****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Fit on this is a little weird. The arms feel a little loose, the wrists don't snug up as much as other jackets, and the neck is a little tighter than my First Manufacturing Top Performer jacket. This is also significantly lighter as well, to the point that I wonder if it's more like 1.0mil cowhide instead of the stated 1.1-1.2 mil.That said, once temps get higher, I'm extremely glad that I got this jacket. The Top Performer is more comfortable and feels safer and thicker, but gets too hot when temps get above 70F. No issues with that here. Whether moving or stopped, the Turbine just breathes. It's far more comfortable than my Olympia mesh/textile jacket, particularly when it gets humid. The mesh flows more air when you're moving, but all that plastic makes you feel like you're melting when you're stopped. The textile portions of the Olympia MIGHT actually be a little better in a slide than the full-perf of the Turbine (thankfully I haven't tried that), but the perf leather will certainly protect better than the mesh. And this really is FULL perf allowing it to breathe in areas where textile panels wouldn't. It's a nice compromise.Like the other First Manufacturing jackets, armor fitment can be quirky. The elbow armor pockets fit about anything, but the shoulder and back pockets can be a bit small. First Manufacturing is now selling universal CE level 2 armor for $20 per part ($60 for a full set of armor). The shoulder pads might stick out slightly from the pockets, but you can either keep them as is for a little better protective coverage, or trim them just enough to close the velcro. We'll see if their back pad is small enough for the pocket, but if not, the Icon D3O Viper 2 WOMEN'S Back Protector (14"x10") will fit perfectly [EDIT: the back protector pocket stretches, so the First Mfg back protector fits just fine, even if it looks too tight]. The D30 is a little stiff and heavy, but it breathes well. Thankfully I haven't tested it in a fall yet.Ultimately, I'm not sure if this can be beat as an inexpensive summer leather jacket. I do prefer the Top Performer for overall comfort and protection, but this is easily my favorite option for when the temps get higher. If you find this on sale, snag it.
