Aether Skyline Motorcycle Jacket Test
It speaks well for the growth of our sport when a new, high-end apparel company makes a move into the highly competitive motorcycle apparel market.
Describing themselves as “outdoor enthusiasts who live in the city,” Aether Apparel is a company that combines urban sophistication and style with the demands of the rural environment to create four collections of clothing – Road, Mountain, City, and Beach.
Based on Melrose Avenue in the tiny Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, Aether Apparel is not afraid of merging high fashion with motorcycling.
“By utilizing technical fabrics in a more sophisticated form,” the company spokesman explains, “we offer performance sportswear with a refined modern aesthetic.”
One of the first two offerings from Aether is the Skyline textile jacket. Extraordinarily clean in its design, the jacket lives up to the expectation created.
The Skyline’s fit is more like a fine piece of clothing than a traditional motorcycle jacket. To be fair, this is due to a couple of limitations inherent to the jacket. There is no built-in armor, which aids in slimming, though there are pockets in the back, shoulders and elbows that stand ready to accept protection. Also, this is a warmer weather jacket, with no removable vest or liner.
Accept the Aether priorities, and you will find a jacket that is perfect for cruising to the local gathering spot, or for light touring duty. The shell does have three layers of abrasion resistant material, so this is truly a jacket for motorcycling.
There are two large exterior pockets with robust button closures and a soft, plush lining on one side. Each of the large pockets also has an integrated non-closing pocket for you to place your hands for warmth or comfort when off the bike – quite clever.
Two smaller chest pockets double as vents when unzipped, supplementing a pair of 14-inch-long zippered vents under the arms that are water-resistant when closed. Inside, there is a small zippered pocket for a wallet or cell phone.
Certainly, for motorcyclists looking for fashionable apparel, and a bit of exclusivity, for urban excursions, the Aether Skyline is an inspired choice.
The cool little secret is that this is also a technical jacket that you can take on longer rides with confidence. Welcome to the club, Aether Apparel.
This story is featured in the Mar/Apr 2013 issue of Ultimate MotorCycling magazine—available on newsstands and good bookstores everywhere. The issue is also available free to readers on Apple Newsstand (for iOS devices) and Google Play (Android). To subscribe to the print edition, please visit our Subscriber Services page.
