RST Pro Series Ranger review | Textile adventure jacket & trousers tested

Date reviewed: September 2024 | Tested by: John Milbank | Price: £399.99 & £299.99 | www.rst-moto.com

The RST Pro Series Ranger jacket and trousers on review here are described as the ‘ultimate go-anywhere’ kit, and having worn them on my BMW R1250GS and Zontes ZT350-T – in all weathers both on and off-road – I’m impressed by most of it…

Pros & Cons

Construction and fit

The RST Pro Series Ranger jacket and trousers are a ‘ballistic’ polyester construction with some serious venting and a separate waterproof liner. Weighing 3.46kg for the jacket and 1.96kg for the trousers (without the thermal liners), they initially felt a little bulky and stiff but soon bedded in, proving comfortable both on the road and off while riding the ABR Festival trail.

Fit is of course very subjective, but my usual Large (44 jacket, 34 trousers) was fine for me, only the removable thermal liner feeling a little tight around my shoulders.

The Zontes is far from a good off-road bike, its geometry being just one reason, but it provided a useful test of the Ranger on the ABR trail

The jacket offers very good coverage being quite long – I sat on the hem at one point, but it wasn’t a problem – and available in sizes small to 5XL (40 to 54). The only small issue with the long jacket is that it can make access for a panic-wee that little bit more time-consuming with cold hands.

The trousers come in sizes S to 5XL (30 to 44) with options for regular (between 31 and 33”), short (less than 31”) and long (more than 33”) leg lengths. Colour options for both are the ‘sand/graphite’ I have, ‘digigreen’ camouflage or all black. 

A hydration bladder pocket is built into the outside back of the jacket, with a slot for the tube to pass through at the rear, a guide loop on the back of the left shoulder and an elasticated hoop on the chest, though I’d have preferred a popper here to make it easier to pass the connector through that’s on the end of many bladder hoses.

Reflective details on the chest, arms, back, knees and thighs catch light well, and the only thing missing that I think some might like to see is a pair of removable braces on the trousers.

When walking around the ABR Festival I did find the jacket to be a little bulky to carry, but that’s partly down to the excellent amount of armour coverage…

Protection & Certification

With Level 2 (the higher level of protection), Type B (the larger size) armour fitted to the elbows, shoulders, hips and knees, PLUS Level 2 armour at the back AND chest, RST is clearly taking your protection seriously.

This does of course make for a heavier, more bulky suit but I’ve had no problem with movement or comfort, and am very impressed with what’s been achieved.

The jacket and trousers are also certified as Level AA under EN17092 (the middle of three ratings, and what I’d expect of good quality textiles) for abrasion resistance, seam strength and tear resistance.

Importantly, the armour also sits in the correct places around the body, and it stays there – kneeling down for instance, the protectors remain in exactly the right place, and while these have two positions available, I found the standard uppermost setting to be perfect for my 32” inside leg.

Unusually, the elbow armour also has two positions, with the lower setting suiting me best. Being awkward though, I’d like to have set it somewhere between the two, even though it only makes an inch or so’s difference.

While it's great to see such high-performance armour, the Ranger could potentially be even better with softer, more compliant protectors like those from Rheon and D3O, though that would add significantly to the price.

From April 21 2018, all new motorcycle clothing is deemed to be Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). To meet this legislation, it must be tested to a recognised standard. For more information on the new laws, click here.

Pockets

The pockets on the RST Ranger are something of a mixed bag, though the chest protection and excellent venting are the main reason for my need to stow my gear a little differently.

The main jacket pockets – at the waist – fold over and secure with Velcro, while also featuring a zip for extra security. The zip makes the opening a little smaller than it could be, but my issue is more that, due to the length of the jacket, the contents are carried relatively low and can push up when you sit on the bike, or items (like my phone) can jam against the leg.

On the sides of the two main pockets are zipped, soft-lined, luxurious homes to tuck your hands in… lovely.

With the chest vents closed there are two popper-secured mesh pockets, but there’s no ‘Nelson’ pocket in the chest (unless you want to sling your phone into the chest protector pocket).

There is however one zipped and one Velcro-closed pocket inside the jacket, both of which are set a little higher than the main ones, and that are large enough to swallow a Google Pixel 7 Pro (though they’re not water resistant).

On the rear of the jacket is a large map pocket that can accommodate the waterproof outers, and this can also be unzipped/unpopped and carried as its own bum-bag thanks to an integral strap.

When rammed full of the jacket and trouser waterproofs this can get a bit bulky, but if your bike has a raised pillion seat (like a standard GS), rather than a flat bench seat, the bottom poppers tend to release and I find the pack sits on the rear seat comfortably.

The trousers have a traditional pair of zipped hip pockets, as well as a useful pair at the thighs, though these don’t have the additional security of zips.

Overall the pockets are well thought out; they just needed me to think differently compared to some of the more typical commuting gear I’ve worn.

Fastening

The main zip of the RST Pro Series Ranger is a chunky SAB brand with a good-sized toggle making it easy to handle.

The collar, which has a soft outer edge, secures with Velcro, while the trousers have a zip fly with a buckle at the top through which passes the right-hand-side Velcro belt.

Something that could help the comfort and positioning of the jacket pockets is to have a second toggle on the bottom of the main zip, so it can be opened up from the base too. It’s not a feature I’ve seen on much kit, but it could benefit this long jacket when you’re sat down.

A full length connecting zip secures the jacket and trousers together. It’s a little trickier to get to due to the length of the jacket, but a good size.

Adjustment

Besides some large concertina panels, there’s loads of adjustment on the RST Pro Series Ranger, and it’s not just a load of poppers thrown on to look good. At the arms are two slide straps that allow you to find the perfect position, with the ones at the forearms passing through a hole in the outer material to the opposite side of the arm vent, do they don’t change their effect when the vents are opened.

20cm-long zips run up either side of the waist for extra expansion, with two popper positions at the bottoms. Velcro straps also allow the belly to be drawn tighter (or expanded to accommodate excess cake).

The trousers have a pair of Velcro belts – one of which passes through the buckle when putting them on – and there’s a good amount of adjustment in the bottoms of the legs, with plenty of spare for my TCX Drifter adventure boots.

The jacket cuffs don’t have a zip, which means that when cinched up around the wrist there’s no annoying bulk. It does mean, however, that long-cuff gloves can only be worn over the sleeves, not under them.

Ventilation

The ventilation on the RST Pro Series Ranger is outstanding, with an impressive number of very effective (closeable) vents:

• 2 very large chest panel vents that open fully

• 2 vents at the tops of the shoulders

• 2 vents running up almost the full length of the arms

• 2 large vents running up the back

• 2 large panel vents on the thighs

• 2 vents on the lower rear of the legs

In addition to these 12 well-positioned vents, the collar can be clipped open, and a strap across the chest – 9cm from the collar – can be fastened to keep the jacket together with the main zip pulled down to it, for even more airflow.

The main arm zips can be operated while riding, but the chest and leg panels take a little more work. The panel covers are very cleverly designed though, and tuck easily, quickly and neatly away. The ones on the jacket are a lot easier to open and close when it’s removed, but the trouser panels are more simple to operate while wearing them.

The chest armour does of course restrict airflow to some degree, but the fact that it’s got holes in for ventilation – and the jacket is lined with 3D mesh – means air really does flow around this kit extremely well.

Warmth

Even when closed, air can be felt flowing through the arm and chest vent zips due to their chunky, easy-to-operate teeth.

Thin removable thermal liners are supplied, but in cold weather the wind will still soon bite, and you might need to consider putting the waterproof liner on over the top.

The jacket’s thermal liner can be worn on its own, which is a great value-added feature for off the bike after a ride, but don’t expect it to be as luxurious or effective as a proper down jacket, like the one supplied with some Rukka kit. Though the Down-X 2.0 costs £199.99 on its own, so that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise.

I also found the RST thermal liner jacket to be a bit baggy in the arms but tight around the shoulders for me. The best bet could be something like the RST Thermal Windblock for £49.99, as it should be less affected by the air getting through the zips.

Liner

The trousers have a comfortable, lightweight mesh lining that’s also found in the arms of the jacket, but the rest of the body is served by a thick 3D mesh that does an excellent job of allowing air to move around the body.

Waterproofing

The RST Pro Series Ranger jacket and trousers both come with a set of SinAqua waterproof outer shells that can be stored in the back pocket of the jacket.

I found the jacket to be easy to put on, and the trousers not too bad to slip over boots as they’re stretchy, but I would have liked to see a scrim layer on the inside to help protect the membrane and let the outers slide on a bit more easily. Though of course, that would add a little bulk and/or make the kit more expensive. It’s worth noting that the waterproofs are sizes a L/XL, so I’m not sure if putting them on over XL kit (as opposed to my L) might be a little more awkward.

With a separate waterproof over-suit you of course need to see the rain coming and put these on before you get soaked, but not having a permanent waterproof liner is the compromise you make for better hot-weather use.

In testing during very heavy rain, the waterproof jacket and trousers – which have what appear to be accurately taped seams) did keep me completely dry while riding the Zontes ZT350-T, but they do block all your pockets, and I found them to be too fiddly to get over the top of both of my glove cuffs, so they’ll have to go under, which can let rain run down your arms and into the gloves if not tightly sealed.

Reflective logos add some visibility to the matt black outers, but they do billow a bit when riding and are an additional faff to put on so I really wouldn’t suggest the RST Pro Series Ranger is good all-year-round commuter gear. But of course, that’s not what it’s designed for.

Without the waterproof outers, rain gets through very quickly but if you’re only hitting the odd shower the gear should soon dry out while you ride.

In my testing, the two main jacket pockets (not the hand pockets) and all four trouser pockets remained dry without the waterproof outers, which is a great design consideration.

Cleaning

The label inside this RST kit states that it should not be washed, but this simply means that the company does not recommend putting it through a washing machine. The official line is to remove the thermal lining (which can go through the machine) and all the armour, then wash it by hand in the bath with a soft brush on the outer. You can find the full details of caring for RST motorcycle kit here.

Four alternatives to the RST Pro Series Ranger

Adventure suits are not really designed for everyday all-weather use – they’re much better suited to hotter climates, where ventilation is as important as protection. Here are some others to consider…

• RST Pro Series Adventure Xtreme £249.99 & £199.99 | Another adventure suit from RST intended for layering, this comes with no armour as it’s designed to be worn with a separate base-layer of protection. Read the full review of the RST Pro Series Adventure Xtreme here.

• Lindstrands Sunne £469 & £349 | Our tester really appreciated the ventilation in this textile kit, which also has a permanent waterproof lining. Read the full review of the Lindstrands Sunne here.

• Furygan Voyager 3C £369.99 & £289.99 | Good ventilation was again a highlight for our tester, though the kit was let down a little by its waterproofing. Read the full review of the Furygan Voyager 3C here.

• Mesh jacket and riding jeans | Depending where and how you ride, you might want to also consider mesh kit. You’ll need separate waterproof and windproof layers for varying weather, but AAA-rated riding jeans and an AA- or AAA-rated mesh jacket could be a useful combo. Read our full review of the Knox Honister and Knox Urbane Pro here, as well as other mesh motorcycle kit reviews here.

These are just four of many alternatives – you can find all the Helmets we’ve tested here (link to the relevant section of reviews) and be sure to regularly check for the discounts available through Bikesocial membership.

RST Pro Series Ranger review: Verdict

For hot climates, the RST Pro Series Ranger really does offer an amazing balance of ventilation and protection, and the attention to detail and build quality makes this a versatile piece of adventure kit that offers good value for money.

This isn’t commuter gear – having separate waterproofs that go over the top keeps you dry, but it’s not practical for most riders’ everyday use. It is, however, excellent for a proper adventure, whether that includes off-road riding or not. The outstanding ventilation, great armour and considered design make this a recommended piece of kit for anyone looking to explore further afield than their daily commute.

Do you own these textiles? Tell us what they’re like, or ask us questions about them at bikeclub.bennetts.co.uk.