Klim Baja S4 jacket in black / fiery red

The Klim Baja S4 jacket in concept is very similar to the company's Induction Pro jacket. This is the new upgraded version launched in 2025. Somewhat confusingly, Klim call their redesigned versions of items exactly the same as the earlier versions!

 

The chassis of the jacket comprises a number of materials. A large part of it is constructed from the same stretch-infused 1000 denier Cordura that is used throughout on the Marrakesh. And it is this that gives the Baja S4 its comfort. Now this material is highly breathable in its own right, but it doesn't flow anywhere near as much air as the Schoeller-Dynatec mesh material that runs all the way down the front of the jacket. There's more of this mesh on the biceps and the forearms. And across the back. No two ways about it; this jacket is going to flow a lot of air.  In a few areas, in and around the collar, at the cuffs and at the hem there's durable 750 denier Cordura.

 

In terms of protection, the jacket rates AA for abrasion resistance under EN17092. For impact protection, the jacket is equipped with Level 1, D3O XTR armour in the elbows and shoulders. There's a Level 1 back protector included as standard. 

 

Now when you’re riding off-road the abrasion resistance rating of a jacket or pant is rarely an issue. And that’s because sliding is not what you tend to do if you part company with the bike. When things go wrong off-road, what causes problems is hitting stuff. And that’s where the armour comes in. So whilst the AA abrasion-resistance rating in the Baja S4 is not unimpressive, the Level 1 armour is less so. And so if that’s where we were bound in the Baja S4 the first thing we would do is upgrade to Level 2 armour. 

 

On the elbows and shoulders you get panels of SuperFabric. This is a highly abrasion-resistant material made from small, ceramic balls. 

 

In some ways, the Baja S4 is a fairly simple bit of kit, so there aren't loads of fancy bells and whistles. You get hooks to hold the collar of the jacket open. There are adjuster straps on the biceps. The sleeves fasten with Velcro flaps, but you don't get zips.

 

There are two lower pockets. These double up, so they have a zip compartment or can be used as hand warmer pockets. There are no upper pockets; and that's because, quite rightly, Klim didn't want anything to interrupt the flow of air through the jacket's mesh panels. 

 

There are two more zip pockets in the jacket's mesh lining. You also get a couple of mesh pouches on the inside; perfect for a phone, for example. There's a credit card pocket on the sleeve. Whilst on the back there's a large, map pocket. Behind the back protector there's a pocket for a bladder, where, as with all Klim jackets, you'll also find one of their famous 'hidden’ pockets.

 

In the hem there's an elasticated adjuster cord to enable the waist to be cinched in a little, and that is going to come in handy because, as with the Marrakesh, the Baja doesn't come in enough sizes. In fact, just six. What six sizes means is that the Baja is not infrequently going to be too big; aided of course by the fact that the fit is quite boxy. And in such circumstances cinching in the hem may be of some help.

 

There's a lot of 3M Carbon Black reflective material on the jacket. And you get a short zip to allow the jacket to be connected to the matching Klim pant.