There was once a time when adventure suits were primarily bulky, heavy and overflowing with  more features than you could ever use—designed more for long-range touring than athletic off-road pursuits. As more riders have leaned into the off-road side of adventure riding over the years, more gear makers are beginning to offer gear that focuses on freedom of movement and mobility. With that in mind, Alpinestars’ latest AMT-8 (Active Motion Tech) jacket and pants combo reframes the old adventure suit playbook with a contoured, highly-breathable, stretch-fit construction that offers certified protection without the bulk.

The design of the torso, thigh and arm vents help them catch wind and maximize airflow once in motion.

To help riders stay cool when temperatures rise, long zippered vent ports run down the arms, along the sides of the torso, and across the thighs—designed to catch wind and maximize airflow. An always open back vent keeps a constant cross flow of air going through the jacket, but gets shielded from rain with an overflap. The jacket’s slim cuff closures and draw-string bungees on the collar and waist further seal out the elements when the going gets wet.

While the AMT-8 main shell has some water resistance for light rain, it’s not waterproof. It does however come with a set of versatile DrystarXF windproof, 100% waterproof stretch liners that can be worn under or over the shell for rain protection. These lightweight shells also pack down into their own built-in pouches for storing away in luggage or they can be stuffed into the jacket’s rear utility pocket.

Waterproof/windproof rain liners can be easily packed away in their own built-in pouch and can be quickly thrown on over the suit when needed.

Side pockets on the jacket have a unique reverse-opening design that aids quick access to items and helps prevent things from flying out if you forget to zip them up. Inside, a waterproof breast pocket can be used to keep your phone dry and a large mesh pocket is convenient for storing gloves or sunglasses when you’re exploring off the bike. On the pants there are just two zippered side pockets, which are spacious and they open in a slightly backward angle as well.

For protection, you get CE Level‑2 Nucleon Plasma Pro armor in the shoulders, elbows and knees, with Level‑1 protection at the hips. The jacket can also be upgraded with optional chest and back protectors, plus it is compatible with the Tech-Air 7x air bag system. For extra abrasion protection, you get laminated TPU panels on high‑wear zones like the elbows and knees and overall, the suit has a Class AA CE rating.

To aid comfort, Alpinestars has incorporated pre-curved arms and legs that are ergonomically shaped around the knees and elbows. The storm collar is also a mid-height design with a fleece material along the rim, to help keep contact with your neck smooth on longer journeys. Velcro forearm adjusters secure elbow armor in place and the 4-way stretch shell material keeps everything else form fitting. Other convenience features include a zipper to connect the jacket to the pants, along with sip-tube routing channels for those that want to carry a hydration bladder in the jacket.

How It Performed

Sliding into the AMT-8 for the first time, it has a lightweight feel for a full-armored CE Level-2 suit. The fit of the jacket is close fitting, without being too tight, and it contours around the body without any pinch points. You can move around easily in the 4-way stretch material without any extra bulk or loose material flapping around. The pants feel form fitting but not too tight, and the accordion stretch panels on the back of the legs remind me of ski pants. The leg openings are a little snug to get over tall motocross boots, but there is enough elasticity to make it work.

The Nucleon Plasma Pro armor is rated CE Level-2 but is much softer than other pads with this protection level I’ve used. Whether getting down on my knees to make a repair or flexing my elbows during aggressive off-road rides, the pads feel like cushions against your bony parts. And the hip pads, you don’t even notice they are there. I didn’t have any problems with placement of the knee pads but I didn’t see a way to adjust them vertically. I suppose that the contoured fit allows the pads to find their place better than with loose fitting pants. 

As far as weather protection, it’s more of a fair-weather suit. With its lightweight breathable shell, it handles warm weather up to the high 80s Fahrenheit no problem, but isn’t as cool as a mesh suit or jacket with removable sleeves. The vents on the arms and side of the torso are well placed but the front of the jacket could benefit from an additional vent. A long front zipper vent would be a nice addition while maintaining the streamlined build. The thigh vents on the pants are good at catching air and seemed pretty effective at keeping the lower extremities cool.

I also performed testing in colder weather and the breathable material can get chilly quickly. Keep in mind, there’s an ‘always open’ back vent that provides airflow all the time. Even so, the suit remains comfortable down into the low 60s to high 50s F. One thing I noticed in colder weather was that it was hard to get a mid-cuff glove to seal tight with the jacket cuff. The jacket cuffs are longer on top of the wrist than on the bottom and have a thin-ish velcro flap, which can make them awkward to stuff into a glove. Not a big deal but it would take a little extra time to get them sorted.

During early fall in Colorado I was unlucky enough to experience winter weather, including hail and snow. In these conditions, you really need to break out the wind/waterproof liners. With the liners installed, riding in the high 40s was not a problem and I would throw on an extra thermal jacket layer underneath to go down even lower. This made the freezing rain and snow tolerable in short stints.

Using the liners, it’s convenient to quickly pull them out and put them on over your jacket and pants. They are also made of stretchy material, so they don’t impede movement. That stretchy material also aids in sliding them over bulky moto boots but the fit is a little tighter than I’d like. When I got caught in a sudden downpour in Colorado, I was able to get the liners out of the jacket’s rear cargo pouch and throw them on in about 3-4 minutes. And they worked great keeping everything dry underneath after riding for hours in the rain.

While I did test using the liners underneath, I found it more convenient to go over the top. That way you can wait to put them on until you really need them and when the weather clears, you can quickly remove them. It also keeps the rain from building up in the non-waterproof shell material. If you are doing more enduro-style riding, you can store the liners in the jacket’s rear pouch and you don’t even notice them there. You can also stuff them into their own attached stuff sacks and make little puffy pouches out of them, which are easy to find room for in your luggage.

The pockets on the jacket were a little strange for me at first. Instead of having hand-warmer style pockets you can rest your hands in, they open up near the front of the jacket and the entry goes towards the back. This means you have to access the pockets with your opposite-side hand, crossing over your body. While I missed the ability to rest with my hands in the pockets off the bike, I did like how easy it was to grab stuff while on the bike. Plus, with the opening facing forward, you don’t have to worry about things flying out of them if you forget to zip them up. 

The single breast pocket was also nice for storing things like ear plugs or a wallet and the pants have two deep side pockets that offer good storage. Overall, I think it has just enough storage for your essentials and nothing more. Personally, I am not a fan of stuffing everything in your suit. I’d rather store most items in luggage and keep it off your body for better mobility during off-road riding and that’s the idea behind the design of the AMT-8.

While I didn’t use a water bladder in the jacket during testing, it does have a pass-thru channel on the right chest and an elastic loop holder for the bite valve. It appears a small water bladder can be inserted in the pouch where the optional chest armor sits on the right side.  However, I noticed the pass-thru channel is too small for some of the larger-style bite valves. 

For water, I rode with a hydration pack and this revealed a small flaw with the shell. The friction from the backpack straps had a tendency to create surface-level fuzz on the stretch material underneath. Not a problem structurally, but it can make the jacket look a little tattered over time. And that would be a shame because I think it’s a great looking suit. I even got a compliment when checking into a motel from the Janitor, “I’m not gay, but you look really good in that motorcycle gear!”. Hey, I’ll take it. 

Unfortunately, my AMT-8 suit didn’t get to live out the long life of adventures I’d hoped for. While I did clock thousands of miles over multiple rides, it met a premature end due to a little mishap. Going roughly 40 mph around a bend on a mountain road, I hit a patch of sand that was hidden in the shadows. The front end tucked and I was suddenly on the ground sliding wondering “what the hell just happened?!”. The AMT-8 earned its CE AA safety rating on this day and luckily, I walked away unscathed with no bruising or road rash whatsoever. Unfortunately, the suit was toast. 

This suit test got a little more intense than we intended. Luckily, the AMT-8 jacket and pants earned their the CE AA rating on this day and I walked away unscathed.

I can’t offer enough praise for the suit keeping me safe but I will say that the shell material did deteriorate a little easier than I’d like in the slide. While it proved highly-resistant to tearing and cutting in an off-road environment, the shell has some limitations when coming in contact with asphalt. To be fair, the accident happened on highly-abrasive mountain roads designed to give tires more grip in the snow, so the damage is probably more extensive for that reason. However, if Alpinestars were to add some heavier-duty abrasion panels on the knees, shoulders and elbows, it would greatly improve the suits survivability for light falls, without adding much bulk.

Who’s It For

The AMT-8 is a highly‑mobile, breathable suit aimed at dual‑sport and off-road adventure riders who prioritize freedom of movement and want full protection without the bulk. It’s more of a 3-season suit—good for fall, spring and early winter or early summer.

Our Verdict

If you’re looking for a comfortable adventure suit that works for you on technical trails rather than against you, the AMT-8 fits the bill. It may not be the do-it-all suit for every situation but it’s light and maneuverable for athletic off-road rides while still offering solid long-range touring versatility. Its minimalist design provides all the basics you need, without any of the extra frills that can load a suit down. Plus it has ‘AA’ CE protection that can be upgraded with a back pad, chest armor, or an airbag system.

What We Liked

• Great mobility and comfort for off-road riding.
• Throw-over waterproof liners are effective and convenient.
• CE AA rated garment with proven protection.
• Nucleon Plasma Pro CE Level-2 armor is soft on the joints.

What Could Be Improved

• Heavier-duty abrasion panels on the knees, elbows and shoulders.
• A long front zipper vent for improved frontal cooling.
• Better integration at the jacket cuffs with mid-length gloves.

AMT-8 Specs

Jacket Colors: Dark Brown/Dark Khaki, Black, Walnut Rust/Black
Pant Colors: Walnut/Black, Black
Sizes: Jacket (SM-4XL); Pants (SM-3XL)
Price: Jacket ($634.95); Pants ($424.95)

Shopping Options

Jacket

Pants

Photos by Simon Cudby, Miguel Santana, Jon Beck and Rob Dabney

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.