For 2022 Icon has introduced a new Mesh AF jacket that is just about identical to the 2018 version other than an update to the Grey/Hi Vis colorway. Normally with updates, it’s a few small things here and there but I’m hard pressed to find any real difference here. It looks like they most likely just changed their production location. I guess if it’s not broke there’s no need to fix it though!
The Icon Mesh AF jacket is made for HOT weather riding. It’s minimalist and made of full mesh material to get the most air flowing through.
Most of the shell of this jacket is made of a loose weave mesh material which will give about the most airflow of any jacket we have. If you hold the material up to a light you can see that it allows almost completely unrestricted air flow. And the inside of the jacket is not lined either so no restrictions there either. Heck, even the pockets are lined with the same mesh as on the outside of the jacket. Nearly every available technique for building a hot summer jacket is in use here.
The shoulders and elbows are covered in a heavier textile material, so the abrasion protection in those critical areas is beefed up beyond what the mesh material could give. The jacket is fitted with a full complement of D30 level 1 armor… shoulders, back, and elbows, so the armor package is very good and there is nothing else to add (many brands don’t come with a back pad as standard, Icon has your back though). The material covering the back pad in back is a solid textile material, but it is perforated to allow air flow through. If the material over the back pad were mesh, it would probably look funny since the back armor is bright orange, but the perforated textile material does the trick and it is sharp. On the sleeves, you’ll find two adjusters to help snug down the armor so it will better stay on your body correctly. The back and elbow protectors are accessible from the outside of the jacket and the shoulder armor is fully housed in internal pockets.
There is no internal pocket, which is where Icon usually stashes their St. Christopher medallion. But not to worry, Icon has your superstitious needs covered: the St. Christopher medallion is housed inside the left belly pocket all the way up at the top under the pocket reinforcement stitching. He is difficult to find, but trust us he’s there!
Icon is now able to list jackets as being “CE rated” as a unit. There is a booklet included with the jacket that explains the jacket rating and how that differs from just the component armor being CE rated. Overall, a great looking jacket that will be a pleasure to ride with on hot summer days. :: Mike, 08/30/2022
