Anyone with a Klim Badlands?

[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