What better way to test an ADV suit than a ride in East Africa’s Great Rift Valley. That’s what I did with REV’IT!’s Horizon 2 jacket and pants.

I soon learned two things: Riding from Nairobi into Kenya’s interior provides about every ADV condition imaginable: highways, traffic, sand, mud, mapped dirt roads, and off-grid trails. And, second, the Horizon 2 jacket and pant combo, complemented by the Sand 3 gloves, offer the right technical features to handle it all, including waterproof and breathable Hydratex material, a Ventilation Control System (VCS), and patented SEEFLEX protective inserts.

From a simple use perspective, the Horizon 2 suit scored high marks across four categories:

Comfort:

At first wear, the overall feel of the jacket and pants is comfortable. This extends to walking, sitting down for a meal, getting on and off the bike, and, most importantly, riding. The Horizon 2 suit is flexible with a hint of stretch. The combo has a snug fit—yet doesn’t make you feel like a mummy—and embodies that look, feel, and function that make you eager to ride once donned.

Functionality and Versatility:

REV’IT!’s Horizon 2 suit is well designed for use and needs. There are several front and inside pockets in which I was able to store my wallet, iPhone, and GoPro without feeling encumbered. And two front stash pockets allowed quick accessibility, which I tested when pulling my camera out to capture wildlife shots of zebras and giraffes.

The Horizon 2 suit is also set up to handle a wide range of temperatures. For cold weather, both pieces come with detachable thermal liners. I took these out for the Africa ride, but found another welcome level of versatility in REV’IT!’s VCS zipper and panel system. Temperature spreads on my 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. trek from elevated Nairobi into Africa’s Great Rift Valley ranged from low 60°s F to mid-80°s. When unzipped, the Horizon 2 suit’s four ventilation panels on the jacket and pants can be easily opened or closed (even when riding) using the fidlock magnetic fasteners. I opened them when it was hot and closed them in the cool and was always comfortable.

The Horizon 2 jacket and pants offer additional versatility through several Velcro, snap, and strap options to loosen or tighten the fit in the sleeves, side, waist, knees, and boot areas.

Quality:

I mentioned the Horizon 2 material is flexible, but it also feels very durable. The overall design and quality of the jacket—the sturdy, large-tooth zippers, buttons, double stitching, and magnetic fasteners—are excellent.

Protection:

Fortunately, I didn’t have to test the limits of the jacket’s or pants’ outer layer, but both are made of REV’IT!’s high melting-point tear- and abrasion-resistant PWR shell 1000D and 500D material.

And for even more protection, the Horizon 2 jacket and pants come with the company’s SEEFLEX protective inserts in the knees, shoulders, and elbows. You can add a SEEFLEX back insert to the jacket for around $50. The inserts are lighter and more supple than other armor I’ve felt and provide a more flexible fit.

If there’s one drawback to the REV’IT!  Horizon 2 kit it would be daytime visibility. The gear’s color options of black or slightly lighter anthracite black are pretty dark. The jacket and pants do have six points of reflective material for nighttime riding.

Overall, I give REV’IT!’s Horizon 2 suit high marks. It performed well through varied weather and terrain in East Africa while enabling me to explore exciting new expanses on a motorcycle. That’s exactly what an ADV motorcycle suit should do. MSRP: Jacket—$429.99 | Pants—$329.99 | Gloves—$109.99 RevitSport.com

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