The Tucano Urbano Trip jacket is a very stylish take on motorcycle and scooter attire.
No problem wearing this to a store, a movie or to dinner.
In fact, it’s probably better looking than most jackets in your street wardrobe.
Not only that, but it comes with a nice looking synthetic down liner that can be worn solo.
The jacket has several well-hidden motorcycle safety features built in.
That includes vents, adjusters, pockets and an excellent two-way zipper design.
Optional CE EN1621-1:1997 approved Betac Italian protectors are available; these are the real thing, complete with the CE certificates that are mandatory with CE approved gear.
And get this: the Tucano Urbano Trip jacket even has a CE Level 2 airbag back protector option!
The design really does open up a whole new world of “fashion forward” two-wheeling.
You no longer have to look like a Star Wars character in your logo-ized bulky motorcycle gear.
The Trip jacket looks good enough to wear during two-wheeled adventures or other casual encounters and it does it with more style than any other pure motorcycle jacket I can think of.
What is ATGATT Really?
ATGATT. What does it really mean? “All the Gear, All the Time”, right?
So let’s see: you’re going to tell me that every time you get on the bike, you’re wearing your GiMoto custom one-piece leather suit (review) with full set of race armor?
And a Forcefield Pro Sub 4 Level 2 back protector (review) and your Sidi Vortice boots (review)?
And topped off with the heavy-duty Racer R-Safe gloves (review) and $700.00 SCHUBERTH SR1 helmet (review)?
And — since we’re ATGATT — we also wear a Helite airbag vest (review), right?
Yeah…I didn’t think so.
So what’s ATGATT again? All the Gear, All the Time?
Very, very few motorcycle riders do and one of the reasons why is because you look awful silly wearing all that stuff into the local Denny’s…
OK, so I’m being deliberately sardonic here.
To me, ATGATT means that every rider should make a deliberate risk calculation at his or her own level of confidence and personal acceptance of the potential consequences.
The solution to that calculus determines your riding outfit for the day.
If I have to dress in the theoretical ATGATT outfit I described above just to make a Chipotle run, then I’d rather take the car.
But what if I could wear a jacket that looks like it came from a John Varvatos boutique, gives me a modicum of protection with real CE approved protectors?
Match it with a pair of Resurgence Gear Black Bird PEKEV jeans (review) and the VQuattro Milano Paperboy boots (review) and I’m stylin’, both on and off the bike. Now that’s progress.
In fact, the best part about it may be that I can wear the Trip jacket out on the town while the bike is safely tucked away at home and no one realizes it’s a motorcycle jacket
A Prediction
This, my friends, is the Next Big Thing in motorcycle apparel: urban gear that is trend-setting stylish yet has just enough protective features to satisfy your ATGATT guilt.
My prediction? It makes so much sense that you’re going to see a lot of very stylish yet protective gear show up at your favorite retailer very soon. I can’t wait.
Tucano Urbano Trip Jacket Styling and Sizing
Tucano Urbano (“Urban Toucan”) is a familiar brand to UK scooterists and maybe a few bikers as well.
The company initially became popular with its first product, the Termoscud scooter leg cover, but has since branched out into many different lines of clothing, including gloves, boots and even helmets.
The Trip jacket is available in either the desert brown color shown here or in classic black.
It comes in six sizes ranging from S to 3XL. This size large fits correctly and as expected for my U.S. chassis.
It feels perfect for a 43″ chest and 35-36″ waist, give or take a little.
The shell is made from a light/medium weight poly textile that looks similar to the ubiquitous Cordura but with a finer weave that looks “dressier”.
The inner part of the external sleeve is a smoother type of textile; it’s difficult to see in these photos but there’s a close-up in the slide show below.
The jacket has a sort of retro desert/military/safari style ambience that looks modern and stylish.
These photos, taken on a semi-overcast day, don’t do it justice.
You could easily remove the armor and wear the Trip jacket to any casual event and you’d look beyond acceptable to even — dare I say it? — hip.
Tucano Urbano Trip Jacket Features
The Trip jacket is backed with a textile lining and the combination provides a Teflon-treated waterproof and (claimed) breathable shell.
In reality, the jacket does protect from light rain but I wouldn’t want to ride for an hour in a downpour and the same could be said for many other textile “waterproof” motorcycle jackets.
The motorcycle-focused protective features of the Trip jacket include elbow abrasion sections, although I don’t think these are separately added on top of the existing shell, but rather sewn in as part of the sleeve.
The sleeves have a single adjuster just above the elbow on the inside. The adjusters have one position and they use a metal spring snap.
There is a waist adjustment system on the inside of the jacket shell.
The only feature of the Trip jacket that could use some improvement is the quality of the stitching.
There are a few hanging threads here and there and overall, the stitching could be improved a bit to equal the quality of the rest of the jacket and its design.
Unique Ventilation System
The front of the Trip jacket has a 75 mm wide flap that also closes with the spring snaps.
A U-shaped rain gutter lives underneath the right half and the entire system has a unique venting feature.
The zipper is sewn on to a mesh lining bordering either side that’s about 20 mm wide on each half.
The mesh allows air to flow through if the collar is open, or full-length ventilation can be had as well (photo below).
The collar and hem of the jacket can be opened and snapped to the additional studs, located at the top just below the neck on either side and down at the bottom of the jacket near the hem, also on either side of the entry flap.
You can see the studs in the first photo of the review at the top of the page.
In addition, a hidden zipper down each side of the body of the jacket under the arms at the waist can be opened to reveal more of the mesh lining.
When the very long (41 cm or 16″) zipper is open, the body of the jacket expands at the sides and the V-shaped section provides ventilation. This is shown in the last photo of the review below.
The rear of the jacket has a sort of full-width cape that covers permanently opened slots underneath.
These provide an exhaust on the outside of the permanently attached shell liner to allow the moisture to escape.
Pockets
The four cargo pockets in front are lined on the inside of the pocket half facing out with what appears to be the same lining used inside the jacket shell.
The pockets close with dual metal spring snaps and no hook-and-loop.
The outside of the snap has the “Tucano Urbano” script.
The top pockets are slanted inwards at a slight angle, mimicking a military-style field jacket.
The lower pockets have hand-warmer pockets in the rear. These are lined with a softer micro-fleece type fabric towards the front of the pocket only.
Inside the Trip jacket, there’s another pocket at the left breast. It’s also lined and has a small hook-and-loop square at the top to hold it closed.
Another pocket is located inside on the lower right side. This one closes with a horizontal zipper.
Removable and Wearable Insulating Liner
The Tucano Urbano Trip jacket comes with a wearable synthetic down liner that is definitely a step or two above the generic liners that come with most motorcycle jackets.
This one can be easily worn on its own and, in fact, the Trip jacket is a “3-in-1” because the shell can be worn by itself, or with the synthetic down liner or the liner can be worn alone.
The liner is lightweight and comfortable and it takes the chill away on a cool day.
When it’s inserted in the Trip jacket, the combination makes for a pretty comfy environment with the wind- and water-blocking abilities of the shell and the layering effect is a “force multiplier”.
The liner has two zippered hand pockets on the outside and two cargo pockets on the inside, one on the inside of each side towards the bottom.
The liner has a clever attachment system, which is key to why the liner can be worn by itself as a separate — the attachments are on the inside!
Turn the liner inside-out and you’ll find two loops on either side in what is now the “front” of the garment.
These attach to a pair of buttons on either side of the Trip jacket shell, about midway up just behind the opening.
There are two snaps at the top that attach to the inside of the Trip jacket shell. The sleeves also have a metal snap on the inside, which attaches to a mating snap inside the Trip jacket shell sleeve.
The arrangement is effective at anchoring the liner and then when it’s removed, simply turn it right-side out again and you have a nice wind-breaking insulating lightweight jacket.
Or, you can simply throw the Trip jacket shell on over the insulating liner and forget the attachments. Either way, it works very nicely and it’s a brilliant design.
Collar
The Tucano Urbano Trip jacket collar is also unique. First, it has a hidden nylon taffeta-type hood in the back.
The hood is a separate item; it can be pulled out from under the collar and worn over the head or under a helmet. It attaches to the front of the Trip jacket with a metal snap on either side, each located just below the front of the collar.
Additionally, we discovered that the lapels can actually be folded outwards and snapped to the same metal studs that are meant to hold the hood in place.
This keeps the neck open at the top, where air flows in through the mesh lining on either side (illustrated in the photo directly above).
The jacket collar has a metal snap with three studs on the right for adjustment. Finally, the left side placket of the jacket is slightly longer at the top; it stuffs underneath a slot in the collar to keep out the wind and make everything tidy.
Zippers
The Trip jacket has a double-opening main YKK zipper in front. The zipper runners are of the locking type and the jacket can be opened from the top and/or bottom for ventilation or seating.
The metal YKK runners operate very smoothly over the small nylon zipper teeth with a good feel.
The synthetic down liner also has a YKK zipper with a metal runner; this one is a reverse type so it works with the liner inside-out or right-side in.
Reflectivity
The Tucano Urbano Trip jacket also has a few discreet sections of highly reflective material. One runs around the back of the collar, which is the highest level of the jacket when it’s worn.
This strip works either at night on a bike or scooter or even when walking on the street with the jacket. The Tucano Urbano logo on the upper back is also reflective.
A kidney belt is included with the Teiz Motorsports Sahara Jacket.CE-Rated Protector Kit
The Tucano Urbano Trip jacket is available with an optional shoulder and elbow protectors (“armor”) that fits into pockets in the jacket shell.
The protectors we received are made by Betac S.r.l. in Italy.
These are CE approved to the EN1621-1:1997 (Level 1) standard and they come with the official CE approval documents.
Too many motorcycle jackets claim “CE approved” armor, but if the protectors do not come with the official CE documentation package, they are not, so beware.
Betac EN1621-1:1997 CE approved protector kit with correct documentation.Optional Airbag Back Protector!
The Tucano Urbano Trip jacket even has an option for an airbag back protector system!
This is the Modulo Airbag that inflates in 80ms to a CE Level 2 protective device, certified to the EN 1621-2:2003 Level 2 standard. It can also be worn alone.
Conclusion
The Tucano Urbano Trip jacket sets a new standard for style with an acceptable level of protection for motorcycling or scootering.
The jacket looks good enough to wear out on the town, on or off the bike and not only will very few know it’s a motorcycle jacket; many will be amazed at its good looks and style.
It makes a world of difference to be able to wear the Trip jacket on the bike and then walk around in a store or into a restaurant without that “Boy Racer” look.
If you can accept the fact that you’re not going to get Clover Tekno jacket (review) levels of protection, but in exchange you’re getting a very useful jacket that works across a huge range of situations and weather conditions, then the Tucano Urbano Trip jacket is up for consideration.
The more I use this jacket and the more I think about the way it was designed, the more I like it.
That it looks better than any other casual jacket I own is a real bonus too.
| wBW Product Review: Tucano Urbano Trip Jacket | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: Tucano Urbano (UK) Retailer: Urban Rider (UK) |
List Price: £189.99 (~$310.00 USD) |
| Colors: Brown or Black | Made In: China |
| Sizes: S to 3XL. | Review Date: October 2013 |
Note: Item provided by a retailer, distributor or manufacturer with these Terms and Conditions.
Owner Comments and Feedback
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From “S.” (November 2013): “First, thanks for the useful reviews on this and other products. I definitely agree that it is a nice looking jacket and gets away from the standard Power Ranger look.
Does the Trip jacket have a back pocket for regular non-airbag armour? How is the feel of the collar against the neck – is it rough?”
Rick’s Reply: The jacket does not have a back protector pocket. The collar is lined with the same material as the outer shell, it feels fine, I haven’t noticed any discomfort.
From “D.W.” (October 2013): “Wow — great review and good looking jacket! Is it water-resistant, and what is the airflow like?
I’m a SoCal rider and would love to find a three season (year round for San Diego) jacket that had enough style to look good in a professional setting…”
Rick’s Reply: Yes, water resistant as noted in the article. Also realizing I could have said more about the air flow, which is different than usual in this jacket.
There really aren’t any vents but it’s overall a bit thinner shell fabric than other jackets, which keeps things cooler inside, although it has the lining, which then blocks some air flow.
But if you open the big side vents and unbutton the collar and/or the rest of the front to allow the air to flow into the mesh on either side of the zipper, there’s probably about as much or better ventilation than on most textile jackets.
In fact, when the weather is cool, there’s too much air flow for me when the vents are open.
And it’s been cooler than normal here lately and cloudy/rainy (around 55F) so I’m not using the vents in this weather, but the jacket is good for those conditions without the vents open.