Tourmaster Ridgecrest Jacket

We checked the sizing of this style with our Fit Check mannequins Huey and Dewey. They are wearing size Medium and XL jackets respectively. These are their “usual” sizes and they fit just fine. We also checked the chest and belly of the other sizes and find them to fit OK too. Therefore, we recommend you choose the size you normally wear in men’s clothing. If anything, we find the fit to be generous, so if you are between sizes, I’d advise the smaller.

Another way to refine your size selection is to measure your chest and belly and then use our size chart (below) which lists max chest and max belly sizes for each jacket size. The measurements in the chart are a combination of the manufacturer’s size chart and also the measurements we take on the product samples. After you measure, you can choose a jacket size using the chart. You’ll want to choose a size that will accommodate both your chest and belly.

This jacket is offered in tall sizes. Tall jackets will be about 1 1/2” longer in the sleeves and torso than the “standard” size jackets. Sleeve lengths listed below are for standard sizes, so add the 1 1/2” for an estimate of the sleeve length of tall sizes. Sleeve lengths are measured from the shoulder seam to the cuff end.

Need help measuring? Get it here.

The Ridgecrest Jackets and matching Pants are new for 2021. The jacket and pant are part of a new line of Tour Master gear aimed at adventure riders. The line is called “Horizon Line”. Both the Ridgecrest jacket and pants are fitted with large mesh panels to admit a lot of air so they’ll be comfortable in warm weather. But they also come with removable waterproof liners to be used in wet weather. And finally, the jacket (but not the pants) comes with a removable vest-type thermal liner to add a layer between you and colder days. Both the jackets and pants are offered in men’s and women’s sizes (see the links below for the other garments of the group). * Note:* Also part of the Horizon Line this year is the Alpine-Trek jacket and pant for men and women which are similar to the Ridgecrest but have a solid textile shell designed for cold-to-mild weather range. Check our Tour Master department for links to those.

Well, I guess “Tour Master” isn’t just for touring anymore, is it? So what makes this Ridgecrest jacket and pant different from the traditional Tour Master jackets and pants (like the Transition for example). The overall styling is definitely different. The colored jacket choices are more in line with the “back country” palettes you see with other adventure gear lines like Klim. Also, there are more pockets and pouches for stowing things, and many of the pockets are styled as patch pockets rather than inside lined pockets so they’ll have more capacity. Both the jackets and pants have more patches of nighttime reflective materials.

And what’s similar to traditional Tour Master gear? The overall “heft” of the jacket materials and the armor setup is very similar to the street line. When you compare this gear to main-line brands in the adventure market (most notably Klim), you’ll find this gear doesn’t use the higher-end ultra-tough materials. But on the other hand, the price marks for this gear are WELL below those other brands. This gear is priced slightly above the Tour Master street line, probably because of the added complexity of the pockets, etc, but it is an absolute bargain as compared to Klim or REVIT. I’m not saying you don’t get what you pay for, but rather, this gear offers a lot, but in lesser cost materials, which may suit some riders just fine. Not everybody is buying “lifetime” gear.

Tour Master is featuring SafeTech brand armor in their 2020 and later products. The jacket includes shoulder and elbow armor inserts that are CE level 2 rated. The material is a more flexible and “squishy” rubberized material, which I think is an improvement in comfort over past designs using less flexible black solid rubber. The jacket has a fabric pocket for a back protector. The jacket comes standard with a simple thin foam back pad (mostly a place holder). Optionally you can buy a CE-rated back protector by SafeTech for about twenty bucks (something I’d recommend). The pants include the same CE2 armor for the knees and thin foam units in the hips. Like the back protector in the jacket, the hip armor can be upgraded (link also below).

Consider both the jacket and pants to have a complete outfit. Compatible zips are included in both the jacket and pants for connection to each other. Both men’s and women’s sizes are offered. The entire outfit with optional armor upgrades can be had for less than just a jacket in many premium brands! :: Paul, 05-21-21