Here at Woman Rider, we adhere to ATGATT, meaning “All The Gear, All The Time.” Yep, that means full riding gear even in sweltering heat. Getting overheated while riding can also lead to unsafe situations, but luckily there’s a solution that can keep riders both cool and protected: mesh riding gear, like the Scorpion Cargo Air motorcycle jacket.
Mesh jackets allow lots of airflow to keep riders almost as cool as they’d be without dedicated riding gear. The Scorpion Cargo Air jacket is made of 600D polyester and Scorpion’s exclusive RhinoMesh. Overlays of 600D polyester in the shoulders and elbows provide additional abrasion resistance. Sas-Tec CE Level 1 shoulder and elbow armor is included. The jacket has a pocket for back armor, but the armor itself needs to be bought separately. Scorpion makes the jacket in both a men’s and a women’s version with different fits and adjustment options. I tested the women’s version.
The Cargo Air is also lightweight and has adjustment points to ensure a secure fit. Elastic straps at the waist can snap to different positions, and two expansion areas at the bottom of the jacket can be unzipped to provide more room. The sleeves have a forearm adjustment strap with two snap positions.
Some days start out too cool for only mesh but get hot in the afternoon. On these days, I expand the jacket at the adjustment points so I can fit a sweater or windbreaker under the jacket, then I tighten the adjustment points back up once I take off my underlayer later in the day. The only adjustment option I don’t care for is the snap button on the forearm. If I bend my arms too much, like while fueling up or fastening my helmet, the buttons dig into the inside of my elbows and become uncomfortable.
The most unique feature of this jacket is also where it gets the name “Cargo,” and that’s the rolled-up cargo bag that’s zipped away in a tail pocket. If you bought too many souvenirs at that weird roadside attraction, just roll out the bag, stuff it full of magnets and kitschy keychains, and button it to the snaps on the upper back of the jacket to create a sort of backpack. You can also upgrade your jacket with the optional Scorpion Reflective Bag for Cargo Air ($24.95), which is waterproof. I’ve found the cargo bag feature to be more useful than I expected.
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The Scorpion Cargo Air motorcycle jacket allows me to ride on hot summer days and keep cool while staying protected. Its abundant adjustability is useful for changing the fit to accommodate layers, and the cargo bag is convenient for carrying things I pick up along the ride. The men’s version is available in sizes S-5XL in black, blue, or gray starting at $149.95, and the women’s version comes in sizes S-2XL in black, pink, or sand starting at $169.95.
