Armor up for a ride or a night on the town 

Words and photos by Kali Kotoski

Motorcycle apparel manufacturers have for years been trying to marry the protection needed on the road with a casual look appropriate for an appearance at a party, notwithstanding social distance guidelines. The Z1R Conqueror Jacket accomplishes just that with ease.

I have had the jacket for two riding seasons and it has stood up to everything from hot summer riding days, to drizzling rain conditions and late season fall rides with that crisp bite of chill in the wind. Before the pandemic hit and whittled my social circle down to a bubble of folks that could be counted on two hands, it was also my go-to jacket for weekend camping trips, bonfire parties and a night out at the bar. Really, just because it is that comfortable and versatile. 

I ordered a 2XL, mainly to ensure that it had enough space for a base layer and sweatshirt. But it also comes with a nice zip-off hood that makes a sweatshirt redundant. The Conqueror jacket is constructed from premium milled cowhide leather on the shoulders, sides of the torso and strategically placed on the impact zones of the elbows and wrists. The leather has stylish quilted accent stitched panels that really makes the jacket stand out. The rest of the exterior is made of a durable polyester shell and there are two exterior hand warmer pockets. 

The interior mesh liner wicks away moisture incredibly well, especially when the two chest and back vents are unzipped, providing enough cool airflow for even the hottest days. I did find, however, in extremely hot conditions when a little more breeze is needed to cool the body, loosening up the cuffs on the wrists helped greatly. 

Adding armor (sold separately) isn’t an issue for this jacket, because of its interior back, shoulder and elbow pockets being easily accessible, but not sloppy so that the armor shifts around. All of my jackets have armor potential, so I typically just swap out the pads when needed, instead of having a basket of chew toys sitting around for the dogs to get into. 

While I am currently not of the gun touting kind, the two conceal and carry pockets are a great addition to rounding out this sleek and stout jacket. The jacket has a relaxed fit, making it good for all occasions, while warm and tough enough to handle the road. And for a reasonable price of $189.95, you really can’t go wrong when adding this one to your riding gear. 

To see more of what Z1R offers, go to Z1R.com. 

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