Road Tested: Saint Engineered Classic denim motorcycle jacket

Saint came out of nowhere when they burst onto the scene with the world’s first single-layer CE-approved motorcycle denim. The Melbourne-based brand has been developing its ever-expanding range of products ever since, so today we’re looking at one of their newest items—the Saint Engineered Classic denim motorcycle jacket.

The Engineered Classic jacket is constructed from, you guessed it, Saint’s ‘Engineered’ denim. That puts it at a lower price point than the company’s ‘Unbreakable’ products, while still earning it a CE class AA rating. (If you’re not a gear nerd, like me, AA is the second-highest rating for CE-approved motorcycle apparel, based on the garment’s material, stitching, and armor.)

Garments with a AAA rating (the highest) aren’t always practical or cost-effective for the average rider. I don’t own a pair of racing leathers—but even if I did, it’s not as if I’d slip into them just to pop down to the store for ice cream. I generally aim for AA-rated clothing when I’m on the road, and I always ride with elbow, shoulder, and back armor installed in my riding jackets.

The Saint Engineered Classic denim jacket ships with CE Level 2 shoulder and elbow protectors. Riders do have to fork out extra for the optional D30 Viper back protector—and while there are points deducted for this, I’m grateful that Saint includes armor options for their jackets. I simply wouldn’t wear them otherwise.

The first thing I noticed when I slipped the Engineered Classic jacket on was the supreme comfort. Even with the armor installed, it sits perfectly on my shoulders with the reassuring weight of an armored jacket. The indigo denim is soft, and the extra length in the back and arms keeps the body covered on everything from a chopper to a crotch rocket.

Flexibility is an important feature in a motorcycle jacket (both for comfort and style), and the Engineered Classic delivers this in spades. I haven’t found a single scenario where I’ve felt my movement restricted by the jacket thanks to the incredible amount of stretch in the fabric. The armor is thin and flexible, so you can hardly tell it’s there.

Between the fabric’s stretch qualities and the waist and wrist adjustability, there’s more than enough room to layer a sweater underneath when the mercury drops. That said, here in Western Australia we’ve just struggled through the hottest summer on record, with temperatures regularly exceeding 110º F. As someone who runs hot on even the mildest day, I found the Engineered Classic jacket a touch warm, especially when standing in the sun.

However, this issue won’t affect everyone—and you can still feel some wind flowing through the garment as you ride. Some well-placed ventilation zips could be a great way for Saint to improve the jacket for three-season riding in the future.

Style-wise, the Saint Engineered Classic jacket scores high. The contrasting double stitching is beautifully laid, and there are four external pockets; two chest pockets that fasten with press studs, and two hand warmer pockets. The embroidered Saint logo and enamel wing pin on the chest pockets are two beautiful details that stood out to me straight away.

The main jacket’s zippered closure is backed up by a wind protector flap with press studs. All the press studs are rubber coated, making them less likely to scratch your pride and joy. The jacket is fully lined with a breathable mesh which holds the armor in place and contributes to its comfort.

I own multiple Saint products and have struggled with their size chart before. This time around, I measured myself and selected the jacket that should have fit. But when I put it on I was swimming in denim.

I had to go down two full sizes to find the right jacket, eventually ending up with my regular jacket size, which fit me like a glove. Whether this is an issue with the actual garment’s measurements or the size chart, I’d advise selecting your usual jacket size.

The Saint Engineered Classic jacket satisfies or exceeds all of my criteria for a good riding jacket. The fabric is soft and flexible, it’s protective, and it looks damn good.

At $280 in the USA and AU$399 in Australia, it sits in the middle of Saint’s jacket lineup in terms of price. And while I admittedly didn’t have to pay for this jacket myself, I’d still call that decent value for money (although it’d be even better if it came with a back protector pre-installed).

If you live in a place that has sunny, pleasant winters like Western Australia, you’ll be able to use this jacket year-round, like I will be doing. And if you pair the Engineered Classic jacket with Saint’s matching Engineered jeans, you’ll have a Canadian Tuxedo that 90s motorcyclists could only dream of.

Images by Ben Pilatti

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