Klim Latitude Jacket and Pants Review

[Grumpy Goat]

[mspratz]

Nice review GG. 10 hours in the rain! Sounds like my trip to Eureka Springs in 2017. Likewise, my Latitude jacket and pants kept me perfectly dry.
What was the temperature when you got cold near the beginning?
I'm not suggesting you did this, but I have found a couple of times when I've gotten cold in my Latitude stuff that I'd left at least one vent zipper open. Otherwise, if I layer up underneath it and seal everything up I stay nice and warm. I have a relatively light-weight Columbia Omni-Heat jacket (with the small reflective silver dots all over the interior) that I use in the coldest weather. I've kept warm on a four hour 34F (1C) ride. I think I paid $54 for the Omni-Heat on sale a couple of years ago. I don't have any heated gear. I tuck that inner jacket into the Latitude pants and cinch up the waist to keep the air getting in. I also find that it helps to zip the Latitude jacket to the pants, as that keeps the back of the jacket from riding up and letting the cold air in.
The nicest thing about Gore-Tex or equivalent gear is that you don't have to stop and put on wet-weather gear when it starts to rain, and again when to take it off when it stops, although you may have to stop briefly to close or open some vents.

[Grumpy Goat]

Nice review GG. 10 hours in the rain! Sounds like my trip to Eureka Springs in 2017.

Thanks Michael. That was when I saw you and Liz in your Latitude outfits and decided that I liked it.

Likewise, my Latitude jacket and pants kept me perfectly dry.
What was the temperature when you got cold near the beginning?
I'm not suggesting you did this, but I have found a couple of times when I've gotten cold in my Latitude stuff that I'd left at least one vent zipper open.

It was 55 deg.F for over an hour when I started to feel cold. I had no vents open but I deliberately wore only a T-shirt underneath to see how cold it would get, knowing that we were stopping every 1.5 hour of gas for the guy with the smallest gas tank.

Otherwise, if I layer up underneath it and seal everything up I stay nice and warm. I have a relatively light-weight Columbia Omni-Heat jacket (with the small reflective silver dots all over the interior) that I use in the coldest weather. I've kept warm on a four hour 34F (1C) ride. I think I paid $54 for the Omni-Heat on sale a couple of years ago. I don't have any heated gear.

Same here. On that trip I only took my Gen.1 Sedici Hotwired Heated jacket liner, so when I put that on at the next stop (did not plug in / turn on), it was sufficient to keep me warm in those slowly warming conditions.

I tuck that inner jacket into the Latitude pants and cinch up the waist to keep the air getting in. I also find that it helps to zip the Latitude jacket to the pants, as that keeps the back of the jacket from riding up and letting the cold air in.
The nicest thing about Gore-Tex or equivalent gear is that you don't have to stop and put on wet-weather gear when it starts to rain, and again when to take it off when it stops, although you may have to stop briefly to close or open some vents.

And that is why I got it. Good tips on cinching up the waist and attaching ejacket to the pants.

[Lee]

. I also find that it helps to zip the Latitude jacket to the pants, as that keeps the back of the jacket from riding up and letting the cold air in.

I've gotten lazy about zipping my jackets to my pants when I have matching suits.
It safer to zip them together so the jacket does not ride up in a get off.

[Lee]

Wayne I wonder if the latest version of the Latitude fits larger than the previous generation.
I'm surprised if you have a 37 inch waist the size Large jacket fits you.
I wear a 42 sports coat and most of the time I wear Euro size 52 in motorcycle jackets.
My Klim pants are 32 Tall. (I normally wear 34 Tall pants)
My Klim jacket is size Large.

What do you wear in a sport coat?

[Grumpy Goat]

Wayne I wonder if the latest version of the Latitude fits larger than the previous generation.
I'm surprised if you have a 37 inch waist the size Large jacket fits you.
I wear a 42 sports coat and most of the time I wear Euro size 52 in motorcycle jackets.
My Klim pants are 32 Tall. (I normally wear 34 Tall pants)
My Klim jacket is size Large.

What do you wear in a sport coat?

Hehehe ... I have not worn a sports coat in years, but I have a 44 sport coat and 46 suit jacket. My chest is 46. The large Klim jacket is comfortable and has a little room for a good underlayer. I have not had a 34 waist in donkeys years ...

[Lee]

Hehehe ... I have not worn a sports coat in years,

Same here but have a couple in the closet
Sound like the new generation fits bigger.
Your jacket looked like a good fit in the video.

[Grumpy Goat]

Same here but have a couple in the closet
Sound like the new generation fits bigger.
Your jacket looked like a good fit in the video.

Thanks. Jacket fit is quite satisfactory. Pants are a bit big / baggy but I am not bothered.

[Lee]

Thanks. Jacket fit is quite satisfactory. Pants are a bit big / baggy but I am not bothered.

If you find you have to keep pulling them up when walking try the Klim suspenders.

I use these on my BMW Streetguard pants.
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/klim...L4QAvD_BwE

[Grumpy Goat]

If you find you have to keep pulling them up when walking try the Klim suspenders.

I use these on my BMW Streetguard pants.
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/klim...L4QAvD_BwE

So far that has not been a problem, as they stay up nicely once I cinch up the side velcro straps. Darrell suggested suspenders but for a different reason - so that he can set the waist a bit slack for comfort while on the bike for a long time.

[Ray]

So far that has not been a problem, as they stay up nicely once I cinch up the side velcro straps. Darrell suggested suspenders but for a different reason - so that he can set the waist a bit slack for comfort while on the bike for a long time.

Darrell's right (as usual). Even with modern material, well-armored pants still tend to carry enough weight and hip protection to make belts and waist fasteners uncomfortable. Aerostitch comes to mind..., and I still miss my leather bibs..., but a zipper to the coat or suspenders will do the trick and prevent hot spots.

[Lee]

.., and I still miss my leather bibs...,

We really liked our leather bibs.
My BMW Streetguard pants have a zip off bib top but it feels hot on my stomach, so I use the suspenders with those.

   

[Grumpy Goat]

Nice picture, Lee. How long ago?

[Lee]

Nice picture, Lee. How long ago?

Pennsylvania 1989

[Ray]

We really liked our leather bibs.

Not to hijack the thread to a simpler time..., but have to say, man, those bibs were comfortable. Over a hundred thousand miles on 2 K bikes, 2 walk-away low-sides, and 20 y later the 1987 leathers went to a woman in Iowa in fall of 2006, who bought them for her husband. (I think the boots went to Goodwill.)

My BMW Rallye suit, like the Klim, is technically about a gazillion times better, safer, lighter, and covers a wider temperature range, and I like it..., but it's just not as comfortable.

These are some of my old ebay photos. (Remember when we wore silk turtlenecks instead of motorcycle-specific base layers that break the bank?)

               

Made for BMW Motorrad GmbH and Co
By Stadler of W Germany

ID GB I F USA
Size 54 44 54 54 XL

Pockets Right lower thigh, Right Upper Thigh, Coat with 2 slash, left upper arm and 2 inside

[Duccrazydave]

That last shot is certainly Deals Gap?

[Lee]

My BMW Rallye suit, like the Klim, is technically about a gazillion times better, safer, lighter, and covers a wider temperature range, and I like it..., but it's just not as comfortable.

I agree, you can't beat the comfort of leather gear and with care it can last forever.
For the OCD out there I like how it was easy to clean on a trip with just a damp rag.
I still feel leather is safer but the newer technical gear is very convenient especially those days where it rains an hour, dry for a hour, rains a hour and keeps repeating.

Your blue BMW leather suits was one of BMW's nicest looking suits.

[Olgry1]

It is hard to beat leather....till it starts raining. I never mastered the technique of putting a rain suit over a damp leather suit. lol

[Ray]

That last shot is certainly Deals Gap?

(Close by - Cherohala Skyway.)

[Ray]

I agree, you can't beat the comfort of leather gear and with care it can last forever.
For the OCD out there I like how it was easy to clean on a trip with just a damp rag....

You know, I was (and had to be) much more OCD about maintaing the leather than the petrochemical products I now wear.... It was not just the damp rag, but the saddles soap and oils and waxes and SnoSeal and a hairdrier or portable stove....

I've seen your current jackets hosed and brushed down and drying in the sun. A little easier in some ways than the ritual of leather care.

So yet another advantage for the Klim jacket reviewed.