Perhaps one of the hardest things to do in the motocross industry, other than hitting a set of Supercross whoops, would be to start up a new clothing brand. And add on top of that adding a gear line to that brand! Well, if someone is brave enough to do that, they deserve a look at what they have to offer and that is just what I did. Check out this Try Out of DirtVibe’s splash into the world of performance riding apparel.
You have not heard of DirtVibe, you say? Well allow me to introduce you to this local Arizona brand. It is a loving father indulging his son who wanted to get kids that ride into racing. Let’s face it, going to your first race can be intimidating. Less so if you have a team behind you to show you the ropes. And what better way to feel like a team then with a uniform? Enter DirtVibe’s Holeshot Combo. Let’s break it down.
Look
The Holeshot collection is right up my ally. I am not one for bright and loud colors of recent or retro trends so the solid blacks, grays, and reds scratched that fashion itch. Getting up close you can see the intricate patterns and the clever way they incorporate the DirtVibe name into the tail of the shirt and along the sleeves. The patterns and logo continued into the pants completing the overall look. I also opted to have my name and number added to the jersey. It’s not an iron on that will peel off after the first wash. Rather, it’s sublimated into the jersey ensuring it will last as long as you do. However, opting for the name and number does increase the delivery lead time. Overall, the look is sharp and clean.
Feel
The feel of the material is not any different than any other brand on the market. The jersey is light and airy (sizing was correct). Wearing it is very comfortable and there were not any tight spots or awkward binding. One thing I did not care for were the sleeve cuffs and neck. These were more of a knit material. It was not constricting but I think it would have a better look and feel without them added.
The pants seem durable and there is some heavier stitching where it counts. There is a standard inner lining that runs within the pant giving it a smooth feeling on the legs. The waist does have some elastic for those in between sizes along with a Velcro strap on one side to synch up when needed and a ratcheting closure on the front. The sizing here was a little off. I would suggest going one size bigger and using the Velcro strap to tighten it up.
Gloves are a one piece palm/fingers with small perforated holes for venting. The top is a light and thin material that feels very nice. However, there is not any padding to deflect harsh roost, or foliage if you are out trail riding. And a tip over may allow dirt to get through the perforated holes. So, just get the holeshot an don’t crash!
Performance
The Holeshot passed the look and feel test, so how does it do on the track? Would it be a good thing to say that I don’t remember it while riding? I think so.
The Holeshot gear allowed me to put in the laps and focus on what I was doing, not what I was wearing. When I did force myself to think about it, the pants felt great when griping the bike with my knees and it did not get hung up anywhere on my bike as I moved around on it or when lifting my leg in the corners. I think I will have to put some more time on it to see if the dreaded monkey butt flares up, but my backside felt fine after a day of riding.
This is not a vented set of gear but when riding the jersey had decent airflow. The material is not abrasive so I did not get any weird rub burns. As I mentioned above, the jersey does not have any tight spots. A lot of riding jersey options on the market are form fitting, which is not a good look for me. The Holeshot jersey was the right mix of fitting well, but not too well if you know what I mean, and did not restrict movement while on the bike.
The gloves were comfortable and I felt like I had a good grip on the controls. One of my pet peeves with gloves is when they have excess material in the palm and it bunches up in the palm when holding onto the grips. Not the case with Holeshot gloves. I had full feel of my half waffle grips and no issues when grabbing for the clutch and brake lever. I did not tip over in any corners so no hand plants in the dirt to see if those perforated holes in the palm introduced dirt into the glove.
Overall
DirtVibe’s riding gear options are worth the look. I like the overall look of the entire lineup and the subtleness within the designs. The feel of the Holeshot gear on the bike and sitting in the pits was positive. If you enjoy standing out at the track with something unique and non-mainstream moto and want to support a local company that supports the local racing community, I recommend giving DirtVibe a try this summer and upcoming racing season. They even have a 30 day money back guarantee (unused items only, customized/personalized items excluded)
Tested: 2022 Holeshot Combo Kit ($195.99)
DirtVibe moto gear options: Hoon Combo Kit, Rhythm Combo Kit, Vision Combo Kit (), Podium Combo Kit , Flow Combo Kit
Check out all the off-track apparel too at www.dirtvibemfgco.com