The REV'IT! Poseidon 3 GTX will become Justin's first choice for textiles for some time

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The REV’IT! Poseidon 3 GTX jacket and trousers is the third generation in a line of premium textile adventure suits that were first introduced back in 2013. The Poseidon 3 is intended for all-season use and has the features necessary to give it that versatility – a Gore-Tex laminate construction, removable thermal liner and ventilation panels.

The Poseidon is CE AA rated and comes with level 2 armour for shoulder, elbow and knee, plus level 1 hip protectors. I’ve subjected the it to a range of weather conditions in a variety of situations, from regular road riding to technical green laning and have been rather impressed with its performance. Tested for 3,800 miles over 6 months.

Is the Poseidon 3 comfortable?

Thanks to numerous adjustment points, the Poseidon 3 GTX jacket is an excellent fit. Forearm straps help snug the elbow armour in place, and ‘v’ belts at either side around the middle do the same for the back and chest protectors (if fitted – they’re optional extras at £41.99 and £31.99 respectively). The collar has an adjustable slide popper that locks into the desired position, and a soft touch inner to prevent chafing.

The trousers have straps around the upper calf for adjusting knee armour fit and a Velcro strap arrangement to cinch up the waistband. Certainly in my case, they’d benefit from additional support as they tend to hang on the hips and rely on the jacket to keep them up when both are zipped together. REV-IT! Strapper Braces (£44.99) are available as a solution and connect using the short zip at the back and Velcro pockets at the front.

Pre curved arms and flexible panels at the knee make for a comfortable riding position, whether standing or sitting, and there’s no stiffness to the overall construction that restricts mobility. The mesh inner lining provides a comfortable feel against a base layer.

Ventilation is superb, with generous Velcro and zip secured panels on the chest, a vent on each upper arm and two large exhausts running vertical down the back. The chest flaps are secured by magnetic FidLock catches when open, which makes it really easy to flip them into position with just one hand – the same goes for the similar panels on the thighs. With everything open, both garments allow a massive amount of air to flow through, guided and assisted around the body by the mesh lining.

It’s important to remember to open the exhaust vents though, as the breathable laminate construction is windproof and will balloon if the incoming air has nowhere to escape.

For cold weather the Poseidon has a removable thermal liner, and it does a grand job of keeping the heat in. I’ve run it without issue in high single figure temperatures but have yet to see how it performs closer to zero.

How practical is it?

The Poseidon 3 GTX jacket has three external popper secured stash pockets, two at the front and one at the back, all of which have proven to keep my bits and bobs dry. There’s also has a right-handed Napoleon pocket below the left breast, handy for a map or paper docs, and a convenient credit card/toll token pouch on the left forearm. Both of these have waterproof zips.

Inside the storm flap, on the right side, is a pocket big enough for a smart phone, and there are a couple more either side in the mesh lining plus one in the thermal liner. Both trouser pockets are water resistant too.

The jacket cuffs are wide enough to go over a fairly chunky winter glove, despite not having an expandable gusset, and have a simple Velcro strap to adjust the closure. A large zipped vent at the bottom of the trousers allows for sturdy boots and they do up easily around my Sidi Adventure 2s with room to spare. Velcro adjusters take up any slack to prevent any flapping around.

Does it look good?

The version I tested was in silver and anthracite, and although I initially felt a bit like Alec Guinness in ‘The Man in the White Suit’, this colourway has really grown on me and I’m glad I didn’t go with black (the only other option). Although it wipes clean for the most part, it’s starting to get a bit of ingrained grubbiness, which is only to be expected with a light colour. If anything, the ‘lived-in’ look adds to the kudos of its adventure ready functionality.

Is the Poseidon 3 waterproof?

REV-IT! gear is typically well made, and the Poseidon certainly lives up that reputation. It’s nicely cut and constructed, with neat stitching and quality touches for all fixtures and fittings, including secure poppers and YKK zips. I particularly like the VCS Aquadefence system for the chest and thigh vents, which uses a rubber gasket around the mesh intake panel and waterproof zip to prevent rain leaking in.

This system has worked faultlessly, along with the double and triple layer Gore-Tex laminate shell construction, in keeping me dry. Water droplets bead up and roll off to a point, after which it’s only the very outer layer of fabric that gets wet. As a result, it dries quickly and doesn’t draw moisture up the inside of the sleeves when hung after a damp ride. I’ve been showered with muddy water off road, endured sustained spray on the motorway and ploughed through the wind and rain of Storm Babet, remaining completely dry except for one particularly soggy slog when a tiny wet patch wicked up under the front of the jacket.

The removable neoprene storm collar has certainly played a part too, preventing both water and draughts from creeping down my neck. Based on that experience, I would say the Poseidon is pretty much on a par with a dedicated waterproof oversuit.

What protection does it offer?

Both the Poseidon 3 GTX jacket and trousers are CE AA certified, and the material does feel robust enough to withstand at least a minor slide on tarmac. It’s certainly tough enough to batter through the brush on overgrown trails. CE level 2 Seeflex armour is standard for shoulder and elbow, with pockets provided for back and chest protectors. Knees also get level 2 armour, with level 1 for hips.

The heavily sculpted armour sits in adjustable pockets, which with the relevant straps tensioned, conforms comfortably around the joints to stay in place without restricting movement. I’d be confident that the combination of AA abrasion resistance and level 2 impact protection would do the job should an unplanned dismount occur.

Is it good value?

Weighing in at the wallet for the not insignificant sum of a few pennies shy of £1,400, the Poseidon suit is a serious investment. That kind of outlay comes with high expectations and so far it has met them with aplomb, representing a good return on hard earned wedge. Despite the high standard of manufacture, REV’IT! only offer a two-year warranty, which is worth bearing in mind. That said, it feels durable enough to outlast that twice over at least.

In terms of price and features, the Poseidon compares favourably with the Klim Carlsbad, Richa Atlantic 2 and Alpinestars ST-7.

Verdict

Life with the REV’IT! Poseidon 3 GTX suit has been a fuss free experience, and the jacket and trousers will likely remain my first choice textiles for some time. Climate control is very good, thanks to the removable thermal liner and breathable membrane, and it excels for ventilation and waterproofing – arguably the two most important factors for adventure ready comfort. Protection as supplied is as good as it gets, but the lack of chest and back protectors as standard is a bit of an issue, as is the decision not to include braces – I’d gladly pay an extra £100 for the convenience of having those options in one package.

Other options to consider

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