Speed and Strength Full Battle Rattle Leather Jacket

We tried the size Medium in this jacket on Huey and we put an XL jacket on Dewey. These are the sizes they normally wear and both fit fine. The Full Battle Rattle appears to be a sport leather jacket (tight fit with pre-curved sleeves, etc), but the fit is more casual than you’d think judging by just glancing at pictures. The fit will be easier than a sport cut jacket too and I’d advise most people to choose the size they normally wear in men’s clothing. If you are between sizes I’d advise you to go down.

The chart provided by Speed and Strength shows chest sizes for each alpha size that are a bit larger than what you’d normally see for “standard” conversion from chest size to alpha size. Based on my observations (above), the chart seems just about right, and appropriate given the relaxed styling of the jacket.

This jacket only has a slight “drop” from chest to waist… only two to four inches. For example, the size XL, which I wear, measures out to about a 47 chest and the max through the waist/belly is about 44”. Unfortunately the design of the waist adjustment straps doesn’t allow for much downsizing. The Velcro tab is short and the strap length is not positioned well to adjust much… a design miss in my view. If you are one of those lucky ones that have a broad chest and slim waist and you were hoping to adjust the waist to get a tapered fit you’ll be disappointed. For those of us with the average or “robust” mid-section, you’ll find a rare fit in an otherwise sport-styled jacket.

Need help measuring? Get it here.

The Full Battle Rattle is a new look from Speed and Strength with an interesting mix of sport and cruiser attributes. Please read my sizing advice on this one…. the overall protection scheme with the THICK race grade leather, CE armor and substantial back pad is something you find in most sport-cut leather jackets, but the fit is less sport and more casual through the lower body. Also, while the arms are somewhat pre-curved, they aren’t nearly as forward leaning as sport jackets, and therefore this jacket is easier to wear off the bike than a true sport jacket.

About the styling… the arms have the classic stretch fabric on the undersides and expansion leather above the elbows and behind the arms like a sport bike, but this jacket is all-black and almost completely without badging (the only brand statement is in the perforations pattern on the shoulders… very subtle).

If you take a look at our close-up pics, you’ll see all the perforations, on the front, the back and the arms. That means this jacket will work best in mild to hot weather. The jacket has the standard nylon mesh liner, so with the perfs, this one will get chilly quickly when it cools off. You can layer underneath with your own garments (hopefully something windstop) and get a bit wider temperature range. The collar is a very short wide cut so air will flow in and around there too… great for summer but chilly in winter.

Overall a very nice jacket with strong protection features, and with a unique mix of sport-style features in an all-black leather package. With the armor set included, the price seems very fair to me also. :: Paul, 08-04-14