Bmw Kalahari Jacket

BMW Kalahari Jacket

What to wear on safari

FIRST THINGS FIRST: BMW's KALAHARI jacket is named after the South African desert, not fried squid (that's calamari). But even the most tentacled rider will appreciate the versatility of this high-tech tog.

Characteristic of the new breed of alternative-material riding apparel, the black-and-gray Kalahari (available in men's sizes 38 to 56 Regular and Long, plus women's sizes 38 to 46) is meant to take varying weather conditions in stride. Its two-piece design incorporates a Cordura outer jacket and a Gore-Tex inner liner. So in effect, it's like wearing a rainsuit on the inside. This works, in that the liner keeps you warm and dry, though after extended dousings the jacket itself becomes soaked. In more temperate weather, the liner zips out

and stuffs into a pocket in the jacket’s lower back.

Ah yes, pockets: The Kalahari has no fewer than seven, for ample storage space. Protection comes in two forms: impact, handled by kevlar panels at the elbows, plus removable armor at the shoulders, elbows and back; and conspicuity, courtesy of reflective material at the waist and shoulders.

But the neatest thing about the Kalahari is its ventilation system. Undoing the zipper that runs the length of each sleeve lets air pass through a mesh panel and up the torso. The effect is like ram-air cooling-wonderful on a warm day.

BMW KALAHARI JACKET

BMW of North America, Inc.

$597

Criticisms? Just a few: The sleeve ends could be snugger, and the hip pockets could be more secure-the small velcro tabs aren’t sufficient to prevent small items from escaping.

And then there’s the price: At $597 ($7 less for the women’s version), the Kalahari is super-expensive. But then again, it is a BMW.