Quality, well-appointed 2in1
The Gearhead is something a little different in the market - there's a few armored hoodies popping up here and there (S&S, Fly and now Rev'it) plus waxed cotton jackets (RS Kent for example) but not a combination of the two. The Gearhead takes the features of both and offers very good value for money to boot.<br /><br />I was initially fishing around for an armored hoody for the hotter months - something I could just throw on and give me some one-and-done protection. I was also interested in the Kent, due to it's lighter weight and style. For a little more than an average armored hoody, the Gearhead gives you the hoody, the waxed jacket, CE elbow and shoulder protection, and the ability to swap between the two. After ringing up Highway 21 directly to get more info, I was advised for my 5'7, 185lb, 42" chest, wide shouldered frame I should get the large, which fits as it should.<br /><br />Starting with the Hoody, it's very basic in it's styling. YKK zip, good relaxed feel, two hand warmer pockets, thumb cuffs, and a small logo on the seam at the bottom. No garish graphics, just a plain ol' hoody. The good thing about it are the internal pockets that can fit elbows, shoulders and back armor. I've fitted a Fly CE back protector to it and it doesn't bulk up at all.<br /><br />On the jacket, the finish and materials feels quality and the look is reminiscent of Carthartt. The cotton adds water-resistance (but not waterproof) and it has a mesh inner for some breathability. It features various pockets including a pen pocket on the upper arm and adjustability on the cuffs and sides. And it comes already equipped with CE rated elbow and shoulder armor.<br /><br />The one thing I wasn't sure about was the normal collar on the jacket, and how it would look with the hoody. Initially I thought it would have been better with a more mandarin-type collar, but after wearing it a few times I think they made the right move, adding to the versatility off the bike. Obviously, without the hoody the jacket fits ever so slightly larger, and though it could be a tiny bit more fitted, it's not obviously oversized.<br /><br />Together, the jacket and hoody match well. There's no sleeve ties to keep the hoody in place, but it's easy to get in and out of, and the hoody's arm doesn't bunch up when you're retracting your arm. The combination is pretty warm, making it better suited for spring and fall in the city. Lack of perforations and vents don't make this the most breathable bit of kit, but when you wear the jacket or hoody loose you get a fair bit of airflow.<br /><br />If I had to improve on the Gearhead, it would mainly be aesthetic. The jacket collar doesn't have any support, so folds easily. I would have loved to have seen a bit of leather underneath to stiffen it up. And maybe some reflective trim around the collar edge for additional safety. Leather patches on the elbows would have given it a more vintage look whilst reinforcing the impact zone, and I would have preferred elasticated waist adjustment rather than buttons, which bunch the jacket slightly. I got the all black, however I think a few more hoody colors would have helped. As I mentioned, a more svelte cut around the sides would have given the jacket some shape, but I can understand the more American sizing they went with. And stealing a feature from Rev'it, a button on the upper back of the jacket to secure the hoody would have been a nice touch.<br /><br />None of the above detract from the Gearhead - it's a very functional 2in1 that has multiple uses, be it a spring/fall long haul, or separately around town. At it's current price point, you're basically getting 2 basic motorcycling pieces with added value, which makes it a very good buy in my book.
Awesome yet simple jacket!
I bought this jacket a month ago and have been using it every day since! The quality of the jacket and hoodie is better than I expected, no signs of poor craftsmanship. <br /><br />I am a bigger guy (6'6" and 340lbs) and I ordered the 4xl. With the hoodie installed its a bit snug, although I got a bit of a stomach. Without the hoodie it fits well and has enough slack to help keep cool.
Great City Jacket
I bought this jacket because I wanted something slightly warmer for night riding. I really liked the style, so I went for it. I was very pleasantly surprised when I received it. For the price, this is a very well-thoguht-out piece of kit. <br /><br />I immediately swapped the foamy back protector for a D3O one I had lying around. The jacket is still very comfortable. It's usually hard for me to find a jacket that fits right because I am 6'0" and 140lbs, but this jacket fits perfectly for me in medium. However, it is a little loose if you wear only the outer shell, but that is to be expected. Very easy to remove the hoody, but it also stays in place very well, despite the lack of sleeve fasteners. <br /><br />The jacket has good level of temp control. I live in LA and have ridden with jacket every day. If it's too hot, I pull the hoody out and put it in my backpack, and the added space inside, plus loosing the extra layer make it more than tolerable. I used to shiver in my mesh jacket at night, but now I am very comfortable with the hoody in.<br /><br />The jacket also looks very stylish off the bike (if just a tad bulky). Most people have no idea that it is a motorcycle jacket. The outer shell is a very nice material. It feels strong enough to not disintegrate in a crash (obviously not leather by any means), and it's still soft enough to be comfortable. The hoody also looks great, though the sleeves are a little short if I use thumb holes.<br /><br />The only gripe I have with the jacket is the fact that the collar is loose. It flaps in the wind and makes a vibrating noise as it hits my helmet. This is only an issue above 50 mph, so it's not a huge deal. But they give you little elastic eyelets for the hoody's drawstring (which is great), so they are obviously aware that wind makes things move. How hard would it have been to put small buttons on the end of the collar? <br /><br />However, this is a very small gripe, and I still recommend this jacket whole heartedly to anyone looking for versatility, style, protection, all for a cheap price. And let's not forget, you're getting 3 jackets in one!<br /><br />All-in-all, my favorite motorcycle jacket I've ever owned.
Bitchin
Wearing this on a tour from the PNW to Austin, TX and back. Started out in the bitter cold of the Washington and Oregon coasts around New Years and it was damn cold. Put a puffy and a shell over it and it was fine. Since passing through Joshua Tree, all of southern Arizona, New Mexico, into Austin, then back into New Mexico at this point, it's been a really great jacket. Pads sit exactly where they should and are barely noticeable during riding or if I'm out walking around. Color has faded significantly after wearing in direct sunlight for months on end, but it looks worn, not cheap. Back protection is very minimal, but better than nothing. I took the hoodie out and just wear my regular thinner cut hoodie of about the same weight underneath the jacket. After a few weeks of continued wear the hoodie that zips in stopped fitting very well so I gave it to a bum in Tucson. He was stoked so it's a win win for everyone.<br /><br />Bottom line - I'm 6'3", 42"-43" chest and weigh around 190 after dropping about 10 lbs on the road. The jacket has fit flawlessly throughout and I will continue to wear it with and without a hoodie until it falls to pieces. Great value for the $.
Amazing Setup
Solid Jacket. The 2-in-1 feature is really what sells it. The hoodie itself has the option to takeout the armor and place it in the hoodie itself and wear that alone. Caught in some rain today where my jeans were soaked but the jacket held up where the hoodie underneath was only slightly damp but my t-shirt under was completely dry. The collar does seem to hang a little low and I could see water getting inbetween the collar and helmet, so maybe some sort of neck buff could be a good idea for rain. Will update when I get caught in a hard downpour though.<br /><br />The armor seems good, but it definitely doesn't feel or seem like the best. But, for the price I cannot complain. The collar seems to maybe be ironed as it seems a little wimpy and wrinkled.<br /><br />My only real grip is the zipper pocket on the inside is a little low, I don't mind unzipping the hoodie to get to it, but with gloves on you have to unzip the jacket and hoodie pretty low to get to the zipped inside pocket. Wish it was maybe a half inch or inch higher up. <br /><br />Really rad jacket that feels and looks good. Highly recommend.
Flappy collar simple fix.
Great value for the money. I like the material. It is relatively waterproof. The hoodie liner is seems very high quality. The armor is of course CE1. The only knock I would give on this product is the collars flap against my helmet. I had a seamstress so on two collar snaps for $10.
Versatile, low-key, decent looking jacket combo
This jacket combo is a good choice if you're looking for a textile jacket that is lightweight and no-fuss. It's pretty low key and works well in a lot of situations. I got the brown color. It can easily fly under the radar as a "normal" jacket but does hold shoulder, elbow, and back armor. The armor pieces are included. <br />One should note that this only includes impact protection- there is no aramidic material to protect the rider from slides. I knew this prior to purchasing but if you are looking for a jacket that offers slide protection this is not the jacket for you, It also worth noting is that this jacket does not offer any water resistance.<br /><br />The hoody portion is removable and has pockets so one can move over the armor from the jacket if they wanted to wear the hoody only. It's nice that the hoody zips out... this was a big part of why I bought this product. It's basically like having two jackets in one and gives the wearer a lot of versatility depending on what the temps are or the occasion is.<br />The fit of the jacket is pretty true to size- perhaps a little on the roomy side (as most moto clothing tends to be). It is comfortable to where while riding (or off the bike). There are loops in the collar area which can be used to secure the hoody drawstrings; this is a nice feature so they don't whip around at speed. I wish they has included a way to secure the collar. So far the jacket seems to be sufficiently durable. The seam on the right pocket of the hoodie has started to come unstitched but this is the only durability item worth noting (and an easy fix).<br />Overall, a good light jacket that offers impact protection and works well in a lot of riding situations. It's great to have to throw on for a quick ride or perhaps as an extra jacket for that occasional pillion rider. A great value considering what other companies charge for just the hoody...
I got a 2XL which fits me in almost all other brands and items. It ran small, otherwise product is perfect.
Good Jacket
This jacket is pretty durable and is great for the money. Ive worn it for the past 6 months and haven't had any issues with it. I've worn this jacket down to 20°F but I wouldn't recommend wearing it in temperatures that low. The protective pads should be upgraded if you want better protection in a fall. The only thing I would change about this jacket would be weighing down the collar with leather to keep it from flipping up at higher speeds.
Great Jacket
Very comfortable and great for winter riding.
True to size very comfy. Recommend upgrading the back armor, D30 fits perfect. I like how its a full hoody inside with arms instead of a vest like other brands just wish it had some reflective features
came to me defective
There was a spot in the hoodie,were they did not sow it,if i did find that spot and i would have gone down,it would of be bad for my left elbow,but other then that,its ok.
I was looking for something similar to a Dickies Eisenhower this is pretty close. Size, according to the size chart I'm an XL, I'm a size L in shirts so got a L and it fits perfectly.
