After 30 or 40 years of textile jackets I've given the Camino TFL Cool-Tec a try.
What you get:
- Leather jacket, made in I.R.P. according to the label (which I assume is Islamic Republic of Pakistan).
- Cool weather liner.
- Level 2 shoulder and elbow armour.
What you don't get:
- Pockets! There are only two external pockets and one inner pocket (mobile phone size - the cool weather liner also has a mobile phone pocket). The two zips on the upper front of the jacket are openings for air vents (with two corresponding vertical vents on the back of the jacket). So if, like me, you are accustomed to lots of pockets you'll have to find somewhere else for the spare earplugs, spare keys, the wet weather over-gloves, the visor-wiping cloth and all the other junk that found a home in your old jacket. Probably the only thing I'll really miss is the clip on a ribbon sewn into the DriRider jacket that was useful for ensuring the keys never fell out.
Fit:
- According to the sizing chart I should have fitted into a size Medium jacket (100cm chest, 86cm (34") waist, but it was too tight all around even with the cool weather liner removed. The next size up (Large) fits fine.
- I'm in the habit of riding with a Forcefield Pro Shirt with shoulder & elbow armour, chest & back protector so the liner and armour came out straight away. Everything fits even with the cool weather liner fitted.
Exchange:
- The exchange process for the correct size jacket was smooth enough. Details were input online and a return label was emailed. The M jacket was packed back into the packaging it came in, the label attached, then posted back. The replacement jacket arrived a week or so later (after one email reminder).
First couple of rides (350k or so through the Adelaide Hills early October):
- The jacket is comfortable. It is advertised as a leather jacket for warm to hot weather - it remains to be seen it the Cool-Tec coating works as advertised (I have no idea how to assess this short of putting a thermometer in the mobile phone pocket, taking a temp reading, and borrowing someone else's leather jacket and doing the same straight away).
- The zippered air vents front and back work to allow air to flow through.
- Small perforations on the sleeves allow for a bit more air flow, so if encountering some rain during a ride either pull out a rain jacket or expect to water inside the sleeves pretty quickly.
Assessment:
- I'm happy with this jacket. Comfortable, cool-ish, looks good. Appears to be well made. But I'll miss the sewn-in key clip. Now it's time for a ride.