The Bottom Line
Pros
- Sturdy, despite its light weight
- Removable armor at shoulders, elbows & forearms feels solid
- So well vented, you can see through it
Cons
- Back armor not included; Dainese's articulated insert runs an additional $89
- Transparent mesh means you'll see through to your undershirt and pocket contents
- May fit too tightly around the neck for some
Description
- MSRP: $199.00
- Removable C.E. certified composite armor at shoulders, elbows & forearms
- Quick dry fabric
- Reflective inserts
- Adjustable fasteners at the neck, side and wrist
Guide Review - Dainese Air-2 Vented Summer Motorcycle Jacket
But while leather offers ultimate abrasion protection, there's a time and place to consider textiles. Ventilated mesh material is somewhat compromised in the area of crash protection, but if you're looking to stay cool when temperatures get extreme, you'll probably want to consider an item like the Dainese Air-2 textile jacket.
It's not cheap at $199 (and the price excludes back protection, which will run $89 for Dainese's articulated Wave G1-G2 unit), but Dainese's Air-2 feels solidly constructed and extremely well ventilated. And though the back armor impedes airflow, it's a reassuring way to shield one of your most crucial pieces of anatomy: your spine.
There are a couple imperfections when it comes to the Dainese Air-2 jacket, namely the sometimes too-tight neck fastener and the fact that the adjustable wrist sections don't unzip for easier removal when you're wearing gloves... oh, and you'd better watch what you put in your pockets, since you can see right through the mesh fabric. But as a jacket intended to save your hide when it's too hot to wear the real deal, the Dainese Air-2 achieves two key feats rather well: it feels like it's built with a decent sense of structural integrity, and it keeps you cool enough to keep riding despite sweltering heat.
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