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KLIM NEWS. -
KLIM NEWS.
Klim Overland Suit: Easy... But Technical
My name is Ned Suesse and I have a motorcycle problem. It all seemed so reasonable at the start. After years of avid bicycling, I thought a motorcycle would be perfect to venture a little further, see what was over the next horizon, go places that were too far to pedal. And I was right, they are just the ticket for that, there's no finer way to travel. My exploring started on pavement, but I couldn't contain my curiosity, and soon enough it was a dual sport, and then a pure dirtbike. I love the feeling of grace that a motorcycle has at speed, and that led me to start racing, and I fell down that slippery slope all the way to the finishers podium of the Dakar rally.
Through that whole journey, the fascination with going places, even mundane, local, boring places like the grocery store, never disappeared. But as my bikes became more specialized, and my gear got more technical, it became more of hassle and my car started getting more miles than it should. The gear that is right in Africa or South America, can be a little bit overkill for a trip around the block... but I didn't want to sacrifice the safety, the design, nor the comfort that I've become accustomed to in the Klim line.
When I saw the new Overland jacket, I thought that would be just the ticket for everyday use. I don't always need a bladder and harness system when I'm just picking up the mail or meeting a friend for a day ride. I wanted something simple and comfortable that has the protection I need, and the ability to both vent and keep me dry, and the Overland looked perfect.
From that perspective, the Overland is just right. The suit retains some of my favorite features from the higher end models- great ventilation, D3O padding, great fit and weatherproofness, but the lighter fabrics and simpler design mean that its easy to put on and live with day to day. When I show up at a meeting, I look a little less like a spaceman than I would in the Rally suit, but when I wear it, I'm both protected and comfortable. Gore keeps the elements outside, which is important in CO where the temperature can vary 60 degrees and weather comes in fast. I wouldn't choose it for rally racing, but let's be honest, that's not what I do every day. Ever since it showed up, it is the suit that comes off the hanger most often.
The overland suit is easy... but technical. Or maybe that's technical... but easy. Either way, it fits a need for me.
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