GEAR: ATWYLD Women's Motorcycle Apparel

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ATWYLD
Women's Motorcycle Gear
A review by Kara Pierce (words) and Jenny Linquist (photos)

via the Dreamroll women's motorcycle campout.

If the motorcycle community were a high school, which it sometimes feels like, the ATWYLD girls would be the homecoming queens that didn't ask to be nominated. You knowww, the girls you're kinda jealous of but want to be besties with. The only shit you can talk is, "are they actually that nice?" The answer is a deafening yes.

In addition to big smiles, they're also genuinely enthusiastic about their brand and just want to share it with other women. My visit to the ATWYLD booth at the Dreamroll was complete with free patches and several Alltime Moto Jacket fittings. Those sleeves felt like cool butter whipped by angels against my skin. I kept coming back for more. Everything about the brand is thoughtful because they're actually riders with legit experience in art and fashion design. The gear implements stretch, Kevlar, and padding with consideration for women's bodacious bods. The S, M, and L jacket all fit me depending on how I'd want to wear it and the riding jeans stretch to hug those lady curves. But first, my heart eyes are set on that Convoy Armored Shirt to save my bones while I learn how to dirt bike.
In summary, class, if you're new to the women's moto campouts and aren't the type to ditch class or smoke in the bathroom - go find the ATWYLD booth.

Some of our favorites from the ATWYLD Line:

Alltime Moto Jacket - $650

CONVOY Armored Shirt - $175

Commuter Moto Jeans - $310

Shred Moto Jeans - $389

GEAR: Pack Animal Motorcycle Saddle Bags

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Motorcycle Saddle Bags

Live on Kickstarter


Mike and Jenny Linquist aren't the Gore-Tex and Hi-Vis type. They don't care about UV-treated ballistic nylon, wicking polyester or reflective piping. Like many of us, they choose to travel on vintage motorcycles for a deeper connection to the machine and environment. It's a connection that seems to be in the cross-hairs of modern gear manufacturers. So when they came up short on their search for motorcycle luggage that fit their lifestyle they decided to develop their own. The duo teamed up with Chris Hansen, previously of Filson, to create Pack Animal luggage. I've seen these bags in action on our Montana trip and have been to their prototyping lair. These guys aren't cutting a single corner, and because of that, these bags can take a serious beating.
The saddle bags attach via leather straps which allows them to adapt to almost any vintage bike without a proprietary rack system. Constructed of waxed twill, canvas and thick leather, they wear their patina like a well oiled baseball mit. Their startup is live right now on Kickstarter with some rad pledge rewards, including the tool wrap below. Go put some air in their tires.






GEAR: Ruste Protective Tailoring

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Protective Tailoring

$150.00 - $260.00 USD


Looks good. Works good. Costs good. You can only choose 2. 
This has seemingly been the motorcycle gear motto since I started riding. As someone who is admittedly very particular when it comes to aesthetics, I have chosen something I visually agree with over something safer or less expensive on many occasions. For me, something as small as a zipper detail, a stitch pattern or even a logo could prevent me from buying it. So when I got an e-mail from the guys at Ruste about their protective tailoring services I was completely on board.
The short of it is, you send them a pair of pants or a jacket you're fond of and they reconstruct it with an expansive kevlar lining and pockets for D30 armor. I had been on the hunt for a pair of riding jeans this season and was having a hell of a time finding something I liked the design of that also fit like my Levis. So, I sent Ruste a new pair of Levis in the size and cut I've been buying for the past 5 years and they sent me back a pair of kevlar lined and D30 armored Levis riding jeans. Including the price of the Levis, door to door DHL service (organized by Ruste), D30 knee and hip armor and tailoring runs about $300.00 USD total. All in all you get a pair of custom tailored riding jeans (or jacket) that fit and look exactly the way you wanted them to for roughly the same price as other riding jeans on the market. 


Ruste deconstructed the already existing stitchwork in these Levis so that none of the alterations are visible from the outside. They even unstitched and reattaching the leather hip tag with the exact same color thread. It's nearly impossible to figure out what was and wasn't touched in the original garment. No visible stitch lines in the hips or knees from the added armor pockets. From the outside they just...look like Levis. 




Kevlar goes all the way to the ankle and the armor pockets are a simple 2 flap design so you don't have to mess with velcro or zippers when you want to pull the padding. 




A note to Levis wearers who like a slimmer cut, I'd recommend getting a pair with 2% elastane (stretch) for more comfort. The material percentages are on the inner tag (above). The kevlar lining also has some stretch to match so you won't have any pulling of the materials. And if you're curious about their abrasion resistance properties ...this should answer that question.

GEAR: From Tanks To Leathers - Laura of HILO Project

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From Tanks to Leathers
Laura of HILO Project

As a rider for almost 3 years, I know comfort is key to both enjoyment and safety. I must admit I never really took that too seriously. A tank top and heeled boots is what I considered my “gear” for summer riding days.
When packing for a ride across Vietnam with the HILO Project crew, appropriate gear was never on the front burner. You’d think it would be a priority after seeing pictures of the most insane traffic in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, but I found more important things to pack. I wanted to make sure I looked good on the bike and there just wasn’t much more to consider.
When REV’IT was kind enough to outfit me for the ride, I was ecstatic. From day one on the road, my view on gear and riding in general had changed. With that being said, I didn’t just keep up with the boys in Vietnam, I held my own-much due in part to the gear. Let’s start with the Women’s Gear 2 Leather Pants. They did wonders. I wore them for nearly 14 days straight and every single morning they fit like a glove. Comfortable in every climate from 55F to 105F and they always seemed to breathe. The removable waterproof liner came in handy when dealing with the short, and sometimes 100+ miles long, stints of rain while heading North. They constantly kept me dry and feeling confident on mostly sketchy roads.
Having never been a fan of armor prior to this trip, I came to understand the importance as I had the urge to drag a knee every now and then. The ProLife ladies CE protection at the knees was amazing, with a little bit of foam protection at the hips as well.  Again, this allowed me to take some of the steepest and sharpest curves with confidence and, not to mention, enjoy the hell out of them.
It’s probably hard to imagine that these pants actually look good. They do. The combination of Monaco Performance cowhide, Dynax mesh, and suede leather are beautiful and, in my opinion, a bit sexy.  The adjustable straps at the waist and perfect leg width for a nice boot makes these pants hard to pass up.
When paired with the Roamer Leather Jacket and Rodeo Boots, the Gear 2 Leather Pants gave me style, comfort, and safety. A trio I will now look for in all future purchases.
Decked in REV’IT from head to toe, I had the confidence to thoroughly enjoy the unbelievable landscape surrounding me throughout our ride. It allowed me to push my limits and believe in the bike, which was fun because we had a fleet of Ducatis at our disposal.  
Big lesson learned: gear is sexy.  






GEAR: Dainese 36060 Line

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36060 Line
More gear companies are finally coming to the realization that there's a big demand for covert protection hidden in everyday clothing. Although it seems to be common knowledge these days among manufacturers, there are only a select few that are really nailing it. Dainese recently unveiled their upcoming 36060 line, and I've got to say I'm thoroughly impressed. They're king of the hill right now when it comes to good looking protective wear and I can't wait to see some of it in person. No word yet as to when it will be available but I'm assuming early next season.










GEAR: Roland Sands "Clash" Jacket

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"Clash" Jacket in Oxblood
Roland Sands Design
$750.00

Styled and Photographed by Town Moto


  • Hand finished, washed and oiled/waxed top grain cowhide (.9-1.1mm thick)
  • Detailed rocker style, with shorty snap collar, offset zipper and front zip pockets
  • Quilted accents on shoulders and lower back/Riveted elbows
  • Aggressive riding fit, with rotated, pre-curved sleeves, dropped back length and relaxed collar opening
  • Satin poly lining with custom RSD repeat "numbers" heat emboss
  • Armor ready shoulder, elbow and protector pockets







    • GEAR: Filson Lightweight Work Vest

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    Lightweight Work Vest

    $185.00

    "A machine-washable Antique Tin Cloth vest with abrasion- and wind-resistant properties. It includes heritage sidewinder pockets, front-access pockets and a shooting patch design on the shoulder."

    This would make a great Fall/Winter shop vest. I never like working in long sleeves but could always use an extra layer in the colder months. It's got a nice assortment of front and side loading pockets for shop EDC. The shooters patch on the shoulder also means you can shoot clays at a moments notice if need be. A must for Chicago. It's going on the list. 



    • Seattle Fit
    • 1 flap pocket, 1 flap patch pocket, 2 front-access pockets, 2 sidewinder pockets
    • 3 button closure with corozo buttons
    • Double front loader pockets, One double chest pocket with flap closure
    • 10-oz. Antique Tin Cloth
    • Shooting patch design on shoulder
    • Dry finish Antique Tin Cloth is extremely abrasion resistant