Rev'It! Tracer Armored

Just when we start to think we’ve seen the best of Rev’It, they come out swinging with yet another one-of-a-kind piece. As part of their 2016 Spring lineup, Rev’It released the Tracer riding overshirt.

From first glance, there is no way anyone would be able to tell this shirt has actual protection. It simply resembles a stylish denim button down shirt but the protective aspects of this jacket are oh so real. The Cordura denim has excellent abrasion resistance and the soft to the touch and nearly invisible armor offers sufficient impact protection. We absolutely love the casual, stylish look of the Tracer and found it extremely comfortable. It breaks in rather quickly, the initial snug fit became very comfortable within wearing it for just under two hours. The hidden zipper behind the shirt’s buttons is a safety reassurance and gives it a true “riding jacket” feel. The outer shell completely blocks wind, which is bitter/sweet depending on your riding conditions.

The Tracer does have a few downsides. First of all, the buttons are a bit hard to button while the shirt is new. It becomes easier as the shirt breaks in and the button holes stretch out but the initial few times buttoning the shirt are a bit tough. Another con is that the shirt is very easily wrinkled. It will most likely be pretty wrinkled out of the package and will require some steaming to get into shape. As long as you hang it up after rides and don’t stuff it into the corner of your closet, it’s an issue that’s easily resolved. Another complaint voiced by almost every person who’s purchased the Tracer from our store is the upper arm Rev’It! patch – why, oh why would Rev’It add Velcro and make the patch seem removable yet stitch the patch to the Velcro? It’s a bit confusing.

Although the Tracer may be equipped with the RV Type back protector, we are hoping Rev’It will eventually release an optional “urban” style back protectors for pieces such as Tracer that is as discrete as the shoulder and elbow armor. A small trick we use to make the back protector less evident is going down a size from the recommended back protector size. In other words, if the recommended back protector size is RV-5, go with RV-4 and it will look a bit more discreet. Overall the Tracer is a great and truly unique piece. It is perfect for short-distance city trips, especially for those looking to look as casual as possible.

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