Alpinestars Leonis Drystar Air Jacket

These jackets are sold in US based “alpha” sizes, so selecting a size is basically pretty easy. For most people, you would choose the size you normally wear in men’s clothing. Alpinestars publishes a super-complicated size chart which can be used to pick a size based upon your chest and waist. We’ve condensed their chart down to make it easy to read (see below). The waist is adjustable with Velcro tabs. Overall this should be a very easy style to fit.

I found the taper from chest to waist of these jackets to be on the sporty side, but not so much that it won’t work for most people. So if you have a bit of a belly, please check to make sure that the size you pick will be big enough for both your chest and belly. Example: an XL is a 46” max chest and the max belly would be about 42”.

Jacket Size	Chest Range	Max Belly
Small	37.5 to 39	35
Medium	40 to 41.5	37
Large	42 to 43.5	40
XL	44.5 to 46	42
XXL	47 to 49	45
XXXL	49 to 51	47
XXXXL	51.5 to 53	49

About sizing when accessory armor is used: I’d recommend you add 1” to your chest and belly measurements if you plan on adding the chest pads and the KR-1i back pad, which will be most peoples upgrade choice. If you want to add the KR-2I back pad, add 2”.

Need help measuring? Get it here.

The Leonis Drystar Air jacket is a very versatile jacket that will take you through three seasons and rain too! I find this style to be almost identical to the T-Core Air Drystar jacket. the T-Core has a slightly more sporty style… it has the built in armor pods on the shoulders and has a more tapered sleeve cuff end (like sport jackets where you wear gauntlet gloves over). The Leonis has a more traditional sleeve end with a wider cuff and does not have the extra built in shoulder armor. I’d say it is built more for a street rider than a sport rider (its a subtle difference I know). Anyway, the basic review of this jacket is almost identical to the T-Core, so here are my comments:

The shell of this jacket is part mesh and part textile materials. I’d say over half the front and back surface area is the mesh material, so we’ll call it a mesh jacket and declare it for use in summer months. Its probably a three season design… spring summer and fall. And this jacket comes with a removable Drystar waterproof liner. The liner can serve two purposes. First, you can wear this liner in the rain and secondly using the liner in cooler weather will block the wind a extend the useful temp range of the whole jacket. You’d be surprised in the difference in using a windproof liner in a jacket that is mostly mesh. Its particularly hand for trips that involve big temp swings like mountain passes, or starting off early on a cool morning. One handy enhacement with this jacket is that there is a built in fanny pouch you can use to store the liner when you aren’t using it. The liner is pretty think and packs down to a small package.

For 2018 many Alpinestars jackets have LOTS of armor options and this one is no exception. Firstly, you get CE-certified level 2 Bio Air shoulders and elbow protectors. These are heavy duty units which plenty of air passages to make them compatible with a summer jacket. Level 2 means they are more substantial and have better crash protection than level 1 stuff which is what most street jackets are fitted with. This jacket also includes chest and back protection capability. There are two chest pad compartments in front and the traditional back pad compartment. The jacket comes standard with thin foam “place holder” armor pieces, but you can upgrade those with CE certified units (see the links below). Most will opt for the level one back pad although there is a level 2 back pad available as well. This jacket also has the anchor point for the larger KR-R back protector is typically an accessory for track use, so I don’t anticipate many people opting for something like that, but it is an option. We’ve got good descriptions of both, so just click through the links to consider those options.

Some other things I like with this style is the waterproof inside breast pocket. This pocket is accessible just inside the main front zipper and it is reachable even with the liner zipped in. You can put things in that pocket you don’t want to get wet if it rains. For jacket designs like this one, where the waterproof liner is UNDER the shell, the jacket will get wet in the rain, including the pockets, so having a place to carry sensitive items is a big plus.

I also like how this jacket has plenty of adjusters for fit… on the lower arm, the bicep and the sides of the waist. Those adjusters will help you adapt the fit for the liner (or no) and varying clothes underneath.

So the Leonis gives you another styling option for a jacket for summer that can also handle rain. And with all that, you get the best armor package on the market for a street jacket. :: Paul, 05-25-18