Alpinestars Andes V3 Drystar Jacket review | Durable comfort all day long

When it comes to a textile motorcycle jacket, I’m a bit lazy. I want one set that covers everything from sunny off-roading to winter jaunts in the torrential rain, and that’s exactly where the third iteration of the Alpinestars Andes V3 Drystar jacket comes into its own, by offering enough ventilation for hotter days and an impressive level of resistance to heavy rain and colder weathers too.

Available in six colours and a range of sizes from small to 6XL means that there’s something for everyone, and there’s also a set of matching textile pants available as well.

How comfortable is the Alpinestars Andes V3?

As a textile jacket that can be worn for a long slog of riding, this offering from Alpinestars performs exactly as expected for a fairly premium, textile offering.

For sunny jaunts, the Andes handles heat well thanks to a couple of well-placed chest intakes and extraction points, which do a solid job of directing air around the chest and under the armpits, which, when combined with 3D mesh inners, make sure things don’t get uncomfortable on sweatier, longer journeys.

Yet on the flipside, with the long sleeve thermal liner fitted I’ve used this jacket at sub-zero temperatures and although it’s not the thickest, toastiest textile you can buy, it can happily handle colder temperatures, and it does a cracking job of retaining the heat from a heated vest too.

However, I would like for the jacket to come up a little higher on the neck for a bit of wind protection and it’s worth noting that for smaller riders, the arms do come up a little bit long – but this isn’t too much of an issue, thanks to the well-placed tightening straps up the arms that allow for a cosy fit.

Is the Alpinestars Andes V3 Jacket Practical?

As far as practicality goes, you can’t beat a good set of textiles and the Andes Drystar V3 is up there with the very best of the adventure jackets. The standard liner is fitted well which makes getting in and out a doddle, with a host of straps to allow for a good fit.

There’s a good selection of pockets too, with a couple at the front which are perfect for the usual essentials like keys and a phone, while there’s a waterproof inner pocket and a large pocket on the rear, for any additional goodies.

The vents are easy to open and offer a good amount of wind flow through the armpits and out of the vents at the back, while the additional winter lining can be rolled up nice and small and is incredibly easy to fit and remove, thanks to the zip and connector system.

What about the way the Alpinestars Andes V3 looks?

Textiles aren’t the most exciting or the sexiest items of motorcycle clothing, but the Andes Drystar V3 jacket is still a nice-looking bit of kit, looking sharp enough without being too lairy. There’s also a host of colour schemes available for pretty much every taste, which covers everything from a pretty slick camouflage colour scheme, to your standard black and fluro colours to even some Honda branded kit.

How good is the quality of the Alpinestars Andes V3 Jacket?

In terms of quality, the Andes Drystar V3 jacket not only feels the part but has also held up impressively well. It’s been used on and off-road for over 3 years now, racking up 1000s of miles across every type of condition, yet it still looks like new and hasn’t lost its water-resistant coating.

The inside liner still feels soft even though it has endured many washes too, while not only does the Velcro still work with a good amount of grip, but I haven’t had a single issue with any of the YKK zips both on the pockets, or on the main zip.

What level of protection does the Alpinestars Andes V3 Jacket give?

As with many textile jackets, the Andes Drystar V3 isn’t exactly packed with protection. Although the jacket feels sturdy and well-built it’s only certified to CE level A, which essentially means that it’s tested to the minimum degree of protection from impact and abrasion.

It does come equipped with Nucleon Flex Plus shoulder and elbow protectors, however it is a necessity to also use a back protector or an airbag for additional safety and peace of mind.

Is the Alpinestars Andes V3 good value for money?

£269.99 is still a lot of money for a textile jacket, although it does perform impressively well and is right in the ballpark, especially compared to its rivals. Perhaps sitting closest is the Dainese Tempest 3 D-Dry jacket which costs £289.95, equipped with a similar level of armour and the same certification.

For a little bit more cash at £319, the RST Pro Series Adventure X-CE jacket or the Weise Dune Jacket at £299 both come equipped with a little more armour, and AA protection too.

The overall verdict?

As a textile jacket that not only looks smart, but holds up impressively well too, the Andes V3 Drystar has delivered. It’s just happy keeping me as cool as possible off-road in 25 degrees, as it is fighting the elements in the British wintertime, with a fit and feel that is comfortable enough to wear all day.

But the best part, is that it’s survived thousands of miles, tens of washes and still looks and feels as good as new.

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