Aether Mojave Jacket Review

Aether has made a name for itself designing technical clothing that doesn't look like an experiment in science and color. Forgoing lurid prints and over-the-top branding has left the Los Angeles-based apparel company to focus on design, and the result is sophisticated outdoor wear. The same can be said for its small line of motorcycle gear.

Marketed as Aether's warm-weather jacket, the Mojave is cut from heavy-duty Halley Stevensons cotton canvas and equipped with long zippered vents across the chest, back, and underarms, while a mesh liner keeps all that air moving. But despite its ability to let air in, the cotton canvas seals up nicely when the temperature drops. Big snaps make shuttering the two-way chest zipper easy, even with gloves. Wild temperature swings define the Mojave Desert, so Aether's jacket does a fine job of living up to its name.

D3O armor at the elbow, shoulder, and back add impact protection while staying out of the way when you’re hustling, making the Mojave a comfortable choice for brisk canyon riding. We put this Aether jacket through the wringer with days of fast riding in Wales, but the Mojave obviously isn’t track-bred, and with its cotton construction, it’s not going to fend off downpours or snow like adventure gear. Think of it as a generalist, a jacket that subtly keeps you safe, stylish, and comfortable in most riding conditions.

Priced for the premium set, the $550 Mojave slots in between natural-fiber textile options from style-conscious manufacturers like Roland Sands and Belstaff. However, besides a small logo embroidered into the back right side of the jacket, the Mojave doesn’t brag about its provenance. Like most cotton-based jackets, you’ll do the heavy lifting there, because the jacket wears in and gets good and grimy on your adventures.

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