Pando Moto’s lightweight mesh motorcycle jacket, the Air Tate, is an impressive, well-ventilated and, importantly, protective piece of kit. It will keep you comfortable in warm and hot weather on the bike and stylish off it.
I’ve ridden over 540 miles in this jacket from late spring to late summer, experiencing a variety of all weather conditions that a British summer can throw at a rider – often in the same day. It’s kept me cool and transformed my perception of textile mesh moto jackets.
Pand Moto Air Tate Jacket Review
The right summer motorcycle jacket keeps cool when the heat’s on, but protects your skin from road rash if things go south.
When the weather gets hot, it can be tempting to ditch a sweat-bucket-inducing leather jacket for something lighter – maybe, even a t-shirt. I did it a few times – one sweltering London summer a few years back. Older and wiser, I’m now very much an ATGATT rider.
Regardless, and thankfully, these days, there are plenty of summer riding jackets that balance rider comfort and protection. Mesh motorcycle jackets are the best at keeping you cool while offering a reassuring layer of defence.
What follows is my review of the Pando Moto Air Tate jacket – an account of how it fared during my spring and summer road tests.
First Impressions
I admit, I was initially hesitant about reviewing the Air Tate jacket when Pando Moto sent it to me. So my first impression of it caught me off guard. But unboxing the package set a positive tone from the outset.
The jacket was contained in a black dust jacket – the sort you might get when you buy a good off-the-peg suit from a nice department store. The bold white Pando Moto branding on the back is in perfect harmony with the brand’s signature aesthetic.
The whole package feels incredibly light – noticeably, lighter than any of my other jackets.
When I remove the Air Tate from its protective cocoon, it feels and looks like a well-constructed technical garment embellished with high-quality hardware. This notion is reinforced by the various pamphlets hanging from the sturdy YKK zipper, detailing the crammed-in tech.
It’s a stylish number, finished in true black, nicely cut with precise stitching between the panels. It’s made of heavier material than I expected.
This blend of function and refinement, coupled with my unfamiliarity with mesh jackets, was enough to alleviate my initial reservations and left me eager to experience its performance on the road.
Style & Looks
The Air Tate jacket is a short CE-Level A, crew-neck textile-mesh riding jacket for the spring and summer months. It straddles the line between a casual, contemporary jacket and motorcycle wear.
With its removable inner waterproof membrane (that can also be worn on the outside), it doubles as two jackets. Although it’s unlikely you’d use one without the other.
Pando Moto is synonymous with minimalistic modern design and low-key branding. The Air Tate jacket embodies this design ethos. You have to look hard for branding. Nonetheless, when you find it, you’ll appreciate its subtle but confident execution.
On the main jacket, branding is comprised of several low-key elements.
An embroidered Pando Moto logo on the collar in the middle at the rear, while reflective rune graphics adorn the lower sleeves. The jacket also features a tab on the rear right hem with the brand’s tagline, “Engineered by riders”.
The waterproof jacket has a grey Pando Moto logo on the front left breast pocket and the rune-like print, placed centrally on the rear. All of it is executed in a pleasing and understated manner.
A looser mesh material on the chest of the main jacket, between two 900D polyester panels, forms a shallow V, giving it a two-tone effect (albeit black).
Unlike some of Pando’s offerings that seamlessly blend into an off-bike setting, the Air Tate, in my opinion, is more of a utilitarian garment that looks like motorcycle gear. But that’s not a criticism. It’s still a good-looking garment. Besides, many riders prefer to look like riders.
I ride a Thruxton 1200 R and typically like to match my gear’s aesthetic to the bike. This means I usually lean towards 1960s-inspired / vintage-inspired wax motorcycle jackets or protective leather pieces in traditional cuts. It’s gear that casual observers might confuse with everyday wear.
Nonetheless, I’m happy to trade semi-precise period correctness for the Air Tate’s modish looks, as it works nicely with the Thruxton, in a juxtaposed way.
I feel I could probably just about get away with wearing one in a casual setting without raising any eyebrows.
Fit & Comfort
The Air Tate is lightweight and comfortable, even with the heavier, more abrasion-resistant 900D polyester material.
I’m 39 to 40-inch chest, so I chose a large. It’s a snug fit, with the shoulder and elbow armour sitting in just the right places. I typically wear the same size with other brands and have no complaints whatsoever about the sizing.
Despite its slim-fitting nature, the jacket feels natural and comfortable, offering free movement on and off the bike. It’s even managed to accommodate my slightly, yet ever-expanding, dad-bod in the eight months since I’ve owned the jacket.
The sleeves are the perfect length (for me) and give full coverage up to my wrists when I’m tucked on the bike, even with short-cuff summer gloves.
I didn’t find much use for the inner jacket in warm (UK) weather (~17°C plus). At a standstill, especially in urban traffic, it quickly made me start to overheat. Despite its 3,000g/m² breathability rating, I felt like a sausage sizzling beneath its skin on warmer days (~18°C and above). I expect its designers don’t expect it to be used in these conditions.
Also, when I wore the inner membrane on the outside, the main jacket felt restrictive and uncomfortable. As such, for most of my rides, it remained in my backpack.
I combined the outer jacket with the inner membrane only when I was caught in a couple of light rain showers. It handled the light rain easily, thanks to a combination of the 10,000mm waterproof rating and zip design.
I also found it effective at staving off wind chill on cooler spring evenings as the sun went down.
The inner collar is finished with a soft cord material, which is a neat touch that makes it super comfortable around my neck despite its crew cut nature. It’s also found on the sleeve cuffs.
It’s a deft feature that lends itself to ergonomics and comfort and an appealing stylistic choice. It offsets the functional manmade feel of the high-density polyester textile with a more natural texture.
Other noteworthy aspects are Pando Moto’s excellent work in further minimising the impact of the already thin armour to the point it’s almost a surprise to me when I occasionally feel it.
The adjustable velcro hip straps are also a thoughtful addition, which I used to fine-tune the fit. They’re sturdy and again, they add character to the overall design
Performance and Functionality
The Air Tate’s 900D polyester and mesh material offers abrasion resistance, with a CE-approved Level A rating. That means, protection that’s suitable for relatively low-speed city or leisure riding.
Marketed as a spring and summer jacket, it handles its main job well indeed. Once you’re rolling, the chest and sleeve vents work effectively – funnelling a refreshing airflow around your torso and chest. It makes me question my prior reticence towards mesh motorcycle jackets.
However, if I were you, I’d drop the inner jacket. Without it, the main jacket works better and is even effective at a standstill.
If you’re caught in a shower, attaching the inner waterproof membrane is a breeze, accomplished with snap-in buttons placed on the outer jacket. On the sleeves, they hook onto red and black straps, which are colour-coordinated with their corresponding hoops. It’s a thoughtful touch that makes the task faff-free and easy to get right the first time.
A criticism of Air Tate is storage. The pockets are rather shallow with a mesh interior. This raises durability concerns with the abrasive effect of items like keys and silicone phone cases. But I get it; anything but mesh would reduce its cooling effectiveness.
You’re probably thinking I shouldn’t really store pointy objects on my person while riding – and you’re right. So perhaps it’s a moot point.
I’m also used to the more cavernous depths of my four-pocket Belstaff Trialmaster, so the criticism may also be harsh. You can easily store a smartphone and a wallet inside the Air Tate’s pockets.
One of my favourite features of this jacket is the rounded drop tail hem incorporated into the rear design. It gives the jacket a distinctive look. Most importantly, it’s effective at stopping wind-chills running down my back.
The lightweight D3O® Ghost™ CE level 1 armour at the elbows and shoulders comes standard with the Air Tate. They’re slim, flexible and remain securely in place when you’re on the bike. They barely register when you’re off the bike.
Nevertheless, perhaps another criticism is that while there’s a pocket for back armour, it’s not included as standard. I popped in an old D3O back piece that I had lying around. I don’t recommend doing the same – it didn’t fit properly. Instead, go for the CE level 2 approved QUATROFLEX back armour sold separately by Pando.
Using rubberised buttons on the outer jacket is a nifty touch and shows consideration by the designers for the shiny parts of the bike. It’s the sort of marker you’d expect on more expensive jackets. It’s also a subtle nod to the brand’s tagline, “Engineered by riders”
Pando has also included a jacket-to-trousers connection loop for an extra secure fit, which is an excellent safety feature. I didn’t make use of it. However, with compatible Pando Moto riding trousers, you could.
Durability
The Air Tate is well-made. At over 540 miles ridden, it’s holding up well. I expect several seasons of riding without much wear. The 900D abrasion-resistant polyester feels robust enough for my leisurely riding and use. The panels and seams remain in good condition without any portentous signs of premature wear.
Value
Pando Moto offers excellent value for money and the Air Tate is no exception. At £199 / $252 / €229, the jacket sits at an attractive price point amongst competitors like Knox and Fuel.
It’s hard to find a jacket as attractive with similar protective features in the same price ballpark.
Sure, it’s a crowded segment. Mesh and textile riding jacket technology has come a long way, with the most expensive jackets rivalling the abrasion-resistive qualities of leather. And while the Air Tate has no pretensions towards track-level capabilities, it offers excellent value within the CE-Level A mesh motorcycle jacket segment – particularly if you’re keen on a dash of style.
If I had to complain about something, it would be that it doesn’t come with back armour as standard. But a glance at the jacket’s competition suggests the Air Tate is in line with the sector.
Notably, Pando Moto offers a two-year warranty, which can be extended to three. It also offers a crash warranty, meaning your gear will be replaced if you happen to crash while wearing its gear. That’s not an invitation, of course.
Air Tate Jacket Review – Verdict
There’s no doubt the Air Tate is feature-packed, and I found it to be a solid performer in warm and hot weather. It offers a stylish alternative to the run-of-the-mill mainstream mesh motorcycle jackets and lives up to the high expectations I now have of Pando Moto.
While it may not be the typical style of jacket I go for as a retro rider, its performance has swayed me. I’m now a mesh textile convert. It’s my go-to jacket when the mercury levels rise.
The numerous attention-to-detail features combine to create a great all-around spring and summer jacket that’s both functional and stylish.
If you ride a retro, whether a cafe racer, scrambler or roadster, the Air Tate jacket is well worth consideration.
As we move into autumn and I’ll continue wearing the Air Tate this time with the inner jacket!
Road Test Conditions
- Duration: 2 months (One month in the late spring and one month in Summer)
- Setting: Urban and inter-urban
- Weather Conditions: Mostly Dry & Light Showers
- Mileage: ~540 miles
- Season(s): Spring & Summer
