Tourmaster’s Draft Air jacket is tweaked with slightly enhanced styling for 2020. This is a LONG running jacket style from Tour Master built for everyday street riders for hot summer use. Armor is included along with a removable rain/wind liner.
I looked back into our archives when I saw this new Draft Air. My first review of this jacket was way back in the early 2000s and I counted six different permutations over those years. The version before this was “Draft Air Series 3” and we reviewed that one in 2015. But the same basic mission still remains. A cost effective, comfortable mesh jacket for summer use for the everyday street our touring rider. The changes to this new version are subtle… mostly just a pattern change for styling. It fits and it works well for its purpose.
The main shell is mostly-mesh with solid textile overlays in crash prone shoulder and elbow areas. And inside is a removable full-sleeve wind/rain liner. The liner serves two purposes… firstly, you can use the liner to act as a wind block in cooler weather and you could even layer under the liner with your own thermal underwear to take the jacket down further in temps. If it rains, you can use the liner to stay dry. Or when it’s hot and dry, remove the liner and let the air flow right through the shell to your body. The liner serves well to make this jacket much more functional than just a full mesh jacket alone.
The overall fit of this jacket is casual… it’s not a sport cut and it will be comfortable for a majority of riders. Tall slender folks may find it a bit too big through the torso and arms as the overall cut is generous. A person with that type of build should probably look to one of the European brands for a better fit. Armor is included in the shoulders and elbows which is molded rubber and is rated CE1. It’s pretty standard stuff. The back protector which comes with the jacket is basically a thin foam piece that is meant to provide a very basic level of protection. But the armor pocket will accommodate an upgraded back protector which I’d recommend. We suggest… (more to come).
Other basic features are here too… a nice selection of pockets inside and out, arm and waist adjusters to get a good fit, and night time reflectives are worked into the shell design for your safety at night. A short rear zip is included to attach to Tour Master and/or Cortech pants. Overall, the Draft Air is a good basic summer jacket design with all the necessary features. It offers good quality and an excellent price too. :: Paul, 05-27-20.
