Dainese Kiffa lady jacket test

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Long-term test of the ultra-comfortable motorcycle textile jacket inspired by the Paris-Dakar

Stretch Dunes fabric, suede leather inserts, flexible and removable protectors

Since 2017, the equipment supplier Dainese has been expanding its vintage collection named Settantadue (72 in French in the text), the year of the brand’s birth.. In 2019, the Italian manufacturer was inspired by rally raids and in particular the first years of the Paris Dakar to launch the Dunes collection. A mixed collection made up of jackets, jackets, gloves, bags….

Dainese Kiffa lady jacket from the Dunes collectionDainese Kiffa lady jacket from the Dunes collection

We were first seduced by the look, before seeing the technical sheet which made us want to try it. And that’s good, summer was coming and we took advantage of the summer months and the heatwave to test the equipment and the Kiffa women’s textile jacket for a long time during our various motorcycle tests..

Presentation

The Kiffa jacket is completely out of the habit of the biker textile market by many aesthetic aspects.

Dainese Kiffa lady jacket with many pocketsDainese Kiffa lady jacket with many pockets

First of all, the color. The usual black (and possibly the touch of pink) are replaced by a light beige reminiscent of desert sand and African dunes. Suede leather inserts above the front pockets give a two-tone side to this beige.

Then the touch: the jacket is very flexible and the textile very pleasant to the touch, very similar to a suede textile jacket. The jacket is not waterproof, there is no stiffness of the textile.

On the lining side, the jacket offers a fixed mesh mesh lining that dries quickly and lets air pass through. A very aesthetic collection signature is sewn inside on a piece of suede leather. The Dainese design !

Signature of the settantadue collectionSignature of the settantadue collection

Little well thought out tips for the neck. The inside of the neckband has a lining combining comfort (with a very soft fabric) and practicality for washing (black color). In fact, while a clear collar usually gets dirty very quickly, here you can’t see the dirt. To tighten the neck, it can be adjusted using two clips, not too tight. Result, we are not strangled by the tightening, which leaves the possibility of also having an extra neckband.

On the safety side, flexible and removable Pro Shape CE EN1621 approved protectors are provided for the elbows and shoulders.

For the back, a pocket is provided to insert a back protector like the Pro Armor G2. Planned means that there is nothing by default and that it is therefore absolutely necessary to complete. This is important to point out as many winter jackets come with at least a piece of foam for the back. But for summer jackets, this piece of foam is missing from many manufacturers.

Approved shoulder and elbow protectors supplied with the Dainese jacketApproved shoulder and elbow protectors supplied with the Dainese jacket

On the practical side, the jacket has two large rectangular exterior pockets with hook-and-loop opening and closure very practical for everyday use. Inside, two zipped pockets are available, one with a cable passage allowing the headphones to come out (for walking of course).

The pockets are practical, but the fabric being thin, just slipping something in takes away from the style of the jacket. You have to choose between practicality and look.

Road proof

The jacket by its flexibility is very easy to put on. The cut is fitted and feminine and elegant (when nothing is in your pockets).

Dainese Kiffa lady back jacketDainese Kiffa lady back jacket

The soft protectors are perfectly placed and never felt. The cut can be adjusted at the waist thanks to two hook-and-loop parts. On the sleeves, putting on the gloves is made easier thanks to a large zipper, allowing the sleeves to be closed over the gloves.

Easy to put on and close at the cuffsEasy to put on and close at the cuffs

The neck strap closes easily thanks to the two positions of clip closures.

The great strength of this jacket is really its very pleasant side to wear in weather conditions ranging from 15 ° € to well over 30 ° C which makes it a 3-season jacket..

In very hot weather (above 30 ° C), the jacket by its light color does not attract heat and lets the wind pass slightly (but much less than a mesh jacket). On the other hand, you can open the top pockets to let air pass (these are false pockets!) But the ventilation effect remains subtle..

In temperatures lower than 15 ° C, the jacket once closed protects well from wind and fresh air.

On the other hand, it is not waterproof. It will therefore be necessary to pass between the showers.

In use, the two side pockets are very practical. You can easily slip your wallet and laptop or keys into it. The locking system with grip makes opening and closing very fast and reliable.

Side pocket with hook-and-loop closureSide pocket with hook-and-loop closure

With its light beige color, you would think that the jacket will get dirty very quickly. It turns out that even in a very dry urban environment, the jacket keeps its beige color while darkening slightly but not excessively. In fact, after several months of use and several tests on different motorcycle models, it looks almost clean..

On the washing side, the textile is washed at 30 ° C but only by hand, which will require a little more attention than putting it directly in the drum as can be done with other jackets (this certainly because of the suede leather inserts!)

Conclusion

The Kiffa jacket deserves a detour for its originality and the fact of traveling as soon as you wear it. It has the merit of breaking the usual codes of motorcycle jacket models. In addition, it is very comfortable to wear on a daily basis. Finally, it offers a fairly large thermal amplitude for this type of jacket, reaching its limits only above 35 ° C, when a mesh jacket will be more ventilated. There remains a price a little high at 299 € but with the guarantee of a brand.

Strong points

  • Look and cut
  • Originality
  • Comfort

Weak points

  • Price
  • Not waterproof

Test conditions

  • Test from May to August in daily city trips + tests in the countryside and while traveling

Technical characteristics of the Dainese Kiffa lady jacket

  • Textile: 1% leather – 89% nylon – 10% polyurethane
  • Lining 100% polyester
  • Pro Shape flexible and removable elbow protectors CE EN1621.1 approved
  • Soft and removable Pro Shape shoulder protectors CE EN1621.1 approved
  • Pocket for Pro Armor G2 back protector
  • Price: 299 €
  • Hand wash 30 °

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