Firstgear Expedition Suit Review

As part of their brand new line of gear for Fall 2010, Firstgear released a one-piece suit that boasts many of the technologies used in their high-end TPG line of gear but arrives at an extremely reasonable suit. The Firstgear Expedition Suit performs at a level of suits that are $1000 or more but comes in at the $499 price point. Firstgear did a brilliant job with the design of this suit, making it ready for all-season and all-weather performance no matter what Mother Nature has in store. It is great for the commuter but also for the hardcore adventurer. Check out our Firstgear Expedition Suit review below.

The Firstgear Expedition Suit is built large enough to wear over your clothes with plenty of room for base layers in the wintertime. The outer shell is 600D with the waterproof breathable element built-in; you will not get wet, and your sweat can evaporate through. The ventilation is absolutely incredible in this suit: 10 total vents; two chest, two thigh, two pit, two sleeve cuff vents and two large vertical back exhaust vents. All the vents and pockets in this suit are protected by YKK rubberized zippers to keep precipitation out. There are two pass-through pockets on the legs to access what you've got stored in your pants underneath. Two chest Dry Pockets are there for storing anything that you don't want to get wet, they won't let any water in. The main zipper is a two-way Scuba-style RiRi zipper that is rubberized and has two rows of teeth. All of this waterproofing beneath a double storm flap with a rain gutter.

For comfort and flexibility there are completely waterproof stretch panels (awesome, right?) built into the crotch, front and back of the knees and the back. There is also an adjustable belt for ideal fitment. The shoulders, elbows and knees are protected by CE certified armor that has 3 inches of up/down and 1.5 inches of sideways adjustability. There is the convenience of a zip that goes all the way from the ankle to above the knee which utilizes a two-way rubberized YKK zip and rests atop an internal double storm flap with a rain gutter. The cuffs of the pants feature elasticized internal storm cuffs that have silicone grips to hold tight to your boots and keep any water from creeping up your leg. For added protection from water, there is an integrated rain hood that tucks under the collar and fits under the helmet.

Little conveniences, like the adjustable collar that features a hook-and-loop lockdown system to prevent flapping, and the set-it-and-forget-it sleeve cuffs, really provide excellent bang for the buck with this suit. The back pad can be upgraded to d3o molecular level armor, it comes stock with temperfoam which is also in the hips. This is a straight-up knockout product from Firstgear, who continues to improve their line of ADV touring gear with each passing year.

Visit our Textile Motorcycle Suits section to see more. To see the entire line, visit the Firstgear Fall 2010 page at RevZilla.com.

-RetroZilla

Related:
Firstgear Fall 2010 Gear Guide
Firstgear HT Overpants
Cold Weather Touring Motorcycle Gear Guide

Firstgear HT Overpants for Fall 2010

Firstgear completely redesigned their ADV & Sport Touring pants for the Fall of 2010 and now have positioned themselves as a serious competitor against some of the top-tier European brands. Both the HT Overpants and the HT Air Overpants now have improved fit and articulation for long distance riding; they feature a touring fit as opposed to the box cut in models past. This is a vast improvement in comfort and flexibility. Depending on the riding you'll be doing and the climate in which you live, you can choose between the three-season Fall-Winter-Spring HT Overpants or the Spring-Summer-Fall HT Air Overpants.

First up is our video review of the Firstgear HT Overpants.

Built on a 600D textile chassis, the HT Overpants have a built-in waterproof breathable Hypertex membrane to get you through any sort of precipitation nature has in store. Adjustable CE rated armor is found in the knees for protection along with articulation for comfort and flexibility. There is also textile reinforcement in impact areas in addition to padded hip protectors for extra protection. The HT Overpants feature pass through pockets to access the pockets of your layer underneath and two thigh air intake vents. All openings feature rubberized YKK zippers to further the waterproofing. For resistance to pipe heat and wear, there is heat-resistant material reinforcement on the inner calves. The removable liner pant is a stylish standalone
destination layer with Fiberfill insulation for warmth in the cold months.

Next, we review the Firstgear HT Air Overpants.

Constructed for three-season warm weather riding, the Firstgear HT Air Overpants are a blend of 600D polyester and 250D mesh for abrasion resistance and excellent airflow in Spring-Summer-Fall riding. Like their cold weather counterpart above, they are constructed as an overpant with pass-through pockets to access your under-layer. The waterproof breathability is built-in to the zip-out liner that also acts as a standalone destination layer that can be worn off the bike. There is adjustable CE armor in the knees with hip padding for extra protection in addition to heat-resistant material on the inner calves for durability and protection. There are two front pockets for storage with a large 2/3 length side zip for easy access in and out of the pants.

Both these pants are a part of the exemplary Firstgear Fall 2010 line of product. There are several other ADV and Sport Touring pieces of gear that we'll be detailing in blogs in the future. So stay tuned.

To compare competitors of the HT Overpants, visit our winter motorcycle pants section. To see the competitors of the HT Air Overpants, check out our summer motorcycle pants section.

-RetroZilla

Related:
Firstgear Fall 2010 Gear Guide
Cold Weather Everyday Riding Gear Guide
Cold Weather Touring Motorcycle Gear Guide
Firstgear Kathmandu Gloves for Fall 2010