FirstGear Kathmandu Jacket - 2012 (SOLD OUT)

Hypertex™ waterproof & breathable outer shell, constructed of 420 denier rip-stop nylon and 300 denier high density nylon, durable and lightweight for ease of movement
Fully adjustable d3O T5 CE armor in the shoulders and elbows delivers the same protection as standard CE foam armor, but is thinner and more flexible, resulting in a more comfortable fit
EVA dense foam back pad included
Collar closure utilizes a slider snap that allows up to 1-1/2” adjustment for a personal fit
Integrated into the collar is an under-the-helmet rain hood to keep water from running down your neck
1.5 liter hydration bladder included in removable backpack; front left and right restraining loops for bladder tube make access easy
Achieve maximum airflow with two 8” vertical chest intake vents, two 9” armpit intake vents and two 9” vertical rear exhaust vents
Double storm flap front with snap and hook/loop closure that covers a #8 YKK® Vislon two-way main zipper to keep out the elements
Dry Pockets will keep your stash dry–four front ones with flaps, protected by YKK #5 rubberized zippers on the chest and envelope closures on the bottom pockets
Large rear dry pouch with 14” mouth to stow insulated liner or personal property, protected by waterproof zipper and flap with spring snaps and hook/loop closure to keep it all intact and safe from the elements
Reflective taping front and back increases nighttime visibility
One time adjustable waist belt with hook and loop closure
Elbow and underarm waterproof and breathable stretch material for increased flexibility also diminishes binding
Compression straps on the bicep and forearm adjust to fit you
Adjustable cuff uses hook and loop closure for a custom fit
Removable, fully insulated, thermal liner with wind blocking, adjustable, neoprene cuffs to block out the cold
Interior pockets in all FirstGear jackets are in the same location, whether the liner is in or out. On the left side, chest high, is a mobile device pocket with flap closure using hook and loop to secure – On the right side is a cargo pocket that is 12” wide and 8” tall to hold whatever you need for the adventure ahead
Jacket- to-pant 10” full conjunction zipper fits easily through liner portal and attaches to overpant

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Sizing Information

FirstGear has always offered a generous cut, but this jacket is running a bit large. They are running about one size larger than their stated size. We tried the jackets on our Fit Check mannequins (see a picture by taking the “View Larger Images” link above) and measured each size. The max chest and waist are consistently about two inches larger than they should be for any given size (about one size).

Below are the “Sizing Guidelines” offered by FirstGear for 2012. I’ve added the “Our Chest” and “Our Waist” columns to let you know what we observed with a tape measure. The sleeve length estimates FirstGear offered seemed about right, so I didn’t give an alternate column for those.

Size	Chest	Waist	Sleeve	Our Chest Est.	Our Waist Est.
Small	34-36	28-30	32.5-33	39-41	34-38
Medium	38-40	32-34	33.5-34	41-43	36-40
Large	42-44	36-38	34.5-35	44-46	39-43
XL	46-48	40-42	35.5-36	47-49	42-46
XXL	50-52	44-46	36.5-37	52-54	46-50
XXXL	54-56	48-50	37-37.5	56-58	50-54
XXXXL	58-60	52-54	37.5-38	Didn’t Measure	Didn’t Measure

Tall sizes: FirstGear offers this jacket in talls. The body and sleeves of the jackets are 1 1/2 to 2 inches taller than the “standard” cut jackets. If you normally have to buy “talls” then these should work for you.

Our overall assessment is that most people should buy one size smaller jacket than they normally wear in men’s clothing.

Need help measuring? Get it here.

Our Two Cents

The 2012 Kathmandu jacket, just by the name, conjures up the idea of adventure, don’t you think? Wearing this jacket, I can easily picture myself in a photo in some remote location. We all know gear manufacturers are selling dreams, but fortunately companies like FirstGear are also selling quality products. This jacket has been a great selling jacket for a few years now. If memory serves, the previous version of this jacket had its introduction during the time that many dual sport bikes became popular. The idea of riding on-road or off and having a piece of gear that could handle both is the appeal. You’ll need lots of storage for all your stuff on your adventure and this jacket has a lot of it. Rather than me list all the pockets, just have a look at our photo gallery and you’ll see all the various pockets, pouches, etc. You’ll also need some hydration and that is what the little backpack is all about. Inside you find a nicely packaged water bladder and tube for drinking. Personally, If I were on said adventure, I think I could pull over and relax and take a drink, but maybe I’m just not hyper enough. Anyway, you’ve got hydration, even while in motion! This jacket has features to help you with all sorts of climactic conditions as well. The outer shell is a waterproof design…. taped seams, waterproof zippers, double flap rain gutter over the main zipper, etc. which should effectively keep the water out (although beware, a jacket like this with numerous zippers can’t possibly be COMPLETELY waterproof). One nice feature hidden on this jacket is the hood which is enclosed in the collar. You can pop that out and wear it under your helmet (it’s very thin material) in the rain and reduce the chances of water leaking down your neck into the jacket. For fair weather riding, when it gets warmer out, you can open any of six generously sized zippered vents (again, refer to our close-up pics). And for colder weather, the jacket includes a full-sleeve thermal liner. The fit of the sleeves and waist are adjustable with large Velcro straps which are very functional. Of course you’ll have to get to and from the remote jungle area on a highway, and if it’s at night, you’ll be visible because you’ve got some generous reflectives on the jacket. All kidding aside (about the adventure thing), this is a very nice and well designed jacket that any street rider could enjoy. :: Paul, 12-11-11

Note for Returns In order to return this jacket, the bladder must be unopened and returned in its original packaging.

Update: FirstGear just came out with a video demonstrating the amazing properties of D30 armor.