Klim Latitude Motorcycle Jacket and Pants Review | Gear
The best way to test a product is to put it through the wringer and use it many times over multiple days and in varied riding situations. A 16,200-mile, 53-day, 48-state ride should qualify. To give you some background, I own both the Klim Badlands and Klim Latitude jacket/pants combos and have used them both on multi-state 10,000-plus-mile rides.
These are my requirements for riding gear in order of importance: The gear must provide safety and protection; it needs to be waterproof; there must be comfort in both heat and cold; and the riding gear should look good and have some style.
Klim’s Latitude jacket and pants feature a Gore-Tex performance shell, as well as 600D Cordura overlays in the shoulders, knees, seat, and pants leg cuffs. They have perforated goat leather overlays in the elbows and inner knees and stretch Gore-Tex material in high-movement zones for added mobility. The Latitude combo is now in its fifth generation, with improvements to comfort and adjustability.
Fortunately, I can’t comment on the safety/protection aspect since I have never had to test it. However, the Latitude comes with D3O Level 1 armor on the back, elbows, and shoulders of the jacket and on the knees and hips in the pants. During my 48-state ride, I rode in temperatures ranging from 40 degrees to 105 and through torrential rains and blistering hot winds. The Latitude kept me dry and warm when needed. The waterproof vents worked seamlessly – just remember to zip them up prior to riding into the storm!
Klim added 7-inch dual cuff vents that allow a massive amount of additional airflow up the arm to cool you off quickly and efficiently. I was comfortable up to 90 degrees using this method of venting. Above 90 degrees, I used my Klim Induction mesh jacket. To be clear, I was riding a 2018 Honda Goldwing Tour with a great deal of wind protection, so on other bikes with less wind protection, you might be able to push that comfort zone up 5-10 degrees.
In the front left cargo pocket, the Latitude has an inner stretch pocket designed for your wallet. This added security was a welcome addition. All the pockets have waterproof zippers, so I was able to put my key fob in one of the pockets, zip it up, and never have to worry about it.
When comparing the Latitude and Badlands gear, both work as designed. However, I found the Latitude to be more user-friendly for the touring public. After getting off the bike, I felt more comfortable wearing the Latitude jacket and pants while walking in town and using it as a more traditional jacket/pants combination. The Badlands is a little bit heavier, and the material is a little bit stiffer, although, you don’t notice it when riding.
When asked for advice on gear, my standard answer is: Buy the best gear you can afford. I can tell you from experience, a top-quality riding suit will last years, and it will make your riding experience much more pleasurable over time.
The Klim Latitude jacket is available for $799.99 in sizes S-4XL, and the pants are $649.99 in waist sizes 30-42 in Tall, Regular, and Short inseams.
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