Royal Enfield Streetwind Eco Riding Jacket Review

Royal Enfield riding gears are among the most competitively priced gears on sale in the Indian market. In the past few years, I have used quite a few of their riding jackets and they have impressed me a lot. From protection to various use cases, the product portfolio is extensive. Royal Enfield has an environmentally friendly initiative ' ‘leave every place better” and there couldn’t be a better example of this than the new Streetwind Eco riding jacket as it has been made using recycled PET bottles! Here’s our take on the new Royal Enfield riding jacket.

What’s it?

As I mentioned before this riding jacket is crafted using 75 PET bottles. The process is rather complex as the PET bottles are converted into polyester chips and then turned into yarn. This yarn is then woven into the textile fabric that’s used to craft the jacket. The Streetwind Eco is a proper mesh jacket and is good for city rides. With respect to protection, you get elbow, shoulder and back protectors. The price for the jacket is ₹ 5,950.

What we liked?

In a mesh jacket, the most important element is air-flow and the Streetwind Eco scores highly in this department. Only in stop and go traffic does it feel a bit stuffy, but once you're on the move it cools you down soon. The other aspect that adds to the comfort factor is the weight of the jacket, heavy jackets can get uncomfortable on a long journey but because of its lightweight construction, that isn’t the case with the Streetwind Eco. There are two colour options, the off-white one which I am wearing and a yellow one. The colours are bright and youthful, and I must say in terms of looks, the Streetwind jacket does look cool.

What we didn't like?

The jacket has CE level 2 armour on the elbow and shoulder, the back protector is made of a thin foam, which I am unsure how helpful it would be in safeguarding the rider during a crash. I would urge riders to upgrade to a level 2 back armour as it will offer much better protection. In terms of fit, there are many straps to help you get the right fit, but I feel the sizing could be slightly better for a heavy rider like myself. Also, the feel of the jacket can feel a bit different from a conventional mesh jacket when you wear it first, but soon you get used to it.

Verdict

The Streetwind Eco is a great initiative from Royal Enfield to recycle PET bottles and RE claims that it’s India's first eco sustainable riding jacket. For this very reason, the Streetwind Eco has my respect as it offers protection to the rider, while ensuring we do our bit to help save the environment. Apart from the above, the Streetwind Eco performs the duty of a mesh riding jacket perfectly, which is being comfortable, lightweight and it does look cool. Yes, the protection is an issue, but it can be an easy fix by upgrading the armour. At ₹ 5,950, I think the Royal Enfield Streetwind Eco offers great value as well and is a great option for someone looking for a daily mesh jacket.