Belstaff wax cotton Temple jacket in mahogany

As a design, the Temple jacket has been in the Belstaff collection for a few years. In truth, we were not, and still are not, great fans. People bought it because it was a Belstaff, and because it looks great, but even though it was A-rated we always felt it was a bit lacking in substance. Around town, not a problem perhaps, but we would not have wanted to have a spill on the open road whilst wearing the standard Temple jacket.

 

This new-for-2024 TechWax version looks much better. And despite a similar A-rating for abrasion resistance, it is evident to us that this new waxed-cotton version will be stronger and more abrasion resistant than the old one. (The eight ounce waxed-cotton material on this jacket passes EN17092 at the AA level. We know this from the Crosby, but the mesh panels under the arms and down the flanks mean that, overall, the jacket only passes at the single A level).

 

In every way, this new Temple now feels like a proper, motorcycle jacket. That, of course, is largely down to the waxed cotton. But the heavier fabric just gives the jacket a more satisfying sense of heft. Now the original aim of the Temple was to deliver a classic look with a large amount of venting for summer riding. And you're still going to get this with the new waxed-cotton version. With mesh panels running up the flanks, into the chest, you will enjoy high levels of airflow. It's merely the fact that you can now get this benefit in something that looks so much more like a real, motorcycle jacket.

 

There's another slight benefit with this waxed-cotton version. Even though there's no membrane here, the waxed-cotton is going to make this jacket pretty darned shower proof; well that is until the rain finds itself through the mesh panels!

 

In terms of the detail, the new Temple has what you'd expect to find in a Belstaff jacket. D3O in the shoulders and elbows. A pocket for a back protector. Two external, zip pockets. One on the inside. Corduroy in the neck and cuffs. Brass snaps everywhere, except for the rubber-covered bottom one. Adjustability at the waist, at the sleeve ends, and at the neck. A heavy-duty, brass, main zip. A slightly lowered tail. And so on.

 

The bottom line here is that we are really excited by this jacket. To us, Belstaff is all about waxed cotton. We know why they produced the original Temple jacket, but now we have the jacket that the Temple should always have been. This is a jacket that is going to look the part on any kind of retro, classic or custom bike. But unlike most Belstaff jackets, it's going to be really comfortable in even the hottest of weathers. For the summer, honestly, this is the Belstaff you want.

 

Yes, it's more expensive than the standard Temple, but in our view this is the perfect Belstaff jacket for the warmer weather.