Shift Avenger Jacket Review

The Shift Avenger Jacket is by far the most popular textile offering from Shift Racing in addition to being their overall bestselling jacket, period. There are multiple reasons for this. Shift's attention to style detail is a big factor; every garment they produce has its own unique fashion element to it. Shift's gear is also high-performance and offers all the necessary protective elements motorcycle gear needs to have. For a sport riding jacket that you can get multiple seasons out of, the Shift Avenger also has great bang for the buck.

Check out our full Shift Avenger Jacket Review:

Built on a durable and abrasion-resistant 600D poly fabric chassis, the Shift Avenger features proprietary CE rated armor in the shoulders and elbows. There is also a 10mm foam back pad that can be upgraded to a CE back protector for added safety. Inset within the 600D chassis are strategically placed mesh panels, along each shoulder and down the mid-section and an exhaust at the top of the back of the neck. There are also rubberized air scoops on the shoulders so with the quilted thermal vest liner removed, you can flow plenty of air and stay cool in the hot weather. When it is chillier out, put the thermal vest in, add a base layer, and you can stretch the seasonality to the colder months of the year. Finally, Stylish rubberized Shift logos adorn the upper arm of each sleeve.

For comfort, the Avenger features accordion stretch panels on the backs of each elbow in addition to large panels that start at the back of the shoulder and wrap under the arm for extreme comfort in the riding position, with this jacket being cut and articulated for the 3/4 or tucked riding position. There is adjustability available at the waist and wrists to cinch the jacket down and get the ideal fit. The collar of the Avenger is lined with neoprene for comfort and to prevent bunching when in the attack position. Every zipper on this jacket is ergonomically designed for ease of use with a glove and the waistline features a connection zipper and jeans loop to attach to pants and keep the back of the jacket from flapping at speed. The Avenger is also available as the Shift Air Avenger Mesh Jacket, designed for mild to hot weather riding.

Shift is constantly coming out with wild graphical patters in addition to their standard solids so there really is a style of this jacket for everyone. It competes head-to-head with anything at this price point from a features, functionality and style standpoint. To see more, visit our Textile Motorcycle Jackets section.

-RetroZilla

Related:
Shift Fuel and Kicker Riding Shoes Review
Shift Vertex Leather Jacket Review
Shift Octane Leather Jacket Review
Shift Vendetta and Vantage Leather Jackets Review

Shift Racing Jacket Reviews

A relative newcomer to RevZilla, Shift Racing has already impressed us with the products they're putting out. Recently, we shot video reviews of a bunch of Shift gear that you can see over at RevZillaTV. In this post we'll be highlighting some new jacket offerings from Shift. One jacket is built for hot weather riding with some cooler weather versatility, the Shift Air Avenger Jacket; one is constructed for multi-season sport riding, the Shift Fuse Hybrid Jacket; and the last one is a waterproof option built for all-season and all-weather touring, the Shift Triton Storm Series Jacket.

First up is the Shift Air Avenger Jacket Review:

Utilizing three premium grade mesh fabrics with variable levels of abrasion resistance and ventilating qualities, the Shift Air Avenger Jacket has been rebuilt from the ground up. The Air Avenger is a true summer-weight jacket that utilizes a full-sleeved removable quilted thermal liner with an extended collar to stretch the seasonality through Spring and Fall. The first thing that jumps out about Shift gear is their extremely unique styling; their slick designs are daring and resemble nothing we've seen in the industry. The Air Avenger has medium-gauge mesh in the mid-chest and back, thicker mesh in areas that are more prone to contact with the ground, and wider mesh to flow the most air in regions that have limited chance of impact. The Air Avenger
also utilizes thermoplastic rubberized vents and logos to
keep even more air flowing.

For protection, the removable CE rated shoulder and elbow armor is complemented by molded external padding down the front of the chest and the back. The back features a pocket for a CE rated back protector to boost the protective elements of the Air Avenger. It also has ballistic nylon reinforcements in impact areas to further the abrasion resistance. The Air Avenger is articulated for riding in the sport position, has strategic reflective paneling for increased night visibility, and ergonomic zipper pulls for convenience. Custom fit is achieved through the waist and wrist adjustability while the internal chest pocket allows you to keep your precious valuables close to you. Overall, we think this is a great bang-for-the-buck product from Shift.


Next is our Shift Fuse Hybrid Jacket Review:

The forward-thinking Shift Fuse Hybrid Jacket utilizes a mix of leather and textile to create a garment that is extremely abrasion resistant and protective (leather) but also lightweight (textile). 1.2-1.4mm premium grain leather exists on the shoulders, elbows and back in all major impact areas to provide utmost abrasion resistance. The rest of the coat is a full textile construction to keep the weight of the jacket low and comfort levels high. The jacket is articulated to be comfortable when you're in a sport riding position and accordion stretch panels in critical areas add to this comfort. There is also adjustability at the side waist to customize the snugness of the jacket.

CE rated shoulder and elbow armor keeps you protected with the option of adding a CE rated back protector to the built-in integrated pocket. In crucial areas, the leather is actually double layered to increase the protection and down the back, you'll find leather-wrapped molded back pads to further the protection. The removable quilted thermal vest liner helps to extend the seasonality of this jacket while the neoprene paneling in the neck adds to the creature comforts. Again, the style of this jacket is completely unique and sets it apart from other sportbike and stunt specific gear that we've seen thus far.


Finally, our Shift Triton Storm Series Jacket Review:

Brand new for 2010, the Shift Triton Storm Series Jacket represents one of Shift Racing's all-season all-weather touring jackets. Built upon a 600D polyester shell with ballistic nylon reinforcements in impact areas, the Triton utilizes a waterproof seam-sealed mid-liner to keep you completely dry through all precipitation conditions. Waterproof zippers and zipper vents further the waterproofing of the Triton. For all-season warmth, there is a removable full-sleeved quilted thermal liner which can be taken out when the mercury rises, combining with the zippered intake and exhaust vents to keep you cool in hot weather.   Removable CE rated shoulder and elbow armor and a pocket for a CE back protector fortify against impact and
are further aided by the injected foam pads on the back of the jacket.

The Triton is an articulated touring fit with adjustability in the forearm, bicep, waist and wrist to maintain a comfortable tailored fit. Reflective piping is added to multiple seams for night-time visibility and every zipper pull is built for ergonomics and ease of use with gloves on. There is also accordion stretch paneling in high-flex zones to maintain comfort and pliancy when hitting the riding position. Finally, a short connection zip and a jeans loop will allow this jacket to seamlessly connect to a pair of pants. An all-around great four-season jacket at the right price point.

Stay tuned for more reviews of Shift Racing products. We're pleased to bring them into our lineup at RevZilla.com and are extremely happy with what we've seen from them so far. Check out all of our Motorcycle Jackets to compare and contrast.

-RetroZilla

Related:
New Motorcycle Gear - August 2010