Spidi Riding Parka in anthracite

We love Spidi. Nobody does style better than the Vincenza-based brand..

 

Until recently, Spidi worked with a UK distributor, but ultimately that didn't work out. The importer elected to bring in what might be termed Spidi's entry-level range. But we didn't like the range they imported, and that's because that isn't where Spidi is strong. Where Spidi is strong is in super-stylish, easy-to-wear, technical clothing. The good news is that we can now bring into the country the Spidi styles that we think will appeal to our customers.

 

And so, for 2024, we have picked a small range of jackets, boots, gloves and so on. Pretty much all the items in question are new for this season, and all are going to be exclusive in the UK to Motolegends. The jacket we're talking about here is exquisite. It's not, in truth, typical of the kind of jacket that we normally offer, but it is nonetheless very special. 

 

The first thing to note is that this is a laminated jacket. Now, in the past, laminated jackets were stiff and uncomfortable affairs. They did a job. They would keep you dry, and they would not wet out, but they were not nice to ride in. Well, that seems to be changing, and we're starting to see incredibly comfortable, lightweight, laminated jackets that, in truth, don't even feel like motorcycle jackets. The Richa Universal jacket is another example of such jackets. Like the Riding Parka, it's lovely to wear.

 

The Riding Parka, it has to be said, is more about urban commuting and Sunday mornings than it is about high-mileage touring and long-distance commuting. It's a slightly longer jacket, with four flap pockets, secured with press studs. At the hem, and at the sleeve ends, you get elasticated, neoprene-style material for comfort. There's a storm flap in front of the main zip. There are also Scotchlite 3M bands for nighttime visibility.

 

Inside the jacket, there's a removable, thermal liner. It's quite a heavily padded liner, so it will make the Riding Parka something you could wear in winter. The liner has sleeves, although this is not what you would call a destination jacket, as it only zips into the parka. You would certainly be warmer wearing something like the Klim Maverick beneath the parka, but that's going to be not far off the cost of the Riding Parka itself!

 

The jacket is rated A under EN17092, which is what you'd expect in a jacket of this ilk; a jacket that is this nice to wear. It comes with Spidi's latest, Level 1, Warrior armour. You get this in the elbows and shoulders, but not in the back. For the back, we'd recommend a Level 1 Viper back protector from D3O. Spidi's back armour attaches with Velcro, and so you will want our D3O back protector with the sticky stuff attached, which you will find on the website.

 

The only thing we don't really like about the Riding Parka is that it comes with a hood. We are not, we admit, huge fans of motorcycle jackets with hoods, but that's perhaps just a personal things. It could be that we're a tad out of step; that's certainly what Spidi thinks!

 

This aside, if you want an amazingly comfortable, totally waterproof jacket that you could wear all day long without anybody even realising you ride a bike, the Riding Parka may be exactly what you need.

 

It's a very neat jacket. There's nothing out there this waterproof that's this stylish, and this nice, to wear.