When riding in the summer, I’ve referred to myself as a “perfaholic” for my love of perforated leather jackets. However, when it gets really hot, I need mesh. The Klim Induction Pro jacket is the top of the Idaho-based company’s mesh jacket lineup, and likely one of the nicest mesh numbers I’ve seen.
The Klim Induction Pro jacket doesn’t pretend to be an all-season/all-weather ADV jacket with lots of cargo-carrying capability—it’s a hot-weather garment. It is constructed chiefly of Klim’s proprietary Karbonite high-strength mesh and Karbonite four-way stretch 1000 denier Cordura on the back of the shoulders.
Throw in a bit of 3M Scotchlite reflective material, YKK zippers, D3O CE level 2 elbow and shoulder armor, a D3O CE level 1 back protector, 750 denier Cordura shoulders and cuffs, 600 denier Cordura bottom hem, perforated goat leather elbows, a moisture-wicking polyester mesh liner, and some of the decorative trim, the Klim Induction Pro is born. As expected from Klim, the build quality is top-notch.
I have put thousands of blistering miles on this jacket since I received it. It was 103F on a recent ride to Central California’s toasty New Cuyama and, while the jacket didn’t perform any miracles, it was as good as it could be. Klim’s creation is about a breezy as one might find in any motorcycle jacket.
Construction of the Induction Pro is such that the fabric does not flap incessantly at highway speeds in an irritating way, which happens with under-constructed mesh garments. Instead, it retains its comfortable shape, contradicting what you might imagine.
I’m usually a US 44-46, and Klim’s Large fits me nicely with room for a cooling vest. Sizing is American rather than EU; the latter often requires me to go up a size or two. I always want my perfed and mesh jackets to be slightly loose to aid circulation. A slim-fit vented jacket can defeat its intended purpose.
Some riders argue that one is better off with a jacket that seals you off from the elements to retain body moisture, but I disagree. I want airflow to aid evaporative cooling; I drink enough water to keep hydrated. I often add a Macna Dry Cooling Vest under the jacket, and the full air circulation aids immensely in its cooling effect. While the Macna is good, the dunk-type polymer-infused cooling vests are even more effective.
Notable details include adjustable hook and loop cuff and bottom skirt gathers, strap and buckle forearm adjusters, a zippered chest pocket, two handwarmer pockets, and a vertical internal zippered pocket. The Mandarin collar has no closure and is lined with a soft, suede-like material.
I’ve got many fabric jackets that sport all sorts of innovative vents. Yet, I’ve found in 90+ degree weather, venting is just not enough. I have a large rack of perforated and vented jackets; the Klim Induction Pro jacket is the one I’ve been wearing on every single ride hot ride lately, and if the weather continues like it has, I’ll be wearing it until November. With a $500 price tag, the Induction Pro is noticeably pricier than many mesh jackets, yet Klim delivers what you pay for.
Klim Induction Pro Jacket Fast Facts
- Sizes: SM – 3X
- Colors: Stealth Black; Cool Gray; Asphalt-Redrock; Asphalt-Hi-Vis
- Elbow and shoulder protection: D3O CE LP2 Pro Armor
- Back protection: D3O Viper CE Level 1
Klim Induction Pro Jacket Price: $500 MSRP
