also, adding to the stiffness of that joint area. This stiffness might also have something to do with the pre-curved structure of the sleeves. I don’t know. Maybe this will break in; I hope so. It’s a little annoying right now, but everyone has different physical ergonomics and no jacket is perfect. It’s not a dealbreaker.

— The cuffs are enormous. I’d say that the cuffs are actually larger in diameter than the forearms of the sleeves, but maybe it just seems this way because of the gusset. I have to use nearly all of the Velcro strip to cinch the wrists tight, although I admittedly do have narrow wrists. Not a big deal. Klim used long, wide strips of Velcro at the cuffs, so tightening them down is no problem. The storm cuffs are a nice touch, and I’ll probably get some use out of them at some point.

— The front YKK zipper is smooth and easy to pull up and down. As I’ve already mentioned, the other zippers feel taut, perhaps because of the water-resistant gaskets. These zippers are easy to zip and unzip when you have the jacket off; while you’re sitting on your bike with the jacket on, I have the feeling that the zippers will be more difficult to zip and unzip.

— The Velcro collar closure has changed, I think, from earlier versions; instead of having Velcro only to keep the collar closed, Klim now has a metal snap positioned in the center of the Velcro. As long as you line up the snap before the Velcro panels touch, you’re good; otherwise it’s a PITA. Nonetheless, the collar closure feels very solid.

— On the 32-degree ride this morning to work, I found out that I will definitely need an extra layer for warmth, or heated gear. This shell isn’t as warm as my previous jacket, for obvious reasons since it doesn’t have a liner. Which is okay. I’ve been looking for an excuse to buy some Gerbing’s heated gear.

— The jacket doesn’t flap around in the wind. I took the highway to work instead of slower back roads, and the jacket felt solid at 70 mph.

This weekend should be nice enough for me to take a long ride and really get a feel for the jacket. I’ll probably open up all the vents when the temperature rises over 50* to see how the ventilation scheme works. After I’ve ridden in the jacket for a few hours and a few hundred miles, I’ll follow up with additional thoughts and impressions.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Nice review, thank you.

I'm looking forward to getting my jacket out of storage and working on the "break in" process  

[Hotbrakes]

Just picked up a Latitude jacket this weekend to complete the set I began 6 months ago.  Only complaint so far is the stiff collar that wedges or velcros itself to my helmet preventing smooth head turns.  If I leave the collar detached it can be persuaded to stay mostly out of the way, when I velcro it shut the stiffness chokes me and eventually I swallow enough to pop it back open where it attacks my helmet again.  And the connection to the pants is buried within the waist which seems to be a bit tighter than when I first purchased them.  Luckily the tail is long enough that connecting the two isn't really necessary.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Only complaint so far is the stiff collar that wedges or velcros itself to my helmet preventing smooth head turns.  If I leave the collar detached it can be persuaded to stay mostly out of the way, when I velcro it shut the stiffness chokes me and eventually I swallow enough to pop it back open where it attacks my helmet again.  And the connection to the pants is buried within the waist which seems to be a bit tighter than when I first purchased them.  Luckily the tail is long enough that connecting the two isn't really necessary.

That's the jacket I have and I am solving both of these problems right now: my jacket and pants are in Seattle being altered by a talented seamstress.

She is adding a length of velcro to the neck flap, thereby allowing me to secure it while still being able to breath. She is also replacing the "buried" zipper with a 3/4 zipper that will wrap most of the way around the jacket/pants. I prefer this connection for multiple reasons: 1) it is easy to get to  2) it is more comfortable in keeping cold weather from blowing up the backside of the jacket and 3) it'll keep the jacket/pants together better in the event of an unexpected dismount  

I don't have the bill yet, but if you're interested in doing the same, let me know and I'll get you her contact information. She's good  

[Mr_Gone]

That's the jacket I have and I am solving both of these problems right now: my jacket and pants are in Seattle being altered by a talented seamstress.

She is adding a length of velcro to the neck flap, thereby allowing me to secure it while still being able to breath. She is also replacing the "buried" zipper with a 3/4 zipper that will wrap most of the way around the jacket/pants. I prefer this connection for multiple reasons: 1) it is easy to get to  2) it is more comfortable in keeping cold weather from blowing up the backside of the jacket and 3) it'll keep the jacket/pants together better in the event of an unexpected dismount  

I don't have the bill yet, but if you're interested in doing the same, let me know and I'll get you her contact information. She's good  

MrsDantesDame, as a New Jerseyan, do you layer under your jacket, or did you go with heated gear for the colder temps?

[Mr_Gone]

I just received my Klim pants in the mail yesterday. I went with the Traverse, which is the cheapest option that's still Gore-tex from Klim; the pants just don't have any armor. But since I ride with kevlar/denim jeans that have armor in the knees and hips, I figure this is an acceptable trade-off. The Traverse pants are very light compared to the pants I've owned previous, which was a nice surprise — easier to pack!!!

[Mrs. DantesDame]

MrsDantesDame, as a [unwilling] New Jerseyan, do you layer under your jacket, or did you go with heated gear for the colder temps?

I didn't wear the jacket much this year as it was mesh-season when I got it and then preferred to wear the old jacket until I got the waist zippers replaced. Therefore, I can not adequately answer your question  

As a rule, however, I would only wear the heated gear for (day + ) long rides. Otherwise it was layering for the commute. And being a [unwilling] New Jerseyan, the long day + rides were few and far between  

[Hotbrakes]

MrsDantesDame, as a New Jerseyan, do you layer under your jacket, or did you go with heated gear for the colder temps?

I always layer underneath for the worst possible temperature that could be encountered.  Under Armour Cold Gear and a fleece jacket or heated jacket usually suffices for anything 50 or below.  

[Hotbrakes]

That's the jacket I have and I am solving both of these problems right now: my jacket and pants are in Seattle being altered by a talented seamstress.

She is adding a length of velcro to the neck flap, thereby allowing me to secure it while still being able to breath. She is also replacing the "buried" zipper with a 3/4 zipper that will wrap most of the way around the jacket/pants. I prefer this connection for multiple reasons: 1) it is easy to get to  2) it is more comfortable in keeping cold weather from blowing up the backside of the jacket and 3) it'll keep the jacket/pants together better in the event of an unexpected dismount  

I don't have the bill yet, but if you're interested in doing the same, let me know and I'll get you her contact information. She's good  

That would be great!  I still haven't had a chance to get some good seat time with the jacket, but if these issues turn out to be near deal breakers I may contact Klim to see if they can help out.  Did you try that route first Mrs.D?

[Mrs. DantesDame]

That would be great!  I still haven't had a chance to get some good seat time with the jacket, but if these issues turn out to be near deal breakers I may contact Klim to see if they can help out.  Did you try that route first Mrs.D?

No, I didn't bother to contact Klim.  I have never have found a jacket/pant set that addressed these problems and just assumed that I'd have to take care of them on my own. However, I suppose that I should let Klim know that they *are* issues for me and possibly others and maybe they should research some changes for future designs.

[McRider]

$900 and it's made in China?!  If I had the money, which I don't, I would buy a made in USA Aerostitch Darian for about half as much.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

$900 and it's made in China?!  If I had the money, which I don't, I would buy a made in USA Aerostitch Darian for about half as much.

Go ahead - no one's stopping you  

[bomber]

$900 and it's made in China?!  If I had the money, which I don't, I would buy a made in USA Aerostitch Darian for about half as much.

And get a jacket with a completely different set of features . . . . not bad ones, differrent . . . .


When my much loved Stich goes to it's great reward, Badlands is basically the entire short list for it's replacement.

[Mr_Gone]

$900 and it's made in China?!  If I had the money, which I don't, I would buy a made in USA Aerostitch Darian for about half as much.

McRider, I didn't pay anywhere near $900 for my Badlands. In fact, I found a new one for near the price of a Darien. Plus the Badlands has a d3O back protector, and if I remember correctly (and I could be absolutely wrong here) I don't think the Darien has back armor. So if you add the cost of back protection to the Darien, it's pretty close to what I paid for my Badlands in the final accounting.

The Badlands also has a lifetime "Guaranteed To Keep You Dry" Warranty. To me, that warranty is worth some $$$.

I'm not saying the Badlands is a better jacket, or even that it's worth the money (without a doubt, it's expensive), but the Badlands ticked all the boxes on my wish list for a jacket.

[Max Wedge]

I wish they did a hi-vis version. I mentioned it to them when they were on a podcast a while ago, but nothing yet....

[GRN]

I'm not saying the Badlands is a better jacket, or even that it's worth the money (without a doubt, it's expensive), but the Badlands ticked all the boxes on my wish list for a jacket.

Whole bunch less fugly, too. Stitch doesn't do much to support other industry professionals either, which is unfortunate.

[dietDrThunder]

$900 and it's made in China?!  If I had the money, which I don't, I would buy a made in USA Aerostitch Darian for about half as much.

An Aerostich Darien is a burlap bag compared to the jacket being discussed in this thread...just fyi.

[Mr_Gone]

I've had my Badlands jacket for about a week now. On and off the bike, people will notice you.

I went shopping this morning before work and while I was waiting in line to check out, the young girl in front of me commented on the jacket, said it looked bad-ass. Now y'all know the real reason I bought it!!!

[Hotbrakes]

I've gotten a few more rides in and today noticed it's starting to break in and become much more comfortable.  The collar hasn't bothered me anymore either, I've kept it closed and haven't really needed a neck warmer and there hasn't been any helmet interference.  So far I'm very happy.  Next test will be rain which should be no problem and then a 90 degree test.  The jacket has plenty of vents and should do well but the pants may not vent so well.  It'll be a few months before that can be determined though.

[Mrs. DantesDame]

 

Thanks for the update. My gear just got stuffed into a box, not to be seen for the next 3 months.

I wonder if it'll break in on its own?  

[Mr_Gone]

 

Thanks for the update. My gear just got stuffed into a box, not to be seen for the next 3 months.

I wonder if it'll break in on its own?  

Absolutely it will break in on its own. This is a secret, though. Don't tell anyone.

I have noticed that, with my Badlands, one of two things is happening. One, the jacket is breaking in after a month of riding in it nearly every day. Or, two, I'm just not noticing how stiff the jacket is.

A quick note on sizing (again). I'm 6'3" and 210 lbs and I went with an XL, since I was between the Large and XL on the Klim sizing chart. I am really glad I went with the XL, and could almost have gone with an XXL when I have my heated liner in because it feels constrictive. Not that this is necessarily bad when I'm trying to conduct heat to my body, but my movements feels somewhat restricted. I do believe that if I had to have more than a couple layers on — say, a heavy base layer and a fleece — then the jacket would just be too tight altogether. That's just me, though. You might like the "wrapped" feeling.

[Mr_Gone]

New high-viz Badlands.

I don't see it on the Klim website yet, but one of the inmates over at advrider says he's ridden over to the Klim facility in Idaho and he's seen it in person, and he says it looks better in person than in the photo above. I believe he also mentioned that it would be available in a "couple" weeks.

[Max Wedge]

Yay hi-vis! Looked at the sizing chart, does anyone think it is a little off? If your chest is 45, you better be 6' 5" like on the Revzilla video.  

[Mr_Gone]

Yay hi-vis! Looked at the sizing chart, does anyone think it is a little off? If your chest is 45, you better be 6' 5" like on the Revzilla video.  

Sizing with the Badlands is, frankly, a little weird. But that's the tradeoff for having a mass-manufactured product versus custom tailoring.

If you're looking at buying a Badlands, here's my advice, for what it's worth: If you do not plan to layer during the colder months, choose a size based on your chest size. If you do plan to layer up during winter, go with your weight to make a size determination. I wouldn't worry about height too much unless you're 380 pounds and 4'2".

For example, I'm 6'3", 210 lbs, 44" chest. According to the size chart, I'm right between a Large and XL if I use my weight, but definitely a Large by chest size. But since I ride all winter, and need the extra room for layering and/or a heated liner, I went with the XL and I'm very glad I did. I would definitely need the extra room. A Large would have been too small and restrictive, like a straight jacket. (Don't ask me how I know what a straight jacket feels like.   )

When in doubt, call Klim or call Revzilla. Both places have top-notch customer service to help you find the right size. Both places will also accept returns if you do buy the wrong size, so long as you don't remove the tags from the jacket.

[Max Wedge]

Well I am a 45" chest but closer to 5'7" than 6'5". Having a 34 waist doesn't help either. If it fits in the chest, it hangs like a dress and the sleeves would make me look like I was 7 years old wearing my dad's jacket. Oh why can't I be an off the rack fit?
Maybe the 'stitch is the answer.

[Mr_Gone]

Well I am a 45" chest but closer to 5'7" than 6'5". Having a 34 waist doesn't help either. If it fits in the chest, it hangs like a dress and the sleeves would make me look like I was 7 years old wearing my dad's jacket. Oh why can't I be an off the rack fit?
Maybe the 'stitch is the answer.

Aerostich makes a great jacket. Thousands of riders can't be wrong. And they will customize to fit. The wait is several weeks, from what I understand, but I know several guys who luuuuuuv their Aerostich jackets.

[Mr_Gone]

Revzilla has the new Badlands Pro Hi-Viz jacket on their website. It's not in stock yet. Says "Expected to ship this Summer."

[Hotbrakes]

Perhaps they do trade-ins?

If only it came in orange hi-viz...