Viking Cycle Ironborn Textile Women’s Motorcycle Jacket Review

Who doesn’t like getting motorcycle gear or a new jacket? So, when the Viking Cycle Ironborn women’s motorcycle jacket arrived at the door, I couldn’t wait try it out.

Fit

When I first put it on, I looked a bit more like a linebacker than a lady. The nice thing is, after some fine-tuning you could tell I was, in fact, a woman. One of the first things you notice about this women’s motorcycle jacket is that there’s enough adjustability to customize the fit to your liking. The jacket has three adjustable straps on the back (think corset), Velcro adjustable wrists, and adjustable snap tabs at the elbows. There was room for my hips and the adjustable straps on the back cinched in my waist. That last part is crucial in preventing the dreaded box-shape some “ladies” jackets give you.

I did find the arms bulky but that is partially due to the fact I ordered a medium. I probably could have fit into a small except for my chest. This is something ladies with larger boobs for their frame should take note of. You may need to order up one from your normal size.

Pleasant surprise: Pockets galore

Something else I noticed right away were the number of pockets. This jacket has tons of pockets! Any woman will tell you, pockets are something that is usually lacking in women’s clothing. I easily fit my keys, iPhone, credit card, and bulky condo entry fob in this jacket, with plenty more pockets still available to fill.

Bonus: The outside pockets are easy to open and close even with motorcycle gloves on, and they’re taped sealed to keep your stuff dry.

Build and function

The outer shell of this women’s motorcycle jacket is taped sealed and made from waterproof treated Rock Tex 600. It includes four zip vents, and reflective stripes and piping that are subtle but effective. They work, but they don’t mess with the style of the jacket. Not bad.

The jacket also comes with a zip out, full sleeve, insulated liner, so you can use it in a variety of weather conditions, though it’s not specifically designed for the coldest or hottest riding days. This is a good in between jacket.

Zippers down the wrists and back provide added room and comfort while riding. There’s also a zipper attachment for motorcycle riding pants, and an integrated headphone system within the jacket.

The jacket does come with standard removable CE approved armor at the shoulder and elbows and a spine protector. Nothing revolutionary, but it sure beats no armor!

Viking Cycle has even added small details to the Ironborn textile women’s motorcycle jacket like padding the inside pockets, snaps to hold open the chest vents, and color coding the liner attachments buttons so you don’t twist the sleeves when putting the liner back in. Smart.

Room for improvement

If I’m being picky, I do think there are some things that could be improved. The jacket is only single stitched and could use some reinforcement. The liner tape seals are functional but not pretty. The armor included is CE approved, but if the jacket sleeves are too baggy they won’t hug your body well. Of course, if you did get all of this, it probably wouldn’t be in a jacket that is currently on sale for only $79.

Overall impression

So, overall the jacket is good, but how does it feel while out riding? I went for a ride through the city and it didn’t disappoint.

While riding I found it comfortable to wear, it wasn’t overly bulky or restrictive, and the sleeve length was just right. Not too long or short, though a bit loose. It was easy to open the pockets and adjust the vents with gloved hands. For under $100, I’m impressed.

Most importantly, I didn’t feel like I was a woman wearing a men’s motorcycle jacket that was simply decorated with pink accents and a tag that said “Women” on it. This is a woman’s motorcycle jacket and they’ve done a good job at making it adjustable for women riders.

Overall, I’m happy with my Viking Cycle Ironborn textile women’s motorcycle jacket, and so is my wallet. Nicely done, Viking Cycle.