CW EVALUATION: Olympia MotoQuest Guide Suit

MotoQuest Tours approached the folks at Olympia and asked them to design and build an ADV riding suit for its guides who log a lot of miles in widely varying conditions. Olympia’s creation is what you see here, the MotoQuest Guide Suit, which consists of a three-layer jacket ($549.99) and two-layer pants ($349.99). The jacket shell, constructed with 500- and 2,000-denier Cordura, features a Thermolite insulated soft layer and a rain jacket that can be worn over or zipped into the shell.

Removable zip-on backpack with a hydration bladder.

If multi-season/weather functionality is a priority, the Guide jacket has you covered. The Mega Vent Panel System allows you to unzip and tuck away two front, two rear, and two underarm flaps that expose mesh underneath and flow a lot of air. The two vents on the front are easily unzipped on the fly, but the rear and underarm zips require stopping and removing the jacket to stow flaps. In mixed conditions of on-again/off-again rain, we prefer using the rain jacket as a shell. When the rain stops, it can be removed quickly so the rider won’t feel like he’s locked in a sauna with no ventilation. With both interior layers zipped in, the jacket offers plenty of insulation for all but the coldest riding temperatures.

Two front Mega Vent Panels flow well in hot weather.

Like the jacket, the pants have a waterproof layer that’s either zipped in or worn over. The pants, however, don’t have an insulated layer, so in very cold conditions we recommend a good base layer to keep your lower extremities toasty. Two front Mega Vent Panels flow well in hot weather, while full-length side zippers make the pants easy to put on or remove. Adjustable lower cuffs fit over street or motocross boots.

Additional welcome features include 3M Scotchlite reflective piping and panels, high-quality zippers, and a removable zip-on backpack with a hydration bladder.