Motorcyclists are constantly exposed to changes in the weather and it can be a battle to maintain a comfortable body temperature. First Gear has redesigned their Kilimanjaro riding suit for 2016 with features to address that issue, using a layering system and an exterior material bonded with a waterproof-breathable laminate which incorporates their 37.5 Micro Particle Technology.

To test the suit, I rode into the snow-covered Appalachian Mountains. The jacket was surprising lightweight and comfortable, yet gave me the flexibility to wear an additional jacket underneath. The suit is designed for use with heated gear and has internal slots to keep wiring and controls out of the way but easily accessible. There’s an inner rain liner hoodie built into the collar, and they’ve added more visible reflectors to the back and the option to force open the shoulder vents to increase air flow. For protection there are integrated D3O pads throughout the jacket, pants and gloves.

The pants sit a bit high above the waist for my taste, but there’s a full length side zipper that allows the wearer to quickly put on or take off the pants without removing boots, a feature that's very handy around camp if the ground is wet, or when riding to the office. And, compared to my other riding gear, the 37.5 Kilimanjaro pants offer a snugger fit around the ankle. Using zippers instead of Velcro allows less water and wind up the leg during creek crossings or at highway speeds. One change I’d like to see to the pants is extra padding on the front thighs to help insulate from the cold highway wind, and a little more butt cushion.

The cold weather riding gloves come with an optional inner liner as well as D3O integrated crash padding. And there’s a rubber strip on the left glove to wipe away water from the helmet visor. Unlike many gloves with liners, regardless of whether my hands are wet or dry, they slide on and off smoothly without bunching. With the Tech Liners they are extremely warm and comfortable, yet aren’t too restrictive. Even through a five-hour rainstorm I had no leaks and my hands never felt too warm, too cold or wet.

Curious whether the new liner material would hold up I spent days at a time in the suit. I found it comfortable and very flexible, but when it gets too cold (below 30°F) a fleece option would be nice. That said, on cold nights and mornings the 37.5’s base layers are worth their weight in gold.

First Gear did their homework on the new 2016 37.5 Kilimanjaro Series. I absolutely love this gear. It’s warm, comfortable, and extremely waterproof. This suit has impressed me so much that it’s replaced all my other riding gear.

MSRP: 37.5 Kilimanjaro Jacket $399.95 (White) | 299.95 (Gray) | 37.5 Base-gear Shirt $69.95 | 37.5 Base-gear Pants $79.95 | Cold Riding Gloves $119.95 | 37.5 Tech Liner Gloves $29.95 FirstGear-USA.com

Where to Buy:

Kilimanjaro Jacket	Kilimanjaro Pants

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