I’ve now driven (20,000 kms) wearing this jacket from December in Toronto to April in Ecuador (and all countries in between) and feel like I can write something about it.

FirstGear 4th Gen Kilimanjaro Jacket - Front

Meltingly Hot  (Temperature)

It’s too hot for 20 degrees celcius or more.  It’s comfortable any temperature below that.  If you open the front pockets to ventilate the flaps don’t stay open at any speed and so don’t really do much good in terms of cooling down your chest. When they are open and it rains, you obviously get wet.   The arms also have two vents on the front upper arm that are secured by velcro and a zipper inside (like the front chest flaps).  The air does come through these surprisingly well.   The back has a zipper vent that only seems to do anything if the front or arm vents are blowing air through the jacket.

Keeping You Dry (Water Resistance)

If you close all the flaps, zippers, and buttons the torso of the jacket seems to manage to keep out the moisture even in tropical downpours.  The arms do seem to get wet fairly quickly in most rains.

Wear and Tear (Durability)

I have not fallen on the jacket so I can’t attest to the strength of the material in a crash or the crash pads strength.  Others have commented that the cheap foam in the back protector won’t do much good and I’m inclined to agree.  The shoulder and elbow armour do seem to be more sturdy although I’m not sure they meet standards.   The material of the jacket in general is quite good and is not showing any wear and the buttons and zippers still function as new after 5 months of almost daily wear.

Fit and Fashion

I don’t think it’s the most stylish jacket but it doesn’t look too bad – big in the shoulders and narrow in the waist.  This is probably unavoidable given the shoulder pads and the need for a tapered waist to keep out the cold, moisture, and wind while protecting you if you fall.

Overall

The lack of good venting is my main complaint about the jacket but for a trip across most imaginable climate zones I’m glad I have it.  Something lighter would be much nicer but would require more layers for colder portions of a trip.

I paid about $175 USD to an online US shop and picked it up in the US.

FirstGear 4th Gen Kilimanjaro Jacket - Back

30,000 km update:

The velcro on the breast-pocket is fraying and making it hard to close the zipper.  Some of the decorative black plastic coverings on the pockets and built-in belt have fallen off.