Olympia Moto Sports Voyager Jacket and Ranger 2 Pants

Olaf Wolff
AllAboutBikes.com Sr. Staff Writer

When Kevin and Karilea Rhea introduce new gear to their line of world-class motorcycle touring apparel – they road test it themselves first. In fact, chances are good that the new design was inspired during one of their many yearly tours.

Yeah, I’m a fan of their work; their gear hasn’t failed me yet. This round I went with their Voyager jacket and Ranger 2 pants. The pants are designed to zip together with either the AST or Voyager jackets, or worn separately. They’re billed as an over-pant, but I prefer them as just riding pants. The four top pockets and two oversized bellows pockets offer plenty of storage and the relaxed fit and appearance reminds me of a comfortable pair of jeans.

The outer shell is constructed from coated Cordura and features a waterproof/breathable seam sealed membrane inside, adding a second layer of waterproof protection. The removable Thermolite insulated liner pant also has a jean look. They have a belt-loop waist design, full side leg zippers and four additional storage pockets. They can also be worn alone after a ride – in a pinch. Although the rip stop nylon pant-liner is wind and water resistant, they’re a tad too retro-disco to wear alone for my taste.

The Ranger 2 pants have removable and adjustable height, CE approved, motion flex armor at the knees and removable EVA compression foam located at the hips. When worn without the liner, there’s a cool-mesh airflow lining that keeps the outer shell from contacting your skin, and keeps them comfortable during a fairly wide range of temperatures. There’s also Scotchlite reflective piping along the lower legs for increased night visibility.

The only two slight rubs I have with the pants are the belt-loops and the inseam options. I managed to squeeze and tug a typical 1 ¼ inch belt into position, but I’ve donated the belt to the pants, based on the sheer degree of difficulty. Widening the loops a smidge would be nice. The inseam is another story, because there aren’t options. If for example, you wear a 36 inch waist, you’re stuck with a 35 inch inseam. That’s fine-and-dandy off the bike, but seated, the pants creep up my boots too high.

I found nada on the Voyager jacket to nit-pick about however, even though I dared to live la vida loca with the color choice. I’m pretty sure the neon red (looks more orange) is visible from space. The Voyager is an all-weather, waist length, touring jacket, for those who prefer that style over the more traditional three-quarter length cut. It stays cozy through a reasonably wide range of temperatures, but taps out fairly early on the high end. The exclusive AVS shoulder to forearm and torso venting system has its limits. It’s not designed for the full brutal heat of late summer. Olympia offers other options for sweltering conditions.

The Voyager also features a coated Cordura shell and waterproof breathable seam sealed inner membrane, and a stand alone Thermolite insulated liner jacket. There are five waterproof exterior pockets and three interior pockets. You also get the entire prerequisite arsenal of CE approved armor at the elbows and shoulders, an articulated back protector, and reflective piping located along the front, sides and back. The custom fit detailing tabs at the collar, cuff, elbows and waist allowed to fine-tune the jacket exactly to my liking. This is top-shelve gear and at an affordable price.

Voyager Jacket - $289.99
Sizes S - 4XL

Ranger 2 Pants - $189.99
Sizes 30 - 44