A true 4 seasons jacket? Teknic Sprint Labyrinth
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 4:20 pmWith the amount of kilometres I have covered on a bike this year, (Over 55,000 to be more accurate) I have been looking around for a true all year round jacket. Over the years, I have always been a believer in Goretex and still am, however, even Goretex is overcome by 30 plus degree days causing the wearer to enjoy a good sauna. Even the ventialted Goretex does it and the Goretex is 100% better than any other breathable membrane I have sampled. So with all that in mind, I started looking around for something which had the waterproofing in the liner, rather than the jacket. That way, when it's warm and you don't need the liner, it can be removed creating a completely breathing jacket rather than a partially breathing jacket. Then if it rains in goes the liner.
Now, attempting to find a selection with this set-up proved a little difficult!! I ended up finding two here in Oz who sell them like that. Dianese is one and BMW is the other. Neither appealed to me price wise. It wasn't an affordability thing either, just A ''I fucking object to paying over $1000 for a textile jacket kinda thing!!!"
Anyhoo, I was in the city today picking up some brake pads when I ran into a mate who used to work at another shop and now works for one in the city. We got talking and the subject ended up moving to said jackets. He also shared the belief that only Dianese and BMW would have what I want. Bugger I thought.....I'll just have to bite the bullet and spend the cash! However, just as we were saying goodbye, he thought of an alternative. He said he wasn't quite sure if it would suit me, but to come up and have a look to see.
It turns out the jacket is a Teknic Sprint jacket ( http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/teknic/sprint/ ), using the "Labyrinth Modular Waterproofing System". Sounds pretty Funky right? Well, I sorta turned my nose up at him when he explained that the waterproofing part was in the outer jacket! I almost throttled him, telling him that was exactly what I told him I didn't want! Till he explained how it works! In the end, it is probably a better system in the end than what I originally wanted.
It is constructed of five parts .....
A. A Quilted liner (10Gms-which is more than most by about 4gms), which is thermal only..not waterproof-It has it's own waterproof bumbag pouch which it folds itself into if you want to remove it on the run.
B. A Mesh and Cordura, ventilated and armoured middle jacket.
C. An outer waterproof/Breathable cordura outer jacket.
D. A removalbe winter collar.
E. Attachable back pack.
Here's how it works.......
Stage 1.
Everything the jacket comes with is fitted into it. It is thermally lined waterproof and breathable. Essentially full winter mode.
Stage 2.
Remove thermal collar and stow in backpack.
Stage 3.
Insulated thermal liner is removed and stowed in it's waterproof bum bag-placed either around waist, or in the backpack.
Stage 4.
Outer waterproof jacket is removed and stowed in attached backpack. Jacket is now in full vented summer mode with all armour intact!
I read the winter test on the Webbike world site, and it gave great cold weather reviews and today, I rode in it in 30+ degrees through city traffic and it was cooler than a denim jacket is.
So far, from the look it is well finished and the stitching is neat with no loose ends or frays or missed stitching. Everything is easy to operate and works smoothly with little effort without feeling flimsy. Plenty of pockets and no bits which scratch or itch, such as velcro hook patches.
I will of course reserve final judgement for when I have had an opportunity to do a looooong day in it, and also see some colder weather. However, as a summer jacket thus far...it rates!
Price was $499 RRP and I paid a lot less than that naturally! (FWIW I paid close to $400 for it)
Now, attempting to find a selection with this set-up proved a little difficult!! I ended up finding two here in Oz who sell them like that. Dianese is one and BMW is the other. Neither appealed to me price wise. It wasn't an affordability thing either, just A ''I fucking object to paying over $1000 for a textile jacket kinda thing!!!"
Anyhoo, I was in the city today picking up some brake pads when I ran into a mate who used to work at another shop and now works for one in the city. We got talking and the subject ended up moving to said jackets. He also shared the belief that only Dianese and BMW would have what I want. Bugger I thought.....I'll just have to bite the bullet and spend the cash! However, just as we were saying goodbye, he thought of an alternative. He said he wasn't quite sure if it would suit me, but to come up and have a look to see.
It turns out the jacket is a Teknic Sprint jacket ( http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/teknic/sprint/ ), using the "Labyrinth Modular Waterproofing System". Sounds pretty Funky right? Well, I sorta turned my nose up at him when he explained that the waterproofing part was in the outer jacket! I almost throttled him, telling him that was exactly what I told him I didn't want! Till he explained how it works! In the end, it is probably a better system in the end than what I originally wanted.
It is constructed of five parts .....
A. A Quilted liner (10Gms-which is more than most by about 4gms), which is thermal only..not waterproof-It has it's own waterproof bumbag pouch which it folds itself into if you want to remove it on the run.
B. A Mesh and Cordura, ventilated and armoured middle jacket.
C. An outer waterproof/Breathable cordura outer jacket.
D. A removalbe winter collar.
E. Attachable back pack.
Here's how it works.......
Stage 1.
Everything the jacket comes with is fitted into it. It is thermally lined waterproof and breathable. Essentially full winter mode.
Stage 2.
Remove thermal collar and stow in backpack.
Stage 3.
Insulated thermal liner is removed and stowed in it's waterproof bum bag-placed either around waist, or in the backpack.
Stage 4.
Outer waterproof jacket is removed and stowed in attached backpack. Jacket is now in full vented summer mode with all armour intact!
I read the winter test on the Webbike world site, and it gave great cold weather reviews and today, I rode in it in 30+ degrees through city traffic and it was cooler than a denim jacket is.
So far, from the look it is well finished and the stitching is neat with no loose ends or frays or missed stitching. Everything is easy to operate and works smoothly with little effort without feeling flimsy. Plenty of pockets and no bits which scratch or itch, such as velcro hook patches.
I will of course reserve final judgement for when I have had an opportunity to do a looooong day in it, and also see some colder weather. However, as a summer jacket thus far...it rates!
Price was $499 RRP and I paid a lot less than that naturally! (FWIW I paid close to $400 for it)
i on the other hand have gone a different way 3 jackets one leather with liner and armour 2 total mesh no liner and armour 3 leather perforated with removable liner and armour.The third option i tried out today with out the liner and with rj back protector.The result grate i thin kit will be good up to low-mid 30s in the country and 30 in the city 
.Now all i have to do is get the weather forcast right 
) I'm very interested to see how this design copes with a really good long ride in steady rain....keep us posted mate