Alpinestars is a brand synonymous with protecting motorsport athletes at the highest level and, of course, with providing safety and style for ‘normal’ road riders like you and me.
I’ve been wearing an Alpinestars Clayton WR jacket and a pair of Crestone Gore-Tex® insulated gloves for the past year and wanted to write this review before springtime arrives.
Crestone Gore-Tex® Gloves
First up are these waterproof, insulated short-cuff gloves. I usually wear longer gloves than these for distance riding, but these are mid-length gloves, designed to fit under the cuffs of your jacket.
Less than £100
The spec on these is excellent for a sub £100 all-weather glove (they retail at £94.99). They’re Gore-Tex® for starters, so you know that they’re going to cope well with wet weather, whilst still remaining breathable. They also feature 80g PrimaLoft® Silver Insulation Active, which provides warmth while allowing excess heat and moisture to escape. The textile top is made from Oxford nylon with strategically placed stretch panels and pre-curved fingers for optimum comfort.
The gloves also feature Gore Grip for superior sensitivity and feeling whilst using the scooter’s controls. There is also a conductive synthetic leather insert on the thumb and index finger for touchscreen use.
Protection
The Crestone Gloves are certified to CE Level 1 KP and include the following protection…
- Leather palm and side walls for superior abrasion resistance
- Textile-covered SP knuckle for proven impact protection
- Internal palm padding strategically positioned on the landing zone for additional critical impact coverage
- Strategically positioned impact padding on the fingers and thumb for additional coverage in a critical area
Four season
I’ve ridden in these through four seasons, and they’ve proven to be very comfortable. They’re also easy to get on and off in warmer weather without the lining pulling out (nothing’s more frustrating than that!). They’ve also been used in some seriously wet weather and have kept my hands bone dry.
I’m 100% confident they’ll keep water out, as long as you tuck them inside your jacket’s cuffs, rather than over them.
In winter, they’ve proven to keep my hands warm, although we haven’t had much of a cold winter up until this week. Even so, I’ve ridden some decent distances on cold, wet days over autumn/winter and have no complaints so far.
Clayton WR Jacket
One key thing to note with this jacket is the WR in its name, which stands for Water Resistant, rather than Waterproof. Even so, this jacket will stand up to a decent heavy shower, although I’d always want a waterproof over jacket with me on longer journeys.
The styling of this jacket is slim fit, so it’s more fitted than some jackets (not so good just after Christmas!) and has side hook and loop belt waist adjusters to tailor the fit further.
Key Features:
- Slim fit biker jacket
- Constructed from a water repellent poly fabric outer shell with a matte finish that incorporates light interlining padding
- The Clayton’s forearms and shoulders have quilted details with an additional layer of padding that combines design and reinforcement
- Stretch fabric panels located below the back shoulders and elbow accordion panels offer improved freedom of movement and rider comfort
- Large zippered front pockets with generous openings for easy storage and an inner waterproof pocket for carrying personal essentials
- Removable thermal vest with 100g insulation for effective cold weather performance, maximises the adaptability of the jacket and extends the jacket’s usage across seasons
Protection
- Nucleon Flex Plus CE Level 1-rated shoulder and elbow armour for superior impact protection.
- The Clayton WR Jacket is compatible with Alpinestars chest and back inserts that may be purchased separately as an accessory upgrade
- Fully CE-certified riding garment to CE – Category II EN17092-4:2020 standard – A Class
- CE Level 1 Nucleon Flex Plus impact protection, Category II EN 17092-6:2020 – C Class Impact
- The Clayton WR can be used with Alpinestars Tech-Air® 3 System only when the Airbag System is worn over the jacket
Three season
Although the Clayton WR includes a removable three-layer thermal vest, I’d say this is a decent three-season jacket, and I wear something a bit bulkier for winter use (Like my RST Adventure, for instance). The inner thermal vest has an external quilted taffeta, with an inner layer of padded insulation made from 100% recycled polyester and an internal soft jersey fabric layer for rider comfort.
It’s a short jacket but the rear is cut longer to give greater coverage on your back whilst riding. There’s also a waterproof inner pocket (ideal for a mobile) and an inner mesh pocket for other items.
Armour
Like many mid-priced bike jackets, this one comes without back armour, although it can be added (or take one out of an old jacket), as can a chest protector. Low-profile Nucleon Flex Plus CE Level 1-rated shoulder and elbow protection is included, though.
Pros and cons
The Clayton retails at £249.99. It fits well and looks good, with the usual Alpinestars quality we all expect. The only downside for me is that it’s only water-repellent rather than fully waterproof, so I also need to carry a waterproof top. Even so, this jacket will withstand a decent amount of rain, so getting caught out in a heavy shower isn’t usually an issue. Just don’t expect it to be 100% waterproof.
Colour options
I’ve got the jacket in black, which looks quite cool. There is also a ‘Utility Brown Light Gold’ version that would work well with a classic scooter. The Clayton features a subtle Alpinestars logo on the chest, quilted shoulders, and long, well-placed outer pockets that enhance the jacket’s style.
Overall, I’m very impressed with both the gloves and the jacket. You can find them and all the latest Alpinestars goodies here.
