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Touratech Compañero riding suit test Morroco january / february 2011
Currently we are in Morroco, south of Casablanca on the beach
We made more than two weeks of riding and experience width Touratech Compañero so we can review it.
During the 2 weeks we experience everything, started from cold and rain to heavy rain in the mountains of Rif, fog and rainy weather.
Consequently, as we moved to the desert, so the turns very cold winters with icing....
over warm days where the temperature exceeded 20 degrees in the shade and the sun has baked it.
So the Compañero was tested in all conditions
Compañero Suit consists of 4 parts
The base is jacket including all protectors shoulders, elbows, back. The back protector is really huge
Someone may find a little uncomfortable but it certainly makes sense.
This jacket is made of very airy material, as we see no specific vents, but it's because all the material is maximmaly breathable
Of course is is not waterproof, but no vent are needed. The air is goint through whole jacket all the time.
Next we have trousers of the same material, maximum breathability,
there are knee pads, hip pads, which I remove because it bothers me little and there is also the protector coccyx.
triangular guard. This guard protects the coccyx...
and is good becouse you even don't know about it, even if you sit on the seat. The guard does not obstruct you.
Compañero Suit was designed to be used easily with motocroos / enduro boots.
Therefore, it is very easy to use. Pants have a wide hard zipper that is easy to zip...
did not get dirty with dust and I think it will last long
Simply be stretched to and rider has no problem with motocross boots.
Of course jacket and trousers are fitted with zipper for easy connection.
The jacket is also equipped with a large zipper, whereas is has not to be waterproof.
Zipper can be large which ensures its easy operation and long life.
Jacket has elastic straps to adjust the sleeve, pocket, container for the ID card.
The entire jacket is very comfortable, the only thing you really can slightly interfere with the back protector, but it is a matter of habit.
Of course it can be removed and replaced with another, but it makes sense for your good protection.
So this is the layer you have for everyday riding in nice weather
It is a layer that can be used by my opinion in temperatures above 15 degrees.
Below 15 degrees it was a bit chilly.
Of course it can be used only in fine sunny weather. But what in case of rain?
This Compañero solves by another layer on top of the dress.
Here we have jacket and pants.
As you can see, materials are similar and color combination match.
The difference is that this layer is equipped with Gore-Tex membrane using ProShell technology which means that it is laminated to one layer.
Thus, the entire jacket is thin and this layer contains no guards because they are already in the bottom layer.
It is actually a suit for the wind, cooler weather and rain in the course.
What happens when the rain starts, we all know it.
If you have a waterproof layer, that are put inside the jacket it is a bit annoying, you should dress off, zipp GoreTex liner and dress back on.
If you have a membrane fixed in jacket you do not do anything but you do not have such breathability.
And then there is a solution with rainsuits.
Compañero has wery good designed throusers, which is most difficult to dress.
They are equipped with such a zipper, which is the whole length trousers up to the thigh.
So it is meant that, the weather will not wait and when the rain starts must act quickly if you do not want get wet.
This way you unzipp both legs.
I did not pull off motocross boots and I can easily dress Companero for rain.
It is a matter of moments.
And waterproof coating is dressed on feet.
And now we can zip this big, huge zipper.
Very easily on the motocross boots
And then there is waterproof jacket to be dressed.
Rain jacket can be combined with the lower jacket into a single unit using a pair of zippers.
Thus, there is one piece, holding it together.
Even the outer jacket has inner pocket, but it is also easy to get in the lower jacket.
where is big inner pocket, where you surely have a lot of money inside :-)
So at this point wind and water does not pass and the rider is ready to more extreme colder conditions.
Of course everyone think of where to store the raincoat.
Touratech adds such a pocket that can be put around the waist or shoulder
But it is also equipped with zippers and can be mounted on the back of the jacket.
This package can be zipped to the back of the jacket.
This we do of course when it is not raining.
One zipper on the top, sedond on the bottom.
Of course is is better when somebody can zip it on you and you do not need to take off jacket.
And we get something like this.
You can feel the weight, it may not be pleasant everyone
These rainsuits are quite bulky due to the used materials, it is not rubber but GoreTex - membrane that breathes.
Thus it's a little jumping, but there is this strap, which when compressed it is holding better.
Little problem is that the velcro is short, if it was longer it can be secured in this position.
Now I can secure it in this position and it is a bit loose.
I do not wore it on my back very often, because I had a luggage behind me on bike.
Let us summarize the pros and cons of this clothing
I had the opportunity to try different kinds of clothes in different conditions, hot and cold.
As the biggest benefit I consider extreme breathability of this material,
which is fine, although when it is warm but it's a little annoying when the temperature drops.
When driving in Europe in the summer, I think this is the perfect clothing, or when driving to warm coastal countries.
So first of all, extreme breathability.
Then there are high quality zippers, well designed, when the rider gives gloves or wants to know what time it is.
This may be a problem for some clothing.
Then there's the possibility of tightening straps and adjust the clothing on the your dimensions.
Zippers are all massive, large. You know on the clothes the first thing to go wrong are zippers, which begin to scrub.
It is very annoying.
Another advantage is that the thought was taken on the motocross boots, it is simple and easy to dress trousers.
The same is true for rain GoreTex trousers with long zipper. Nothing more the rider can wish.
100% waterproof, comfort and easy to wear.
Nothing is not worse when it starts raining and because of wearing waterproof liner you have to undress or even shuffle boots.
Standing somewhere and it's raining. It's annoying.
The last thing that I can think is the overall color combination, number of reflective elements and the this strong yellow color.
Rider is very visible during the day and night also.
And also this color, although it is dusty and dirty it is not very visible on the it.
And now some of the disadvantages
Certainly it is the layer against rain, there are high-quality materials, but it takes up more space than we would like
When this package is attached to the jacket, some may interfere.
While the rider sits he do not even know about it, but when driving in footrests the package is jumping.
Another thing is a trifle, the velcro should be longer so the rider can compress jacket.
Primarily it would help and solve the problem when the package with the rain suit is on the back.
All this clothing is new and has brought many great ideas.
When rider put on the rain coat, he can feel the layers. Not so much on legs.
But when I dress waterproof jacket I feel that it is thicker, harder, unyielding.
Maybe later GorTex layer soften.
It is becouse this is very fine and light material of which do not even know
And then when you put on GoreTex it is a difference.
Also there are two jackets one on the other and the problem may be to dress gloves.
If you have long gloves, you have to unzip one jacket, then another and it may be a problem.
An assumption is that in the rain you wil use other than motocross gloves, some GoreTex longer gloves.
Certainly you can not put gloves on the jacket, but you must put under it, and there are two jackets.
So the complete clothing is a bit bulky.
But it is a tax for the comfort that clothing provides.
Well, not least, many riders will surely discourage the price.
When you compare it to other clothing, sportswear than price is not so terrible.
Because standard GoreTex jacket also comes at a price,
for use in mountaineering or outdoor activities.
So you should consider tha for that price you get four pieces of clothing.
And wha I did not mention in the advantages is that rainwear can be used for normal wear.
This means that when you arrive somewhere on the motorcycle, hang up the evening...
...you can wear comfortable layer without protectors, which is windproof and waterproof.
It's normal GoreTex clothing that can be used for walk around town, or even on the a trek into the mountains.