Moto National sent us the Airoh Commander lid, MotoDry AdvenT-Tour Trekker suit, Falco Avantour 2 boots & Five HG Prime GTX heated gloves to put to the adventure test!
Moto National have sent some new adventure riding kit! I put it to the test in some uncomfortable weather here in Aus and in NZ. Check out what I thought of the Airoh lid, MotoDry Trekker suit, Five heated gloves and the Falco boots, on and off-road!
Moto National Accessories decked me out head to toe in some new adventure gear! Check out what I thought of it all.
I’ve gone nearly seven years with hand-me-down adventure gear and if you’re a serious adventure rider, you know how trashed it gets. Moto National Accessories heard that I was jetting off the New Zealand for the Suzuki V-STROM 800DE launch and sent me some gear to put to the test.
Read Zane’s V-STROM 800DE launch review here…
I’m glad they came in time as the weather in New Zealand was pretty extreme. It was bloody cold and bloody wet nearly the entire time, there’s no way I would’ve wanted to stack it in my old setup…
“The Airoh Commander helmet is a pretty trick piece of kit. Right out of the box you have a top looking lid.”
Airoh Commander Helmet
The Airoh Commander helmet is a pretty trick piece of kit. Right out of the box you have a top looking lid. Adventure helmets have developed in style a lot over the past few years, moving away from just looking like a motocross helmet with a visor and not sharing the same visor design as a conventional road helmet. The matte black colour scheme is accented by a big Airoh logo on the back, not just leaving the whole lid blank. A clear Pinlock lens is included in the box.
The matte black colour scheme is accented by a big Airoh logo on the back, not just leaving the whole lid blank.
First try of the lid proves to fit true to size, it’s not cramped inside and requires very little break in for the padding to feel comfortable. I’ve had lids that are either too tight or too lose even though they all share the same XL size of 61-62cm (Jeff reckons he hasn’t met anyone with as big of a head as mine!)
Fellow glasses wearers can rejoice as the lid allows space for glasses arms without them pressing into your skull! Even after wearing the Airoh Commander for 10 hours a day (with small breaks in-between) I wasn’t in a hurry to rip it off my head.
You’ll have to buy a tinted visor separately but included is a flip down internal tinted visor. Fellow four-eyed dorks can rejoice once again as this is one of the only lids I’ve worn that comfortable fits frames under it.
You’ll have to buy a tinted visor separately, which is something I didn’t have enough time for before the launch, but included is a flip down internal tinted visor. Fellow four-eyed dorks can rejoice once again as this is one of the only internal visors I’ve used that comfortably fits frames under it. A full tinted main visor is still preferable, but it gets the job done.
The way the peak is designed means that the air flows through it and not under it. This translates to long distances without a strained neck due to a big parachute on your head! Besides the safety features, this is one of the best highlights of the lid.
Speaking of the peak, included in the box is a GoPro mount that creates a stable and flat surface to place your camera on. It’s as simple as flipping the cover off, clicking the included GoPro mount in place and attaching the included sticky mount!
There are plenty of vents to keep your head nice and cool. The front one could be slightly bigger to help eliminate the visor fog (I had not fitted the Pinlock yet, which would have solved the fog) but it was quite cold while I was wearing it in the rain. They’re all easily clickable while wearing gloves…
There’s so much safety included in this lid which you should check out in the key points below, but the Airoh Commander is a seriously good adventure helmet. At an RRP of $649.95 you really can’t go wrong with the Commander.
Airoh Commander Helmet Key Features
- HPC (High-performance composite) shell
- Aerodynamic peak
- Three-point ventilation system: chin vent, front vent, top vents
- Extra-wide, Scratch resistant, UV resistant visor with integrated Pinlock lens (Pinlock lens included)
- UV resistant internal, retractable sun visor
- Removable and washable hypoallergenic inner lining
- DD ring retention system
- ECE 22.05 approved for on road use
- Ultra lightweight construction weighing in at 1430g ±50g
- Bluetooth system ready
- Goggle ready
- Unique action camera mounts included
- Included anti-wind resistant chin curtain
MotoDry AdvenT-Tour Trekker Suit
The MotoDry AdvenT-Tour Trekker pant and jacket combo is a serious tough bit of kit that doesn’t let the elements get to you. It looks awesome, is packed with plenty of tech to keep you safe and man is it warm with all the liners in!
The MotoDry AdvenT-Tour Trekker suit is a serious tough bit of kit that doesn’t let the elements get to you.
The AdvenT-Tour Trekker jacket features the typical duo removal liner package, this means you can stay dry in the rain, warm in the cold and unzip all the liners to be cool in the summer! The zips all work awesome and the little buttons on the sleeves mean you can get the liners in and out without too much fuss, or the sleeves riding up.
Arm movement is awesome without the liners in but with both the rain and warm liner in, there is a little bit of restricted movement. If you’re planning on running the MotoDry AdvenT-Tour Trekker jacket as a winter only piece of kit, I recommend going a size up.
The rain liner does an awesome job of keeping the rain out. Even in heavy rain at 110km/h, I was still left dry after taking the jacket off. Not only this, but the secondary liner means this jacket is going to come in really handy during winter as it’s pretty damn warm!
This jacket looks awesome, is packed with plenty of tech to keep you safe and man is it warm with all the liners in!
My only gripe is with the pockets, as someone who has their phone fly out of their pocket on the freeway never to be found again, a zipped pocket is needed (not on the arm). The AdvenT-Tour Trekker does not have a proper safe pocket, sure my phone didn’t fall out of any of the velcro ones but that added security would be nice. The front pockets also let rain in.
The AdvenT-Tour Trekker pants are the same awesome story, super comfortable, super warm and kept the rain out with absolutely no worries! They fit true to size even with the liners in, so there is no need to go up or down your usual size.
The AdvenT-Tour Trekker pants are the same awesome story, comfortable, warm and kept the rain out with no worries!
The pants fit over adventure boots with a tight squeeze, which should loose up over time. The leg movement is plentiful and no obstructed by the removable liner at all. All the armour packed into these safe pants can’t really be felt unless you go looking for them, just a nice and streamlined fit.
There are plenty of straps throughout the pants that allow for adjustment. While the stretch panels on the knees mean you can bend them with ease!
Both the MotoDry AdvenT-Tour Trekker pants and jacket look awesome, feel super comfortable and keep you warm. You’re getting exceptional quality at an RRP of $399.95 for the jacket and an RRP of $299.95 for the pants, so I dare say it’s worth it…
MotoDry AdvenT-Tour Trekker Jacket Key Features
- 1500D Super Abrasion-resistant panels
- Retractable Air System” Panels unzip & hide to expose Hi-Flow air mesh (Panels hide inside jacket shell)
- RAM-AIR long “Sleeve zippered vents” (mesh under + velcro cuff closure)
- Adjustable Magnetic Collar (New Soft Touch Lined)
- “Floating” large rear gusetted storage pocket with storm flap (with Safety Reflective Piping)
- Gussetted / Expandable Bladder Pocket (for comfort when Bladder is full)
- Two-way main zip (YKK)
- Safety CE.Protection pack (Shoulder & elbows) Removable & HDF Back Protector
- “REFLEXX” Safety Reflectives
- “Lower Side” Zippered Expanding comfort panel
- Gusetted pockets with storm flaps (+ Hand Warmer Pockets)
- Adjustable waist belt
- Elastic Hydropack tube loops (Shoulder & Upper Chest)
- Zippered pocket for hydropack storage (bladder not included)
- Jacket / Pants Joining Zip
- Stylish Black Reflective
MotoDry AdvenT-Tour Trekker Pants Key Features
- “Retractable Air System” Thigh Panels unzip & hide to expose Hi-Flow air mesh (Panels store inside Pant Shell)
- Good abrasion-resistant material
- Reinforced seat panel
- Reinforced knee panel (Pre-Curved Knees)
- Extra-long leg cuff zip for easy access
- Zip-out thermal Zip-out waterproof liners (Dual Liner System)
- Stretched ribbed knees
- “Under Knee” Stretch panels
- Stretch breathable crotch panel for comfort
- Stretch rear knee “Breathable” panel for comfort
- Side leg panel storage pockets
- Safety CE Knee & HDF Hip Protection (removable)
- Velcro waist adjustment
- Jacket / Pants Joining Zip
- Leg panels
Falco Avantour 2 Boots
Want some comfortable boots for hitting gravel roads? Look no further than the Falco Avantour 2 boots. These dual-sport boots pack all the tech you want to keep you safe while off road but with the same comfort of a road boot.
Want some comfortable boots for hitting gravel roads? Look no further than the Falco Avantour 2 boots.
The Avantour 2’s fit true to your shoe size. It’s absolutely spot on to the size I wear with Adidas, Nike, Vans, etc, shoes. Slipping straight in and needing very minimal break-in to get out there and have some fun…
Out on the bike, there’s plenty of lever feel on both the shift and brake side. It’s a tough ask to have a tough boot but still have that noticeable pressure of shifting up and down, as well as having a boot light enough that it allows good brake modulation, Falco have hit the nail on the head in this instance.
“Ankle support is plentiful, the boots are super tough around the shins and ankles but still have some flex so you’re not walking around like you’ve got your legs in a splint.”
Ankle support is plentiful, the boots are super tough around the shins and ankles but still have some flex so you’re not walking around like you’ve got your legs in a splint. Again, there’s plenty of boots I’ve ridden with where I simply cannot wait to take them off, the Avantour 2 boots are not those.
The Avantour 2 boots are accommodating to those with large ankles and calf muscles. My calves are larger than what seems to be the average person as high-top riding boots never seem to fit me properly without clamping them shut super tight. The clamps are on the lower section which means you get a nice tailored fit on the ankle and a velcro top strap means there’s plenty of breathe-able space where the boot meets the calf muscle.
These are a centred more towards the “touring” side of riding, therefore the soles aren’t as grippy as something like a motocross boot or tough adventure boot.
These are a centred more towards the touring side of adventure riding, therefore the soles aren’t as grippy as something like a motocross or tough adventure boot. If you’re planning on doing some tough and technical off-roading, I suggest you check out something with a more aggressive sole.
At an RRP of $499.95 you get a spectacular boot and tops quality. It’s money well spent to protect your ankles, have a comfortable fit and stay dry out in the rain…
Falco Avantour 2 Boots Key Features
- Full-grain oil-treated leather upper.
- High-Tex waterproof membrane.
- P.U. moulded shin-plate and “Eso-Motion 2” rear articulation system.
- D3O backed ankle cups.
- Black alu-buckles and velcro closure.
- High-grip textured rubber sole.
Five HG Prime GTX Heated Gloves
I wasn’t much of a heated glove kind of guy before the Five HG Prime GTX heated gloves landed on my desk. Now I can definitely see the advantages for something like this, your whole body seems to be tricked into thinking it’s warm when you chuck them on.
“I wasn’t much of a “heated glove” kind of guy before the Five HG Prime GTX Heated gloves landed on my desk.”
The first thing I have to mention is that Five gloves run small, every pair I’ve had fit really tight straight out of the box. This could be a break in thing, like my racing Five gloves which took a few weeks of daily riding before they actually had some proper movement, the HG Prime gloves are the same story.
I will have to check back in with a full review on these once they are properly broken in as they’re still quite stiff and lack some lever fell. But, I can comment on how bloody warm they are and how simple all the battery/charging and etc is.
Due to tight fit, I didn’t pack these for my NZ ride. When it started pouring down and my non-heated adventure gloves started letting in water, I was cursing myself. The HG Prime GTX gloves are super toasty even without the batteries in, the weather hasn’t been cold enough just yet to chuck them in but a small test run in the house proves that they’re like two little ovens.
There’s a heap of safety tech in them which you can feel as soon as you slip them on, this is super important to someone like me who rides with race gloves 90 per cent of the time, because what do you put down first to break your fall? Your hands…
“The HG Prime GTX gloves are super toasty even without the batteries in, the weather hasn’t been cold enough just yet to chuck them in but a small test run in the house proves that they’re like two little ovens.”
The oversized cuff does a good job of fitting over even a thick jacket, while internal comfort is plentiful. There isn’t a hugely noticeable amount of weight increase in these over a thick pair of non-heated winter gloves, so don’t stress about having cinderblocks on your hands.
Battery charging is super easy with a simple twin charger for the two batteries included in the pack. The battery pouch is also simple to access, allowing the battery to be removed without fiddling too much, but it’s not easy enough that the batteries slip out when you don’t want them to.
At an RRP of $499.95, these are not cheap gloves and deserve their own full review once they are broken in. I’m looking forward to doing some winter touring with them to see how much more comfortable my ride is with the mini-ovens on my hands!
Five HG Prime GTX Heated Gloves Key Features
- Seamless Softshell heat-sealed topside construction
- Full-grain goat leather palm
- Dual Control Heating Technology
- GORE-TEX weatherproof, breathable membrane, partly bonded with Grip Technology
- PrimaLoft Gold 200 g thermal insulation on the topside
- PrimaLoft Grip Control 60 g thermal insulation on the palm
- Aluminum foil insert on the topside
- ERGO PROTECH metacarpal-knuckle protector
- ERGO PROTECH honeycombed palm slider
- SuperFabric reinforcement
- OverSizeCuff adjustable cuff
- Water-resistant Battery pocket
- Anti-drip lining on the cuff
- Reflective print
- Dual Closure System
- Clear Vision Pad on the left hand
- Touch Screen system on the index finger and thumb
- CE KP1
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Tags
MotoDry Airoh Commander Adventure Product Review Falco Avantour 2 Boots Five HG Prime GTX AdvenT-Tour Trekker Moto NationalThe Author
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