REV'IT! Spectrum Jacket
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great jacket in the adventure style
I used the sizing guide to order. Thinking I may have gotten it wrong I called in and one of the staff reassured me. Sure enough the size guide was perfect. Very happy with rhis experience
April 9, 2013
Step up from my REV'IT! Energy
Based on a successful season riding with a REV'IT! Energy HV, I sprang for the Spectrum. Key for me was the removable waterproof lining, as I find these liners too clammy and prefer to ride without. I also sought the added venting. The Energy's vents only air out the outer shell, with the wind deflected by the sewn-in liner. The Spectrum, by contrast, vents directly to the wearer at chest and forearm; big win. If I wear my Energy in the house, I overheat quickly. The Spectrum was much more comfortable, even without air blowing in the vents.
As usual for REV'IT!, the fit is trim. I'm a 40" chest but need the shoulder width of a size 42" suit jacket. I settled on a size small. The rain liner binds in the shoulders at that size, but the jacket itself has a bit of stretch and is comfortable. The sleeves were too long for my 31" sleeve length, again as usual. However, the body is tailored closely for my chest and 33" waist. Sleeves are easier to fix.
In appearance, I like this jacket better than the Energy. For one, the Energy has black detailing down the entire outer arm. The Spectrum, by contrast, has hi-viz from elbow to wrist, the better for getting drivers' attention when gestures become necessary. The Spectrum also has a nicely exaggerated silhouette, wider in the shoulders.
I've saved discussion of function until last for a sad reason: a miscommunication with my tailor resulted in overshortening of the sleeves, rendering the jacket unwearable. I'm working through that. Hemming the sleeves was necessary to get full use of the forearm vents. When pulling either zipper slider down toward the wrist, the fabric is naturally pulled taught by the shoulder and the zipper action is smooth. When pulling either zipper up, however, the fabric must be held taught by the wrist. Since the jacket bunched at my wrists, the zippers were difficult to operate. That would never have worked for quick airflow changes while riding.
I hope to resurrect this jacket with my tailor. If I do, I can add info on riding with the Spectrum.
January 22, 2013
It is so good.
I live in Tucson, AZ where is everyone know how hot are they. I wear it daily, hot or very hot or cold it work very well.
November 26, 2012
jacket looks great on spec sheet and feels nice around house, fails on bike
well built jacket, though I am not sure who it would fit and where it would be used. the jacket forces you to sit bolt upright with shoulders back and down, and elbows in, chest out. if you dont adopt their specific body position it poofs up in the back (not from wind), ballons in the chest, pulls across the back, and rides up on the bottom. I am thick through the midsection and their adjust sat directly above my belly, so tightening it only made things worse and pulled up higher, and the bottom adjuster didnt seem to help anything whatsoever. the arms were really narrow, and short. It was shaped all wrong for sport touring.
the wrist vents are a good idea, and did move some air, but they were angled too far in (even with thumbs almost) so missed most of the air hitting the outside (even with ring or pinky finger). the zippers were also too floppy to easily zip with one hand, and the other hand was inside the sleeve. the snaps that held in the liners would always stick out of the cuff, and they were snapped to themselves, just badly placed. so instead of setting the cuff adjustment once and easy in/out with the two way zip (like on another jacketI tried out) I had to push the liner snaps in, open the adjust to hold the sleeve with the fingers on the hand in the sleeve so I could unzip, zip, close the velcro tab, readjust the cuff, then open the vent..... a long process and a completely failed feature. Also I did not feel comfortable with the level of protection available with the vents open either, the mesh akwardly does not go all the way up.
the elbow and shoulder armor feels nice, looks nice, and would likely do well in a crash.
the collar was a cool idea, but didnt always stay open on its hook, perhaps a strong magnet would be a better idea.
the main zipper was akward, the zip was on the wrong side, and the flaps together with that wrong way zipper made you have to stop at the bottom, rethink how to use a zipper, and then get it off, also there was no two way zipper for the main, with a 3/4 or 2/3 jacket this is a must and leaving it out ruins the jacket.
why they left the chest vents as vents alone when a few more square inches of mesh would give two large chest pocket (like on most other jackets out there) and leaving pockets out of there really kills the jackets functionality and is a huge oversight. especially when the only pockets are always folded up over or under themselves because its a 3/4 length jacket without a two way zipper, so you have to roll or fold it on the bottom, so you have anything in those front pockets.... making the only usable pockets useless.
I really wanted to like this jacket, but it fails completely on the road. seems they tried to fit a few glamourous features in the jacket, while ignoring other basic features, and getting things wrong along the way. I have had a lesser "quality" jacket for years, and there were more vents, more pockets, better adjustability, and the protection was better.
July 2, 2012
HIgh quality materials
This is a very nice jacket, I am really enjoying it so far. Every piece of material, zipper, snap, and seam just says high quality. I have not worn it in the cold yet, but I can easily stay cool on hot days with the vents open. The arm vents really push a lot of air through the back of the jacket. I would easily recommend this to anyone shopping for a touring jacket.
May 24, 2012
The Clark Kent of adventure jackets.
I had a strict budget when looking to upgrade my riding gear this year. I was originally looking at the Alpinestars Cape Town and Koln because the Rev'it Dragon had been discontinued. Tried them both at Revzilla's Philly store and would have been satisfied with the Koln. But you know how it goes, the Rev'it Spectrum was "just a few dollar$ more." The features, looks, and quality feel won me over. I am 5' 7", 185 lbs., with a 42" chest. The Large fits me like a glove.
I have ridden this jacket in temps from 37 to 67 degrees F and it performs flawlessly. Only negatives thus far: front pockets can un-velcro if you hold both arms over your head, velcro from cuffs can get caught on rain flap velcro when zipping on or off, and front zipper is one-way only. Positives are: quality materials, multi-functionality, and senisible good looks (you don't look like you are qualifying for a rally, even though you feel like you might be). Worth every penny.
April 9, 2012
Love it!
Great finish and looks. No problems of poor stitching or flimsy fabric. Too many things to complement so I'll just mention the few things that bugged me.
1) The flap at the top of the collar is nice, but the hook and loop part is not. The point of having a tie back is to keep it from bothering you and the loop is frequently sliding off the hook while moving around/wind blowing on it. A snap would have made more sense.
2) The slider on the main zipper is on the wrong side of the jacket. Not sure what most people are used to when taking their jackets off but I pull the velcro flap out of the way (the left side with left hand) and pull the zipper down with my right hand. But the zipper slide is on the left side of the jacket. This also makes it a pain to zip up because you're holding the flap out of the way and holding the slider at the bottom of the zipper to get it started, all with your left hand.
Also, my wind breaker came with no REV'IT logos or anything on it. Plain black slicker. That isn't something I dislike but just noting it. The elbow and shoulder pads also seem to be different from any of the protection featured in the REV'IT protection video. Haven't had a chance/reason to use the quilted or rain layers yet. I have riden in heavy rain and the two rain proof pockets up front stayed bone dry. I wish the internal pocket in the jacket was made out of a different material (something sturdier) than the stretchy mesh the whole jacket is lined with but all I use it for is my registration and such.
Very minor things. I use my jacket every day and I really do like it. I don't regret my choice at all.
April 2, 2012
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