For more than a decade now, adventure gear has followed a familiar form in its design and construction. Yet recently, we’ve begun to see certain gear companies try to break out of the mold by launching new products that defy traditional ADV riding suit norms. REV’IT! has been one of the companies at the forefront of this movement with the release of their Dirt Series in 2021, and they are back at it again with the release of their latest top-tier adventure suit called the Stratum GTX.

The new Stratum GTX reimagines how an adventure suit should look, feel, and function, using a modular system that integrates two fully functional layers into a single solution to maximize multi-use across mixed terrain, riding styles and climates, including off the bike. Both layers come with safety features that, if worn together, combine to offer the highest level of protection in REV’IT!’s adventure collection.

In the past, if you wanted a suit that functions well in hot, dry climates, you got a breathable mesh suit. For wet, cold climates, you typically got a suit with a waterproof, windproof shell. The Stratum is both. Plus it pulls elements from the REV’IT! Dirt Series to give it a light, comfortable, streamlined feel during athletic off-road riding. 

Armored Mesh Air Suit

At its core, the Stratum GTX is a body-hugging mesh suit (worn under the shell) housing REV’IT!’s high-impact resistant, flexible and breathable armor including a set of SEEFLEX CE Level-2 protectors in the knees, elbows, shoulders, and a SEESOFT CE Level-2 back protector (chest protector pads are optional), plus SEESMART CE Level-1 in the hips. Tight-fitting, stretchy material gives it a cozy feel while also improving safety by keeping the pads close to the body. 

Free-flowing mesh panels provide maximum airflow to the body for higher temperatures in dry weather conditions, yet the mesh material is extremely rugged and abrasion resistant for improved safety on the street. The mesh suit can be worn standalone and has its own pockets, gripper panels, removable kidney belt, a dedicated hydration bladder pocket with sip-tube routing straps, and reflectivity strips. It also features an AA CE-certified rating for safety all on its own.

Waterproof, Windproof Outer GTX Shell

Unlike traditional mesh suits that have a zip-in waterproof inner liner or in some cases no waterproofing at all, The Stratum GTX includes a waterproof, windproof, abrasion-resistant Gore-Tex shell that goes on the outside. This avoids the common problem of water loading up in the outer mesh layer like a sponge. This Class B CE-certified outer shell features a GORE-TEX 3L Pro material, the apex in breathable, waterproof, windproof materials. 

The jacket comes with 5 vents: 2 on the biceps, 2 on the upper back and 1 long chest vent going down the length of the front zipper, while the pants have 2 zipper vents along the inner thighs. However, since the jacket and pants can be removed like a rain layer, without compromising the safety of the suit, there is no complicated array of vents that are susceptible to water intrusion. In fact, the pants feature long zippers that go down the length of the legs to make them easy to remove or install with your boots on, just like an overpant. 

To increase the abrasion resistance of the outer shell, the high-impact areas are equipped with protective, multi-layer print as an extra layer of protection. The outer GTX shell can also be used off the bike as casual rain gear during exploring or camping.

How It Works

In cold weather or if there is the potential for rain, both inner and outer layers are designed to be worn together. You can also add an additional thermal base layer under or over the mesh suit for improved warmth. With both the shell and inner mesh suit worn together, you have two layers of abrasion protection working for you on the street. Both the inner suit and outer shell may be zipped together making them work like a single jacket and pants for added convenience, and you may also attach the pants to the jacket. Or you can leave them detached from each other for more freedom of movement.

When temperatures heat up, you can cool down by opening the vents in the shell to send cool air to the body through the highly-breathable inner mesh suit. In a hot wet climate, you can keep vents open, and they are designed to help prevent moisture from coming in. When it’s hot and dry, the jacket/pant shell can be quickly removed and stowed away in your luggage, and you still retain full impact and abrasion protection. Once at camp, or heading out for a hike, you can wear just the shell for protection from the elements. Its lightweight and roomy design fits and performs just like your typical outdoor gear.

First Impressions

We got a chance to get in a full day of testing with the Stratum GTX during a cold spell here in Southern California. It was 42 degrees in the morning when we took off. Putting the jacket on for the first time, with the inner suit zipped into the outer shell, it felt similar to putting on a typical no-liner, armored adventure suit in terms of weight and bulk. The pants do have a bit more bulk though and there is an extra crotch zipper to zip up. The fit is very good once it’s on, almost like a tailor made fit. Mobility is also good and it doesn’t feel any heavier than other high-end Gore-Tex adventure suits.

Wearing the outer shell and inner suit together, with just a set of thermal underwear underneath, it was chilly but comfortable cruising down the highway. After about 40 minutes of riding, I did start to feel a bit of a chill in my arms and my toes were beginning to tingle but pulling over to add another layer wasn’t a requirement. By mid-day, temperatures warmed up to 52 degrees though and it felt perfectly comfortable.

We didn’t get any rain and it wasn’t warm enough to ride with the mesh suit alone, but I did get a feel for how the layers interact with the inner and outer layers zipped together. One thing that stood out is how the inner and outer layers work together at the openings. The inner mesh suit slides into a tall off-road boot perfectly, locking the knee pad in place. Then the outer shell pants go over the boot and can be closed tightly with Velcro. Likewise, the mesh jacket sleeves fit nicely inside a long-cuff glove, then the outer shell goes over the top with a snug Velcro closure. There’s also a quick-release elastic cord that goes around the base of the jacket keeping a snug fit to the pants. All of these ensure you don’t receive any draft or moisture coming through the openings.

Initially, the removable hood looked like it might be strictly for off-the-bike excursions, but riding with the hood on even at highway speeds, I was surprised to learn it didn’t catch wind and even helps keep some of the wind off the back of your neck. The overall fit of the two suits worn together feels less bulky than a traditional all-season Gore-Tex ADV suit. Wearing just the mesh suit, it’s very form fitting and feels almost as comfortable as a pair of pajamas — the armor seemed to almost disappear. We didn’t ride with the mesh suit alone, due to the cold weather but it feels very breathable, form fitting and stretchy. I did tackle a few big whoop sections and desert single track during our test and the two suits when worn together felt very comfortable and unrestrictive for active off-road riding.I imagine riding with the mesh suit alone will be even more liberating.

Some of the other convenience features that stood out are the long front zipper mesh panel, which has proven to be very effective at spreading the cold air across your chest in other jackets I’ve worn with this feature. The pants use a traditional belt with a pull tab release, rather than the side adjustment straps typically used on REV’IT! pants that can be prone to slipping. Also when you take off the jacket shell, it’s designed to fold, roll and pack into the hood with the rear hanging strap becoming a handle. This allows you to quickly and securely strap the jacket onto the exterior of a rear duffel bag, without needing to open up your luggage to put it away. I also like the inclusion of a keychain holder in the right front jacket pocket, to ensure your keys don’t get lost during your travels.

As far as any drawbacks I came across, there are two sets of zippers to contend with on the pants when you need to go to the bathroom and it does take a little extra time to un-layer during the ride if you choose to keep the garments zipped together. I’m hoping REV’IT! introduces additional color options in the future as well, rather than just conservative black and gray. Something else I would have liked to have seen are two-way zippers on the outer pants leg side zips. This would allow you to open up the sides of the pants, from the top of the thigh down, like a massive, adjustable vent. And since you have all the protection of the inner mesh suit underneath, safety isn’t compromised by the loose-fitting outer shell.

Kudos to REV’IT! for their continued innovation and striving to develop a suit that easily adapts to different temps and changing weather conditions. It’s exciting to see things being shaken up and new ideas rising to the surface in a category that has been somewhat stagnant over the years. At $1,399.99 for the jacket and $1099.99 for the pants, it’s quite an expensive suit. But cutting-edge tech gear is never cheap and when it comes to a suit that can adapt to different terrain, riding styles and climates, including off-the-bike use, it’s hard to beat the Stratum’s wide range of versatility. 

As REV’IT!’s new flagship model, we can expect many of its unique features will surely trickle down to their more-affordable products in the future. In the meantime, we’ll continue testing the Stratum GTX. We’re looking forward to seeing how it performs in heat, rain and aggressive off-road conditions. We’ll keep you posted on what we learn!

Stratum GTX Features

Construction:

• 3L GORE-TEX Nylon 400D fabric   
• 3L GORE-TEX Pro Armacor fabric
• 3L Nylon 200D GORE-TEX fabric
• Neoprene
• Polyester mesh
• PWR|Shell mesh
• PWR|Shell ripstop stretch
• PWR|Shell stretch
• Parkskin Leather
• Sure grip
• 3D Mesh lining

Waterproofing:

• 3L GORE-TEX fabric
• Waterproof front zippers

Ventilation:

• Ventilation zippers on upper arms, upper back, center front chest, and upper legs
• Ventilation panels on back, behind center front zipper, inside arms, and upper legs

Protection & Safety:

• SEEFLEX CE level-2 elbow, shoulder and knee protectors
• SEESOFT Air CE Level 2 back protector
• SEESMART CE-level 1 hip protectors
• Double textile seat
• Detachable kidney belt
• Pocket for SEESOFT CE-Level 1 divided chest protector (sold separately)
• CE certified Class AA garment
• Thumb loops
• Protective print at elbows and knees
• Laminated reflective panels on calves, upper legs, waistband, hood, arms, stomach and back

Comfort:

• Adjustable at the ankles, hem, waist, cuffs and lower arm
• Elasticated waist and cuffs
• Stretch at ankle, calf, legs, cuffs, back, elbows and shoulders
• Grip panel at seat

Pockets:

• two back pant pockets
• two slit front pant pockets
• two waterproof slit front pant pockets
• Sleeve pocket
• Slit pockets at back, chest and front
• Two inner pockets
• Two waterproof inner pockets 
• Two waterproof slit pockets in the front
• XL storage pocket

Other Features:

• Back pocket for optional hydration pack (sold separately)
• Detachable hood that back be stored in back pocket
• Short connection zipper

Stratum GTX Jacket Specs

Colors: Black/Gray
Sizes: SM-3XL
Price: $1,399.99

Stratum GTX Pant Specs

Colors: Black/Gray
Sizes: SM-4XL, MD-2XL Short, MD-2XL Tall
Price: $1099.99

Shopping Options

Jacket: 

Pants:

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.