Leatt built its reputation on protection, becoming a household name with the development of the neck brace in 2001, a design that reshaped off‑road safety. When the South African brand expanded into adventure riding apparel in 2024, it brought more than two decades of impact‑protection expertise into the ADV space. Since then, Leatt has been steadily growing its head‑to‑toe lineup, rolling out purpose‑built suits for wet weather, summer heat, and all‑season travel  — along with ADV boots and even its first adventure helmet.

For 2025, the company took aim at riders who lean more towards enduro-oriented adventure rides. The new ADV Rally 5.5 Jacket and Pants represent Leatt’s most focused attempt yet at building a system for those who spend as much time navigating technical terrain as they do covering miles.  And while some suits try to cover every scenario, Leatt’s approach with the ADV Rally 5.5 is to prioritize mobility, ventilation, and protection for riders who favor more demanding terrain.

The real question is whether this new suit delivers the balance of durability and comfort needed for adventure travel, or does its narrow approach relegate it to shorter, more technical enduro rides. Let’s start with a look at the details of the design: 

The Jacket

Leatt’s ADV Rally 5.5 jacket is a highly configurable design, with many features that are not obvious at first glance. Rugged 4-way stretch material makes up the outer shell, forming an integrated protection system. A PFC-free Durable Water Repellent (DWR) coating covering the jacket’s outer shell is what gives the ADV Rally 5.5 its water-resistant quality while offering a higher level of breathability than fully waterproof suits incorporating technologies such as GoreTex. CE Level A panels also cover shoulders and elbows for enhanced durability. And for those who prioritize waterproofing, Leatt recently released a HydraDri version of the ADV Rally suit.

An X-Flow mesh inner liner holds CE Level 1 3DF armor in the back, shoulders, and elbows, and features the option to add CE Level 2 chest armor. The jacket’s entire inner lining, including the armor, can be quickly and easily removed, allowing you to run more robust off-road armor instead. A series of pass-through ports and attachment points on the ADV Rally 5.5 Jacket allow for seamless integration with Leatt’s neck brace system as well.

A couple of big pockets in front are suitable for larger items like phones, small cameras, passports, and a myriad of other things. Each one has a zippered opening on top, protected by a flap with magnetic snaps instead of hook‑and‑loop closures. Vertical zippers along the sides give access to fleece‑lined hand‑warmer slots tucked behind the main storage areas.

Two seemingly identical chest pockets hide additional details: the left one features a waterproof inner liner, while the right has a mesh inner liner so it can double as a vent. This asymmetrical design enhances the water-resistant nature of the ADV Rally 5.5 design by providing fully waterproof compartments for storing sensitive items like passports or small electronics.

Breathability was clearly a key focus in designing the ADV Rally 5.5 Jacket. Starting with the back, the exhaust port between the shoulder blades is permanently open by design and covered by an over-flap to keep moisture out. Moving to the front of the suit, in addition to the aforementioned right pocket/vent, the ADV Rally 5.5 has two underarm vents and the main zipper has two options for closing the jacket either by securing the outer shell, or connecting with the second zipper to expose the mesh ventilation panel which extends from the hemline to the collar.

Removing the sleeves on the ADV Rally 5.5 is the final step in achieving the most ventilation possible in the jacket (aside from running the armor insert on its own… another one of the many configuration options available). In an unusual twist, Leatt designed the arms to be detachable at the bicep instead of the shoulder. This atypical design allows the ADV Rally 5.5 to maintain its CE safety rating even when the sleeves are removed. 

Yet another atypical design is found in how you adjust the collar on the ADV Rally 5.5. Rather than a typical hook-and-loop or ratchet-style system positioned just above a main zipper at the front of the collar, Leatt opted to place a toggle cinch at the back of the neoprene collar. This results in a “set it and forget it” system, where the collar size can remain the same every time you zip up the jacket.

A hydration reservoir pocket on the back of the ADV Rally 5.5 Jacket is easily accessible via a zippered opening positioned along the exhaust vent. Inside this compartment, a hook-and-loop hanger is attached to support the weight of whatever water you’re carrying across the shoulders instead of by the collar, and in turn, your neck. Once installed, the reservoir’s tube and bite valve can be routed to either the right or left side of the jacket through dual “Hydra Ports” and “Hydra Clip” mounting locations on both the left and right chest panels.

The Pants

Leatt’s ADV Rally 5.5 Pants share the same 3DF CE Level 1 impact protection in the knees and Level 2 protection at the hips with the ADV Rally 5.5 Jacket. Plus the shell is constructed with DWR-coated ripstop 4-way stretch material, which features abrasion-resistant CE Level A panels applied to the impact zones. A large 1.4mm leather panel also lines the inside of knees on these “in-the-boot” pants to help avoid pipe burns or scuffing the fuel tank.

Similar to the jacket’s ability to run other chest protector or pressure suit inserts, the ADV Rally 5.5 Pants provide enough room in the knees to allow full-size knee braces to be used with the included armor removed. Conveniently, you can pull the knee pads out through the pant leg opening rather than through the top. To re-install, you can pull the entire knee armor pocket out, insert the pad, then slip the pocket back in. There are also Velcro adjusters that make it easy to set the pad position to align with your knee.

At the waistline, the ADV Rally 5.5 Pants feature a 360-degree Hypalon belt with a secure, ratchet-style closure mechanism, and optional suspenders can be attached to a zipper connection point tucked inside a protective fabric slot at the rear of the waist.

Similar to the asymmetric pockets of the Jacket, the Pants feature two zippered cargo pockets which have slightly different internal structures. The left-side uses a standard pocket, while the right side has a separate internal phone slot, complete with rubberized strips to help keep mobile devices from sliding out while riding. In addition, the pants have a vertical zipper vent on the front of each thigh for additional ventilation that is also easy to operate with a gloved hand.

How It Performed

It’s perhaps debatable whether or not using CE Level 1 armor is ideal for an off-road-focused adventure riding suit. In the case of Leatt’s ADV Rally 5.5 system, I’d contend it makes sense, for a couple reasons. First, I greatly appreciate the freedom of movement and light feel of the included CE Level 1 armor (and have crash tested it once or twice without drama) for more casual rides. Second, the jacket outer shell’s ability to quickly replace the pads with an armored jersey and the pants having enough room to support full-size knee braces, means you can easily beef up the protection when needed for tackling more challenging terrain.

Doing some riding at a trials area on a hefty electric dual sport motorcycle, I opted to swap out the ADV Rally 5.5 Jacket’s standard armor with one of Leatt’s armored jerseys, and the knee protection in the pants with a pair of knee braces — and it all worked seamlessly.

While the knee braces are a huge step up in protection level over the ADV Rally 5.5’s included CE Level 1 knee armor, swapping the armor in the ADV Rally 5.5 Jacket for something like the Leatt 5.5 EVO Body Protector is not that big of a change, as both offer  CE Level 1 armor in the shoulders and elbows. However, the chest and back protectors on the EVO are CE Level 2. To get a similar level of protection in the Rally 5.5 jacket as the EVO, you could add the optional 3DF chest protector and back inserts. Regardless, the process of swapping out the inner liner was seamless, and it’s easy to see how virtually any armored jersey could be run underneath the 5.5 Rally’s main outer shell. Whatever armor you decide to run inside the jacket, the CE Level A material covering knees, shoulders and elbows keeps the suit looking as clean as can be while you go sliding on your side through a forest… ask me how I know.

Breathability without sacrificing protection was a key takeaway from running the ADV Rally 5.5 jacket. The outer shell’s venting, and water-resistant structure itself, felt optimal for the more “action oriented” adventure rides involved in this test. Being able to maintain shoulder and elbow protection on hot days while piloting adventure bikes over rocks of various sizes goes a long way in providing added confidence on the trail.

On colder days, attaching the sleeves and closing up the venting makes the Rally 5.5 jacket feel fairly close to most fully-waterproof adventure jackets in terms of warmth. In everything other than rainy conditions, adding a thin thermal base layer (which you can store in the jacket’s water-resistant rear pocket) can help adjust the internal environment to whatever level of warmth you’re looking for. Once the fleece-lined hand warmer pockets are discovered, every pause on the trail during a cold riding day becomes just a bit more comfortable.

One of the few snags I experienced with the ADV Rally 5.5 Jacket was with the sleeves themselves – the wrist openings on both the armor insert and outer shell are somewhat small, and have virtually no elasticity built into them. While they fit great, removing the jacket would often require pulling to the point that one or both of the snap clasps on each wrist connecting the inner armor jacket sleeves to the outer shell would detach themselves.

Overall, the fit of the ADV Rally 5.5 jacket was excellent for my frame. Dual hook-and-loop cinches on both sides of the torso allow the fit to be adjusted as needed, preventing the bulky feel that can plague some adventure jackets. The hydration system’s arrangement was among the most well-integrated setups I’ve tried. Key point – run the intended two liter reservoir. The jacket does not cooperate very well with a three liter setup.

One thing that should not be a surprise but is, the ADV Rally 5.5’s knee protectors protect your knees. For reasons that have thus far eluded me, the knee protectors in many adventure suits I’ve tried seem more like shin guards, even when adjusted to their maximum height. At 5’11” with a 32” inseam, I have what would seem to be a fairly “standard” build, however it’s always a welcome surprise to find suits with adjustable and unobtrusive knee guards that actually work properly. In keeping with the enduro nature of the ADV Rally 5.5 suit, the pants boast ample room and stretchability to accommodate knee braces for those looking for more robust protection than the included “light adventure” armor affords. My CTI braces are the bulkiest I own, and they fit fine in the ADV Rally 5.5 pants after the stock armor had been removed.

Leatt does make suspenders which are compatible with the ADV Rally 5.5 pants, however the 360-degree Hypalon belt made for a convenient and effective system to secure the pants for multi-day rides. On those rides, I liked the fit, freedom of movement, and efficient venting and breathability. However, non-adjustable cuffs at the ankle with virtually no stretch to them can make removing the pants a bit of a challenge at times, and sometimes resulted in them being completely inside-out before I could free my feet. 

Another gripe, although a minor one, is regarding the asymmetrical pockets on the Rally 5.5 Pants. Where the asymmetry of the Rally 5.5 Jacket makes perfect sense to me – waterproof on one side, vented on the other – the “normal” pocket on the left thigh became my go-to, as the double pocket-within-a-pocket setup on the right thigh usually resulted in hunting for my wallet or whatever else was hiding between the two compartments.

Who Its For

While the ADV Rally 5.5 Jacket and Pants could be a good choice for any adventure rider looking for a fair-weather riding suit, it seems obvious that Leatt had more enduro-focused riders in mind when designing it. The In-boot design emphasises breathability and movement over water proofing and insulation, and highly configurable protection options all underscore the ADV Rally 5.5’s intention to be used in the dirt.

It’s also easy to see where Leatt’s ADV Rally 5.5 Jacket and Pants could be considered a “crossover” suit for riders coming from other disciplines. Dirt bike riders curious about adventure riding would likely find the ADV Rally 5.5 design more comfortable and closer to dirt riding gear than many adventure-specific suits. Also, street or light-adventure riders could find the versatile feature set of the ADV Rally 5.5 a welcome choice should they want to get further off the main roads and deeper into the trails.

Our Verdict

On the trail, the ADV Rally 5.5 jacket quickly became a go-to favorite of mine for more spirited “day ride” style adventures. The design offers a simplistic feel, which I like, yet incorporates many useful features in a behind-the-scenes way so as not to intrude in the suit’s functionality and ease of use.

Configurability is where the ADV Rally 5.5 system excels. Run full jacket, remove sleeves, swap out armor insert, add chest protector to the stock setup, run just the armored inner layer with a jersey, with or without a chest protector, remove the stock pants knee protectors and swap for knee braces, add hydration capability or not… every setup option feels and performs like the suit was designed for exactly that.

I’ve ridden through several countries in Africa, and in particular, have experienced the competitive level at which many South Africans like to ride off road. Rally Raid seems woven into the DNA of adventure motorcyclists from that corner of the globe. As a South African company, it’s no surprise to me that Leatt has come up with unique and effective designs for serious off-road riders like they have in the ADV Rally 5.5 suit.

What We Liked

• Highly breathable / vented for warmer or athletic rides.
• Configurability of the design.
• Robust feature set and materials.
• Plentiful storage options.
• In-jacket water bladder spreads weight across shoulders. 

What Could Be Improved

• More elasticity or adjustability at the wrist and ankle cuffs.
• Leatt brace attachment points can get snagged on things.

Leatt ADV Rally 5.5 Jacket Specs

Colors: Stealth, Burn, Grey (pictured)
Sizes: S – 5XL
Price: $439.00

Leatt ADV Rally 5.5 Pants Specs

Colors: Stealth (pictured)
Sizes: S – 4XL (US30 – US42)
Price: $329.00

Shopping Options

JACKET

PANTS

Photos by Blanca Beck, Simon Cudby and Rob Dabney

Author: Jon Beck

Jon Beck is fulfilling a dream of never figuring out what to be when he grows up. Racing mountain bikes, competitive surfing, and touring as a musician are somehow part of what led Jon to travel through over 40 countries so far as an adventure motorcycle photographer, journalist, and guide. From precision riding for cameras in Hollywood, to refilling a fountain pen for travel stories, Jon brings a rare blend of experience to the table. While he seems happiest when lost in a desert someplace, deadlines are met most of the time.