Scott Prospect Goggle

Scott USA has the Prospect and it has been in circulation for over four years. Some of the standout features of the Prospect is a polycarbonate lens that is 1mm thick (versus 0.8mm thick like most other competitors lenses), the Scott lens locking system that consists of four locking pins that secure the lens to the frame of the goggle for safety (instead of feeding the lens into a groove and securing it with tabs), a wide peripheral frame, an updated two position outrigger system that can rotate to fit a wide range of helmet sizes, a No Sweat 3.2 foam, and a wider strap for better grip to the helmet.

I am kind of a pain in the ass when it comes to comfort with goggles and the Prospect goggle is one of only a few that I like. The No Sweat 3.2 foam against my face feels plush and soaks up enough of my sweat that it doesn’t drip inside the goggle on very hot days in the desert. There was no need to purchase any maxi pads products to add to the top of the goggle’s foam as it soaked up sweat adequately. The field of vision is very similar to the Oakley Airbrake as the Prospect goggle is as wide as its competitor. I have come to get accustomed to the peripheral vision I get with Oakley Airbrakes and the Prospect gives me a wide field of vision similar to that. It is however not so wide that it doesn’t fit in a wide variety of helmets. I went through several helmets while wearing the goggles (Shoei, Arai, 6D, Fly, Bell, Fox, Airoh) and the Prospect sealed to my face well in all of them. I did notice that the goggle does drop low on the nose, which took me some time to get used to. Compared to the other larger/wider framed goggles the Prospect will ride down almost to the edge of my nose and I have a large nose. Adjusting it to your face is key and I found the best way to get it to ride a little higher up on my nose was to get the goggle strap tighter and to remove the nose guard that the Prospect comes with. Doing this would allow the goggle to ride a little higher on my face and give me less pressure on the wider part of my nose. It didn’t affect the way it sealed to my face after doing so, but it did take a little longer than usual to find a way to position it correctly. So if you feel like the Prospect is riding a little low on your nose, try tightening the goggle strap a little more than usual. 

Changing lenses out on the Prospect is fairly painless. You can switch lenses out by popping two locking pins out on top of the frame and two at the bottom. Once those are popped out, the lens comes out easily and I was able to stick another lens in under two minutes! I wore the Prospect at a couple races where I didn’t get the greatest of starts and the four-post tear off design takes a little more of a tug to rip them off. However, the way the tear offs lay and fold onto themselves makes it easy NOT to pull more than one at a time. With some other tear off designs there is not enough excess tear off (at the end) to find and pull (while riding), so you end up pulling two or three at a time. With the Scott Prospect tear off design, it gives you enough tail that you can feel it easily with gloves and rip only one tear off.

When it comes to wearing what I want on certain days I seem to gravitate towards Oakley Airbrakes. Yes, I know Airbrakes are expensive and I don’t think I could afford having four sets (if I had to purchase them myself) of those just laying around for me to wear. With the Scott Prospect goggle pricing (around $99.00 vs. a $160.00 Airbrake) I could actually afford a few pairs. I would also be getting the same wide peripheral vision, almost the same clarity through the lens and almost the same comfort. I say “almost” because of the low nose area with the Scott’s. However, the Airbrake’s have been known to fog up on me on colder days and the Prospect goggles are much better with not fogging. The lens on the Prospect is more resilient to getting scratched, as the Airbrake goggle lens scratches easier if you don’t keep tear offs on the lens at all times. I could wipe the Prospect lens with my glove while riding and it wouldn’t get nearly as scratched as the Airbrake lens. The winner of lens changes still goes to the Airbrake, but the Prospect is less painless and quicker than most of the other goggles that are out on the market. Replacement lenses are not cheap at around $18.00-$23.00, but they are less expensive than Oakley Airbrakes.  

For around $99.95. I would consider this a very good wide peripheral goggle for the price. The field of vision, the comfort of the foam against my face, ease of finding the end of the tear off to pull efficiently and the convenience of replacing lenses make it a great buy. Setting up the goggle to fit up to your face might take you a couple rides to get comfy, but once you do you will agree that this is the best goggle Scott USA has made yet.

On My Own Dime (Oakley Airbrake Goggles)

If someone was to pull the rug out from underneath me today and I was left with nothing in my garage, what would I replenish to start my moto life once again. I mean let’s face it, some of you may still think because I get free products/bikes/etc. that I will tell you everything is great. Well in case this is your first time here at Keefer Inc. we don’t exactly do that kind of thing. What if I was just like you and had to buy all my own shit, just so I could go riding with my buddies on the weekend. Once a week for the rest of 2020, I will talk about a product(s) that I would go purchase with my own money because it’s that good. Here is my second installment of O.M.O.D. 

If you are on the fence about what wide peripheral goggle to purchase you might want to check out this: https://www.keeferinctesting.com/gear-2/2019/6/3/goggle-shootout. I get a couple pairs of free Oakley Airbrake goggles from time to time, but I am far from a sponsored athlete or media guy. I purchase most of my Oakley products through RMATVMC and I do this because the Airbrake is by far my favorite goggle to wear with any helmet. I know what you might be thinking… Holy shit, I am not spending a $160.00 on a goggle. I totally understand this and I was that guy when the goggle was introduced. I thought it was obscured to spend that much money on a goggle. However, once I tried them and noticed how crisp/clear their injected molded lens was, how much ventilation I got, how good the foam was, as well as how much of the track I could view, I was hooked! 

Oakley took a different approach to the goggle market when developing the Airbrake goggle back in 2013. They used different technology and put a pricepoint out there that most consumers just disregarded. In fact, I was one of those people! There was no way I could justify spending $160-200 bucks on a pair of goggles. Fast forward to today and wide peripheral, rigid frame, higher priced, HD lens goggles are the norm. The beauty of the Airbrake is the speed of changing lenses and clarity of the lens technology. The Switchlock system is the best in the business and it really relieves any headache of several lens changes. There are two lugs that center the lens on the frame and the levers lock it in place, that’s it! The PRIZM technology is similar to 100%’s HiPER technology and are very similar looking when riding, but comparing clear lens to clear lens, the Oakley Airbrake simply has more clarity than others. Vision and field of view are also the best in class. I get a slightly wider peripheral view when riding, but it’s only very minimal and may not be noticed by others, but since I have had so many back to back days with all of types goggles, I can nitpick this a little more. The Oakley’s frame fits into all the helmets I have tested in and sealing was never an issue. The face foam is comfortable as well as thick and that can soak up a good amount of sweat before dripping into the lens. Yes, they can still drip into the lens! 

The ventilation on hot days is superb, but on colder days the lens has a tendency to fog up more than I would like so a no fog cloth is key on colder days. I also notice that my eyes get watery on faster tracks due to the amount of airflow that come through the vents. This could be where the ports are placed on the frame and flow the air into my face. This was only felt on extreme fast GP style tracks. Do yourself a favor and possibly seal the vents with a light coating of baby oil if you’re riding dusty or very fast conditions to keep your eyes from watering. On normal motocross style tracks this was a non-issue.  

The lens itself is very delicate and can’t take much abuse. I seem to scratch both  PRIZM and clear lenses easier on the Oakley Airbrake than the Armega or Prospect. You will have to make sure to leave a tear off on the lens of the Airbrakes if you want to extend the life. The overall fit and feel of the Airbrake feels lighter and more compact even though the numbers on paper may not suggest that.

Goggle Price: $140.00-$200.00

Bonus Lens: No

Replacement Lens Price: $25.00 clear $50.00 PRIZM lens

Weight: 135 Grams

Fogging Issues: At Times, Yes When Cold

Laminate Tear Offs: Yes

Positives:

• Simple to swap lens out

• Fit/Feel

• Clarity with several tear offs installed

Negatives: 

• Lens scratches easily 

• Price

• Fogging issues

Alpinestars Tech 7 Boot Review

I have worn Alpinestars Tech 7’s on and off for several years now and enjoyed the mid level price point boot so much that I put my 14 year old son in them because of a few reasons we will get to below. The Alpinestars Tech 7 is one of the more popular motocross boots in the states as it’s lucrative price point seems to gel more with the blue collar rider. The Tech 7 is designed and developed in Italy, but manufactured in Alpinestars’ facility in Asia in order to keep the cost down. In doing so, the Tech 7 comes in about $230 less than the company’s top-line boot, the Tech 10. The most noticeable difference between the two is the fact that the Tech 10 uses an inner bootie, while the Tech 7 does not. The Tech 7 boot features several flex points and four aluminum buckles on plastic straps. There is also a Velcro closure at the top with a gaiter for closure. The Tech 7 has undergone some changes in the past couple years which include a redesigned dual-compound sole, as well as the instep and the Achilles accordion flex zone.

The Tech 7 requires almost no break-in as it will literally take a moto or two to get used to the feel of the boots on the track. The pivot and flex zones are well thought out, so you can unbox them for the first time on the morning of a race and have no problem. Another bonus is the fact that they are easy to put on, even for those of us with bigger calves/ feet. This is often a problem with inexpensive boots; manufacturers will resize the foot compartment for larger feet but use the same upper section. That means you can’t get your foot through the ankle opening or secure the top of the boot, but not so with the Tech 7. The Tech 7s are easy to put on and once the four buckles are fastened, they fit well and are comfortable. Sizing of the Tech 7 are true to size. I wear a size 10 and the Tech 7s fit just like my Tech 10s due, but with a slightly more ankle room.

In terms of shape, the Tech 7s fall right between Sidis, with a narrow toe box and Gaerne SG-12’s, which are wider. I still think if you have a wider foot, you can still appreciate the toe box area as well as how protective that area is when hitting objects on the track or trail. Protection is outstanding even without the inner bootie. I am more of an inner bootie type of rider, but not having one with the Tech 7 didn’t leave me wishing for more ankle protection. The sole is moderately flexible and wears very well. This is always a difficult balance; too much rigidity and you can’t feel the shifter or brake pedal, too much flex and the footpegs can beat your feet into submission very quickly. Wear can also be an issue with flexy boot soles, but the Tech 7s have tougher material right where the footpeg comes in contact with the soles as well as a steel shank. The sole and footpeg inset are replaceable, which is nice if you plan on living with these boots for more than a couple seasons. I like that the inside grip material on the Tech 7 actually works when squeezing the spars of the frame and do not wear as quickly as my Tech 10 inner grip panels. 

Overall, for $369.95 the Tech 7 to me is one of only a couple pairs of boots I would even wear in this price range. My son Aden loves his Tech 7s and prefers them over the Tech 10 because of how much lighter they feel when he rides. The tech 7s are 1.3 pounds lighter than the Tech 10 on the scales so when you’re putting in longer motos with deep ruts the lighter feel on your legs can come in handy.  

If you have any questions about the Alpinestars Tech 7 boot or any other boots for that matter email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com. 

"On My Own Time" (Fly Racing Lite Hydrogen)

Time… It’s something more precious than any amount of money. When you get older time becomes more valuable and as you all know when you get older there seems to be less time in the day to get things done. When at the track, I get asked questions like “what do you ride on your own time” or “what product do you use on your own time, when you’re not testing something”? After getting these questions asked to me several times, I thought it would be a good idea to start a monthly article on what I like to use on my own time. Even though my own riding time is rare, there are times when I just go ride to just enjoy the ride, not for the sake of testing something. 

Coming from a business standpoint, people assume that I only use or test companies products that pay me, but in most cases that is simply not true. I left Dirt Rider Magazine to create a testing media outlet that has transparency and lets people in on what is REALLY happening within the walls of a media outlet. I didn't want any hidden agendas and I didn't want to just be an editor that you can only talk to through a magazine or website. I hated being at Dirt Rider and having to talk highly about a product that simply wasn’t good, just because they were spending money with the magazine. I hated hiding behind the print advertising wall. I lost sleep over it. I would come home moody because it just didn't feel right to me. Telling the consumer to go ahead and purchase a product when it’s inferior not only ruins integrity, but it throws consumers money into the trash. It bothered me. 

I grew up with a father that didn't have a shit ton of money and he would rely on magazines to guide him into the right purchasing decisions. Hell, I barely had a relationship with him because he worked so damn much. The times we did get to spend together usually revolved around dirt bikes, so getting the correct parts put on our bikes made our time spent together less stressful on him. However, that wasn't always the case. What I didn't know (at that point in my life) was that time together, with dirt bikes, had costed him a lot of money (as well as labor). Sometimes my dad would purchase a product that he thought he or I needed, but found out later, through trial and error, that he was misinformed. It turned out it wasn't as good as stock, was a POS, or didn’t fit right, but because “the magazine” said “it was a must have” he went out and learned the hard way. When I started working for Dirt Rider I really thought we were going to take the “hard way” out of purchasing products and/or machines for readers/consumers. That theory wasn't always the way it worked out at the magazine, because we normally had some hurdles to jump through before that would happen. Little did I know in that world the edit side of things do not met eye to eye with the sales side of things at times.

Of course any business has to make money to operate, but what if you believed in a product so much that you only took those advertising dollars from the ones YOU truly believe in? That was my thought process when I was thinking of leaving the magazine to start my own deal. I wanted that motto to be my guideline when I started Keefer Inc. Testing. I knew I probably wouldn't make as much money as the other big media outlets, but I didn't care. I would rather be able to sleep at night than have the weight of steering a fellow blue collar type of rider, like my dad, into the wrong direction with a product or machine. Maybe this is a horrible business model and I am doing it all wrong, but to me it’s something I can truly do that lets me sleep well at night. I had certain companies in mind that I grew to love after testing them over the years and I knew that they had great products, so I went after those companies to see if they were interested in advertising with my brand. I wanted to push those products more on the Keefer Tested Podcast and wanted to have those companies a part of the Keefer Inc. Testing mission statement so to speak. Hell, who knows? Maybe it was that damn movie Jerry McGuire that got me inspired, but I needed to know “who’s coming with me”. 

Now I won’t sit here and tell you that every single company or product that I like has come on board to advertise with us, but that doesn't stop me from using said product. I would rather spend my own money on something that works than get something free that doesn’t. If a product is good, I am not scared to go purchase it myself, for my own use, on my own time, and of course let you all know about it. If it isn't a great product, I want you to know about that as well. I am not here to bash companies products when they are not great, but I will let them know about it so they can try to make it better. Not everything works well on every bike or body and that company has the right to know that they need to be better. Just because we take advertising dollars from one company doesn't mean we will not test other competing brands and give you the straight scoop on if that’s a great product or not. We are trying to create an open line of communication between the consumer and the media testing world. Yes, our time is valuable, and so is yours, but if we can give you quality feedback that can help you smile, once you’ve used what you've purchased, it’s a win win situation.

So now that you have some background on why I am typing these articles, here is the first installment of “On My Own Time”. We will be diving into one company/product a month, some that advertise and some that don’t, but that doesn’t matter to me, because if I am using it on my own time, it could be worth yours as well. If you have any questions on any product you see here on keeferinctesting.com you know I will do my best to help you. Simply email me at kris@keeferinctesting.com and I will do my damndest to steer you in the correct direction. 

Fly Racing Lite Hydrogen Pant/Jersey

Fly Racing has been a part of Keefer Inc. Testing since the beginning. Why? A couple reasons. It’s because they have a great product and also the people behind WPS/Fly Racing are genuine enthusiasts of our sport. I have been a fan of the Lite Hydrogen gear since their pant was redesigned in 2018. That pant incorporated the BOA system. Fly Racing is one of about three gear companies that I would spend my own money on (we will talk about the other two companies in a future “On My Own Time” articles) and below are the reasons why I like this product so much.

I am extremely happy with the BOA system on the Lite Hydrogen pant. Every time I wear another set of gear I am looking to tighten the BOA reel, but quickly realize that there isn't one available. If there was one thing I don’t like about other minimalistic pants is that they can be too stretchy in the rear yolk panel while accelerating out of corners. That can leave me with an untucked jersey as well as pants sagging down by lap three. I don’t have an ass! If you have an ass, maybe you DO NOT have this problem, but for my flat ass this is noticeable quickly. With the BOA system all I have to do is turn in the reel and tighten, so that my pant is securely locked to my waist. If you want to loosen the waist area you simply pull the BOA reel outwards and it releases the tension on the pant. The Lite Hydrogen pant has held up great against my knee braces (especially the leather) and although this is a very lightweight pant it has superb durability. The Lite Hydrogen pant is not as light as the FOX FlexAir, but has held together better over time for me and ventilates very well. 

If you are a bigger guy don't fear because Fly sells the Lite Hydrogen pant in up to a size 38. I have seen a pair of 38’s on my large sized buddy and it doesn't look abnormal at all. Also chances are if you’re a size 40 the 38 is stretchy enough that you will be able to fit without any issues. When comparing the FlexAir and Lite Hydrogen cuts, the Fly pant is not quite as tight, has slightly more stretch, and doesn't hug against your legs as much. This left me with a little more room for an array of knee braces that I test. The colors that Fly came out with in 2018 is so much better than the colors they had in 2017. Bright yet clean colorways are what I prefer and that is exactly what the Lite Hydrogen is. Although I am not sure Fly recommends putting your pant and jersey in the dryer, I have done so on many occasions and the BOA reel sticks works flawlessly. Over the years the Lite Hydrogen pant continues to evolve and be one of the leaders in comfort and durability. It's tough to get a lightweight pant that can last more than a few months, but these suckers have held up to the abuse that I can give. 

The Lite Hydrogen jersey ventilates very well and the low profile/open cuff design is one of my favorite aspects of this jersey. Sometimes when you get an open cuff design the jersey will ride up your arms during a moto, but the Lite Hydrogen jersey’s cuff will stay in place and not go all Mike Alessi on you. The athletic cut of the jersey is on the snug side, but again not as tight as a FlexAir jersey. It’s important to note that the Lite Hydrogen is not as tight as the FlexAir for the bigger dudes with some extra weight in the belly region. Don’t fear the spare tire because Fly offers a 2X and I promise you will not look all EMO with a snug fitting jersey. Once you slip the jersey on you can feel how soft it is as Fly Racing’s material will not irritate your skin. You will also have enough stretch for an under protector if you choose to wear one (which I did on most occasions). Mrs. Keefer has washed the pant and jersey several times and the colors have not yet faded or dulled out. I also liked that Fly updated their collar in 2019 to a lycra collar that doesn't grab a hold of your neck like a WWE wrestler. 

I remember when Fly Racing wasn't even in my thought process when it came to picking out gear to wear on my own time. Back in 2011-2013 I always dreaded having to wear Fly’s stuff for photos because it was so hot, baggy, and just didn’t look that great. Fly has evolved their line of gear and have made the Lite Hydrogen one of my favorite sets of gear to wear “On My Own Time”. 

https://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/riding-gear/fly-racing-lite-hydrogen-jersey-p/?ref=1009

2020 Fly Racing Summer Camp

For 2019 Christmas morning came on July 24th. Why? Today I got to ride in the new FLY Racing 2020 line of gear and for those of you that know, this is a very big deal to me. FLY Racing has been putting on a “Summer Camp” to showcase their new 2020 racewear that will be available on August 1st. Fly Racing has been a huge supporter of the Pulp MX Show and The Keefer Tested Podcast and they kindly inited us to Boise, Idaho once again to try the new threads and also do fun other activities like white water rafting as well as some trail riding with Damon “Freakin” Bradshaw! 

Summer Camp kicked off on Tuesday night where FLY catered a dinner on the rooftop of a place called Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) where we go to see the new line of FLY gear for the very first time. Riders like Andrew Short, Weston Peick, Damon Bradshaw and a host of media outlets were on hand to enjoy the festivities. The JUMP venue had a long slide that winded down five stories, but with dirt bikers that meant one thing… Who could get down the fastest. Racers will be racers. Slide times (AKA lap times) were on tap to see who could get down the quickest and most took the competition serious. I never did get the final results, but you can almost guarantee some sort of racing will find its way in the mix if there is enough downtime. Dinner, drinks, slides, desserts, and slide times go hand in hand.

Wednesday was designated the moto day as we got to spin some laps in the new gear at a facility called Skyline MX Park. When I pulled up to the facility it reminded me of a track that was on the Canadian Nationals for a while called Regina. It was muddy in the morning, turned tacky for a while, then went into straight hard pack mode in the the afternoon. FLY left gear bags full of new 2020 gear lined up for us media dorks plus had a fleet of motorcycles for us to ride. I am usually not a an all black kind of gear guy, but to my surprise, the all black/white/hi vis set of Lite Hydrogen that FLY put out for 2020 is sexy. Can I say sexy? Well I just did because I looked damn good and I felt damn good wearing the new colorway. I haven't spent a ton of time on the new FLY Formula helmet as of late, but after wearing it again (on this day) it made me realize how comfortable this helmet really is. It is super light weight, ventilates well, has a very plush liner/cheek pad feel, plus the looks are starting to grow on me. I mean let’s be real here… This set of gear that I had on today, along with the Husqvarna Rockstar Edition I was riding could have won some Best Dressed and Lit Kit awards. No lie… The BOA reel is Zach Osborne’s favorite thing in his life next to his family (just listen to his podcast) and the Lite Hydrogen along with the EVO line has the BOA incorporated into the pant. It works and I am huge fan of it as well. Maybe not as much as Zach, but it’s pretty damn good! 

The FLY gear line will be available to the public on August 1st and even though they didn't come out with an all white set of gear for 2020, I will have to say they did a damn good job with all the lines this year. The Kinetic line has a very clean blue and white set that I will be wearing for the 2020 YZ450F intro and the EVO DST line has a camo green that I am all in on with the KX250! None of the 2020 fit has changed, so if you have heard me talking about how well the gear fits on my podcast then you can guarantee the 2020 gear will be just as good. From big guys to D&R dudes, FLY Racing has a fit you will like! Trust me. 

Another bad ass thing that I witnessed was Damon “Freakin” Bradshaw wringing the shit out of his Gas Gas 250 two-stroke on the MX track. I usually pride myself on riding the most when we go to these type of events, but Damon had me handled by far. The dude absolutely hauls ass still, but more importantly, doesn't look like an old man doing it! He is smooth and moves around on the bike well. Weston Peick and Bradshaw were ripping around on the track at the end of the day and Bradshaw wasn't making it easy on Peick, let me tell you. This sparked up a debate with Matthes and I on what 90’s rider would be the fastest today if those riders were all on the same bike? Riders like Bradshaw, Dubach, Ward, Lechien, and Matasevich, RJ. Who would be the best? My money was on Dubach the night before, but that was before I saw Bradshaw ride the day after! Holy crap! The dude rails and still has that pissed off mentality when he rides! I Iove it! Off the track the guy is just chill and the most down to earth, mellow person I know. 

Tomorrow we head out to go white water rafting so say a prayer for me! Hope to see you guys in Washougal for the debut of the gear! 

2020 Alpinestars Gear Intro/First Impression

New gear season is upon us and Alpinestars had us out to ride in a couple sets of their latest offerings for 2020. There was some heavy hitters out at Milestone MX Park riding along side all of us media dorks. Factory riders like Justin Barcia, Jason Anderson, Ricky Brabec and movie moguls like Dax Shepard as well as Channning Tatum were on hand to rip around the Riverside, California track. The good news for you consumers out there is that the Alpinestars product line will be available at a few select North American distributors for 2020, including Rocky Mountain ATV/MC and BTO Sports. I hear a lot of people saying that you can’t get Alpinestars gear here in the states, but in reality it has been available online directly at alpinestars.com for a couple years now. So there are no excuses on why you can’t order yourself up some now! Instead of boring you with the happenings of the day, I will just break down what my first impressions are of the 2020 Alpinestars gear. 

I got a chance to ride in the 2020 SuperTech pant and jersey so here are some statements from Alpinestars about the product and a quick first impression from myself.

From Alpinestars:

Supertech is Alpinestars innovative Motocross apparel line, designed for superior dirt riding performance. Featuring an innovative performance fit design, a chassis consisting of advanced stretch material and an ultra-lightweight construction with a simple, clean design and an aggressive look, the Supertech Pant incorporates a host of race-proven technologies for comfort and performance-winning pedigree in Supercross and Motocross. 

• Meticulously designed to a new pattern keeping the pant perfectly positioned while riding aggressively and offering unrivalled levels of movement and flexibility.

• Main shell extensively constructed (80%) from advanced stretch fabric for freedom of movement. Textile fiber composition specifically developed by Alpinestars to offer high levels of mechanical properties, such as strength, elasticity and durability.

• Heavy (900 Denier) reinforcements on seat area provide seam strength, durability and critical coverage.

• 450 Denier knee panel for durability and freedom of movement.

• Strategically positioned stretch mesh inserts offer cooling comfort and freedom of movement.

• Localized perforations for enhanced airflow.

• Leather panels on inner leg provide heat resistance, grip, comfort and durability.

• Ratchet waist closure system with two flaps and a front metal fly
hook offers a precise, personalized and secure fit.

• PU reinforced knee area and on back.

• Leg cuff features stretch mesh insert for easy on and off.

• Silicon print on inner waist to keep the pants in position.

With a new performance design for an athletic fit, a chassis consisting entirely of advanced stretch mesh and an ultra-lightweight construction, the Supertech Jersey is Alpinestars lightest ever MX jersey, featuring a host of race-proven technologies such as the innovative floating arm construction for superior freedom of movement and an extended back panel to maintain a flawless riding fit. 

• Ultra-lightweight advanced fabric main construction for moisture-wicking and performance fit. Jersey features a more fitted, lightweight design.

• Chassis consists of stretch mesh chassis with open mesh inserts on arms and side torso for high levels of cooling airflow.

• Innovative, fully floating arm construction offers excellent freedom of movement.

• Neck and sleeves feature fully tape-welded hems for reduced weight and improved levels of comfort.

• Pre-curved sleeves for maximum comfort and performance fit.

• Extended rear design helps maintain a perfect riding fit.

• Sublimated fade-resistant graphics.

So what exactly was my first impression of the new Alpinestars 2020 SuperTech gear? I was worried that the pant would be too snug, but to my surprise the size 32 pant fits well and is true to size. The pant is an athletic fit yet is stretchy enough to be comfortable to move around on the bike out on the track. The ventilation of the pant is what you’d expect from a minimalist type of pant yet the knee coverage proved to be thicker than other minimalist pant I have tried lately. I am not a huge fan of the front metal fly hook, but it is something that could come in handy in case of a zipper failure. I may have to get used to latching the hook before ratcheting the buckle closure system. I also noticed immediately that the leather in the knee is very grabby against the shroud area of the machine. While gripping with my knees in corners I could feel the leather almost feel sticky, which was odd, but also great for gripping the middle of the bike. 

The SuperTech jersey is snug! It’s stretchy, but just know that the arms are very athletic, almost compression-ish. The SuperTech jersey is right up my alley because it conforms to my body, makes me feel streamlined, and is super thin/ventilated feeling. I do know that larger riders may not like this feel, but for my size 32/Large sized frame it’s great. I will say that once you have sweated in the jersey, it can get a little sticky to the skin when trying to take it off your body, so that can be tricky. The cooling effect of the jersey when perspiring is very good because of the materials the jersey is made up with. There are only a couple jerseys out there today that do as good of job of cooling you down and the SuperTech is one of those jerseys. 

Overall, I think Alpinestars really nailed the colorways of the 2020 gear lineup. Lots of solid colors along with clean lines make for the best looking Alpinestars gear that I have seen yet. I will be doing a more thorough review of the gear that will involve more of the durability side of things to see if the price tag of $229.95 for the pant and $89.95 for the jersey is worth it. Stay tuned… 

The Wife And Dax

EVS TUG Core Temperature Regulator Vest

It’s already hot here in Southern California so I wanted to get the jump on some product reviews of some hot weather riding gear. EVS has their TUG line that stands for “Technical Under Gear” and in that line up are some cold and hot weather products that could be of some use for you riders out there. Technical Under Gear (TUG) products are built to enhance overall rider experience. EVS says that “TUG products features technical details that are designed to integrate seamlessly with protective riding gear for enhanced mobility and all day comfort”. Soft touch KWIK-DRI® fabrics are put in place to wick sweat from skin and help regulate core temperatures”. I will say that I normally DO NOT wear under gear and just go with the ol' under protector and jersey lifestyle, but I thought, hell, why not try something that may keep me cooler when testing here in the desert, these summer months. 

The EVS Core Temperature Regulator Vest is constructed of thin, strategically placed layers of super absorbent polymer that aid in the cooling of your body’s core temperature. Once saturated with water, the polymer is supposed to retain the cold temperature and slowly disperses around your core to keep you cool. There are elastic shoulder attachment loops for race collar compatibility, along with a four way stretch KWIK-DRI-Fabric that is supposed to wick sweat from skin and helps regulate core temperature. Finally there is another four way stretch airflow mesh fabric on the back panels of the vest to aid movement on the bike. 

Test Criteria:

I wanted to really check the longevity of the cooling benefits with EVS CTR Vest so I chose a couple specific hot weather days to test it in. The first day was a long durability motocross test I had to be at, in which temperatures peaked around 92 degrees with 32% humidity (I rode a couple hours “AKA four motos" without the vest on while testing and then rode another couple hours without the vest “four motos"). The second day was a long trail ride with some friends that had me in some canyons and situations that I would rather not discuss. That day the temps peaked around 96 degrees with 18% humidity.

Now before I put on the EVS CTR Vest I let it soak in my cooler for a few minutes (like EVS recommends) and then put it over my body. This is something I will never get used to! HOLY COLD SHOCK! Once you get over the initial shock (around 20-30 seconds) you will really start to feel the benefits of the vest. 

 I will say that I dislike the light shoulder padding built into the vest as I am looking for a minimalist design to hug my shoulders more. With the light padding EVS has sewn into the vest it will ride up over your shoulder rather than hug your body like the rest of the vest does. If you’re putting an under protector on over the CTR vest than you can disregard that comment, but if you're a “no protector” kind of rider, your jersey will look a little bulky around the shoulder neck area. Once you start riding and air starts going through your chest area you will immediately begin to see the cooling benefits. I noticed increased cooling around my body and although the EVS CTR dried a little over the course of two hours (still damp to the touch), my body was still cool against the vest itself. 

Under longer trail riding conditions, the CTR Vest proved to be better than I thought it would be. While we were gone riding over four hours the vest “almost” cooled me down the entire ride. I say “almost” because the last 45 minutes of the 96 degree ride I could feel less cooling benefits from the vest. As I got closer to our camp I could feel myself start to warm up slightly, but I wasn’t over-heating by any means. As I got to the van I peeled off the EVS CTR Vest and noticed it was completely dry, but also still fairly cool to my skin. I managed to do the same trail ride, without the vest, the following week (with temperatures a little cooler), but immediately noticed that I was warm around two hours into the ride. I could actually pinpoint the differences on the trail where I was warmer than the previous week. You will have to be careful when peeling off the vest if still wet as the seams will stretch out and lose its elastic integrity. You may need some help to pull it off so you will not have to stretch out the neck/arm area openings. If they do lose elasticity the vest becomes baggy and uncomfortable to wear.  

For the rider that likes to ride in the hot months of the year and possibly ride longer durations, this EVS CTR Vest could come in handy. For $50.00 it could be a good investment to ensure that you’re not the guy getting over heated in your motos or on long trail rides. I know I have personally left one in my gear bag at all times, just in case I decide to get all gnarly during the summer months. 

Hidden Gems (Acerbis MX Pro Socks)

By: Michael Allen

I decided to start this series of short reviews because sometimes there are products that either slip through the testing cracks or are just overlooked altogether. From time to time I come across products that aren’t often talked about and I think to myself “man how come I didn’t know about this?” So, from now on when I come across a great product that has slipped through the cracks without getting any attention, I’ll be sharing that info with you, the loyal Keefer Inc. Testing reader.

For the first installment of “Hidden Gems” I’ll be telling you guys about a pair of socks that I randomly purchased two years ago (yes, I’ve been wearing them on and off for that long). I forgot my socks at home one day so that forced me to swing by my local shop and buy a pair on my way to the track. I was in a hurry and these were the first pair I saw, so I grabbed them and was on my way.  The Acerbis MX Pro Sock is a very minimalist sock made of a thin mix of 60% acrylic, 20% polyamide, 10% polypropylene and 10% elastin. The socks pull up just below the knee and over time the elastic never seemed to get stretched out. I am fairly hard on gear not just when I wear it, but also with washes. Some people tell me I over wash my moto stuff, but I like everything to be clean at all times so I wash all my gear after every time I ride, so I have no doubt these socks have been washed at least 80 times. 

Like I said, these socks are on the thin side, so if your boots are a little big or you’re riding in cold weather, you’ll want something a little thicker. Whenever it’s not cold these have become my go to socks and I have yet to wear a hole through them or have the threads come apart. This is most likely due to the fact that Acerbis reinforced the socks in the necessary areas of wear to help with durability. With a price tag of $20.88 these socks are a great deal. I liked mine so much I went back and purchased a second pair for when I need them. The pictures attached will look different than the ones on websites because they changed the look, but that just goes to show you how long mine have lasted. I hope this little tidbit of information on a not so talked about product was helpful for your next purchase. Stay tuned as I write more about some other “Hidden Gems” I come across in the near future.

Seven MX Zero Compression Pants

Take a look at any professional football game, basketball game, or marathon starting line, and you’re bound to see them: compression wear. Tight sleeves, knee-high socks, full-length leggings in neon colors that seem to be on nearly every competitor.

The claims on compression gear are impressive: Manufacturers say compression garments can speed recovery, increase blood flow, and therefore, improve athletic performance. But what about in motocross? I have used compression type garments in the past with great results. Is it actually working or is it a placebo effect? Honestly I can’t sit here and tell you the science behind all of that, but I can tell you what I feel when riding with Seven’s new Zero Compression Pant. 

Seven MX has introduced their Zero Compression Pant, that is an athletic compression fit, that is said to hold muscles tight and help reduce unnecessary muscle movement or shaking, that can result in loss of energy. Seven also claims that muscle compression also promotes blood and oxygen flow which aids in quicker muscle recovery, allowing for muscles to work at a higher rate for longer periods of time. The Zero pants feature a moisture wicking performance material that is said to pull moisture away from the body to keep you cool and dry. Stretch mesh panels in the bodies high heat zones is said to help to regulate body temperature. Seven also incorporates silicone dot gripper tech print in key areas for added grip on knee braces and inner pant liner.

Ok, so now that you know a little about the product, how does it work on my old motocross carcass of a body? I will tell you that some of these claims that compression wear helps blood flow are found to be true for myself. Having some type of compression on my limbs (while I workout or ride) seems to help lessen muscle fatigue (for myself) and also keeps things held together nicely when I am out pounding motos. The Zero Compression Pants fit snugly and acts like a thin layer of support for my legs. I like the fact that my knee braces do not slip throughout the day due to Seven’s silicon dot gripper material. The Zero Compression Pants are also thin enough that they don’t heat up my legs on a hot desert day and can actually cool them down when I start to sweat. The biggest benefit, that I have felt, is that my legs do feel a little more secure and fresh at the end of a long test day. Is it the compression? Is it a placebo effect? I don’t know, but to me it doesn't matter because it helps my legs feel fresher and more secure if you will. If you don't like wearing long motorcycle knee brace socks then having some type of compression pant under your riding gear is a must. I usually wear a Leatt or Asterisk knee brace pant, but I have been resorting to the Seven Zero Compression Pants because it’s simply less material to deal with. Although I do like that the Zero Compression Pants do not allow your knee braces to slide down, the Leatt and Asterisk pants do make it easier to put your riding pants on (due to the fact that the Asterisk and Leatt compression pants fold over your knee braces, which doesn't allow the velcro straps, of your knee braces, to get hung up on your riding pant liner). 

If you haven't tried compression type products yet and are old like me, maybe give these Seven Zero Compression Pants a try. They aren't some miracle pant, but they do feel nice under your riding gear, helps your legs stay fresh, keeps your legs cool, and secures your knee braces without having to have excess material. The Zero Compression Pants are $89.00 for adults (S-XXL) and $80.00 in Youth (Y24-Y28) sizes.   

Spy Foundation Goggle Product Review

Spy introduced their “Foundation" motocross goggle a few months ago and I have been giving them the ol “Keefer Tested” torture setting. I love a wide peripheral goggle, but I also want the goggle to seal to my face and fit inside a wide range of helmets that I wear. There has been a trend of wide peripheral goggles being introduced the past couple years, but only a few get me a excited enough to actually wear them after initial testing. The Spy Foundation goggle has been giving me those “post testing” signs and here is why. 

The Spy Foundation goggle is a High Definition (HD) Lexan® lens that is designed to provide sharper and more accurate vision in all lighting conditions, while reducing distortion in the peripheral areas. It comes with an installed Spectra™ lens and bonus clear lens with posts. Spy’s RISE™+ ventilation system utilizes the Venturi effect to draw air through subframe vents above the goggle and in-between your helmet, this is said to create a vacuum that pulls hot air from behind the lens. The Spy Foundation goggle offers a 45mm roll-off system, triple-layer Isotron™ face foam with moisture-wicking Dri-Force™ fleece, that is facially contoured to try and provide a comfortable, dry seal that lasts. Spy’s spoiler-style outriggers keep tear-offs lying flat while trying to provide a tight and secure fit to the face. An extra-wide 45MM silicone-ribbed strap (trust me it’s wide) stops goggle slipping and shifting while being aggressive on the track. Lastly the Spy Foundation goggle includes a free removable nose guard and 10-pack of tear-offs (that’s pretty cool). 

The Foundation goggle’s peripheral vision is excellent and provides enough room to fit in a wide range of helmets such as the 6D ATR-2, Fox V3, Shoei EVO, Arai VX-Pro4, Bell Moto 9 Flex, and Fly F2. However, you will have to be patient and get it to set correctly inside your lid, especially because the outriggers are very close to the edges of the eyeports of most of the above mentioned helmets. I did notice that once the goggle was on my face that the foam of the Foundation goggle was very plush and soft feeling. The foam was also good enough to soak up most of my sweat that I provided for the test during the hot summer months (in the desert). The fitment to my face and around my nose was nothing to write home about, but in the world of goggle fitment, no news is good news I say. If I don’t have anything to say abut fitment, it usually means that the goggle fits nicely. In other words, if I am not bitching about the thing, it’s pretty good.  It didn't pinch my big obnoxious nose and sealed my face well enough that it didn't allow any unwanted dirt inside the goggle. The ventilation was excellent, but it was almost too good at times because it draws so much air that when I was riding faster/flowy type tracks, it caused my eyes to water (because it draws so much air through the ports). On most motocross tracks I tested it wasn't a problem, but on trail rides and fast sections of the track you will be able to feel this.

Changing out lenses is not as easy as an Oakley Airbrake goggle, but it wasn't that much of a pain that I was cursing Spy’s name. It was painless enough that Mrs. Keefer could handle the duties with out any problems. The clarity of the lens wasn't anything “crazy good”, but it was nice that when you stacked seven tear offs on the lens, that it didn't distort my view on the track. I can appreciate this because there is nothing more annoying to me than losing my vision because I want to run more than four tear offs. 

The price of $110.00 is steep for a non-rigid lens, so just be forewarned when you go to purchase. The Spy Foundation goggle comes in nine different color ways and is available now. You can check out the complete line of Spy goggles over at spyoptic.com.   

O’Neal Hardwear Rizer Pant And Jersey

O’Neal has been making gear since 1970 and I think Doug Dubach has been wearing it as long as I have been alive! To be completely honest with you, I haven't been a huge O’Neal fan in the past, but the last couple years the gear has grown on me and has really improved. I really wanted to get O’Neal in the testing loop and get their latest 2019 offering some quality time on the track. I decided to try the Hardwear Rizer gear, which is there their flagship set of gear. O’Neal has a 2-in-1 philosophy that allows the buyer to choose two different colored jerseys with each set of colored pants. O’Neal offers three sets of pants and six jerseys in the Hardwear Rizer line. Yes, mix matching isn’t my type of program, but it is cool that O’Neal offers this for the blue collar guy who can’t necessarily afford two full sets of gear. This way he or she can change it up with a fresh jersey and get away with the same pair of pants. Basically you're purchasing one and half sets, which is a great way to save some coin.  

The Hardwear pant is built very tough with triple stitching and heavy-duty type fabrics. However, it doesn’t feel super heavy when putting the pant on. The Hardwear pant has a 360-degree adjustable Velcro belt that allows a size-32 pant to fit waist sizes from 30 to 34. It allows you to cinch your pants as tight as you want for a wider, more customizable fit. There is a full-length mesh netting inside the pant, which is rare to see these days in the premium motocross pant market. O’Neal stitches a soft material around the entire leg cuff so your knee brace straps do not catch when putting the pant on. There are a lot of subtleties included in the Hardwear pant that you may not appreciate until you wear them. The Hardwear pant has stretch spandex panels, accordion knees and flexes enough on the bike where it doesn't hinder your movement on the bike. The Hardwear pant is not an athletic cut pant, but I like that the pant is tight enough around my leg that it doesn't give you too much access material when stretching out your leg through corners. There is nothing more annoying than having a pant that is baggy and ends up getting caught up on the shroud when lifting your leg high through ruts. Did I mention that this Hardwear pant is tough? I had a long stretch of testing where I wore the pant everyday and the yolk of the pant has not shown any signs of wear nor is the leather knee started to burn or tear. My CTi knee braces are no match for the leather of the O’Neal Hardwear pants.

The Hardwear jersey features a moisture-wicking material, an extended tail made of mesh with silicone print (to keep the jersey tucked in), and a flexible collar with a tag-less label. Like I have mentioned in other tests, I really hate when jersey’s arm lengths are long or baggy. This isn't 1992 where we need to look like we are wearing parachutes. I love the arm length of the Hardwear jersey and the overall feel of the materials are very soft to the skin. The Hardwear jersey also ventilates fairly well (better than the pant) and is also more of an athletic cut fit than the pant, but it’s not so tight where you see every little muscle or fat roll on your torso. The collar is nicely placed on your neck and doesn’t allow dirt to get down the front or back of your body. The Hardwear jersey has a simple clean look and has the correct sizing, so you don’t need to worry about getting a larger sized jersey. 

Overall the O’Neal Hardwear pant and jersey is some of the most underrated set of gear available today. For some reason I feel like the perception around our industry is that the O’Neal brand isn't “cool”. They may not have the marketing money that some of the other brands do, but to me I feel like it’s one of the most cleanest sets of gear out for 2019. To me, that makes the O’Neal brand “cool” and the fact the stuff is worth the $174.99 and $54.99 price tag the pant and jersey come with. If there is something that I could complain about, it would be ventilation. The pant ventilates decent, but definitely isn't the most breathable pair of pants that I have worn. I will be trying O’Neal’s Mayhem Lite gear before the summer’s completely over to see if that set of gear has more ventilation for my desert rat ass. If you're looking for a set of gear that is durable, looks clean, and fits well go visit oneal.com and check out their line of Hardwear gear.