The Echelon GTX jacket from REV’IT! is what REV”IT! considers a adventure-travel jacket. Overall construction is a combination of neoprene, a 2L nylon 400D GORE-TEX fabric, a 2L nylon 200D GORE-TEX fabric, and a soft spacer mesh. This combination earned this jacket a CE Level AA rating. Looking at impact protection, included are the SEEFLEX CE-level 2 Elbow and Shoulder Protectors, a SEESOFT AIR CE Level 2 back protector (fairly rare for REV’IT! To include a back protector) and pockets for the separately purchasable SEESOFT CE-level 1 Divided Insert Chest Protector. Additional protection is available with the Avertum Tech-Air® airbag system with which this jacket is compatible as well as with the included reflective features such as the laminated reflection on the back, chest and in the back logo for additional night time visibility.
Looking at comfort and convenience, the Echelon GTX jacket comes in an overall “regular fit” (not too tight or too loose), with adjustable elbow protection, adjustable drawcords at the collar and hem, an adjustment strap at the lower arm, adjustment tabs at the cuffs as well as an elasticated waist allowing you to really ensure a good and proper fit. Also included are a comfort collar, expansion pleats at the back armholes, both a short and long connection zipper, an external hang loop as well as a TIZIP® MasterSeal Zipper (a very robust zipper system that is waterproof and weather resistant). From a storage standpoint there are sleeve pockets, a slit pocket at the back, a slit pocket at the chest and two slit pockets in the front. Lastly, ventilation is plentiful with a ventilation zipper at the center front, multiples at the back as well as on the upper arms.
The Echelon GTX Jacket comes in at $699.99 at the time of this review and overall I think the materials, fit and finish, as well as the included armor justify the price. This is one of the most comfortable, moveable and well ventilated (for a non mesh jacket) adventure/touring jackets that I have ever worn. The jacket is surprisingly thin feeling and bends and moves with you very easily. Additionally it wear more like an American cut jacket than a European cut one, so you should be able to get your normal size and feel comfortable in it. My only real complain about the Echelon jacket, and this is totally subjective and a personal problem, is that the jackets collar is really tall and covers the majority of my neck. Now I get it, its designed to keep you protected from water and weather and the closer to the bottom of the helmet the collar can get the better it will do that (and it does that extremely well), but if you are a person like me who doesn’t like wearing necklaces or having things around their neck, you may find the collar on the Echelon jacket uncomfortable. If you fall in to the same camp as me, I would highly recommend trying this jacket on in person before you make such an investment and find out that like me, it bothers you. Otherwise, this is an absolutely superb jacket and is top of the line in many different aspects. :: Damir 7/26/24