Rider RSS Klim Badlands Pro Jacket and Pants: Fifth-Gen Redesign Offers Better Comfort and Airflow

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Adventure riders demand a lot out of their gear. Whether cutting through technical single-track, exploring a forgotten gravel road, or logging miles across states, they need gear that can hold up whatever conditions they may find along the way. The Klim Badlands Pro Jacket and Suit combo has been a popular choice for over a decade, and its new fifth generation is even better.

Klim Badlands Pro

The focus of the redesign for 2026 was to reduce bulk and weight and to make the suit more comfortable overall without forfeiting protection. One key area where this goal was achieved comes in the form of Klim’s new proprietary Rogue EXP Level 2 armor.

The new armor is CE Level 2 certified while maintaining the thickness of Level 1 armor, meaning riders get more protection for less bulk. The armor also provides an average of 44% more coverage area than standard CE-rated pads. Those riding in the hot months will also appreciate the increased ventilation that the new armor offers: a claimed 725% more ventilation through the back pad and 175-471% through the limbs.

Klim Badlands Pro

Also making the armor more comfortable than previous iterations is the split sizing. Sizes medium and smaller jackets and size 30 and smaller pants come with Compact Rogue EXP armor, and larger sizes come with standard-sized armor. The split sizing systems helps the armor to scale to the rider’s dimensions. The Klim engineers also optimized the gear’s fit to suit the armor so that the armor conforms to the body.

Aiding the armor’s increased ventilation is a redesigned external ventilation system. The system includes 18 vents, and new angled wrist intakes are added to scoop air at riding speeds. The spacer mesh in the back helps to create an air gap to keep the rider cool.

Klim Badlands Pro

Other comfort improvement include a re-contoured collar with a hidden cinch cord keeper, streamlined cuffs for better integration with gloves, and more reliable zippers.

The Klim Badlands Pro Jacket and Suit keep their Gore-Tex 3-Layers Pro Shell, which is waterproof. In high-abrasion areas like the shoulders, elbows, forearms, and knees, the variable-density SuperFabric provides abrasion resistance. The main body is made of 630D Cordura. The full construction is designed to keep riders protected both from potential incidents and from various weather conditions.

Klim Badlands Pro

The Klim Badlands Pro Jacket is available in regular sizes XS-3XL and tall sizes M-2XL. Four color options are available, and it’s priced at $1,299.99. The Klim Badlands Pro Pants, also available in four colors, come in regular sizes 28-41, short sizes 28-40, and tall sizes 32-40. The pants are priced at $899.99.

Shop for Klim Badlands Pro Jacket and Pants

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The post Klim Badlands Pro Jacket and Pants: Fifth-Gen Redesign Offers Better Comfort and Airflow appeared first on Rider Magazine.

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I have a like-new Klim Latitude jacket I found on the ADVrider Flea Market. It's pretty nice.
But while the Badlands stuff is functional and purpose-built, I have a strong reluctance to buying a pants/jacket combo for the price of a decent used motorcycle.
Not saying I never would... but it isn't likely.
We all justify our proclivities, and I can rationalize with the best of y'all, if I need to. 😄
 
A Badlands Pro setup makes you feel bullet-proof. The older model I have could well use less weight and better venting, so those are good adds. I did not like the D30 armor in mine so maybe the new armor is better too. I used the stock armor to customize a set of Aerostich hard shell TF2 pads for mine and they work better. I never wear it in the summer.

TF2 > Badlands Pro
 
List price $1600 for the Badlands Pro A3 jacket, $1100 for the pants.
I don't know of any phone that costs $2700.
But, yeah, I do get your point.
Like I said, we can rationalize most anything we really want.
 
Sadlsor said:
List price $1600 for the Badlands Pro A3 jacket, $1100 for the pants.
I don't know of any phone that costs $2700.
But, yeah, I do get your point.
Like I said, we can rationalize most anything we really want.
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:D You caught me. I thought about clarifying that and only mentioning one of the two items of clothing and said, "Nah, it won't matter." You guys are a tough crowd. ;) Can't get away with anything. :D :D

But I wasn't far off. Here are the prices for a Samsung S26 Ultra:
1784401872093.png

Somebody is paying that much. I'll bet Leroy Jethro Gibbs never would. :D


@ST Gui - It's not really (i.e., a false equivalency). At least for me. I have realized in the last decade that I still think in terms of 1980's prices. I'll look at something and get flabbergasted at how expensive it is to my cheap soul. I've taught myself to compare it to something else that is also expensive, and yet something I would spend money on and not think twice about it. In this case, the phone is more than my cheap soul will allow. I was really upset when my Note 9 became obsolete and I had to buy a new phone, but I mitigated the cost by buying a Motorola that only ran about $450. But still...there are people who will drop $1100 to $1600 on a phone and justify it because I need to store all my pictures and music. And yet balk because of what it costs to protect my skin.
 
Sadlsor said:
List price $1600 for the Badlands Pro A3 jacket, $1100 for the pants.
I don't know of any phone that costs $2700.
But, yeah, I do get your point.
Like I said, we can rationalize most anything we really want.
Click to expand...
It's only money. You can't take it with you... they can only stuff so many crumpled up dollar bills into your Caddy with you when they bury you. Fewer if you want them to stuff the panniers full and bury you astride your bike (consider a bigger top box).:rofl1:
 
SMSW said:
Yeah, I used to feel that way when I put on my one piece 'Stitch. But it is an illusion. Too many people I know who got seriously hurt wearing expensive, highly rated motorcycle protective gear.
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It is an illusion to a point, but if you watch racers wipe out at stupid speeds; mix it up with other bikes and riders; tumble to a stop and run off trying to right their bikes and restart, well imagine they were doing it in jeans with a skull bucket and no gloves. In the end, all you can do is all you can do. You might end up ok and you might die.
 
SMSW said:
Yeah, I used to feel that way when I put on my one piece 'Stitch. But it is an illusion. Too many people I know who got seriously hurt wearing expensive, highly rated motorcycle protective gear.
Click to expand...
I think I mentioned this earlier, so forgive me if I seem to be repeating myself repeating myself. ;)

I did a lot of research in the changes to motorcycle riding gear first in looking for riding pants, and then recently in researching for a replacement summer jacket. Money spent does not equal protection level. I don't know the economics of using Cordura, but it must be expensive. Back when I bought my Olympia gear in about 2007 or so, "Cordura" was what you looked for first. And then the denier rating. High impact areas were 1200 or more denier, if I remember right. The rest was about 600 denier. It took you months of daily riding to get the material to "relax" and not be stiff like a suit of armour.

Fast forward to recent years when I started looking for replacement pants and jacket. Comfort and style are important -- maybe more important than protection. The Klim Induction jacket I just bought has 500D Cordura for the impact areas. The mesh is something called Karbonite. The jacket feels very supple to the touch when I put it on. I feel like I'm wearing nothing hardly. Which is what the customer wanted.

I have a little faith in the Klim gear, at least over what the other manufacturers sell. Cordura has been replaced with similar sounding terms like Oxford. Or simply polyester. Or like Dianese...canvas.

I can definitely see why your comment about people wearing some "expensive, highly rated motorcycle protective gear" could be seriously hurt. If I hadn't purchased that Klim Induction jacket, I probably would've bought one of the hundred dollar Amazon jackets. The difference in my mind between them and some of the jackets costing 2, 3 or even 4 times as much was not much.

Chris
 
Daboo said:
I have a little faith in the Klim gear, at least over what the other manufacturers sell. Cordura has been replaced with similar sounding terms like Oxford. Or simply polyester. Or like Dianese...canvas.

I can definitely see why your comment about people wearing some "expensive, highly rated motorcycle protective gear" could be seriously hurt.
Click to expand...
My point was simply that despite feeling 'armored' one is NOT completely protected. I was not saying anything more. The ATGATT guys I know who were injured/died would have survived only if they had been in another place at the time of the accident.

Yes, 'Stitch, Klim, Olympia, etc. pants and jackets offer some protection, but it is mostly for abrasion. The armor in the shoulders, knees, hips, elbows, back provides more impact protection than the fabric alone. Yet we are still vulnerable. We really have no meaningful way of comparing one brand to another. Because we are clothing a human body, any comparative test will be subjective. Does anyone know of an abrasion test for the fabrics and construction methods of the major brands?

I was under the impression that Klim offered protection equal to 'Stitch, Motoport, or any other premium brand, so I'm surprised at your "little faith in Klim gear". Like many of the guys here, my head uses prices from a decade ago (or more) to determine value, and I have a hard time swallowing a $2700 price tag (plus sales tax and maybe shipping). Does a new garment offer double the protection of a used one in good condition? That's a discussion for another thread.
 
SMSW said:
Does a new garment offer double the protection of a used one in good condition? That's a discussion for another thread.
Click to expand...
Why wait?
I doubt it, otherwise the more safety conscious among us would be replacing our riding gear every year or so.
I prefer buying used (not worn out), to stretch my nickels.
The outer material and chassis doesn't necessarily degrade - in my opinion - except maybe for waterproof treatment.
The pads will serve to mitigate impact, and the material will serve to mitigate abrasion, as mentioned.
But without an airbag or similar device, impact will still often hurt, or injure. Even an airbag is not a magic shield.
Riding is all about risk, and risk acceptance.
Some are willing to accept higher levels of risk.
 
SMSW said:
My point was simply that despite feeling 'armored' one is NOT completely protected. I was not saying anything more. The ATGATT guys I know who were injured/died would have survived only if they had been in another place at the time of the accident.

Yes, 'Stitch, Klim, Olympia, etc. pants and jackets offer some protection, but it is mostly for abrasion. The armor in the shoulders, knees, hips, elbows, back provides more impact protection than the fabric alone. Yet we are still vulnerable. We really have no meaningful way of comparing one brand to another. Because we are clothing a human body, any comparative test will be subjective. Does anyone know of an abrasion test for the fabrics and construction methods of the major brands?

I was under the impression that Klim offered protection equal to 'Stitch, Motoport, or any other premium brand, so I'm surprised at your "little faith in Klim gear". Like many of the guys here, my head uses prices from a decade ago (or more) to determine value, and I have a hard time swallowing a $2700 price tag (plus sales tax and maybe shipping). Does a new garment offer double the protection of a used one in good condition? That's a discussion for another thread.
Click to expand...
I guess there's more than one way to interpret my comment about having "a little faith" in Klim gear. :) What I meant was I have some faith in what they have for the construction and materials, enough to protect me in an accident. On the other gear???? -- it is a crap-shoot IMHO. I think the Klim gear will last for one accident. The Olympia gear looked really good after my 70 mph accident, but the least thick of the material on the Olympia jacket was more than the Klim has for the thickest. A few places on the Olympia jacket were scuffed up, but not badly enough to even notice unless I pointed them out to you. The jacket zipper finally failed and some of the stitching was starting to fail too. So because of the miles, sun damages and temperatures it had been through, I felt it was time to look for a replacement, rather than replace the zipper.

The only comparison for abrasion is the EN17092 certification. Be careful though, it is deceiving. Many of the jackets and pants only achieve an "A" rating. That's good for less than 1-2 seconds at 28 mph. After that, unless you roll to a new spot of contact with the pavement...it's you that is going through the abrasion testing. The descriptions of that testing seem to vary and are usually quoted in KPH, not MPH. My guess is that it looks better to say the gear will hold up to 45 kph rather than only 28 mph. They also often only mention that the Class A is good for low-speed urban riding. Well, what's that? 28 mph.

I went off the road going at least 70 mph. I didn't slow down till I was off the pavement. So I was moving a lot faster than what Class A gear would protect me at.

My comments were not in disagreement with what you wrote, just adding what I found. :)

My suggestion for anyone looking at riding gear is to do your research. At the age many of us are, we will heal slowly and maybe not enough to get back on a bike again. @Uncle Phil had his accident at virtually the same speed I did. I don't know that I would've healed as quickly as he did. And consider the cost of an ER visit. You have no idea how much that'll cost. :eek: My helicopter ride alone was over $900. While I gasp and fight for air when looking at the $2700 of this Klim gear Mellow posted about, it is far less than an ER visit.

Chris
 
A friend of mine went down when his carbon fiber front wheel on his Beemer disintegrated. He doesn't know if he hit a pothole or if the wheel shattered because a kindly truck following him dodged my sliding friend but ran over his bike and never stopped. My friend slid for about 150' with no major damage (he said he paced it off) other than multicolored bruises. I don't remember what brand of gear he wore, but it did not wear through. He was doing about 60 mph at 10.00 PM when this happened.
 
I was wearing a Tourmaster Sonora Air Jacket and First Gear mesh pants and I figure I slid somewhere between 50 to 100 feet.
There was no warning, no preparation - one minute I'm enjoying a lovely afternoon at 75 mph and the next minute I am bodysurfing down the highway at the same speed for a while.
I remember thinking as I slid - "How long is this going to last and what kind of shape am I going to be in when it stops?"
IIRC, the interstate was concrete (but it could have been asphalt) but at any rate it was pretty abrasive.
I had a couple of small burn through spots at one of my knees and elbows but practically no road rash - except on my hands where my gloves came off in the slide.
The air vest also took a lot of the 'rash' as one of the buckles was almost melted through and had several burn through holes.
From my perspective, I only expect my gear to work once in a serious get off - and that's all I need.
I pitched it just like I did the helmet I was wearing and felt good that I got my money's worth.
I don't know that I would trust my gear once it had been through a serious deal like I experienced - but that's me.
I think it is a bit like helmets - price does not necessarily indicate the protection provided with any safety gear.
Unfortunately sometimes you don't find out how good or bad it is until it is put into use - which I would not wish on anyone!
 
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