Since the first issue of Rider’s 50th anniversary year, which includes this Tourmaster Ridgecrest Mesh Adventure jacket and pants review in Gear Lab, is making its way to reader mailboxes, I decided to look up the issue in which we published our first Tourmaster product review. In the January 1993 issue – 31 years ago! – former editorial director Bill Stermer reviewed a pair of Tourmaster Grand Tour Elite Gloves.
Tourmaster is one of the in-house apparel brands sold by Helmet House, a distributor founded in 1969 by Bob Miller and Phil Bellomy, who started out selling helmets on weekends at swap meets in Southern California. As our long-time readers know from our many Tourmaster reviews over the years, the brand has a full line of jackets, pants, boots, gloves, heated gear, raingear, luggage, and motorcycle covers designed for touring riders.
The Tourmaster Ridgecrest Mesh Adventure jacket and pants combo is part of the apparel brand’s Horizon Line aimed at ADV riders, but it’s suitable for anyone looking for a versatile set of three-season gear at a reasonable price – MSRP is $239.95 for the jacket and $189.99 for the pants. The outer shell of both garments is made of abrasion-resistant 600-denier polyester and high-flow mesh with 1000-denier honeycomb nylon ripstop reinforcements in high-impact areas. Additional protection comes from removable CE Level 2 armor at the shoulders, elbows, and knees and EVA foam padding at the back and hips, while stretch panels in key locations enhance freedom of movement.
To keep out wind and rain, both garments have lightweight, removable, breathable Reissa liners, and the jacket also has a removable thermal vest liner. Fit adjusters and reflective accents abound, and an 8-inch zipper at the lower back connects the jacket to the pants. ADV and touring riders love pockets, and the Ridgecrest set doesn’t disappoint. On the jacket, there are six on the front, two inside, and two on the back, one of which is a huge cargo pocket that’s a great place to store liners when not in use. The pants have four pockets, and the two jacket liners have a total of three pockets.
The Tourmaster Ridgecrest performed well during the two-day press launch for the new BMW R 1300 GS. On cold mornings and high-elevation mountain rides, the liners blocked the wind and kept me warm. During the exertion of off-road riding, the mesh gear allowed plenty of airflow to shed excess body heat. The jacket and pants were comfortable (the stretch panels were much appreciated) and fit was quite good, though the jacket sleeves were a tad short for my long monkey arms. Check the sizing chart to ensure you order the correct size – the best fit for me was a large jacket and medium pants.
The Tourmaster Ridgecrest Mesh Adventure jacket is available in Black, Hi-Viz, Navy, or Sand, and the pants are available in Black or Sand/Grey. Both items come in a wide variety of sizes, including Short, Tall, and Plus options.
See all of Rider‘s Apparel Reviews here.
