Thor Explore Gear
THOR EXPLORE GEAR
CW EVALUATION
Simple, stylish D-P duds
THE EMERGENCE OF DIRT-ORIENTED dual-purpose bikes has resulted in many products tailor-made for the D-P market. One example is the Thor Explore line. Manufactured entirely in Italy, the line consists of a traditional enduro jacket, old MX-style pants and off-road oriented boots, all of which are devoid of the wild colors and graphics currently associated with most off-road gear.
The waist-length jacket is produced from polyurethane-coated cordura nylon and is fully lined. Details include a leather/corduroy collar, a quilted zipout liner, zippered forearm vents and a full-length front zipper with a snapclose flap. Snap closures are also used at the wrists, and the waist is adjustable via velcro tabs. Plasti-foam shoulder and elbow guards (sewn-in at the elbows and velcroed at the shoulders) offer additional protection. Two zippered hand-warmer pockets and a pair
of snap-close breast pockets provide room for smaller items, and a small pouch sewn into the lower back acts as a light-duty fannypack. Reflective striping is sewn to the left shoulder, across the back and on the right sleeve.
The color-coordinated cordura nylon pants are also fully lined and feature a leather butt panel, sewn-in hip pads, a zippered front pocket and vents behind the knees. Zippered ankle openings simplify entrance and exit, and for protection, leather knees and removable plastic knee guards are used.
The split-grain leather boots incorporate internal speed lacing, velcro flaps and a chafe-resistant nylon cuff.
Shin protection is limited to a thin pad; a semi-smooth rubber sole caps off the business end of the boot.
During testing, the jacket and pants-available in blue/ black, red/gray or purple/ black-proved comfortable, colorfast, water resistant and resilient; even after several minor get-offs, neither item showed any serious damage. Testers remarked that the jacket’s liner was a bit bulky, although all felt that it was a welcome addition at higher, cooler elevations. We were also pleased with the pants. Our 5-foot 10-inch, 160-pound Assistant Editor complained that the elasticized waist was uncomfortably loose, but other staffers-those with a bit more girth-had no such problems. With limited shin, toe and ankle protection, the boots-only available in black, in full sizes 7-13-lack the security found in most off-road boots. They are, however, comfortable, stylish and well-made.
At $260 for the jacket, $ 195 for the pants and $140 for the boots, the Explore line from Thor (315 W. Bradley Ave., El Cajon, CA 92020, 800/8542812) offers the dual-purpose enthusiast reasonably priced protection in a conservatively styled package. □
