XDI X1 All season Jacket Review

Our take : One of the best designed mesh jackets available in India.

Features: Well Ventilated, detachable thermal and water proof liners, metal inserts on shoulders, Removable CE certified armors.

Also see : LS2 three season

Sunday evening I am lazing around at my office along with few of my best buddies, a half finished chai and few crumbs of maska pav are left on the table. There is tremendous amount of noise and it feels no different than being inside a Virar local train. Everyone present is pouring over and giving their opinion about the newly arrived jacket.

First Impression :

The X1 made by Xtreme Dynamics Inc. (quite a mouthful eh.) dubbed as XDI is quiet a beauty. With a sleek finish and tastefully done up exteriors, the jacket oozes style. The print along the reflective panels along with the metal inserts shouts premium with all letters in capitals. 

Build quality is top notch, made from 600D cordura and high quality boomerang mesh, the jacket feels sturdy to take on the asphalt in event of a crash. Cordura being relatively more abrasion resistant as compared to polyester, cotton or nylon (as per modified wyzenbek abrasion test) is the major component used in making this jacket. Strategically placed mesh panels above the chest and sides as well as at the back promotes high air flow.

The X1 also adapts well to different riding styles thanks to the stretch panels placed at the elbow and below the shoulder blades. The panels give enough room in case you want to ride in a more upright stance like on a street/cruiser bikes  or in a more aggressive stance on a sports bike.  The Velcro based adjustable straps at the waist and cuff makes sure that the jackets fits you well. Though we would have appreciated adjustable straps at the elbow as well, we are not complaining as the jacket fits perfectly and we really do not miss the elbow straps owing to the pre-curved sleeves which wraps around your arms.

The X1 has you covered for everything that mother nature can throw at you, a thermal liner keeps you warm during those cold rides and a 100% waterproof liner AKA Hydra-seal liner as XDI calls it, keeps you dry during those heavy down pours. The icing on the cake is that both these liners are detachable and hence you can wear just the outermost mesh and cordura shell during those hot summers. Hence, this is a ideal jacket for the Indian climate.

The X1 comes with CE certified removable armours in elbow and shoulders which comprises of a custom molded external ABS shell and polyethylene foam on the inside.  

The jacket is also equipped with a removable pre-curved dual density foam armor in the back certified to EN  1621 standards. 

Obviously the top brasses at XDI were not happy with just the basic armours and hence have added re-inforced metal inserts on the shoulder area for greater protection in event of a nasty spill.

Visibility is often something that is sacrificed for looks and hence we are happy with the way the X1 has been designed with reflective prints and panels placed on the chest and back. This is a boon for people who ride during late evenings, as poor visibility often results in higher number of accidents.

The XDI X1 gets two external pockets and one internal waterproof pocket for storing things like wallets phones etc. The zippers used on the jackets are made by YKK which are renowned for their strength and durability.

The Ride :

We were lucky enough to get an Ideal climate to test the jacket as it was quite sunny in the afternoon and it started raining in the evening and became quite chilly once the rains subsided.

We rode for around 180 Kms and the ventilation works well with the cold air being sucked in from the front mesh panels and the heat getting pushed out from the rear. We halted for a quick tea around 5pm and it started pouring by the time we finished. As we had another 70 kms to go before we could reach the warm confines of our office we attached both the liners as it had become quite chilly.

The thermal and the Hydra-seal liners work as a charm, it kept us quite warm and dry except for few dribbles from the neck which managed to find its way behind the collar of the jacket. An extremely smart thinking on the part of the people who designed the hydra-seal liners is that they have given a extra flap on these liners which sits behind the main zipper of the jacket (if you align it properly) and hence even though water penetrates through the zipper the extra flap forms a barrier and keeps you dry.

The X1 is currently available in two colours i.e. stealth black and black white orange combo in sizes ranging from medium to 3XL.

Final Verdict :

The X1 is a well designed and well thought out product. We believe when it comes to quality style and affordability none of the current brands come close  to the X1. The detachable liners makes it a true all season jacket. To sum it up the XDI X1 is where form meets functionality and affordability and if you are thinking of getting a motorcycle jacket the X1 definitely makes it among the list of top contenders.

Russel J
Prostreet Motorcycle Gear
www.prostreetstore.com