AGV Sport Navigator WP Jacket

We tried on the Navigator jackets in a size Medium and XL on our Fit Test Mannequins. Both jackets fit well and since there is an effective adjuster at the waist, we were able to tailor the fit easily. Based on the fit on our Fit Test and also my measurements, I’d advise you to buy the size you normally buy in men’s clothing. If you are sometimes between sizes, then I’d advise you to choose the smaller.

Below is AGV’s “official” current size chart for textile and mesh styles. As you can see from the chart below, the chest sizes indicated for each “alpha” size are quite large as compared to “normal” men’s sizing. I don’t think this jacket fits as large as their chart indicates, but I list it only for your reference. The actual “max chest” for any of the sizes is about 2” less than the chart would indicate.

Need help measuring? Get it here.

This new Navigator jacket is a LOT like several others I’ve reviewed in the last season or two… especially when I see the jacket in the Fluorescent Yellow color… the hi-viz colors in many 3/4 styles like this are very popular. At the time of this writing, the jackets in the same price range/style are the FirstGear Jaunt, Joe Rocket Ballistic Revolution and Tour Master Transition 3. For some reason, this new Navigator has a “look” that is a bit more modern or upscale as compared to the ones mentioned above. Of course that is a totally subjective thing, but I’ll at least tell you why… this jacket has some impressive use of night time reflectives in the styling (see our night shots so you can visualize the effectiveness in the dark), and the material used in the shell is a bit less “wrinkly” than others in the price range. A fabric with a bit more stiffness seems to look more crisp and lay on the body better. I also like the looks of the water resistant zippers here and there. Those are like zips used on higher end jackets from Alpinestars and REV’IT!. The jacket also has some fancy corded zipper pulls to help you manipulate the zips with gloves on and some of the zips have “zipper garages” you can tuck the pull back inside to keep it out of the way and help keep rain out too. All the pockets have nice little rubber “grabs” on them that also facilitate their use with gloves and even the collar and cuff ends are upscale with neoprene and corduroy-like soft materials. The fit is adjustable at the waist, hips and in the arms which will also improve its looks and how well it hugs your body at high speeds. With a longer jacket like this, it is nice to have a “two way” zipper that allows you to part-way zip up from the bottom when sitting so the bottom of the jacket will lay over your legs and not pile up on your chest… just another nice feature you get.

You get some climate control features that will help you to a large degree adjust to different riding temps. Firstly, this jacket employs a full body waterproof/breathable liner that is permanently situated between the jacket’s outer shell and the inside mesh lining. This type of waterproofing will be the MOST water tight of any type since there are no zippers, snaps, seams through the liner material that would tend to compromise its waterproof capability. But even if a jacket has zippered venting features, the air entering through said vents does not pass all the way through the jacket to your skin, and therefore the zippered venting is only partially effective for cooling. So with the vents as a plus, but the liner as a barrier, I’d not recommend this jacket for hot weather use, but it will work well for nearly all other conditions… particularly cold and/or wet weather. It is a longer jacket… a “3/4” style many call it, which provides more coverage on the body which will be welcome in colder and wet temps. The longer tail will overlap with your pants to keep water out of the waist band of your pants… brrrrr! And you can use or not use the removable full sleeve thermal liner. It is a plushy thickness and I think it will do a good job in colder temps.

There are lots of other features you get that you can easily see in our photo gallery, so please click through those pics and note the captions, and that will tell you a lot more about the pockets, armor, etc. You’ll be able to see the back protector also, which can be upgraded to a more substantial CE rated unit using the link below. The one that comes in the jacket is simple foam and not unlike what you get with other brands… just average. Overall, I think this new style compares very favorably with the other jackets like this from competitors in the same price range. And some of its nice features compare with higher end units, and that means it is a pretty good value. I recommend it! :: Paul, 06-25-14