In all the years that I’ve been riding motorcycles, the one piece of gear that I’ve found to be indispensable is a mesh jacket. Our typically hot weather warrants the use of riding gear with expansive mesh panels and this summer, my weapon of choice was the new Viaterra Miller riding jacket.
Mumbai’s sweltering 40-degree heat and the fact that, at times, I was riding big bikes like the Ducati Supersport 950 S meant the Miller was put through a thorough test. And it passed with flying colours.
The main reason behind that is the layout of the mesh panels and how effectively they channel air across the rider’s chest, arm and back. So, whether it was riding at low speeds in traffic or even being stationary in a jam, the air circulation was more than welcome. That makes for a great urban mesh jacket.
The use of mesh extensively hasn’t come at the expense of safety. The shell of the jacket is made of 600D polyester on the impact zones, like around the elbows. Then there’s the CE Level 2 armour on the back, shoulder, chest and elbows. My only gripe is with the length of the back protector as I found it to be a touch short and I wished it stretched further down to my waist. The back protector in the Viaterra Munro riding jacket does this.
The Miller is well equipped for the price, but I do miss having an inner chest pocket to store small things like earplugs. And since we’re now in the rainy season, it would have been nice to have water-resistant external pockets. Another thing that’s absent is the cuff zipper, which greatly aids ventilation on a balmy and humid summer day.
Barring these drawbacks, I’ve been pretty happy with this urban jacket. It is lightweight, the quality of the stitching is good and the colour hasn’t faded despite repeated washes. In fact, I’ve always been pretty impressed with the kind of quality that Viaterra brings to the table with all of its riding gear that I’ve tested so far.
Lastly, the fit of the jacket, again, is neat and I’ve got a few compliments about how good it looks. Even the comfort factor is great and bits like the stretch panels on the back, the adjustment straps on the arms and the cut of the cuffs; all make it a good quality jacket.
On the whole, this is a nice urban jacket, with enough ventilation to beat the heat, without compromising on the safety.
Where: Viaterragear.com
Price: Rs 7,999
Gavin Rodrigues
Dinshaw Magol
Rishaad Mody
