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Bob Pickett stays cool and safe with Hein Gericke's 'Air' jacket

Biker or crew member of 'The Liberator'?... get this gag and you're showing your age When riding in hot weather, to keep cool it is essential to get air flowing inside your jacket. With a conventional jacket, this means leaving open buttons, zips etc - which lessens protection.

£74.99 gets you the Gericke 'Air' jacket and solves this problem. Made from 500 denier polyester, it so light you hardly know you are wearing it (adding my wallet, both sets of keys, small change and mobile phone felt like it doubled the weight!) To allow air circulation, the front of the jacket has two mesh panels, plus an exit vent at the back. Once on the move, the air flows into the jacket, cooling you down nicely. Still too hot? Then simply open the zipped vents on the arms.

The 'Air' jacket also features reflective strips and a fastening strap which runs from the back of the jacket, looping under the crotch and secures by means of two pop-studs to the front - a useful feature. The first time I upped the pace, the jacket filled with air, which made it ride up - not a major issue on the move, but as it is a short jacket, if the worst does happen then you want it to stay in place, not slide up your body.

There are a couple of drawbacks though. Firstly, if it rains, then the 'Air' jacket isn't going to save you from a soaking - those mesh panels let the rain straight through. And only one of the pocket linings is made from the same tough 500 denier fabric as the exterior. The others have a thin lining, which sharp objects will tear in time - something keys are very good at doing.

Oh yes, it also looks a bit like one of the outfits worn in 'Blake's Seven' - I keep finding myself wanting to say things like "Servalan has set a trap… and we've walked into it!"

If you need to keep your legs cool as well, Hein-Gericke make matching trousers, and Air gloves

Verdict:

Even the hottest Summer's day should be enjoyable with the 'Air' jacket - just as long as it doesn't rain.

For details of your local Hein-Gericke stockist, click on Hein Gericke's UK site

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