Klim Induction Pro jacket in grey

Now there has been an Induction Pro jacket in the Klim range for some time; and we have always known about it. We have always known that it flows more air than the Marrakesh, but we never stocked it because we thought it was less wearable, less easy to live with on a daily basis. But this brand new one is a significant step up, and so we have been persuaded to range it.

 

Klim tell us that the Induction Pro is very much an upgrade on its predecessor. The new one has more features. It is much more comfortable. It has upgraded armour. And it flows more air.

 

At times, we feel, Klim creates niches within niches to a degree that can be confusing to end users. But so be it; that's their bag. Now, in Klim's world, like the Marrakesh the Induction Pro is aimed at the road rider. There is also another very similar, new jacket/pant combo. coming from Klim in the near future; an upgraded Baja s4. That outfit, however, is very much aimed at the off-road rider, even though the technical spec. of the jacket is very similar to this one's. The main difference will largely come down to fit; the Baja S4 being baggier and squarer.

 

Now around 20% of the chassis of the Induction Pro's surface area is constructed from the same material the Marrakesh is made from. That is to say a heavy-duty 1000 denier Cordura that is infused with stretch. This fabric is obviously highly breathable, but it's the stretch it incorporates that makes the Marrakesh so nice to wear. And indeed it is the inclusion of this fabric that contributes to the wearability of the Induction Pro.

 

Here we have to make it clear that the Induction Pro doesn't get close to the Marrakesh when it comes to comfort, however. The Marrakesh is 100% stretch Cordura. The Induction Pro is 20%, or thereabouts.

 

But 60% of the Induction Pro consists of a micro-mesh fabric that Klim calls Karbonite, although what we've come to realise is that Klim terms many fabrics Karbonite, whatever they're made from! But what cannot be denied is that this flows much more air than the stretch Cordura fabric. Most of the front of the jacket, nearly all of the back of the jacket , and significant parts of the arms are made up from this micro-mesh.

 

The truth is that this Klim jacket has been made to meet the requirements of riders in the southern states of the USA. We're talking about states such as Texas, Florida, Louisiana and Georgia. And even Hawaii. In the summer, the temperature in these states can easily be well in to the mid-nineties for long periods of time, and in such conditions even a Marrakesh might be found to be wanting.

 

But it can get hot here too. If you tour in Spain or Italy, you can easily experience temperatures like this. And of course you often will if you end up in Africa, India or somewhere like Australia.

 

The downside, though, is that in lower temperatures, such as those we regularly ride in here in the UK, the Induction Pro runs the risk of simply flowing too much air. You can get chilly in a Marrakesh even on a British summer's day; and if that's the case you could freeze to death in an Induction Pro! It would make a Zephyr windproof and a down jacket even more important. And even then this might not be enough!

 

In terms of protection, the Induction Pro is certainly a step up from the Marrakesh. Now they both meet the same AA standard under EN17092, but as hopefully most of you will know EN17092 is really just an abrasion test. It's doesn't indicate the level of protection offered by a garment. Abrasion resistance is only half of the equation; and not necessarily the most important half. But what you get with the Induction Pro that you don't get with the Marrakesh is shaped, Level 2, D3O throughout. And this will make the Induction Pro more protective both from an impact, and an abrasion-resistance, perspective.

 

Of course, we do offer an exchange scheme on the Marrakesh to upgrade the Level 1 Ghost to Level 2 Diablo, although obviously there is a cost attached to this. But without doubt the standard, shaped D3O that comes in the Induction Pro will once again compromise comfort.

 

There's another protective element to the Induction Pro, and that's the breathable, goat-leather overlays that you get on the shoulders and elbows. Go down the road, and this leather will, at the very least, prevent damage being done to the jacket.

 

In terms of the detailing, the spec.of the Induction Pro is what you might expect. So a zipped, chest pocket, two zipped, lower pockets, four pockets of various shapes and sizes inside the jacket. And a pocket on the sleeve for a credit card and other stuff.

 

There's a volume adjuster on the forearm. And a drawstring in the hem. One thing we like here is that there's some 'give' in the waistband in the way that there isn't on the Marrakesh. This will make it more accommodating of larger waists, we hope.

 

Another small thing we approve of is the 600 denier Cordura material at the end of the cuffs. If you do end up going down the road the last thing you want is the cuff ripping for then, suddenly, the forearm is exposed. The banding at the end of the arm will ensure this doesn't happen.

 

In recent years layering has become the big thing. And by layering we don't mean putting on a fleece inside your Rukka jacket. We're talking about garments that can be worn without a membrane, to allow the air to flow both in and out.

 

The Marrakesh has set the bar. It is the benchmark, and we love it. But the hordes of Ghengis Khan are gathering in the hills waiting to descend into the valley. We know of a number of brands who, having seen the popularity of the Marrakesh, will shortly be bringing their own version to the market.

 

The new Rukka Air Karvik is a recent arrival. It comes with much bigger, level 2 armour than the Marrakesh, a connecting zip, and the facility to take a chest protector. Importantly, it comes in 11 sizes, as opposed to the Marrakesh's disappointing six. But, in typical Rukka fashion, it comes in either a rather dull black or a totally impractical white. 

 

Now even though it's made by Klim one has to see the Induction Pro as a challenger to the Marrakesh. The way we see it, off the hanger it's more protective, and it's certainly going to flow more air. And that may be important if you are based in Manila. But it's likely to be less so if you live in Maidenhead. In fact, if you do most of your riding in the UK we reckon the Induction Pro is somewhat impractical. More importantly, though, it's nowhere near as understated or comfortable as the Marrakesh. You can walk into a restaurant in a Marrakesh, and nobody will blink an eye. Turn up in the Induction Pro, and how you got there will be obvious to all.

 

In conclusion, therefore, we take the view that the Induction Pro is a great bit of kit, provided that it's the right bit of kit for the kind of riding you do. But we still think the Marrakesh represents a much more useable and wearable package; especially once you've upgraded to Level 2 Diablo!