What is it?
The Progressive Net Windout is a jacket by the Italian brand Spidi which is now officially sold by Reise Moto in India.
This is a mesh jacket with level 2 protection for the elbows and level 1 for the shoulders. There’s an external TPU shoulder slider, but that’s about it. There’s no chest or back protector, however, there’s provision to install the latter. The jacket is pretty bare-basic, with two side pockets and one in front of the chest, none of which are waterproof. That said, there’s a rain liner that zips to the inside of the jacket. There are a bunch of Spidi products including various layers and armours that the jacket is compatible with, but what you get out of the box is a basic summer weather jacket.
Is it any good?
The jacket looks fantastic in the flesh with its loud branding on all the sides. Despite (or rather because of) its stealthy colour, people notice it; the longer stares may also be due to the ‘LAB’ label on the right chest. The fit is perfect, too and there’s adjustment at the waist, bicep and forearm as per your requirement.
A basic armour set and not having the convenience of a single waterproof pocket is a bummer, especially when you consider its price. However, the jacket itself is a CE-certified one, unlike most jackets on sale here. So, if you wish to, you can upgrade the armours later and have better overall protection. Furthermore, despite the mesh construction, the jacket doesn’t feel itchy or irritate the skin even after day-long use in a humid city like Mumbai.
The jacket has been conceptualised in Europe and that means it is good for their climatic conditions. One ride in the Mumbai downpour was all that was needed for me to take off the liner and get a new raincoat to wear over the jacket. While the jacket’s lower collar allows for more breathability, it also encouraged me to find creative solutions for staying dry.
How much?
At Rs. 25,399, the Spidi Progressive Net Windout is certainly an expensive option if you compare it to the Indian brands. Though the quality and the safety certification of the jacket is a big factor in its cost, the lack of a better armour set, rain liner and waterproof pockets are something Reise could address for a price sensitive market like ours.
