Icon Raiden Blue 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 great. My advice would be to wear the size you normally wear in men’s clothing. You can also measure your chest and belly and choose a size from the chart from the “Our Max Chest” and “Our Max Belly” columns making sure the size you choose is big enough for both. Sleeve lengths are average to generous and should work for most people.

Note: For reference, we’ve listed the max chest estimate given by Icon in their standard sizing chart. If you follow their chart using your measured chest size, you’ll likely choose a size larger than you normally wear (example a person with a 46 chest typically is an XL, but using Icon’s chart you’d buy an XXL). We’ve noticed that Icon under-estimates the size of their jackets and has done so for years (no idea why), so we advise you to follow our advice instead.

The overall fit of this jacket is “average”... not too trim and not too loose. On each side of the torso at the waist and also about mid-torso are very functional size adjusters to snug down the fit for those who are more trim. Also, the jacket has a stretch cord adjuster to snug the sleeves down to prevent flapping and to hold the armor in position.

Need help measuring? Get it here

The Icon Raiden jacket for 2020 is a HEAVY DUTY adventure riding jacket! Armor is included for shoulders, elbows and back so there is nothing else you’ll need. Pants are available if you want the full suit.

It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a Raiden jacket from Icon. The most recent Raiden permutation we reviewed was the Raiden DKR was introduced in 2018 and is now obsolete. This new version for 2020 has a similar overall purpose but with a slightly different approach. This jacket is noticeably more heavy duty in it’s shell construction. There are three main shell layers involved here. The main outer layer is your primary abrasion resistant layer, and then behind that is a waterproof breathable layer by DuPont and finally, over the impact areas like shoulder and elbows are very heavy duty textile overlays. Like with nearly all Icon jackets, you get a complete set of armor inserts by D3O which is Icon’s “go to” brand of armor. The armor is ideal for a jacket like this since it is soft and flexible and comfortable. So to sum it up, this jacket is noticeably more heavy duty and built for impact and rugged wear. The overall rugged construction compares well with some premium brand jackets like Klim’s intermediate models IMHO.

The Raiden’s waterproofing capabilities look very formidable too. The waterproof layer lies behind the mail outer shell and is MUCH more than an ordinary waterproof layer. It is thick, reinforced material with sealed seams. It is advertised as having “10k/10k Waterproof/Breathability”, and I’d encourage you to Google that terminology and read more. I won’t go into it here, but the idea is that it keeps water out and allows body moisture to escape. Nothing new there, but having a specific rating and the DuPont branding means you have measurable performance from a known source.

Venting may be a bit of a cautionary tale. Cold weather? No problem. The shell is thick and can easily block wind, and you also get a removable thermal liner to add a layer of insulation when needed. Mild or even warm weather? Still no problem. The jacket has two sleeve-end vents and two underarm vents which are both “direct” meaning air can flow from the outside all the way through to the inside. There is also a rear exhaust vent that vents directly too. Most all premium adventure jackets are built like this. The front chest vents however are not direct vented, so air won’t get past the internal liner. I’m not sure why the front vents aren’t make direct vent… I’d suspect it has to do with maintaining the waterproof ratings. The wind while riding mainly blasts your front directly, and so having direct vents front and center makes leaking more probable in a rainstorm, so with non-direct vents in that position, you are far more likely to remain water tight. But not having direct venting front and center will cut down some on hot weather comfort some. But one good thing to offset this is the collar arrangement. You can unzip the main zipper some and there are tie-back loops on each collar tip to you can prop open the neck area to catch air and to look the collar off your neck in hot weather.

Other nice features you’ll find: 1) waterproof pockets… two in front for easy reach and a very large rear fanny pouch; 2) nice for the traveler is the thermal liner. Of course it zips into the jacket for insulation, but you can also use it as a good looking “destination” jacket when you get there. Having a casual jacket without packing an extra is a good feature; 3) for visibility at night, the main jacket has a good deal of night time reflectives too. :: Paul, 05-21-20

Icon says: The Raiden™ jacket is purpose-built to withstand the punishment of ADV riding. Rain, dirt, or nasty get-offs, it’s ready for anything the pavement or dirt can deliver. The Raiden™ jacket is comprised of a Dupont™ 3-layer nylon shell with 10k/10k Waterproof breathability as well as durable Cordura® overlays in the impact zones. The stretch-cord expansion intake ventilation system and exhaust provides on-demand comfort, prevents moisture build-up, and inhibits overheating. Seven pockets add to the on-the-trail carrying capability while the full D3O® impact protector package does the dirty work. The removable insulated liner keeps you comfortable when riding conditions are less than ideal. The waterproof YKK® Vislon® and AquaGuard® zippers are a must when Mother Nature opens up the skies, and the dual Hook & Loop side adjustment allows you to tailor your fit. A generous amount of retro-reflectivity adds to visual conspicuity.