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Long Term Review Of The RST Alpha Textile Jacket - By Ren Withnell
I struggled to put a style or model name against this review...because there's none on the jacket! That kind of sums up RST products. It's not quite complete, not quite all there, not quite as good as it could be. They never seem to go that extra mile. This is thankfully reflected in the price, RST gear tends to be at the budget end of the market so you can't expect everything for nothing can you. I found the style's name on the receipt...eventually.
I bought this jacket almost a year ago. My faithful Weiss textile jacket had given me 3 years good hard service before the arms started to leak. Let's face it, I'm a cheapskate. The RST jacket was pretty much the cheapest jacket in the local shiny bike showroom, hidden amongst the likes of Dainese and Alpine Stars all of which start at over £150, the £80 jacket did look out of place. That said, it's made from Cordura or something similar, had elbow and back protection, pockets in the right place and the most important item...a tag that stated it was waterproof. This jacket does not come with a liner. Most textile motorcycle jackets now come with a removable liner, you put it in in winter for warmth and remove it for summer. This one does have a little quilting but it feels more like a summer jacket than a winter item. I didn't let that worry me too much, as long as it keeps the wind and the rain out I can put on plenty of layers to keep me warm.
I purchased my jacket and put it on for the ride home. There was very little to report. It felt fine, I could tell I'd need another jumper underneath if the weather were to turn cold but other than that no worries. I felt a little happier too that it comes with bright fluorescent panels. Not that this will stop car drivers from knocking you off you understand, it just stops insurance companies and policemen from claiming you could not be seen due to everything being black. Never give them an excuse.
It does what it needs to do, that's all.
The jacket was fine for the first 6 weeks then I got caught in a serious downpour. On my return home I noticed a wet patch on my left sleeve, in the crux of the elbow. This is where most jackets will fail eventually due to the continual flexing in this area, but after 6 weeks this will not do. I later returned the jacket to the place of purchase, complete with my receipt. The lady serving me was most happy to offer either a refund or another jacket, although a male member of staff wanted to grill me about the weather conditions, where it was leaking and why it was not wet inside right now. I pointed out it was no longer raining and it had not been for a few days...silly boy. As I like the jacket I decided to give RST a second chance and simply swapped the jacket for another one, exactly the same. I can happily report for the past year, through wind, snow, heavy rain and nasty conditions the jacket has kept me dry just fine.
It does keep me warm...ish. Unlike lined jackets it certainly does require more thought and clothing to keep warm. I don't miss the liner though, I don't feel as though I've suffered any more due to it not being there. There are a few other minor issues. The external pockets do not keep things dry, not in heavy weather anyhow. You can't leave any paperwork or a phone in an outside pockets, it will get very damp if not soaked. It's OK to leave your keys in there though, they don't mind. The wallet pocket can get damp too in the worst of weather so when it's really bad the only safe place is in the inside breast pocket. I've had no issues "inside" the jacket. The pocket where my keys constantly go in and out has warn it's stitching out so there's a gap into the lining, again not a real issue but an annoyance.
I'm happy enough with my purchase. Not ecstatic, just satisfied. I have an RST helmet too and exactly the same applies. The jackets now got about 12,000 miles against it in most weathers and it's holding it's own OK. For a budget jacket it is acceptable.
Reader's Comments
Dom said :-
I have the same jacket in red. I really like it and would definitely reccomend it for the price. There has been the odd time in heavy rain on long journeys when Iv'e found a wet patch at the front, maybe this is because I didnt close the velcro properly, or possibly water has wicked up from the pants, as this jacket doesn't have a zip to zip into pants. However, in all but the worst weather I stay completely dry. Can be a bit hot in the summer but don't have to worry about that much...can just undo the zip a bit anyway. Totally happy for the money paid.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Liz said :-
I really like the fluorescent colour as it makes me feel more visible when I'm in traffic in town.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Tubby One said :-
Nice write up...
Would have like to have seen more about the body armoring and things like that.
I like mixed jackets... BIG and enough room in them for a THICK woollen jumper, makes for a good autumn and spring jacket - without the excess clothing and opening up the front a bit deems it passable in all but the hottest of weather.
I am talking 45*C here - in the cooler lower parts of Australia - in the summer heat waves.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
ned kelly said :-
I have a lest than a year old srt jacket and my arms and front do get wet in heavy rain very disapointed
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Mark said :-
I'm thinking about buying some expensive gear, but might buy an RST Jacket and Pants to wear while I'm saving.
Sometimes you just want something reasonable that doesn't cost a fortune, especially when you have been spending way too much on your motorbikes.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Mark. As an interim jacket the RST will do the trick just fine. I'd love to hear about your experiences with something more expensive when you get it. Is it really worth buying top brand gear?
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Jim Bradie said :-
I bought one a couple of years ago and its been absolutely fine. Unfortunately i came off a little while ago at about 40/45 mph. I got up and walked away. There was a few small holes where i went down the road but i walking away. for £80.00 the jacket did its work and did it well.works for me.
08/09/2018 21:02:52 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Cheers Jim Bradie! My plan is to never "crash test" my bike gear so I'm glad you did it for me. For an £80 jacket it does it's job like you say. I'd like to know what extra we'd get from a £500 jacket?
09/09/2018 07:24:36 UTC
Borsuk said :-
I've been using an Uber 33 quid jacket from Demon Tweeks most of this summer. It is a size XXXXL, as I am only an XL in a Richa Jacket then I think their sizing is badly out. It is a mesh job with removable thermal / waterproof???? liner and it managed to handle the lighter rain showers that occurred during July / Aug with ease. A down pour required hasty donning of army surplus over jacket and Berghaus over trousers.
The material feels thick enough to give decent protection, I think is is 400/500 dernier Cordura, but the armour that came with it was a joke to be honest. I wear my armour separately from my outer gear so it wasn't a problem, on that note, anyone want some spare biking armour, I have a drawer full of D30 bit's and pieces. Freeish to a good home, just make a donation to a charity of your choice.
09/09/2018 14:35:38 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
4XL! By golly there sizings must be way off.
10/09/2018 18:58:08 UTC
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