Moose XCR Racewear Review

The Score:

I got my first set of Moose gear last year and it just happened to be the top-shelf XCR line. Completely in love with this stuff, I rode it throughout our entire enduro season with a mind for nothing else. Raving to my buddies about how good it was eventually led to one of them borrowing it for a day. He stayed pretty tight-lipped afterwards and managed to avoid me long enough to get one final ride with the well-worn combo. After retrieving his mangled bike from the woods, spending all night in the hospital and bringing him all my most recent moto mags, he still won't give them back. Apparently he likes to keep the tattered remains as a memento (that nurse was a whiz with scissors). See, they were so good even he couldn't bear to scrap 'em.

This year I renewed my XCR love affair with a bigger, better set of duds. Moose Racing was kind enough to not only replace the pants, jersey and gloves, but also included one of their spiffy enduro jackets and the Quick Coat rain jacket for those impromptu showers.

The Scoop:

XCR Pant
The pant turned out to be just what I expected, and wanted, out of the 2007 version. It retains the high level of construction and materials. Nylon/polyester with double and triple stitched seams, stretch panels, injection-molded logos and leather-reinforced knees have kept the pre-bent pants from succumbing to my best attempts at abuse. The thing I like best is how Moose trimmed up the thigh area. Though I loved last year's stuff, the one complaint I had was how much extra material was in the upper leg area. This year, all that excess is gone lending to a better fitting, sleek looking and higher performing pant. Some of the best have just gotten better. There wasn't one thing I wanted different. With an MSRP of $139.95 these babies don't come cheap. But don't worry, they're actually a value purchase.

XCR Jersey
Versatile - that's the only way to describe the XCR jersey. Consisting of two different types of semi-ventilated polyesters, it offers just enough airflow to be worn when hot and just enough wind protection for chilly mornings. I logged laps on the moto track in SoCal and sweated my cajones off but the jersey kept things tolerable by pulling moisture off my back and drying quickly. When I wore it in Costa Rica and doused myself time and time again in water crossing photos, again I was surprised at how quickly it dried out, despite the humidity.

Sublimated graphics are much more attractive this year to my eyes, and nothing ever faded out. It did stain very easily, like last year's, but that says as much about my laundering skills as anything. Another reminiscent feature is the micro Lycra cuffs. They are very easy to live with because of their non-restrictive nature, but they sure don't stick around long. I lost one after the first wash and another before my second ride was complete. However, something that does stick around is the Tac-grip silicone on the lower back, which does a good job of keeping the tail section tucked in.

XCR Gloves
Compared to the 2006 version, the new model glove is a draw. The old mitts were the definition of comfort and durability. I still wear the old ones occasionally just for something to compare other brands against. What it was lacking was some styling and a little extra protection. Well, that's exactly what it got for 2007, but it was a little overkill. The Clarino palm and wrap-around fingertips are as tough as ever, but the extra rubber tab on the back of the hand is a tad too wide and unforgiving, especially when it's brand new. The rubber extends up onto the wrist which makes the throttle-twisting motion a little stiff. Overall it's a great glove, and if Moose would just make the wrist area a little lower-profile and lop off that additional rubber there wouldn't be a single thing to complain about.

XCR Jacket
The jacket has slightly less color options than the pant/jersey/glove combos, but we elected to go full-pumpkin and get the orange outerwear to match the rest of our stuff. We thought it might be a little over the top, but it all looks so good that even the biggest wise-asses in our crew had nothing to say. At first it seems just like other jackets, but a few features set it apart.

First off, the sizing runs a little big. All of our other stuff was right on the money, but our XL jacket was pretty loose. We went a little big because I like to wear my chest protector underneath the jacket. With the XCR I could put my CamelBak under there also, which I normally don't. Made from T300D polyester, the $169.95 jacket has a polyurethane coating to help keep water out. The zippers are water-proofed as well, including the underarm vents, and the whole jacket repels moisture very well. A mesh-lined rear vent lets plenty of internal moisture off your steamy back. The vents were an exceptional feature. They actually worked too well. Usually I ride with everything wide open and even partially unzipped in front. With the XCR I had to continually stop and readjust the sleeve vents to from 1/4 to full-open before I finally found my happy place. I would normally bag on it for not having removable sleeves because I love to ride in vests, but I never needed more airflow because the vents work so well.

I never went down while wearing the jacket, but I did bash it against a few trees and snag it on plenty of overhanging brush without negative effects - it's tough. Reinforced shoulders and elbows add durability and reflective graphics bring versatility as a dual-sport option. The front hand pockets were a little high for me to comfortably use them while strolling the pits, but they have plenty of space, as does the inner chest pocket. The whole thing can be stored and converted into a fanny pack if the clouds suddenly break and things get too hot.

Quick Coat
Here was a little gem that I originally requested just as a back-up for my Costa Rica trip. I figured (correctly) that it would be too hot for the XCR jacket, but I was concerned about a sudden rainforest downpour catching me unaware. Fortunately, that never happened, but I did pack the PVC-coated nylon water shell all week. After that I brought it home to Oregon and ran it in the rain and snow. I ordered an XL so that it could get tossed on over the top of everything in emergency rain situations, but it's supposed to be tight-fitting and worn under the chest protector. The elastic collar, cuffs and waist help keep out wind as well as water and it has a rear vent to help let out body heat.

It feels a little chintzy at first, but it breaks in and is actually very tough. I don't think it would fare very well in a crash, though. The zipper sometimes wants to come undone at the very bottom, which is annoying. A quick-zip almost always ends with the bottom splitting, so take a spare second to give it an extra tug when you start zipping and it shouldn't be a problem. Once I figured that out it worked so well that I now keep it in my truck when I'm not riding. I pull it out of the glove box for all kinds of reasons, and it now gets more use for non-riding activities just because I've come to like it so much. I use it to wash bikes and cars, walk my dog, and even as a  windbreaker during men's league baseball practices - hell, my girlfriend steals it when the weather looks bad. For $34.95, I've found more uses for this lightweight, comfortable shell than Moose ever intended. It's worth every penny.

The Sentence:

Any rider who is looking to spend some money for top-notch gear should head straight to Moose Racing. We had everything except the hard protection (helmet, boots, chest protector) from the off-road heavy-hitters and the only real problem we have is trying to get out more often and enjoy our orange ensemble. The cost is comparable to the rest of the market but this gear offers a little extra.

While enduro guys have been wearing this stuff forever, motocross is a different story. You won't need a jacket on the track but the rest of this gear is awesome and still has that "different" factor as it continues to gain popularity with the MX crowd. Just don't loan it to your buddies. Chances are you'll never get it back - for one reason or another.

Product: Moose XCR Racewear

Color Options: Blue, Bronze, Lime, Orange, Red, Stealth, Yellow

MSRP: Pants - $139.95; Jersey - $44.95; Glove - $29.95; Jacket - $169.95; Quick Coat - $34.95

Buy It Now: Moose Racing XCR Pants; XCR Jersey; XCR Glove; XCR Jacket; Quick Coat

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