New Klim Technical Apparel for 2018

Klim has long been known in the adventure and snow segments as premium technical riding gear, and it has been the choice of moto-adventurers the world over. For 2018 it’s great to see Klim continuing to advance the functionality and technicality of its garments. Klim’s flagship model, the Badlands jacket and pant, has now been revised and revamped with even more real-world usability, upgraded armor developed with D3O, and higher-strength materials. Also, new going into 2018 is the women’s Artemis jacket which has been purpose-built with women in mind.

Motorcycle.com had the chance to attend Klim’s media presentation of the new garments during the Long Beach International Motorcycle Show to get a first look at the tech woven into these new models.

The Badlands Pro for 2018 builds on Klim’s flagship model to include more abrasion-resistant materials including Superfabric panels in key impact areas such as the shoulders, elbows, and forearms, as well as Klim’s exclusive Karbonite Ripstop material behind the Superfabric panels and in high wear areas.

Klim has also worked to improve rider usability in terms of ergonomic fit while riding and accessibility to zippers and pockets. To help improve comfort in warmer conditions, the Badlands Pro jacket has 16 zippered ventilation channels throughout the jacket.

Klim continues to work with Gore-Tex and its 3-layer Pro Shell technology, which is mated to the outer shell to provide Klim’s Guaranteed To Keep You Dry promise. Pretty simple, if you get wet due the jacket failing, send it back to Klim and they will repair or replace it if they find the garment has malfunctioned.

Select garments, including the Badlands Pro, also includes a five-year warranty from manufacturer defect. As an additional peace of mind, Klim offers its street protection plan in which riders who have an accident and obtain a police report can send in their crashed garment and Klim will replace it for free.

The Badlands Pro is designed to give the user ultimate functionality in all conditions, and Klim knows its customers put that to the test on a regular basis while traveling the world. The new jacket and pant was reworked to provide those who live in their garment day in and day out with even more functionality from its ventilation ports and Klimatek cooling material to the adjustability offered to get the perfect fit. The jacket also features three secret pockets to store travel documents and valuables, while anti-odor properties keep it smelling fresh months after your world travel begins.

When creating the new Badlands Pro, Klim went back to the drawing board to ask if D3O was still providing the best protection and comfort available for its customers.

The answer? Yes, but there were still areas that could be improved to offer maximum comfort to the end user. That is where Klim’s D3O Aero Pro comes in. Klim says the new Aero Pro armor offers as much as 5x more ventilation with 44% percent more coverage. While we haven’t yet sampled the new D3O on the road, the fit and ventilation seems like it will definitely be an upgrade over previous D3O protectors.

The new Klim D3O Aero Pro is found in the shoulders, elbows, hips, coccyx, and knees of the Badlands Pro jacket and pant. The upgraded protectors are also said to exceed CE Level 2 certifications, something Klim kept in mind as motorcycle gear regulations change in Europe.

Oddly enough, we didn’t see a Klim D3O Aero Pro back protector. It seems the Badlands Pro jacket will use the same D3O Viper Pro back piece it has used previously. With companies such as Dainese producing similar honeycomb-shaped protectors, one would think a back protector in the same vein as the Aero Pro would be a logical inclusion.

Klim paid attention when developing the Artemis’ ventilation system to work with the female form. In fewer words, underboob ventilation. While these vents account for only two of a total of 10 ventilation options, Klim says this was a welcome incorporation to the venting scheme after consulting its female adventure-riding testers.

D3O is again the armor of choice, however, the Artemis sticks to CE Level 1 protectors rather than the new Aero Pro CE Level 2 protectors found in the Badlands. The Artemis is also devoid of the Superfabric panels used on the men’s Badlands set up.

The new women’s model also includes an anti-odor coating and 10 different storage pockets to help give riders as much use as possible from a jacket they may very well be spending the trip of a lifetime in.