Joe Rocket Ballistic Adventure Jacket and Ballistic Ultra Pant | Gear Review

Joe Rocket Ballistic
Joe Rocket Ballistic Adventure Jacket in Black/Gun Metal and Silver/Gun Metal.

For my touring travels I want a riding suit with major versatility, one that can handle heat, cold, rain and everything in between. When I contacted Joe Rocket for some riding gear having these qualifications, they suggested its new Ballistic Adventure Jacket and matching Ballistic Ultra Pants. It was a good suggestion.

The jacket is made of a water-resistant RockTex 600 outer shell with ballistic nylon reinforced shoulders and elbows housing CE-approved armor. There’s also a removable high-density spine pad, with a pocket for the optional CE back armor (sold separately). For cooler weather I noted that the two individual full-sleeve liners, one waterproof and the other insulated, overlap for full sealing behind the main zipper, and the collar snugs up well.

For warmer weather the two liners can be zipped and snapped out. With them removed the large, controllable front vents are teamed with smaller shoulder and wrist vents, and a pair of zippered exhaust vents in the rear, to induce a nice breeze into and through the jacket. The lower sleeves even zip off for high-temp days (“sun’s out, guns out”), though I would not recommend riding that way.

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Joe Rocket Ballistic
The lower sleeves zip off for hot weather riding.

The jacket has two cargo pockets and a large rear storage pocket, along with four interior liner pockets for a cell phone, wallet and such. Another back pocket is suitable for a hydration bladder.

The matching Ballistic Ultra Pant is made of Hitena and Poly, a lighter textile mix that (like the jacket) also features two separate liners, one insulated and another that claims to be waterproof. With leg zippers that go nearly all the way to the crotch the pants are easy to put on, and feature CE-approved armor in the knees and hips. Expansion panels over the hips, knees and rear offer adjustability. The two pockets are quite deep and feature zippered closures. For ventilation the pants offer only a small zippered intake and exhaust vent in each leg, which did not flow nearly as much air as the jacket vents.

Overall I found the jacket very versatile indeed, and comfortable within a broad range of temperatures. However, I was unable to test the suit’s watertightness because of California’s usual dry weather. While both the jacket and pants were a size medium, the jacket fit me quite well but the pants were quite tight until I removed the liners. And believe me I’m not overweight…am I? Well, not much, if any…. If possible, try before you buy.

The Ballistic Adventure Jacket retails for $299.99, and the Ballistic Ultra Pant for $219.99. They compose a good, attractive, functional suit at a medium price, and also feature reflective striping. The jacket is available in Black, Gun Metal/Silver or Gun Metal. The pants are Black only.

For more information, see your dealer or visit joerocket.com.

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