The comfort of “laminate” combined with style. The complete Tempest 3 D-Dry by Dainese offers the possibility to travel in all seasons, without worrying about rain or (off-road) mud. It can be used all year round, with a preference for autumn and spring. We will see why.
As did
The length of the jacket is one middle ground between a jacket and a touring, with fairly large pockets at the waist, with vertical loading and velcro-zip closure. On the chest there are two vertical zips to manage ventilation, in combination with two other small horizontal zips on the shoulder line. The collar has a neoprene interior with velcro closure and a slider to adjust the width with the same type of closure. The front zip is covered by a flap along the entire length, with button closure. This gaiter guarantees waterproofness even under showers. Along that “canal”, there is a “Napoleonic” pocket on the right, always useful for documents or small wallets. The lower part can be adjusted with the help of elastics with guillotine slider, such as those of an anorak. On the back, there is one lumbar pocket vertical loading and velcro flap closure. On both sides there is a slider to adjust the width of the jacket, an operation that on the sleeves is entrusted to two buttons at the height of the bicep. The final part has a wrist with velcro adjustment, with an opening wide enough to allow the insertion of a glove. Still on the front, there are two vertical hinges with a slight “V” inclination towards the center that follow the line of the chest and serve to manage the air inlets, which after cooling the torso can come out of the two vertical air intakes along the sides. On the back there is one quite large lumbar pocketbut without bellows, with flap closure secured by velcro.
Photo by Maurizio Bosio (Reporters)
On the inside, then, there are two symmetrical open pockets at chest height designed to accommodate the thoracic protection and one on the back for the dorsal one. Also inside, fixed with hinges there is one very thin quilt, which can be used on colder days to keep the body temperature constant. Bottom right, the padding has a vertical loading pocket with a central velcro point convenient for storing documents or any other flat objects. Inside, we find the zipper to connect the jacket to all pants of the house in Vicenza.
Photo by Maurizio Bosio (Reporters)
THE trousers they are made of the same D-Dry material, have Velcro waist adjustments and two button closure on the flap. The zipper, then, covers a gaiter designed to guarantee waterproofing. At the bottom, the width is adjusted with Velcro and on the outer sides of the legs there is a zipper that opens a bellows, to facilitate the putting on of the boots. At the waist, there are two pockets with zipper closure and 30 degree oblique insertion. Above the knee there is a gusset to prevent the protections from moving when seated.Also the trousers have a thermal lining, of the same consistency as the one chosen for the jacket. On the thighs there are two zippers to adjust the air intakesuseful when the temperature is warmer.
Photo by Maurizio Bosio (Reporters)
THE gloves they are always in D-Dry, padded and waterproof, with the palm in leather, but the compatibility with the touch screen is only on the tip. The cuff is quite short and has a velcro closure. On the left thumb, there is a tab to be used for cleaning the visor from the rain.
How are you
The test took place driving a BMW R1250 GS in the city, on extra-urban fast-flowing roads (state and provincial roads towards Novara or Vercelli), but also in the hills of the Langhe, with an episode even over 1600 meters in the Cuneo area. With a short (but intense) off-road trip. The temperatures: from 2 to 18 degrees.
Photo by Maurizio Bosio (Reporters)
Just worn, the suit puts you at ease. Adjustments are easy and the fabric appears quite soft, making movements always “free”. The protections (level 2) are soft and do not “point” under any circumstances. The air resistance is optimal, for the rain we had to settle for a test with an almost spring drizzle: exam passed with flying colors. Thermal insulation deserves a separate discussion. The attire was always the same, with the suit worn over Sixs underwear and mid-layer. With the “quilt” mounted, a speed between 100 and 130 kilometers the hour the ideal employment is with temperatures between 6 and 12 degrees. When the mercury approaches zero, the feeling is that the padding is unable to maintain body heat as much as we would like. Nothing that can’t be overcome with an extra middle layer or battery-heated garment. For trousers, no problem: usually, the legs are less sensitive to cold and the padding (perhaps added to technical underwear) is more than enough. Let me be clear, the perception of heat and cold are subjective and the impressions expressed are linked to completely personal sensations.
Photo by Maurizio Bosio (Reporters)
The same goes for the heat. Up to 12-15 degrees, it is possible to drive with the internal padding. In addition, there is the risk of the sauna, although the D-Dry fabric has good breathability and the air intakes help ventilation. But you can’t have it all. Of course, the fans of the off-road driving they will not suffer from the “thrill” effect: in that activity, the body produces heat that the jacket is able to maintain longer than in static driving phases. After a few kilometers on a road with earth, mud (a little), loose stones and slabs of frozen snow, the conditions of the suit were not exactly like a parade on the catwalk, also thanks to a slip in a “heavy” stretch of land. Despite this, once we got home it was enough a few brush strokes to restore the Tempest 3 to its splendor.
On the other hand, the season did not allow us to test the suit in the highest temperatures, but the few vents on the jacket suggest that the Tempest 3 does not perform at its best in equatorial heat. The same consideration applies to gloves, which offer good comfort and protect from the cold with the same limitations as the suit. One aspect that could be improved is related to glove size: to increase thermal insulation, Dainese has chosen arather voluminous paddingwhich, however, makes the gloves a little “chubby” and this risks fatigue in prolonged driving.
Photo by Maurizio Bosio (Reporters)
Conclusions
The complete is great for covering autumn and spring, with a minimum adaptation in “onion” clothing, it can face winter without problems, but perhaps it could make people suffer a little above 25 degrees. The advantage of being able to travel without a rain suit, however, is always an added value, especially when the journeys are several hundreds of kilometers a day, perhaps crossing several states and different climatic zones. And with the Tempest 3, style is guaranteed.
Prices
Tempest 3D-Dry jacket: € 329.95
Tempest 3D-Dry Pants: 229.95
Tempest 3D-Dry Short Gloves: 99.95
