Cortech by Tour Master Accelerator Series 2 Jacket

Wow! Where to begin… This jacket is loaded with features. Lets start with the basics. This is a solid textile jacket that will work well in a wide range of temperatures. For colder weather the jacket comes with a removable full-sleeve insulated liner. This jacket really becomes handy when the weather heats up. There are two zippered vents on the shoulder and a rear exhaust vent, and the pockets on the chest remove to expose large mesh panels. When it gets really hot the sleeves of the jacket remove making a vest. And now for the unusual: this jacket also comes with a backpack/hydration system. Both should come in handy on long rides. The thing that makes this setup different than just wearing a backpack is that the straps run through the back of the jacket and buckle across your chest under the jacket. The backpack can also be removed and worn separately. After you get the jacket on your body and get everything buckled and zipped, it’s a pretty neat package. The downside is that the straps and such make it somewhat of a pain getting it on (like you’re putting on a backpack and a jacket on at the same time). So I guess my conclusion would be that the system is great if you plan on a LONG ride, but for everyday use, leave the backpack at home. Even without the backpack this jacket has a good amount of storage with a total of six pockets on the front of the jacket and a large rear storage pocket. For crash protection the jacket comes with removable CE approved shoulder and elbow armor and a removable back pad. Take the “View Larger Pictures” link above to see NUMEROUS closeups of this jacket and its features.

Note: The two chest pockets remove to expose mesh panels for use in warm weather. These panels each have zippers and serve as additional pocket storage when attached to the jacket. On our sample jacket, these two pockets were installed on the wrong side of the jacket making them hard to reach. So when you buy one of these jackets, make sure those panels are installed so that the zippers are toward the center of the jacket.