It’s summer in Southern California, which means triple-digit temperatures and testing products such as the Alpinestars T-SP X Superair jacket! It’s a $240 motorcycle jacket that combines large mesh panels for airflow and 600D polyester for abrasion resistance on hot days.

The primary job of the Alpinestars T-SP X Superair jacket is to keep you cool when the mercury threatens to bust the thermometer. While the Superair doesn’t flow quite as much air as some of the full-mesh summer jackets, it makes up for that by having a more comfortable chassis.

It feels like a motorcycle jacket rather than simply a mesh drape, and that’s appealing. Even with the medium-weight 600D polyester restriction, the Superair ventilates well enough to allow riding in 100+ temperatures.

The 600D polyester helps the T-SP X Superair jacket earn a CE Category II, A Class rating. This puts the jacket in the middle of the CE jacket protection rating scale, so it’s above urban but below track. That will satisfy the requirements of most hot weather riders.

Alpinestars Nucleon Flex Plus CE Level 1 shoulder and elbow armor are standard with the jacket. They are all comfortable and non-obtrusive. I added an Alpinestars Nucleon Kr-Celli CE Level 1 back protector. The Kr-Celli back protector is highly vented, and you can feel the air flow through it while you’re riding. We strongly recommend you do not ride without back protection.

So, while the armor is short of the Level 2 protection I prefer, it is comfortable, and can easily be upgraded. The jacket is also compatible with the Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma Airbag System and the Tech-Air 3 System vest. However, we did not test it with that protective gear.

The fit is as expected. I wear a Large, and the jacket fit perfectly with the Nucleon Kr-Celli back protector installed. There are hook-and-loop belts on each side of the waist to personalize the fit. Also, the cuffs are adjustable to taste with hook-and-loop.

The cut is sporty with precurved arms, so it feels natural on upright sport bikes. I also rode cruisers wearing the T-SP X Superair, and it was completely comfortable.

Storage is standard. The Alpinestars T-SP X Superair jacket has two zippered hand pockets with a mesh interior, along with two vented interior storage pockets with hook-and-loop top closures. My tri-fold leather wallet and iPhone 17 fit in the hand pockets, so I’m good to go.

At $310 with back protection, the Alpinestars T-SP X Superair is a premium summer jacket. For that price, you get a high-quality jacket that fits and moves as it should, and feels good on your body. The protection is CE-rated, so it’s not a “Trust me, bro,” situation. Oh, and it looks sharp in all five colorways. I love riding in the summer, and the Superair jacket helps keep me comfortable into triple digits.

Photography by Kelly Callan

Alpinestars T-SP X Superair Jacket Fast Facts

• Sizes: S – 4XL
• Armor: Alpinestars Nucleon Flex Plus CE Level 1 shoulder and elbow
• Optional back protector tested: Alpinestars Nucleon Kr-Celli
• Certification: Category II EN17092-4:2020, A Class.
• Colors: Black; Black/Black; Black/Bright Red; Gray Camo/Red Fluo; Tar Gray/Black/Yellow Fluo (tested)

Alpinestars T-SP X Superair Jacket Price: $240 MSRP ($310, as tested)

Alpinestars T-SP X Superair Jacket Review Photo Gallery