There's a new jacket brand on the block and they seem to care a lot about your safety. Check out what our first impressions are of the new Valdarez jackets from RSTG... Photos: Impact.
An unexpected package rocked up at my door earlier this week, inside were two jackets from a brand I’d never heard of, Valdarez. The Aussie company behind them called “Rider Safety Technology Group” (RSTG) boast plenty of protection through their jackets.
RSTG are an Aussie company located in Victoria, they describe themselves as “a small dedicated team of rider nuts specialising in safety gear for motorcycle riders.”
RSTG are an Aussie company located in Victoria, they describe themselves as “a small dedicated team of rider nuts specialising in safety gear for motorcycle riders.”
“We got a bit fed up with the lack of choice and options for rider protective apparel so we decided to design & manufacture our own to some very unique specifications and pretty soon lots of people started asking where they can get them. And so RTSG was born.”
Check out the RSTG site here…
The safety side of the Valdarez jackets can be seen before you even put one on, they’re all ultra high-viz fluro colours. Considering the average commuter seems to barely be able to operate a motor vehicle, let alone check for a motorcycle, being highly visible only has its positives.
These jackets are absolutely dripping in safety. Anyone who has trouble seeing you in this needs their eyes checked.
I was sent two of their textile jackets, the Series 100 and Series 102. These jackets are absolutely dripping in safety; tough elbow and shoulder armour are visible with plenty of hidden goodies. RSTG claim that the Valdarez textile jackets are built tougher than anything else currently on the market!
Both jackets exceed the CE standard EN 17092 at Class AAA and have an average thickness of 1000D. That material is instantly noticeable the first time you put it on! Compared to something like my daily jacket, there is a noticeable difference in thickness between the two.
The Valdarez jackets exceed the CE standard EN 17092 at Class AAA and have an average thickness of 1000D.
The elbow and shoulder armour are much more aggressive than anything else I’ve worn. The elbow pad is visible but the forearm armour is hidden within the sleeve. There are few textile jackets that take a leaf out of track gear and apply it to daily riding wear, I don’t see why you wouldn’t!
The main thing about the Valdarez jackets are that they don’t feel a whole lot heavier than other brands with thinner material. There’s obviously a slight increase in weight but even lifting them side-by-side, the weight increase is very minimal.
Despite being a noticeably thicker material compared to what’s used on other jackets I’ve tested and wear daily, the Valdarez doesn’t feel noticeably heavier! Even lifting them side-by-side, the weight increase is very minimal.
The overall fit is spot on compared to other brands too. Whatever you wear for an IXON, Macna or RJAYS textile, I’d opt for the same with Valderez. The only fit difference you will notice is that the arms, with the liners in, may need some breaking in.
The jackets feature a removable liner to ensure you’re warm in winter but can still stay safe in summer. The lack of perforated breathing holes will see the jacket be warmer compared to others for summer jackets, so we are yet to find out how hot it gets. Being cool is important to safety also, so we will see.
They’re a higher end (check their site for pricing) jacket but well worth the money if you care about your safety.
They’re a higher end (check their site for pricing) jacket but well worth the money if you care about your safety. We will be testing these two jackets out over the coming months, so check back in soon to see how they hold up to daily wear and tear. Jeff has also got a few that he will be putting to the test, so stay tuned…
We will be testing these two jackets out over the coming months, check back in soon to see how they hold up!
Click here if you want to order yours now! RSTG say they have women’s sizing on the way.
Valdarez Jackets Tech Highlights
- Designed to exceed CE safety standard EN 17092 at Class AAA
- Average fabric thickness 1000D
- Standardised internal CE armor on elbows, back & shoulders – including hard exterior moldings.
- High-viz fluro areas target the most visible regions of the rider’s body from front, sides & back.
- Removable inner thermal lining with vest & arms
- Inside storage pockets
- Heavy duty YKK zips
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