Product Review: DriRider Vortex Adventure 2

The DriRider Vortex Adventure 2 jacket shouldn't be pigeon-holed purely as adventure-bike clobber, because it's packed with all the features that make it a great jacket for all sorts of motorcycle pursuits all year round.

I've been wearing my Vortex Adventure 2 for nearly five months now and I find I drag it out of the wardrobe several times a week – always when it comes to adventure riding but also for road-based touring and even commuting.

I've worn it through sweltering summer days and I have no reason to suspect it won't be a faithful companion once winter has Melbourne in its grip, and that's down to just how practical a jacket it truly is.

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In hotter weather you can remove the breathable/waterproof liner and open up myriad zippered air vents, the latter including two large chest panels that allow the air to be blasted around the back and out the two vertical rear vents. The inner arm vents do their bit, too.

For cooler weather simply zip the liner back in, while for really cold weather – which admittedly I'm yet to experience with the jacket – there's a zip-in thermal liner. Having said that, I usually get an all-year jacket in one size bigger than I'd otherwise need, so I can layer up underneath it as conditions dictate. For winter Melbourne commuting I usually ditch any jacket's supplied thermal liner and wear a puffer jacket in place of it, adding thermals as needed for any long-distance winter touring.

Adding to the practicality is a back pouch for a hydration bladder (not supplied), with an exit hole for the bladder's drinking tube. It's a neat addition, and to my mind it would actually provide some added protection for your spine in the event of a get-off.

That's in addition to the CE-approved, high-density foam back pad (or the optional D30 CE Level 2 protector) and shoulder/elbow protectors, plus the abrasion resistance offered by the 900-denier polyester outer shell (1200 denier for the shoulders and elbows).

It just feels like a really sturdy jacket – it weighs a bit too – and I'd have no qualms in sliding down the road in it, dirt or tarmac. Well, I wouldn't be thrilled by the prospect, but you get my drift…

The practicality continues with the multiple storage pockets (including a huge one on the lower back), the hand-warmer pockets, and the reflective prints front and rear, while comfort is boosted with the shoulder and elbow stretch panels, the arm and waist adjustors, and (in warm weather) the polymesh liner.

There's also a connecting zip for the matching DriRider pants, which I press into service for any long-distance adventure (like the 2018 Bikesales Bike of the Year mega-test).

At $499.95, the Vortex Adventure 2 sits as DriRider's flagship adventure jacket, but given the asking prices of some equivalent jackets out there I reckon that represents pretty darn decent value.

DriRider made a name for itself in the '80s and '90s for its innovative textile jackets, which were renowned for their durability and longevity. This DriRider Vortex Adventure 2 jacket builds on that heritage and, based on my use of it thus far, I'd say it's destined to deliver protection and comfort on all sorts of two-wheeled adventures for me for many years to come.

DriRider Vortex Adventure 2 jacket
Colours: Men's – grey/black (S to 8XL), grey/anthracite/blue (S to 8XL), sand (S to 8XL); Women's – grey/black (8 to 22)
RRP: $499.95
Web: www.dririder.com.au