REV'IT! Mantis Jacket

We tried a size Medium and an XL on our Fit Check mannequins Huey and Dewey. Those are sizes they usually wear in an “American” cut jacket. This jacket from REV’IT! fits well enough and it looks sharp, but there is very minimal room left. Many brands from Europe exhibit a fit like this, such as Alpinestars. If you look at REV’IT’s published size chart (below), you’ll see their estimate of chest size is at least a full size smaller than what you’d find in equivalent US designed clothing.

Judging the fit ourselves, we conclude that the fit is just about one half size smaller than what you would find in ordinary US men’s clothing. The amount the jackets are undersized is not as severe as REV’IT’s size chart would have you believe. For most people, this means you’ll be able to buy the size you normally wear if you want a snug, European style fit. If you want a looser American fit, or if you are between sizes, choose one size larger.

For this particular style jacket, I noticed the sleeve design is very “pre-curved” like and race jacket and the sleeve length is just average. Those with shorter or average sleeve lengths will be fine with it, but taller-than-average riders will probably find the sleeve length comes up short.

Below is the REV’IT!-published chest sizes for each jacket’s alpha size along with our estimate of max chest and max waist/belly. When choosing a size based upon your chest and belly measurements be sure to choose a size that is large enough for BOTH. If you plan to add a back protector to this jacket, then add 1” to your body measurements before using the chart.

Need help measuring? Get it here.

The new REVIT Mantis jacket is a heavy duty race cut sport jacket with ample air flow for hot weather use. It also has a waterproof and windproof liner and heavy duty armor. You can upgrade the armor for the back and chest.

Wow, as summer use jackets go, this one is way up there in terms of overall protection. This is really a race jacket with panels of mesh for allowing the flow through of air. Alpinestars makes a few models in this general category, but there aren’t many. The crash protection in this jacket is just about as good as it gets for a street sport jacket. Leather is used on the shoulders and elbows since those are the areas that are most crash prone. And on the shoulders is a sewn in external impact protector. Below that is level 2 shoulder and elbow armor which is very heavy duty. You can add REVIT’s back protector (sizing advice below) and the chest armor too (link at the bottom of the page. There are lots of options to work with pants here. There is a simple loop you can use with your own pants/belt, or there is a short rear zip you can use with REVIT’s Safeway belt (link below). And lastly, there is a full-around zipper, so with the short and long zippers included, these will work with any of REVIT’s riding pant styles.

The sleeves and torso of the jacket are a complex mix of materials. There is the leather (already mentioned), abrasion resistant textile (down low around the pockets on the torso), stretch material (above the elbow and along side the collar) and of course the flow through mesh material on the front and back. Also there are stretch accordion panels behind the shoulders and above the elbows. The combination of all these materials give a LOT of freedom of movement. Now granted, this doesn’t feel like a lighter weight street jacket, but given ALL the protective capabilities, it is pretty darn flexible.

The mesh material used in the torso is more than a simple mesh weave. They call it a “3D” mesh. Its woven so that it has some thickness too it. It gives the jacket more structure and wicks moisture better. It kind of reminds me of material that is used in the panels of car seats. Anyway, its nice stuff and a step above the ordinary mesh jacket.

You’ll be able to enjoy this jacket for a good part of the year. It has a removable rain liner which of course is functional for you in rain, but it can also help extend the comfortable temp range of the jacket by acting as a windproof liner as well. So using the liner can take you into cooler weather too. Maybe 3 seasons for most parts of the US?? In winter, you’ll be looking for something else though. For the very hottest days, you can have a look at REVIT’s optional challenger cooling vest. You can zip that in in place of the waterproof liner. Give it a soak and have evaporation air conditioning! I works great in low humidity, hot weather.

So for true sport riding in hot weather, the Mantis is about as good as it gets in the REVIT lineup in terms of protection. And with all the climate control options, there is a lot of jacket here. :: Paul, 02-06-19

Add a Back Protector: This jacket is made with a pocket to accept a Seesoft CE Level 2 Back Protector Insert type RV (RV refers to the shape). For sizes Small or Medium, choose size 4; for Large thru XXL, choose size 5