DAINESE D-Explorer Motorcycle Jacket and Pants Review

DAINESE D-Explorer motorcycle jacket and pants are designed for adventure and dual sport touring in versatile conditions. The D-Explorer suit offers 4 combinations in one with 2 separate liners which could be used individually with the shell jacket and the pants. 3 of these combinations offer more or less protection against the elements and alone the shell comfort in hot temperatures. The modular 3 layer suit allows one of the best ways to adapt in different weather conditions all year round and the liners are very light requiring compressed very little room in the luggage. A thin Gore-Tex® liner keeps the rider dry and forms a windproof layer next to the shell. The Gore-Tex® liner is zipper connected with the D-Explorer shell jacket and the pants. A light thermal liner provides insulation features and would be snap fastened with the waterproof liner or the shell suit. The DAINESE D-Explorer motorcycle jacket and pants thermal features could be increased with technical base and mid layers. When conditions get warm, the shell suit could be ventilated efficiently through large mesh panels all around the suit.

The DAINESE D-Explorer motorcycle jacket and pants shell is made of water repellent MUGELLO Quick Dry fabric which is flexible, tear and abrasion resistant nylon and elastomers. Fast drying garments support frequent wash and recover quickly after the rain shower. The flexible MUGELLO shell construction feels comfortable and provides one of the best freedom of movement which is important in adventure touring. The freedom of movement is increased even further with additional flex zones on the elbow, above the knees and on the waistline at the back. The DAINESE D-Explorer motorcycle jacket and pants have volume adjustments on arms, waist, cuffs and collar which keep the protectors in the right places with different amount of layers. The jacket has a medium size collar with a comfortable lining and reinforced edge. The pant cuff design is slim and the cuffs could be placed inside the boots. When on top, the cuffs are snug and hardly able to catch the foot pegs. The pants come without suspenders, but there are waistline adjustments and a zipper connection with the jacket.

The DAINESE D-Explorer motorcycle jacket and pants offer one of the most extensive protection features on top of the abrasion and tear resistant shell construction and fixed D-Stone shoulder guards. The D-Explorer comes with Wave G2 back, shoulder, elbow and knee armor. The inserts are light weight and rather slim composite protectors with perforated plastic impact surfaces and polyethylene foam cushions. This increases the D-Explorer wearing comfort and the perforation improves breathability and moisture evaporation in warm conditions. The knee protectors are hight adjustable with micro VELCRO® fasteners. The D-Explorer jacket has two chest protector pockets for optional inserts, but there are not pockets for hip inserts. Those who need more protection should consider a separate armor jacket such as the DAINESE Manis and armor shorts such as the Hard Short E1 or equivalent. All the DAINESE D-Explorer motorcycle jacket and pant protectors could be removed very easily from the insert pockets before the wash.

The DAINESE D-Explorer motorcycle jacket and pants offer one of the most efficient ventilation features which could be improved even further with the light sand color alternative. The D-Explorer has exceptionally large air vents and roll away panels called the DAINESE Modular Flap System. Underneath the vent flaps there are free air flow mesh panels allowing one of the best ventilation efficiency. At the front the jacket has 2 large ventilation panels on the chest area. The chest panels could be opened in 3 sections, fastened in stages or folded completely away inside the jacket. The same applies with the pants and at the back of the jacket. Additionally the huge back panel could be removed completely, folded away in the rear utility or a specific tail interior pocket. This would form a staggering exhaust vent on the back for the hottest rides ever. The sleeves of the DAINESE D-Explorer motorcycle jacket have full length zipper vents with mesh panels and snap fasteners on cuffs could be set wide to catch the air streams.

The DAINESE D-Explorer motorcycle jacket and pants have all together 9 storage pockets on the shell suit, one waterproof chest pocket in the Gore-Tex® liner jacket and one more low in the thermal liner jacket. Large front pockets on the shell jacket are waterproof and basically the D-Explorer offers very little storage on the chest area in order to maximize the free air flow. A left hand sleeve pocket could be accessed by opening first the zipper vent. The D-Explorer sleeve pocket is surprisingly large and would be ideal for a plastic emergency response card or driving license, but the pocket is not waterproof and hardly appropriate for documentation or mobile phone without dry case protection. The D-Explorer suit provides pretty much all in one from the adventure touring point of view. The key DAINESE D-Explorer motorcycle jacket and pants with Gore-Tex® liner features are: