MXA TEAM TESTED: ALPINESTARS PRO-DURA GEAR

WHAT IS IT? The first Alpinestars boots were developed in the early 1970s, and just 20 short years later, Alpinestars came out with its first line of technical apparel. Recently, Alpinestars released the Pro-Dura enduro gear line for athletes like Enduro GP champion Josep Garcia, World Hard Enduro up-and-comer Trystan Hart, and customers who want a durable and functional gear set that still has that cool Alpinestars look.

WHAT’S IT COST? $84.95 (jersey), $199.95 (pants). 

CONTACT? www.alpinestars.com or (800) 438-2577.

WHAT STANDS OUT? Here’s a list of things that stand out with the Alpinestars Pro-Dura gear.

(1) Concept. It’s in the name—Pro-Dura. Alpinestars wanted to keep the stretch and mobility of its high-end SuperTech gear (loved by top motocross pros) while using materials that better suit the brutal conditions of off-road racing and trail riding. 

(2) Jersey. The Alpinestars Pro-Dura jersey easily checked the box for breathability. Made of a basketball-jersey-like material that allows maximum airflow, it’s also stout enough to withstand an encounter with a tree branch or tip-over on the track. To increase airflow even further, Alpinestars included some perforations in the midsection and used an even lighter material on the back of the jersey (where it’s less likely to be damaged by roost and tree branches). A longer tail on the jersey allows for more comfort when transitioning between sitting and standing positions.

(3) Pants. The Pro-Dura pants start with ultra-stretchy material in the crotch, inner thigh and upper seat section so that mobility is second to none. From there, Alpinestars incorporates a canvas-style material on the outer thigh, knee, and lower seat portion of the pants. This dramatically improves durability, because these are the points that maintain contact with your motorcycle. The pants have two 8-inch zippered vents on each thigh, which is very unique, along with perforations to maintain the airflow goal of this gear set. Alpinestars has raised the bar for pant closure systems with its SX2 auto-locking magnetic buckle. Simply bring the buckle halves close together and let the magnet do the rest.

(4) Style and fit. The Alpinestars Pro-Dura gear comes in four colors: red, black, orange and blue. Alpinestars also offers a riding jacket and enduro-specific boots to match. If you’re on the bigger side or just like a little more room in your gear, the Pro-Dura gear set is for you. You’re not going to get the form-fitting style of Alpinestars SuperTech gear; you’ll get some added breathing room for those long days on the trail or at the track. 

WHAT’S THE SQUAWK? You will need to try these pants on before choosing a size. The MXA test riders found the size-32 Pro-Dura pants to be a bit tight around the waist.

MXA RATING: Do you want durability? Do you want fashion with functionality? Then we recommend the alpinestars Pro-Dura gear. Don’t be fooled; this gear is not only for enduro-style riding. Our test riders choose to race in this gear for its airflow and breathability.